Under Colorado’s Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, a legal separation follows much the same procedural path as a dissolution. The Court, or the parties through negotiation, must resolve property division, spousal maintenance, parental responsibilities, and child support in the same manner and under the same legal standards as a divorce. The key distinction is that the marriage remains legally intact at the conclusion of the legal separation process, with the parties beginning new and separate financial and parenting lives. A Decree (order) for Legal Separation remains in place for at least six (6) months. After that time a Decree of Legal Separation can be converted into a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage by either party filing a request to convert with the Court.
Our firm advises clients on the strategic and personal implications of choosing legal separation over dissolution, ensuring that whatever path is chosen reflects both immediate needs and long-term objectives.
