Co-Parenting App for Colorado Parents

What Colorado courts consider in custody decisions

Colorado courts evaluate 9 factors for parenting time plus additional factors for decision-making. Key factors include the parents' wishes, the child's wishes (if sufficiently mature), each parent's ability to encourage sharing of love and contact with the other parent, the child's relationship with parents and siblings, the child's adjustment to home/school/community, the physical and mental health of all parties, each parent's past involvement showing a system of values and mutual support, and each party's ability to place the child's needs ahead of their own. For decision-making responsibility, the court additionally considers whether the parties can cooperate in joint decisions and whether joint decision-making would promote more contact with each parent.

How the custody process works in Colorado

Colorado uses the term 'allocation of parental responsibilities' rather than custody, dividing it into 'parenting time' (physical schedule) and 'decision-making responsibility' (legal authority over education, health, religion, and extracurriculars). Cases are filed in District Court. Most judicial districts require mediation in contested parenting disputes. The court must not consider conduct that does not affect a parent's relationship with the child and cannot presume either parent is better suited based on sex.

Key Colorado custody statutes

• Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-124
• Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-123.4
• Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-129