Colorado Springs Child Custody Attorney

Parenting Plans • Paternity Actions • Parent Relocation

The Law Office of Gary E. Lawyer emphasizes out-of-court settlements in child custody disputes. While we can capably protect your interests in a custody trial, a negotiated agreement is generally less costly and less traumatic for all involved.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, my practice serves men and women throughout El Paso County, including personnel from local military bases. Contact us today at (719) 635-7272 to arrange a consultation.

Parenting Agreements

Parental responsibility in Colorado is typically shared with joint decision-making on shared issues involving the child, except when the court awards all responsibility ("sole custody") to one parent because of the other's abuse, neglect, or endangerment of the child.

As a child custody attorney and former magistrate with 33 years of family law experience, I can help you work out a reasonable parenting agreement. We will explore your child's needs and the many possible solutions that fit your situation.

A custody agreement must address:

• Parenting time - In most cases, one of you will be designated the primary caretaker, but the child will live part of the time with both of you. It can be a 50/50 split, or it might be 80/20. I help negotiate the points of contention, such as number of overnights and weekends, what happens on holidays and vacations, and specifics of exchange times and locations.
• Decision-making - Typically, both parents share in major decisions about the child's health, education, and religion. But the responsibilities can be split, with one parent deciding religious upbringing and the other in charge of schooling decisions. I will work to get a settlement that reflects your wishes.

My practice (and the family court itself) focuses on voluntary, mutual agreements as being in the best interests of children. But I understand that sometimes there is no room for compromise, or the other parent is simply unreasonable. If your custody dispute goes to trial, the Law Office of Gary E. Lawyer can aggressively defend your position.

Custody Modifications and Parent Relocation

Circumstances change over time - new jobs, remarriage, a teenager's desire to live with the other parent. I represent either primary custodians or non-primary parents in hearings to modify parenting time or decision-making responsibilities. Relocating out of state with children is often a hotly contested matter. It requires (a) consent of the non-custodial parent or (b) proof of the presence of 21 factors set out by the courts. (See Recent Legislation.) I help clients demonstrate to the court how their position is in the best interests of the child.

Paternity and Custody Disputes between Unmarried Parents

I worked in child support enforcement as a former deputy district attorney, and handled many paternity cases as a magistrate. As a child custody attorney, I employ those insights in representing mothers or fathers in determining parentage and visitation issues. Either party can request a DNA test and petition to establish a father-child relationship. I represent women in getting child support and represent men in seeking shared custody, or parenting time, for the child, as well as those or challenging paternity.

• Father May Challenge Paternity: The Colorado Legislature passed a statute, effective August 15, 2008, allowing a father to pay for a DNA testing to challenge a paternity Order entered two years ago. A motion to modify must be filed within two years of the Order. For orders entered before August 15, 2008 a motion to modify must be filed before August 15, 2010.

Contact the Law Office of Gary E. Lawyer at (719) 635-7272 for a one-hour initial consultation to discuss your unique case and legal options. We are committed to providing responsive, personalized service and the highest quality legal representation.

Law Office of Gary E. Lawyer
104 S. Cascade Avenue, Suite 211
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
Phone: (719) 635-7272
Fax: (719) 633-4271

The Law Office of Gary E. Lawyer is a Colorado Springs, Colorado, family law practice serving the communities of El Paso County, including Black Forest, Calhan, Cheyenne, Falcon, Ellicott, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Peyton, Security, and Yoder. The firm also serves military personnel of Peterson Air Force Base, Fort Carson, Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, Schriever Air Force Base, and the US Air Force Academy.