Colorado coparenting practices use the term parental responsibility – which can either be joint or sole custody arrangements. Sharing in overnight visitation with the minor child means that you have joint parental responsibility. If a parent has less then 90 overnight visitations with the minor child, then the other parent is considered to have primary parental responsibility.
Colorado also distinguishes between residential responsibility and decision-making responsibility. Sole decision-making responsibility is when a parent is able to make all major decisions (education, religious, extracurricular, and medical) regarding the minor child without consulting with the other parent. Joint decision-making responsibility means that the parents have to equally share the responsibility of those decisions.
The Colorado legislature has declared:
“While co-parenting is not appropriate in all circumstances following dissolution of marriage or legal separation, the general assembly finds and declares that, in most circumstances, it is in the best interest of all parties to encourage frequent and continuing contact between each parent and the minor children of the marriage after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage.”
Colorado courts often require all divorcing parents with minor children to complete a parenting class before granting a divorce. This requirement is designed to help parents and children deal with the trauma of divorce and separation.
Colorado Co-Parenting Information
Colorado Family Law Guide – Parenting Time
Child Custody Information for Colorado
Child Custody And Parenting Plan Options
Colorado Center for Divorce Mediation
Effective Parenting After Divorce
Colorado Child Custody: Parenting Time and Infants
Colorado Child Support Calculator
A Parent’s Guide To Visitation
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities – Colorado
Colorado Resources
Colorado Family Resources – Colorado Official State Web Portal
The Family Resource Center Association
Colorado Department of Education – Family Resources – The resources listed here are selected to assist parents and students in their school-related needs.
Co-Parenting Tools
Creating Schedules Calendars, and Parenting Plans
Child Support
Colorado Judicial Branch
Colorado Family Law Programs – community-focused court planning resources in the areas of juvenile and family law.
Resource Library: Juvenile and Family Law
FAMJIS – Family Justice Information System
Family Law Program – Questions and Answers
Colorado Child Support Services
