Fort Collins Family Law Blog

Every year, thousands of newly divorced parents in Colorado, and across the United States, are forced to confront the problem of how to raise their children. While divorce can understandably lead to hard feelings between you and your former spouse, it is important that your children do not suffer as a result. By appropriately dealing with the stress of divorce, you can ensure that you and your former partner can properly care for your children despite any former conflict you may have had.

Regardless of your relationship with your ex-spouse, you should not let any disputes between you get in the way of your child's development and emotional health. Parenting experts say it is important to allow a child to have a positive relationship with both parents, which can be difficult after a particularly painful divorce. It may be difficult to avoid speaking poorly of your child's other parent, but doing so may negatively impact the child's perception of that parent.

As more and more of our troops come home the adjustment to life back with their families can be very overwhelming. It can also be difficult for families whose military mom, dad or husband has been away to readjust to having another adult back in the home contributing to household chores and discipline.

A recent report from the United States Department of Defense shows divorce issues are increasingly affecting more enlisted troops from Colorado and across the U.S. The year 2011 saw more military divorces than 2010 and conformed to an upward trend first established in 2001. When the U.S. military first entered Afghanistan, the rate of divorce among members of the military was 2.6 percent, but that figure has since risen to 3.7 percent.

Colorado residents may be interested in learning about a recent report from the United States Defense Department reveals that the divorce rate in the military is at its highest since 1999. Out of all the armed forces branches, the Air Force is shown to have many more divorces than any other. In all, divorces involving individuals enlisted in the Air Force accounted for 6,743 divorces. This is about 4.6 percent of the United States' total 30,000 divorces in 2011.

A high-ranking official with the Air Force explained that divorce issues for enlistees can be caused by a number of factors, but attributed many to the stress of two wars and multiple deployments. He writes, "Deployments do take a toll on families. What we do is not easy, and separation can be difficult." He added that the return home from deployment can also be difficult for many Air Force enlistees.

While couples must frequently overcome a number of hurdles when pursuing divorce, determining child custody can be one of the most contentious steps in the entire process. Colorado courts prefer to award joint custody, with both parents being awarded legal and physical custody of their children. Some parents adapt to this situation easily, while others agree to award physical custody to one party with the other being granted visitation rights. In these cases, child custody can be determined quickly and without argument.

However, parents that disagree over custody arrangements can easily be drawn into a long legal battle, often requiring the intercession of a third party to be settled. Some parents employ family law attorneys or mediators to help them come to an agreement. Even in informal negotiations where courts are not involved, experts recommend that each parent consult an attorney to help them better communicate their needs and desires to the other party. Parents may also reach an agreement through out-of-court resolution proceedings, which must be approved by a judge to become final.