Like many states, Colorado has complex laws for inheritance. When it comes to distributing or inheriting assets, it’s important to understand what happens when you or a loved one dies with or without a will. What happens to existing bank and savings accounts, investments, property, and family heirlooms? When someone works hard over a lifetime to accumulate assets, property, and family valuables, those legacies shouldn’t be left vulnerable to the state’s intestacy laws rather than distributed according to the thoughtful…

Anyone who’s watched an episode of Law and Order has heard a pointing judge shout, “You’re in Contempt!”, but what is “Contempt of Court?” and what are the penalties? If you’ve been charged with contempt or have a case pending in civil or criminal court it’s important to understand the reality behind these powerful words. Contempt of Court charges are more than just a judge’s admonishment for bad behavior, Contempt is a criminal charge. A conviction not only brings fines…

Most states in the U.S. consider age 18 as the age of majority, in which children become legal adults. However, in Colorado, child emancipation occurs at age 19. While this unique feature of Colorado law has little impact on many families, for divorced parents with child support orders issued by the Colorado family courts, it’s important to fully understand the state’s child emancipation laws. In Colorado, the child support obligation continues until the youngest child named in the support order…

Navigating Colorado’s rules of evidence in family court can be complex. Just as an editor at a major newspaper might strike through lines of a journalist’s work to ensure that only relevant, factual information ends up in the final copy, a court disallows evidence that isn’t relevant to the matter at hand or evidence that relies on hearsay. While some basic insights into what is and is not admissible in family court can be helpful, it’s always best to speak…

No one relishes the idea of estate planning, or planning what happens after their death, but it’s especially challenging to take on the most important part of estate planning for parents — the necessary steps toward appointing a guardianship for your children should you die while they are still dependent minors. If parents neglect this critical aspect of family estate planning, then a judge from the probate court will decide where to place children and who has legal guardianship of…