Divorce cases are notorious for being high-conflict and very stressful. However, in some instances, the parties are able to reach a mutual agreement about the division of assets and debts, the separation agreement, and the best co-parenting arrangements. Whenever parties are able to agree on the issues, the case is considered "uncontested". Uncontested divorce cases often move more quickly to resolution, involve less of the Court's intervention, and allow parties more control over the ultimate outcome. Uncontested divorce cases can also result in lower legal fees because the parties do most of the work negotiating their desired outcome. In an uncontested divorce, parties can receive their divorce decree as soon as 91 days from filing the petition.

Sometimes parties get the impression that in uncontested cases they do not need an attorney. While this may be true in some cases, it is also true that parties who draft their own separation agreements and parenting plans may inadvertently overlook important protections and rights. It can be much more expensive and difficult to try to go back later and correct a separation agreement that did not address important issues that the parties did not consider when they initially filed it, so having an attorney assist you with making sure you have considered all possible issues can be invaluable. At McGuire Law, you get the benefit of our experience over countless cases in helping you prevent unforeseen disputes later on.

In some instances, a marriage may be damaged but not irreparably broken. Parties may benefit from a period of legal separation, which affords them similar benefits as a divorce without the finality of dissolving the marriage. If you're not sure whether you're ready to pursue a divorce, contact McGuire Law to have an experienced attorney analyze your case and explain to you the benefits of possibly pursuing a legal separation instead.

Commonlaw marriage is when two people consider themselves married without ever getting a formal, legal marriage certificate. Some states, including Colorado, recognize commonlaw marriage. There are certain elements that must be established to prove the existence of a commonlaw marriage, such as filing taxes as married, holding yourselves out as married to the public, and cohabitation or shared finances. In some instances, one party may assert that there was no marriage, and the other party may assert that there was. A Court can make a finding about the existence or lack of a commonlaw marriage after conducting a hearing and reviewing the evidence.

Although it is fairly easy to begin a commonlaw marriage without involving the Court, commonlaw marriages can only be ended by the same divorce process as a civil marriage. If you have been in a commonlaw marriage and you are seeking to end the marriage or begin a new relationship, consult with experienced attorneys to assess your rights and options.

Marrying someone abroad or marrying a non-citizen of the United States can bring up a number of questions. For example: will the U.S. recognize my foreign marriage certificate? How do I bring my spouse to the U.S. to reside with me? Do I need to get married again in the U.S. if I was initially married abroad?

These questions and a number of other important considerations can be raised in international marriages. Family law firms may focus on questions related to the marriage alone, but at McGuire Law our experience at the intersection of family and immigration law can prove invaluable to your family as you plan out your future.