At Jones Law Firm, PC, we represent Lakewood individuals who are dealing with family law matters like divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance.
Since 2000, our team has handled more than 3,500 cases with over 250 years of combined experience, and our respondent-focused representation means we build strategy around defending your parenting time, your marital estate, and your financial future from day one.
Responding to a divorce or custody action is the formal legal answer you file after your spouse petitions the court. In Colorado, missing your response deadline can let the other side move forward without your input, which is why timing and a clear plan matter as much as the arguments themselves.
According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics 2021 National Vital Statistics Reports, Colorado recorded approximately 3.1 divorces per 1,000 population, reflecting a steady volume of family law cases moving through courts like the Jefferson County Combined Court in Golden.
We know those courthouses, its judges, and its process. Our founding attorney April Jones holds a Super Lawyers recognition since 2024, and the firm carries an Avvo 10.0 rating.
What Lakewood Clients Say About Jones Law Firm
“It takes a truly talented firm to represent a father and ensure full custody of his daughter remains intact.” C.D.
Proof that fathers win here. Full custody outcomes are real results, not promises.
“She is sharp, quick and strong and we won my case decisively. Ms. Jones’ best quality is her ability to take charge.” M.K.
When someone else started the fight, you want an attorney who takes control of the room.
“Not a day went by when I did not receive a document, a question, or an answer from them.” A.A.
This is the Communication Guarantee in practice. You are never left wondering what is happening with your case.
“April is well prepared and understands the law and court processes well beyond anything I have experienced, ensuring success.” J.M.
Command of Colorado court procedure separates a real strategy from billed hours.
“It made a difficult time of life softer while maintaining my dignity.” B.H.
Aggressive advocacy and genuine respect are not opposites. You get both.
Our Family Law Services in Lakewood
- Divorce
- Contested Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- Child Custody
- Parenting Time & Visitation
- Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
- Protection Orders
- Contempt & Enforcement
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Property Division
- Legal Separation
- Common Law Marriage
- Mediation
- Civil Unions
- Gray Divorce
- Child Support
- Relocation
- Military Divorce
- Restraining Orders
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Fathers’ Rights
- Mothers’ Rights
- Grandparents’ Rights
- Modifications of Court Orders
- Protection Orders
- Estate Planning
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.
Why Choose Jones Law Firm in Lakewood
We represent the person who was served
Our firm is built for respondents, not for fast settlements. When you need someone to fight a case brought against you on someone else’s terms, that focus matters.
A proven fathers’ rights track record
We have secured full custody and expanded parenting time for fathers in Jefferson County. If work travel or schedule irregularity is being used against you, we know how to answer it in court.
The Round Table Brain Trust
Every case is reviewed by multiple attorneys and staff in collaborative strategy sessions, not left with one solo lawyer. You get the judgment of a full team on your file.
A Communication Guarantee you can verify
Proactive updates, responsive staff, and a secure Client Portal for your documents mean you are never left in the dark while paying a retainer.
Credentials this market respects
Super Lawyers since 2024, Avvo 10.0, AV Preeminent, 3,500-plus cases, and 250-plus years of combined experience.
How Is Spousal Maintenance Determined in a Colorado Divorce?
Spousal maintenance, also called alimony, is financial support paid by one spouse to the other during or after a divorce. It is not awarded automatically. When determining the amount and duration of maintenance, the court may consider:
- Each spouse’s income and financial resources
- The length of the marriage
- The marital lifestyle
- Each spouse’s age and health
- Employment history and earning capacity
- Contributions made to the marriage, including childcare and support of the other spouse’s career
- The division of marital property
- Domestic violence, economic abuse, or coercive control
- The paying spouse’s ability to meet their own needs
Where We Serve in Lakewood, Colorado
- Academy Park
- Applewood
- Bear Creek
- Belmar
- Carmody
- Creighton
- Daniels
- Denver West
- Eiber
- Edgewood
- Foothills
- Glennon Heights
- Green Mountain
- Kendrick Lake
- Lasley
- Molholm
- Morse Park
- North Alameda
- Rooney Valley
- South Alameda
- Thraemoor
- Union Square
Can I Modify a Custody or Parenting Time Order After My Divorce Is Final?
Yes. Colorado courts may modify parenting time or decision-making responsibilities when circumstances change and the requested modification serves the child’s best interests.
Common reasons for requesting a modification include:
- A parent’s work schedule changes
- One parent relocates
- The child’s school, health, or developmental needs change
- The existing schedule is no longer practical
- A parent repeatedly fails to follow the current order
- Safety, substance abuse, or domestic violence concerns arise
Parenting time schedules can often be adjusted without changing which parent has decision-making authority. A request to substantially change parenting time or modify major decision-making responsibilities may face stricter legal requirements, especially when it would significantly disrupt the child’s established arrangement.
Parents may submit an agreed modification to the court when they can reach a solution together. When they cannot agree, the parent requesting the change must file a motion and show why the proposed arrangement is in the child’s best interests.
Understanding Child Custody in Colorado
Colorado judges apply a single legal standard, the best interests of the child. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-124, courts must weigh at least 13 enumerated best-interest factors, including each parent’s willingness to encourage the child’s relationship with the other parent.
Two things get decided separately. Decision-making responsibility covers major choices like school, medical care, and religion. Parenting time covers the actual schedule of who has the children and when. You can win strong parenting time and still contest decision-making, or the reverse.
What moves a judge is evidence. Documented involvement, a stable home, and a cooperative co-parenting attitude carry real weight. Trying to cut the other parent out often backfires. A Child and Family Investigator or Parental Responsibilities Evaluator may be appointed to assess your family and report to the court, and their findings matter.
A child’s preference is considered when the child is mature enough. Domestic violence findings can restrict an offending parent’s time. Colorado law is gender-neutral, and our fathers’ rights work has produced full custody wins and expanded parenting time.
About Jones Law Firm, PC
At Jones Law Firm, we have been helping families since 2000. Across 3,500-plus cases and more than 250 years of combined attorney experience, the team has built a record in contested divorce and custody work, including full custody wins and expanded parenting time for fathers who assumed the system was stacked against them.
Our team holds Super Lawyers recognition, an Avvo 10.0, a AV Preeminent rating, a BBB A+, and 4.6-star Google reviews you can verify yourself before you ever call.
Every case runs through the Round Table Brain Trust, where multiple attorneys and staff strategize on your file together, so you get a full team instead of one overloaded lawyer.
With 6 offices across Colorado, including Denver, Greenwood Village, and Aurora, we are ready to fight for you
What Happens in a Contested Divorce in Colorado?
A divorce becomes contested when spouses cannot agree on one or more significant issues. Disputes commonly involve property and debt division, parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, child support, spousal maintenance, or the treatment of a family business or retirement account.
A contested divorce may involve:
- Formal financial disclosures
- Temporary orders for support, parenting time, or use of the home
- Discovery requests and depositions
- Property or business valuations
- Child and Family Investigator or parental responsibility evaluations
- Mediation or settlement conferences
- Pretrial motions and a final hearing
Contested cases usually require more preparation and take longer than divorces in which both spouses agree. For someone responding to a divorce petition, acting early is important because the final orders may affect parenting rights, property, and financial obligations for years
Our Process for Lakewood Clients
1. Intake and Consultation Scheduling
We confirm the basics of your situation and get you booked fast, because response deadlines in the Jefferson County Combined Court do not wait.
2. Free 45-Minute Consultation
You meet with a Client Relationship Specialist to lay out your goals, your assets, and your custody stakes. You get the good, the bad, and the ugly, not a sales pitch.
3. Agreement and Retainer
Once you decide to move forward, we sign the agreement and process your initial retainer so work can start immediately.
4. Team Assignment
Your dedicated attorney and paralegal are assigned and briefed. Through the Client Portal, you access documents and updates without chasing anyone down.
5. Round Table Brain Trust Strategy Session
Your full team meets to review the facts, flag risks, and build your response strategy. Multiple attorneys work your case, not one solo lawyer.
6. Ongoing Support and Communication Guarantee
Under Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 16.2, parties must exchange mandatory financial disclosures within 42 days of service, and that clock drives our pace. You stay informed at every step.
7. Case Closed and Follow-Up
When your case resolves, we stay reachable for modifications, enforcement, or whatever comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law in Lakewood
I was just served with divorce papers in Lakewood and my spouse already has a lawyer. What do I actually have to do now, and what happens if I ignore the deadline?
You have 21 days to file a formal response with the Jefferson County Combined Court in Golden if you were served in Colorado. Miss that window and your spouse can request a default judgment, which means the court can decide property division and parenting time without your input. File your response, then get counsel fast.
How long does a contested divorce actually take in Colorado, and does having assets like a home and retirement accounts drag it out longer?
Colorado requires a mandatory 91-day waiting period from the date of service before a divorce can finalize, but contested cases with real assets often run six months to a year or more.
Can a father actually get full custody or expanded parenting time in Jefferson County, or does the court default to the mother?
Colorado law does not favor mothers. Courts allocate parental responsibilities based on the best interests of the child under C.R.S. 14-10-124, and gender is not a consideration.
My spouse’s attorney is claiming my work travel makes me the less-involved parent. Can that really be used against me in a custody decision?
It can be raised, but it is not decisive on its own. Judges look at the full picture of your involvement: school routines, medical decisions, daily care, and the parenting schedule you actually maintain.
What is a protection order and how do I respond if one was filed against me during my divorce?
A protection order can restrict contact and remove you from your home. If one is filed against you, you have the right to a hearing to contest it, and you should never ignore the notice.
Do I really need my own lawyer if my spouse already hired one, or can we just work it out to save money?
If the other side has counsel and you do not, you are negotiating against a professional with no one protecting your interests. Their lawyer works for your spouse, not for a fair outcome.
How does the Round Table Brain Trust work, and why does it matter compared to hiring a solo attorney?
The Round Table Brain Trust means multiple attorneys and staff review and strategize on your case together. You get the combined judgment of a team with 3,500-plus cases and 250-plus years of combined experience behind every decision. A solo practitioner gives you one perspective.
Will I actually be able to reach my attorney, or am I going to be ghosted while paying a monthly retainer?
Jones Law Firm runs on a Communication Guarantee: proactive updates and responsive staff, plus a secure Client Portal for your documents and case communication.
Local Resources in Lakewood for Family Law Matters
- Jefferson County District Court
State trial court handling divorce, custody, and other civil matters for Jefferson County residents. - Jefferson County Combined Courts
Unified court facility where civil, criminal, and domestic cases are filed and heard. - Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder
Office that maintains marriage licenses, property records, and other official documents. - Jefferson County Department of Human Services
County agency overseeing child welfare, protective services, and public assistance programs. - Jefferson County Juvenile Court
Specialized court division presiding over matters involving minors, including dependency and neglect cases. - Jefferson County Legal Services
Nonprofit providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals in Jefferson County. - Jefferson County Assessor’s Office
Office that values real property and maintains ownership records used in asset division proceedings. - Jefferson County Mediation Services
Program offering neutral third-party mediation to help resolve disputes outside of courtroom litigation.
Speak With a Lakewood Family Law Attorney, Free 45-Minute Consultation
At Jones Law Firm, we fight for your parenting time, your share of the marital estate, and your financial footing, whether your case runs through the Golden courthouse or the negotiating table. We choose sides. Yours.
Start with a free 45-minute consultation. Your first call is with a Client Relationship Specialist who gives you straight answers, tells you the good, the bad, and the ugly, and maps what needs to happen next. No commitment. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.
If you want to understand your options before that call, review how we handle a contested divorce in Lakewood.
Call us to schedule your free 45-minute consultation. The sooner you call, the more room we have to build your strategy.
