Fort Collins Family Law Attorneys

Family matters are personal. So is our approach. Local, experienced representation in Larimer County family court since 1981.

Request a Consultation Call 970-482-9770
40+
Years in Northern Colorado
1981
Serving Larimer County Since
3
Local Attorneys
Local
Old Town Fort Collins Office

Family law in Colorado is more than just divorce. Parenting time disputes, support modifications, paternity, property division, and grandparent rights all run through the same courthouse and the same set of judges and magistrates. Knowing how that specific system works is the difference between a case that moves and a case that stalls.

We have practiced family law in Fort Collins since 1981. Our office is at 110 E Oak Street in Old Town, a short walk from the Larimer County Justice Center at 201 La Porte Avenue, where your case will be heard.

Family Law Services in Fort Collins

Child Custody & Parental Responsibilities

Parenting time schedules, decision-making allocation, and relocation disputes.

Child Support

Initial orders, modifications, and enforcement under Colorado's guidelines.

Spousal Maintenance

Calculation, duration, and modification of Colorado spousal maintenance.

Divorce & Property Division

Equitable distribution of homes, retirement accounts, businesses, and debts.

Paternity Actions

Establishing legal parentage, parenting time, and support obligations.

Order Modifications

Updating custody, support, or maintenance orders as circumstances change.

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements

Protecting assets and setting expectations before or during marriage.

Family Mediation

Resolve disputes without the cost, delay, and stress of a contested hearing.

How a Family Law Case Actually Moves Through Larimer County Court

Most people have never been inside a courthouse and have no idea what to expect. Here is the honest sequence for a typical Larimer County family law matter.

1. Filing and service

One party files a petition with the Larimer County District Court and the other is formally served, or signs a waiver and files jointly. Filing fees in Larimer County currently run in the range of a few hundred dollars, and fee waivers are available if you qualify.

2. Mandatory financial disclosures

Colorado requires both sides to exchange sworn financial statements, tax returns, pay records, and account statements early in the case, generally within 42 days. This step is not optional, and doing it thoroughly the first time prevents most later disputes. See our guide to financial disclosure requirements.

3. Initial Status Conference

A short early meeting with a family court facilitator or magistrate that sets deadlines, addresses temporary orders for parenting time or support, and typically orders mediation. Nothing is decided about the final outcome of your case here.

4. Mediation

Larimer County courts routinely require mediation before a contested hearing. The large majority of family cases resolve here, which is almost always cheaper and less damaging than a trial. Read more about when mediation is required.

5. Evaluation, if children are in dispute

When parenting time is genuinely contested, the court may appoint a Child and Family Investigator or a Parental Responsibilities Evaluator to interview the family and make recommendations. Their report carries real weight, and how you engage with that process matters enormously.

6. Permanent orders

If you reach agreement, the court reviews and enters it, often without a contested hearing. If not, a judge or magistrate hears evidence and decides. Colorado requires at least 91 days from filing or service before a divorce can be finalized.

Why a Local Attorney Matters Here

Family law is state law, but family court is intensely local. Larimer County judges, magistrates, family court facilitators, and the Child and Family Investigators who get appointed to cases all have their own preferences, procedures, and expectations. An attorney who appears in this courthouse every week knows which arguments land with which judicial officer, which CFIs are appointed to which kinds of cases, and how long a given division actually takes to set a hearing.

That knowledge is not a luxury. It shortens cases and it saves money.

Meet Your Attorneys

Michael D. Liggett

Family law and mediation in Northern Colorado for over four decades.

Gail B. Goodman

Family law, probate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters.

Sarah E. Liggett

Family law and criminal defense for Larimer County clients.

Common Questions from Fort Collins Families

How long does a family law case take in Larimer County?
It depends entirely on whether the two of you can agree. Colorado law requires at least 91 days between the filing (or service) of a divorce petition and the date a court can finalize it, so nothing resolves faster than about three months. An uncontested case with a full agreement often wraps up shortly after that window closes. A contested case involving disputed parenting time, a business valuation, or a Child and Family Investigator commonly runs nine to eighteen months. We give you a realistic timeline for your specific facts at your first consultation.
Does Colorado still use the word "custody"?
Not in the statutes. Colorado replaced "custody" with "allocation of parental responsibilities," which the court splits into two separate decisions: parenting time (the schedule your child actually lives) and decision-making responsibility (who decides on schooling, non-emergency healthcare, and religious upbringing). One parent can have the majority of parenting time while both share joint decision-making, or any other combination. Most people still say custody in conversation, and we know what you mean.
What is an Initial Status Conference and do I have to attend?
It is a short, early meeting with a family court facilitator or magistrate that sets the schedule for the rest of your case. It is not a trial and no one decides the outcome of your case there. The court uses it to confirm deadlines, address any immediate disputes over parenting time or temporary support, and order mediation if appropriate. It is required in Colorado domestic relations cases, and yes, you generally need to attend. We attend with you.
Do we have to go to mediation before a judge will hear our case?
In practice, almost always. Colorado courts routinely order mediation before setting a contested hearing, and Larimer County is no exception. This is genuinely good news for most families: mediation is far less expensive than a contested hearing, it is confidential, and you keep control of the outcome rather than handing it to a judge. Michael Liggett has served as a mediator in Northern Colorado for decades, which means we understand what makes these sessions succeed.
How much will a family law attorney cost?
We charge hourly and ask for a retainer up front, with the amount depending on the complexity of your matter. The honest answer is that the biggest cost driver is not our rate, it is conflict. Two people who negotiate in good faith spend a fraction of what two people who litigate every issue spend. We tell you at the outset which parts of your case are genuinely worth fighting for and which are not.
Can I modify a custody or support order that already exists?
Yes, but the standard depends on what you are changing. Child support can generally be modified when there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, often triggered by a meaningful shift in either parent's income or in the overnight schedule. Changing decision-making responsibility or the parent with majority parenting time is a considerably higher bar. Bring your existing order to a consultation and we will tell you candidly whether a modification is realistic.

Talk to a Fort Collins Family Law Attorney

Tell us briefly what's going on. Everything you share with us is confidential.

Prefer to talk now? Call 970-482-9770

Get Local Family Law Help Today

Serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Greeley, and all of Larimer County.

Schedule a Consultation Call 970-482-9770

Trusted by Northern Colorado Families Since 1981

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