If you and your partner have children together and are ending your relationship, you might wonder how Colorado handles child custody when you’re not married.
If so, you aren’t alone.
Many unwed Colorado couples share children, so your situation is common.
Below, learn about Colorado custody laws for unmarried parents and what they mean for you.
Rights of Unmarried Parents in Custody Cases
Unmarried parents have the same rights as married spouses when it comes to child custody in Colorado. Your parental rights include:
- Custody: Custody is now known as “parental responsibilities.” It relates to making the major decisions for a minor child. Colorado does not favor one sex over the other.
- Child support: Child support is based on the parent’s combined joint gross income and the number of overnights each parent has. Child support is designed to assist with basic living expenses.
- Visitation: Visitation is now called “parenting time” and relates to who has the child and when. There are many different schedules, and some provide for equal parenting time between parents, such as 5-2-2-5.
Why You Must Establish Paternity for Your Colorado Custody Case
When you’re married, the court usually assumes that the husband fathered the child.
Without marriage or proof of paternity, the court won’t recognize the male partner as the father unless both parties agree he is the father.
This is why it’s critical to establish paternity as early as possible.
If one parent refuses to allow the other to see the child, there’s nothing the other parent can do about it without establishing paternity.
Establishing paternity doesn’t only benefit fathers.
If you’re the mother, you can’t request child support from your former partner unless you prove that he fathered your child.
The father may agree to pay you something, but he has no obligation to do so under the law.
Under the juvenile code, there is a right to request child support back to the birth of the child.
To establish paternity, both partners can sign a Voluntary Agreement of Paternity and add the father’s name to the birth certificate.
If either party doesn’t agree on paternity, the court can order a paternity test.
Parenting Time and Decision-Making Ability
Colorado custody laws for unmarried parents include two factors: parenting time and decision-making ability.
Parenting time includes how many overnights the child will spend with each parent per year. And the court allocates parenting time based on the child’s interests.
Factors that influence parenting time include:
- The parents’ wishes
- The child’s wishes if they’re old enough to make mature decisions
- Caretaking history
- The physical and emotional health of the parents and their child
- The child’s relationship with each parent and any siblings
The court also considers who should make decisions for your child.
You and the other parent might agree to make decisions together, or you can divide decision-making responsibility.
The major decisions to share are:
- Medical care
- Religion
- Which school the child attends
- Diet
- General welfare
Keep in mind that the child’s other parent has a say in those decisions unless the court grants sole decision-making responsibility.
When allocating decision-making ability, a judge considers:
- The parent’s ability to cooperate and make joint choices with the other parent
- How decision-making ability would impact the amount of contact the child has with each parent
- Each parent’s personal values, level of mutual support, time commitments, and past behavior
Appointment of a Parenting Coordinator
A parenting coordinator is a neutral third party who steps in when the parents can’t agree on custody issues.
Either party can request a parenting coordinator, or the court might appoint one for you.
A PC can only assist in implementing the parenting time schedule which has been ordered by the court.
We’re Here to Answer Questions About Your Child Custody Case
If you need help understanding Colorado custody laws for unmarried parents, Shapiro Law Firm is here for you.
Call (303) 695-0200 to schedule a consultation with a Denver child custody lawyer today.
