At Jones Law Firm, PC, we represent parents in contested custody matters throughout Centennial and across Arapahoe County. We have practiced Colorado family law only since 2000, and more than 4,000 Colorado families have worked with this firm.
April D.Jones leads the firm as Vice President of the Colorado Bar Association and its 2027 President. Being served first does not mean you negotiate from behind.
Colorado courts do not use the word custody. They allocate parental responsibilities across two separate decisions: decision-making authority over school, medical care and religion, and parenting time, the actual schedule of days and nights your child spends with you.
Custody cases in Centennial are heard at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, and our attorneys appear there constantly. When a custody matter is part of a divorce, parents get one coordinated strategy instead of two separate tracks.
Why Work With Jones Law Firm in Centennial
25+ Years in One Practice Area
Colorado family law only since 2000, across more than 4,000 Colorado families. That depth means straight answers about what is likely to happen in your case before it happens.
Round Table Brain Trust
Multiple attorneys and staff review every case together, so your strategy never lives in one person’s head and no deadline rides on one calendar.
A 44-Person Firm, Not a Solo with Support Staff
An experienced team of attorneys, paralegals and administrative team members work cases as attorney-plus-paralegal pairs, so calls get answered even when your attorney is in court.
Constant Presence in the Courts That Hear Your Case
Six Front Range offices, including the Greenwood Village headquarters, cover Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson, Denver and Adams county courts. Parents facing an uphill fight for equal parenting time get an attorney who knows how these courtrooms actually run.
Communication Guarantee and Secure Client Portal
Proactive updates and digital access to your documents and case communication mean you are never guessing where things stand.
Leadership That Carries Weight
April D. Jones is Vice President of the Colorado Bar Association and its 2027 President, with an Avvo 10.0 rating and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent recognition.
What Our Clients Say About Jones Law Firm
“April is well prepared and understands the law and court processes well beyond anything I have experienced, ensuring success.” J.M.
Preparation is what separates a strong response from a reactive one when the other side files first.
“You get the power of a firm behind the attorney. The support staff is efficient, thorough and friendly.” A.M.
Every case runs on an attorney-plus-paralegal team, so your calls get answered even when your attorney is in court.
“It takes a truly talented firm to represent a father and ensure full custody of his daughter remains intact.” C.D.
Contested custody outcomes come from strategy built before the first hearing, not improvised at it.
“Not a day went by without a document, question, or answer. I had two prior attorneys where I felt out of the loop.” A.A.
That is the Communication Guarantee in practice: proactive updates and secure portal access to your case documents.
“She encouraged me to settle as much as possible to cut down on costs. You have high values and a strong character.” J.B.
Clients get a straight read on when to negotiate and when to fight, with the cost of each spelled out.
Our Child Custody Services for Centennial Clients
- Legal custody determinations
- Physical custody arrangements
- Parenting plan drafting
- Parenting time schedules
- Custody and support modifications
- Divorce related considerations
- CFI and PRE evaluations
- Relocation and move-away cases
- Emergency custody orders
- Parental alienation claims
- Interstate custody disputes
Speak With a Trusted Family Law Attorney
For clear guidance through divorce, custody, and family law matters in Colorado, contact Jones Law Firm. Call 303-799-8155 to schedule your confidential consultation.
Do Unmarried Parents Need A Lawyer To Establish Custody In Centennial?
Legally, no. Practically, almost always yes. Colorado does not hand unmarried parents an automatic custody order. You need paternity established first, through the birth certificate, a voluntary acknowledgment or a court order, then a filed Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities. Until that order exists, your parenting time and decision-making authority are unenforceable.
If both parents agree on everything, the paperwork is the main hurdle, and sloppy drafting is what brings people back to the Arapahoe County Justice Center two years later. If you have been served, you are on the court’s clock, your response shapes the temporary orders, and temporary orders often become permanent ones.
What raises your exposure in a contested case can be documented neglect, substance abuse allegations, withholding court-ordered parenting time, relocating without proper notice, refusing to cooperate with a Child and Family Investigator or Parental Responsibilities Evaluator, and accusations that one parent is turning the children against the other.
Do Centennial Courts Require Mediation Before A Custody Hearing?
In most cases, yes. The 18th Judicial District, which covers Arapahoe County and hears Centennial custody matters at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, routinely orders parents to attempt mediation before a contested hearing on parenting time or decision-making.
Judges want to see a genuine attempt at resolution before they spend court time deciding for you.
Mediation is usually faster and cheaper than a hearing, and it keeps the parenting plan in your hands rather than a judge’s. That matters when your schedule, travel and overnights are the issues in dispute.
Mediation does not mean you concede ground. Walk in with the same evidence a judge would want: a written communication log, school and medical records showing who handles appointments and homework, and any CFI or PRE evaluation already underway. Documentation of your actual involvement carries more weight than claims about intent.
Mediation can be waived in limited circumstances, including cases involving domestic violence. If it fails, the case proceeds to a contested hearing, and the preparation you did carries straight over.
Inside Jones Law Firm in Centennial
Jones Law Firm, PC has practiced Colorado family law and nothing else since 2000, with more than 4,000 Colorado families represented. The firm is built as a firm, not a solo attorney with support staff, including attorneys, paralegals and administrative professionals, working cases as attorney-plus-paralegal teams across six Front Range offices anchored by the Greenwood Village headquarters.
Every case has a named attorney and a named paralegal, so no strategy, deadline or returned call depends on one person’s calendar. April D. Jones leads the firm and currently serves as Vice President of the Colorado Bar Association, stepping into the role of President.
What Is the Difference Between Legal Custody and Physical Custody in Colorado?
| Type of Custody | What It Determines |
|---|---|
| Legal Custody (Decision-Making) | Which parent makes important decisions about the child’s education, healthcare, religion, and overall upbringing. |
| Physical Custody (Parenting Time) | Where the child lives, how much time they spend with each parent, and how holidays and vacations are divided. |
Under Colorado law, parents may share decision-making responsibilities and parenting time, or one parent may have greater authority or parenting time than the other. Sharing legal custody does not automatically mean equal parenting time.
Courts determine these arrangements based on the child’s best interests, considering factors such as parental involvement, home stability, the child’s needs, and any history of domestic violence.
Our Child Custody Process in Centennial, Step by Step
1. Intake and Consultation Scheduling
A quick intake call confirms your county, deadlines and what you were served with. Evening and virtual slots are available so you do not have to leave your office mid-afternoon.
2. Free 45-Minute Consultation
You meet with a Client Relationship Specialist for a straight read on your position, your realistic options and what the case will cost. No commitment is required to get that answer.
3. Agreement Signed and Team Assigned
Once the agreement and initial retainer are processed, a named attorney and paralegal are assigned to you and your onboarding materials go out the same day.
4. Round Table Brain Trust Strategy Session
Your case goes in front of multiple attorneys and staff, not one person working alone. That session sets the strategy for parenting time, legal decision-making and how hard we push in negotiation versus court.
5. Filing or Responding in Court
We prepare and file your response or petition inside the court’s deadline, most often at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, and appear on your behalf so your work schedule stays intact.
6. Ongoing Support Through Resolution
Secure client portal access, proactive updates and responsive staff keep you current from temporary orders through final parenting plan and case closure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody
How Do Arapahoe County Judges Actually Decide Who Gets The Kids?
Colorado judges apply the best interests of the child standard under C.R.S. 14-10-124, which lists factors including each parent’s relationship with the child, the child’s adjustment to home and school, and each parent’s willingness to encourage the other’s relationship. Gender is not a factor by law.
What Happens During A CFI Or PRE Evaluation And How Much Does It Cost?
A Child and Family Investigator interviews both parents, the children and collateral sources, then files a report recommending a parenting plan. CFI fees in Colorado are generally capped at $2,750 absent a court order otherwise. A Parental Responsibilities Evaluator is a licensed mental health professional conducting a deeper psychological evaluation that costs substantially more.
Do Fathers Actually Get Equal Parenting Time In Colorado Custody Cases?
Yes. Colorado law is gender neutral, and equal or near-equal parenting time is common when both parents are stable, involved and able to co-parent.
I Was Just Served With A Custody Petition. How Long Do I Have To Respond?
You generally have 21 days from the date of service to file a response in Colorado, or 35 days if you were served outside the state. Missing that deadline risks a default order built entirely on the other side’s requested parenting plan.
Can I Modify A Custody Order After It Is Already Entered?
Decision-making changes require showing a substantial change in circumstances. A request to substantially reduce the other parent’s parenting time usually cannot be filed within two years of the last order except in endangerment situations. Minor schedule adjustments face a lower bar.
What Happens If My Ex Makes Domestic Violence Allegations During The Custody Case?
Allegations trigger a specific statutory analysis, and the court can restrict parenting time or order supervised visits while it sorts out the facts. Never ignore a protection order, and never respond by contacting the other parent directly.
Local Resources in Centennial for Custody Cases in Irving
- Arapahoe County District Court
State trial court handling family law matters including divorce and parenting disputes.
- Arapahoe County Human Services
County agency providing family support, protective services, and social welfare programs.
- Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder
Office that maintains official public records, including court filings and vital documents.
- Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office
Law enforcement agency that may serve legal process and enforce court orders.
- 18th Judicial District
Judicial district encompassing Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties where local cases are heard.
- Family Crisis Center
Local nonprofit providing shelter and advocacy services to families experiencing domestic crisis.
- Arapahoe County Mediation Services
Court-connected program facilitating negotiated agreements between parties in family disputes.
- Arapahoe County Self-Help Center
Court-based resource center assisting unrepresented individuals with forms and procedural guidance.
Schedule Your Free Centennial Child Custody Consultation
Being served starts a clock, and the response deadline does not pause for your work calendar. Call us to schedule your free 45-minute consultation with a Client Relationship Specialist, available evenings and by video so you do not have to leave the office midday.
Twenty-six years in Colorado family law only. Call now and take back control of the timeline.
