SB Mediation Center

08/12/2024

Part Four

Filing jointly, the next thing to decide is who be the ‘Petitioner’ and who will be the “Co-Petitioner”. It is a non-blaming, the petitioner must go to the courthouse, present these two forms, and pay the fee.... If you’re not filing jointly, then the person who files will have to have the other party served, but once you get past that point everything else in the divorce process is technically the same. We have seen many situations collapse because the other party was served. It may tank a collaborative theme present with jointly filing.

Either way, please observe the section on the Petition “Automatic Court Orders”. These are court orders that go into effect the minute those forms are filed. You’d think they would be obvious (IE don’t hide money, be a jerk and harass the other party, don’t kick your spouse off of any insurances, etc.). It is about the status quo.

Filing your documents with the Court.

Only you or your attorney if you decide to lawyer up can file documents with the court. If you are the kind of person that likes the formality of dropping off at the courthouse, you may do so. If you prefer to file from the comfort of your own home, you can file your Petition and all other court forms electronically there is ICCES, https://www.jbits.courts.state.co.us/efiling/web/login.htm #/prose/dashboard.

Currently the fee to file the “papers” $230. If you qualify for reduced/waived fees that is possible too provided the proper documentation is filed.

08/05/2024

Part Three

Beginning your Dissolution process: filing the Initial Paperwork

Colorado allows you great latitude in crafting your outcome. Regarding your financial matters between, as long as you comply with the basic rules. The Court shall approve your agreement you come up with as long as the Court finds that it is not “unconscionable”.

Agreements that you make about your children must be guided by what is “in the best interests of your children”, and within that basic framework you have a lot of flexibility to decide how you want things to go. It is up to you!

Colorado divorces begin by filing some court forms; to get the ball rolling you’ll need to fill out these 2 or 3 forms bring them and file them at the courthouse.

Petition JDF 1011, Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation
Case Information Sheet JDF 1000
Summons JDF 1012, if not filing jointly

Download forms here: www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/Forms_List.cfm?Form_Type_ID=108

One of the first decisions you’ll have to make, filing jointly? If you file jointly you do not have to have the other party served, think cheaper, less inflammatory to the other party.

07/24/2024

Motion to Restrict Parenting Time pursuant to C.R.S. 14-10-129.4.

If you have been restricted and wish to have supervised parenting time you are entitled to do so.

We are here to assist you with your supervised parenting time in a prompt manner as always to begin the process for parent to reconnect with their children. Paying for the intakes, conducting intakes (scheduling the visits). Having the first visit within days is how we work.

We provide visits in the community or in the home.

Please contact us to begin the process.

We are happy to reach out to the other party if necessary.

Within 7 days parties agree to move forward with SB Mediation Center, pay for the deposit. If at least 4 hours of visits are scheduled weekly, we will reduce the visit fee to $60/hour.

07/22/2024

We are here to help you sort through the abundance of information that is out there, making it easier to finish your dissolution (divorce, APR, Allocation of Parental Responsibilities or civil union) case with less conflict, less financial and emotional capital spent, while maintaining control of your outcome.

From our perspective, any couple going through a dissolution, etc. all parties to all cases will need this information. Wisdom is power.

• Emotional regulation, keeping your emotions in check with deep breathing and other centering methods

• Accurate facts, data, and statistics regarding divorce laws, facts regarding said laws, case specifics

From the Colorado Courts website to dissolve your marriage: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/JDF1010.pdf, form JDF1010

If you want a divorce or legal separation of your marriage or civil union:

• One party must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days before you may file

• If you have children, they must have lived in Colorado for at least 182 days or since birth if under six months old

Is there a waiting period?

• Yes. Even if you and your spouse agree on all the issues. You must still wait 91 days after filing the Petition and serving the other spouse

• The 91 days start when the petition is filed together, or the other person is served or signs a waiver, filed together is cheaper, less inflammatory than being served

07/15/2024

Uncontested Divorce Mediation Facts

Did you know that in Colorado, you can complete your divorce in just 91 days after filing your Petition and Case Information Sheet jointly with the court? This speedy process can help you move on with your life sooner.

For a divorce to be granted in Colorado, both spouses must have been residents of the state for 91 days prior to filing the Petition. If you have joint children, the parents must have been in their home state for 181 days. Once these conditions are met, you can be divorced in just 91 days.

A few things must occur before your case is granted and dissolved with a Decree of Dissolution.

If you have children, you must complete and file these documents with the court.

• JDF 1000 Case Information Sheet
• JDF 1011 Petition for Divorce or Legal Separation
• JDF 1111 SC Sworn Financial Statement
• JDF 1104 Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Financial Disclosures
• JDF 1115 Property and Financial Agreement
• JDF 1113 Parenting Plan
• JDF 1820M Child Support Worksheet A or JDF 1821M Child Support Worksheet B

If you do not have joint children.

• JDF 1018 Affidavit for Decree without Appearance
• You will not need the Parenting Plan or Child Support Worksheets

We at SB Mediation Center have the expertise to negotiate the occasional sticking points and draft your cumulative wishes into the forms required by the courts. Having you move on sooner than later!

Reach out to us today.

07/09/2024

AFCC, this was a great presentation. Much needed, thank you!

Register for AFCC's webinar next week on the 9th!

"Toxic," Traumatized, or Neurodivergent? Setting Appropriate Boundaries Without Writing Anyone Off.
Dan Berstein, MHS

AFCC members register for only $15!

July 9, 2024
1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern Time

https://www.afccnet.org/Webinars/AFCC-Webinars/ctl/View/ConferenceID/616/mid/3711

07/09/2024

Are you in search of a parenting time supervisor for your parenting time visits?

We are available to assist you in your home or community. We do not have a facility.

We always move quickly to reunite the parent and children safely.

If needed, appointing SB Mediation Center is an option.

Otherwise, agreement is needed to move forward with any visit supervisor.

SB Mediation Center would gladly contact the other party or counsel to move things forward.

We service families of the Front Range of Colorado.

We are here to assist all parents.

Let us know how we may help you.

Call us now.

07/03/2024

Joint Decision-Making For School

Do you need to decide on school selection for your child or children for the Fall 2024 school year? You are just not coming to an agreement. Time is running out; school starts in a few months.

If not, your options are limited.

If the above sounds like you, please consider the below option.

A limited scope decision-maker, single issue for school selection is a viable option.

Mr. Methling will decide for you in ten days upon receiving your position statements from you. Based on the Best Interests of the Child. Secure a fair resolution for your school dispute.

This will end the stalemate and disagreement and give your children stability to focus on the rest of the summer. Frankly, it should settle you as well.

Act quickly. Obtaining Mr. Methling’s appointment may take a month from the courts. Act quickly!

07/01/2024

Family Time

We thought we would inform our prospective cases of some interesting updates.

Supervised Parenting Time has been reclassified in the Colorado Statutes, §19-3-403/§14-10-124.4 as Family Time January, 1st, 2024, July 1st, 2024 respectively.

The reclassification is primarily for D&N cases, foster situations, grandparent rights.

We are more than capable and willing to assist with these types of situations in addition to our robust supervised parenting time practice.

We still have the same safety practices in place for your children and all parties.

We have been supervising visits safely for 10 years.

Let us facilitate yours.

Let us know what you need.

Here to help.

06/24/2024

Decision-Maker Part Two

This is where a decision-maker (DM) may be a better option. A decision-maker cannot be appointed without agreement of the parents resulting in a stipulation to appoint. A DM may be extremely beneficial in cases where every issue, no matter how small, is a high conflict affair. The duration for a DM appointment is the same as for a parenting coordinator and can be extended for a variety of reasons beyond two years, if necessary. The biggest difference between the parenting coordinator and a decision-maker is the fact that a decision-maker can make a binding decision concerning the issues presented to them. In essence, the decision-maker serves as a private judge, making decisions within the scope of the authority granted to them by the parents’ stipulation. The DM can address issues such as parenting time, parental decisions, and even child support, depending on what authority the parents have conferred. The stipulation may fine tune the scope of important to include many things such as child support. The scope of appointment may be fine tuned to meet the needs of the family.

06/17/2024

Joint Decision-Making For School

Do you need to decide on school selection for your child or children in Fall 2024? You are just not coming to an agreement. Time is running out; school starts in a few months.

If not, your options are limited.

If the above sounds like you, please consider the below option.

Limited scope decision-maker, single issue for school selection.

Mr. Methling will decide for you in ten days upon receiving your position statements from you.

This will end the stalemate and disagreement and give your children stability to focus on the summer.

Time is running out. Obtaining Mr. Methling’s appointment may take a month from the courts. Act quickly!

[email protected]

720.295.8224

06/10/2024

Supervised Parenting Time (Supervised Custody)

We have had a few calls recently regarding existing cases with other supervision firms needing emergency visits because of their supervisors canceling late, causing a scramble for the supervised parent.

We are here for your consistent supervision needs. We are extraordinarily committed to your supervised parenting time. We ensure to not be late, cancel or otherwise disturb your regularly scheduled parenting time. The routine of the visits helps the children settle and bond with the supervised parent.

We all are committed to safe supervised visits.

Upon calling us, schedule your intake in days, beginning your visits days after that. Start visiting in the community or your home, not a facility. The more natural environment.

If you have court orders, sending a PDF of the orders helps us help you.

https://www.sbmediationllc.com

[email protected]

720.295.8224

Call us now.