Adoption. Adoption is among the most joyful proceedings in family law. Whether you are pursuing a stepparent adoption, a domestic infant adoption, an adoption through the foster care system, or an international adoption, the legal steps involved are precise and require careful attention. Our Firm can guide adoptive parents through home studies, consent and termination of parental rights proceedings, finalization hearings, and post-placement requirements. We also represent birth parents navigating voluntary relinquishment and ensure their rights and interests are fully understood before any decision is made.

Grandparent and Non-Parent Visitation. Colorado law recognizes that children may have meaningful, important relationships with grandparents, step-parents, or other significant adults in their lives. Under certain circumstances, these individuals may petition the court for visitation rights even over a parent's objection. These cases are legally and constitutionally nuanced — the U.S. Supreme Court has held that parents have a fundamental right to direct their children's upbringing — but courts may grant non-parent visitation when it is clearly in the child's best interests and the relationship is sufficiently established. We represent both those seeking visitation and parents wishing to maintain control over their children's relationships.

Domestic Violence and Protective Orders. Victims of domestic violence, stalking, or harassment may seek a civil protection order (restraining order) that restricts the abuser's contact and physical proximity. We assist survivors in obtaining emergency temporary protection orders and permanent orders, and we guide them through hearings where they must present evidence of the abuse or threat. We also represent individuals who have been wrongly named as respondents in protection order proceedings and need to defend their rights and reputations. Safety is always the priority, and our team handles these matters with the sensitivity and urgency they demand.

Enforcement of Court Orders. When a co-parent refuses to follow a parenting plan, withholds a child, fails to pay court-ordered child support or maintenance, or otherwise violates the terms of a family court order, legal remedies are available. We file motions for contempt, seek wage garnishment and other enforcement tools, and pursue appropriate sanctions against non-compliant parties. We also handle cases where a parent has relocated with a child in violation of a court order, including emergency filings for the child's return.

Relocation Disputes. When a parent with primary parenting time wishes to move — whether across the state or across the country — Colorado law requires either the other parent's written consent or court approval. Relocation disputes are among the most emotionally charged post-decree matters, as they pit one parent's legitimate life plans against the other parent's desire to remain meaningfully involved. Courts weigh the reason for the proposed relocation, the reason for any objection, the history and quality of each parent's relationship with the child, and the effect of the move on the child's development. The Firm represents both moving and non-moving parents in these proceedings.

Paternity and Parentage. Establishing legal parentage is foundational to all other parenting rights and obligations. This may be accomplished through a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity or through a court action seeking a declaration of parentage. In cases involving assisted reproduction, surrogacy, or same-sex couples, the questions of legal parentage can be particularly complex. Our attorneys are well-versed in Colorado's evolving parentage laws and can help ensure that the legal relationship between a parent and child is properly established and protected.