In Colorado, no authorized course of exists for “widespread regulation divorce.” Colorado doesn’t acknowledge widespread regulation marriage established after September 1, 2006. For relationships established earlier than that date and assembly particular necessities, authorized dissolution is achieved by a proper divorce course of an identical to the method for dissolving a ceremonial marriage. This entails submitting a petition for dissolution of marriage with the courtroom, addressing issues corresponding to property division, spousal upkeep (alimony), and, if relevant, parental obligations (custody and baby help). Terminating a relationship resembling a wedding however not legally acknowledged as one might contain property division based mostly on property regulation ideas, not household regulation.
Understanding the excellence between casual relationships and authorized marriage is essential. Whereas events in a relationship might imagine they’ve a standard regulation marriage, the authorized necessities are particular and infrequently misunderstood. If a sound widespread regulation marriage existed earlier than the cutoff date, it carries the identical authorized weight as a ceremonial marriage, requiring formal authorized dissolution. Trying to self-resolve the termination of such a relationship with out correct authorized course of can result in vital problems concerning property division and different authorized rights and obligations.
