Garfield County Parenting Time Modification and Enforcement Attorney

While courts prefer predictability and stability in children’s lives, family circumstances and dynamics change with time. These changes can include events that necessitate a parenting time modification or enforcement of a parenting time order to protect the best interests of the children involved.

If you anticipate a change in circumstances that will affect your children or your co-parent is refusing to follow parenting time orders, seek help from a professional right away. At Troxell Law, our family law lawyers will act quickly to preserve and enforce your legal parental rights.

Our parenting time attorneys are:

• Experienced in all areas of family law litigation and negotiations;
• Knowledgeable and up-to-date on Colorado child custody rulings and statutes; and
• Client-focused and determined to succeed.

Schedule your confidential consultation with a Garfield County parenting time modification and enforcement attorney today. We look forward to speaking with you and addressing your questions and concerns.

How a Garfield County Parenting Time Modification and Enforcement Attorney Can Help

Parenting time modifications are difficult and time-consuming actions to undertake and win in family court. Your parenting time attorney at Troxell Law will work with you to ensure any motion you file has sufficient evidence and merit before reaching a judge.

At Troxell Law, your Garfield County parenting time modification and enforcement lawyer will also assist you with significant changes resulting from a successful motion like modifications of:

• Child support;
• Physical custody;
• Legal custody; and
• A parenting plan or visitation schedule.

Contact Troxell Law now to learn about our approach to parenting time modification and enforcement actions and the strategies we recommend going forward in your matter.

Parenting Time Modification

Colorado courts consider the best interests of the child above all else when considering a parenting time modification. If any modification contradicts these interests, the motion will be denied.

Except for emergencies where a child’s health and well-being are in immediate danger, a parent must confer in good faith with the other party before filing a motion to modify parenting time. Mediation may be required in some cases.

The courts will the best interests of the child along with a variety of factors when determining a parenting time modification. Other factors may include:

• Threats to the child by a parent;
• If the other parent agrees to a modification or is contesting it;
• Whether the child is an integral part of the parent wishing to modify the order; and
• The impact of the new agreement on each parent and the child.

Parents who agree to a parenting time modification can file a signed stipulation with the court. Once approved, this will be adopted as a court order and enforceable.

Except for emergencies, two years must pass before a parent can file a parenting time modification to change primary custody of the child.

Enforcement of Parenting Time

A motion to enforce parenting time must be verified and found credible by either parent or the court before a scheduled hearing. When allegations are inadequate, the motion will be denied by the court.

The court may require parents to attend mediation before setting a hearing date. If an agreement is reached at mediation, the court may approve the agreement or choose to hear the matter.

Parents who choose to ignore or disobey a court order after a hearing may face any of the following and more:

• Additional terms and conditions consistent with the previous order;
• A parental education or family counseling program with one or both parents to attend at the non-complying parent’s expense;
• An order to post bond or security to ensure future compliance;
• Makeup parenting time to the aggrieved parent or child;
• A civil fine or jail sentence if found in contempt of court;
• Modification of the existing child custody order or allocation of responsibilities; and
• Any other action that will promote the best interests of the child or children.

The non-compliant parent will also be required to pay the aggrieved parent’s attorney’s fees, court costs, and other expenses related to the legal action. However, the moving parent may be forced to pay these costs if their co-parent is compliant with the parenting time order.

Contact an Experienced Garfield County Parenting Time and Enforcement Attorney

It is critical you retain experienced professional help before moving ahead with any parenting time modification or enforcement. Otherwise, you could lose your opportunity to effect positive change in your child’s life.

Contact a Garfield County parenting time modification and enforcement lawyer at Troxell Law to discuss the best legal steps to take in reaching your child custody goals.