At Jones Law Firm, PC, we represent individuals in divorce matters. Since 2000, our team has handled more than 3,500 family law cases across the Denver metro, including contested divorces and and high net worth divorces out of Westminster.
If your spouse filed first, you are the respondent, and someone else has already hired an attorney and set the clock running.
A divorce lawyer handles dividing marital property and debt, setting parenting time, calculating spousal maintenance, and arguing temporary orders while the case is pending. On the respondent side, the job starts with a response filed on deadline, then shifts to getting your position in front of the judge before the other side frames the story.
Colorado requires a mandatory 91-day waiting period after service of the divorce petition under Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-106 and 14-10-120, and divides marital property under an equitable distribution standard, so what happens in the first weeks shapes your exposure for years.
Westminster spans two counties, meaning your case is heard in Adams County District Court in Brighton or Jefferson County District Court in Golden. We know both courthouses, and we take the case off your plate starting with a free 45-minute consultation.
What People Say About Jones Law Firm
“She is sharp, quick and strong and we won my case decisively. Ms. Jones’ best quality is her ability to take charge.” M.K.
Taking charge is what a respondent needs when the other side filed first.
“It takes a truly talented firm to represent a father and ensure full custody of his daughter remains intact.” C.D.
Fathers’ rights cases are a core part of what this team litigates.
“Not a day went by when I did not receive a document, a question, or an answer from them.” A.A.
That is the Communication Guarantee in practice: no client left wondering what is happening with their case.
“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 filed response from a winning one.
“It made a difficult time of life softer while maintaining my dignity.” B.H.
Aggressive in the courtroom does not mean cold with clients.
Why Westminster Clients Choose Jones Law Firm
We Represent the Person Who Was Served
Respondent defense is our focus, not an afterthought. We know how to take a case someone else framed and reframe it around your goals, your parenting time, and your share of the marital property.
Round Table Brain Trust
Every case gets reviewed by multiple attorneys and staff in collaborative strategy sessions, so you are never relying on one person’s read of the file. With 250+ years of combined team experience and more than 3,500 cases handled, you get real depth from day one.
Communication Guarantee
You will not be left wondering what is happening. Proactive updates, responsive staff, and a secure Client Portal for your documents mean you always know where your case stands.
Fathers’ Rights Results in Adams and Jefferson County Courts
Westminster addresses split between Brighton and Golden, and we appear in both. We have won full custody and expanded parenting time for fathers in Adams and Jefferson County courts.
Credentials you can verify tonight
AV Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo 10.0, BBB A+, and Super Lawyers since 2024 for April Jones. According to the American Bar Association’s 2023 Profile of the Legal Profession, divorce litigants with private counsel reported satisfaction rates nearly double those of self-represented parties.
A Free 45-Minute Strategy Session in English or Spanish
You will meet with a Client Relationship Specialist, get clear on your deadlines, and talk openly about cost before you commit to anything.
How Jones Law Firm Helps Clients in Westminster, CO
- Respondent defense strategy
- Contested divorce representation
- Uncontested divorce filing
- Property and debt division
- Child custody determination
- Modifications
- Parenting plan negotiation
- Spousal maintenance calculation
- Temporary orders hearings
- High net worth asset valuation
- Fathers’ rights advocacy
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.
What Is Spousal Maintenance And Will I Have To Pay It In My Westminster Divorce?
Spousal maintenance, also called alimony, is money one spouse pays the other after a divorce when there is a real gap in income. Colorado uses advisory guidelines tied to the length of the marriage and both spouses’ gross incomes, but judges are not locked into that number. They can award more, less, a shorter term, or nothing at all.
Not every divorce ends in maintenance. If your spouse earns close to what you earn, or the marriage was short, an award may never come up. If you are the higher earner with a long marriage, expect it to be a central fight and expect your spouse’s attorney to push for the top of the range.
We argue spousal maintenance in both venues and bring bonus income, side businesses, and earning capacity into the math before your spouse’s attorney defines it for you.
How Long Does a Divorce Actually Take in Adams County or Jefferson County, Colorado?
Colorado law requires a minimum 91-day waiting period before a divorce can be finalized. That clock generally starts when the other spouse is served with the divorce papers or when both spouses file together.
The 91 days is only the legal minimum. A straightforward, uncontested divorce may be completed not long after that waiting period if both spouses agree on property division, parenting issues, support, and all required paperwork is filed correctly.
Contested divorces often take much longer. Disagreements over child custody, parenting time, maintenance, business interests, real estate, retirement accounts, or other significant assets can extend the case for several months or more. The court may also require mediation, financial disclosures, evaluations, or additional hearings before unresolved issues can be decided.
In both Adams County and Jefferson County, the actual timeline depends less on the 91-day rule and more on how quickly the parties can resolve the issues that need to be addressed before the judge can enter the final decree.
Who We Are
Jones Law Firm, PC has practiced family law since 2000, serving Westminster and the wider Denver metro from our Greenwood Village office. Our team brings 250+ years of combined experience and more than 3,500 cases handled, built around one idea that we choose sides. Yours.
Every case runs through our Round Table Brain Trust, where multiple attorneys and staff strategize together, and every client is backed by our Communication Guarantee and a secure Client Portal. We serve clients in English and Spanish.
According to the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Registration, Colorado has roughly 22,600 active licensed attorneys, which makes it worth identifying counsel with real domestic relations experience.
April Jones has been named to Super Lawyers, Jimena Mohedas to Rising, and the firm holds an Avvo 10.0, a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, and BBB A+ accreditation.
From First Call to Resolution in Westminster
1. Intake Qualification
Your first contact is a short screening call to confirm we can help and get your consultation on the calendar fast.
2. Free 45-Minute Consultation
You meet with a Client Relationship Specialist who reviews the facts, assesses your position, and explains your options and what representation costs.
3. Round Table Brain Trust Strategy Session
Our attorneys and staff review your case together and build one coordinated plan, so you get multiple perspectives from the start.
4. Response Or Filing Preparation
We draft your response or petition, complete your Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111), and address the automatic temporary injunction that limits what either spouse can do with marital property.
5. Temporary Orders Hearing
If you need parenting time, support, or asset protection locked in right away, we ask the court for temporary orders rather than waiting months.
6. Discovery And Mandatory Disclosures
Under C.R.C.P. 16.2 both sides must exchange financial records, and we press for appraisals and valuations on the home, retirement accounts, and business or equity interests.
7. Mediation Or Negotiation
We push for a settlement that protects your parenting plan and your share of marital property, and we tell you plainly when a deal is not worth signing.
8. Trial Or Final Orders
If your case needs a judge, we argue it at Adams County District Court in Brighton or Jefferson County District Court in Golden.
9. Decree And Post-Decree Follow-Through
After your decree of dissolution, we monitor compliance and keep your documents and case updates available through the secure Client Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce
My Spouse Filed In Adams County But I Think Jefferson County Applies. Can I Change The Court?
Usually no. Venue is generally proper where either spouse lives, and Westminster straddles both counties, so a filing in Brighton is typically valid even if you sit on the Jefferson County side.
What Is The Automatic Temporary Injunction And What Does It Stop Me From Doing?
The moment you are served, an automatic injunction takes effect in every Colorado divorce. You cannot sell, transfer, hide, or borrow against marital property, cancel insurance policies, or move the children out of state without written consent or a court order.
We Are Both On The Deed To The House. How Does Colorado Divide It?
Colorado divides marital property equitably, which means fairly, not automatically 50/50.
How Is Spousal Maintenance Calculated In Colorado?
Courts start with a statutory guideline formula based on both incomes and how long you were married, then decide whether that figure is actually fair. The guideline is advisory, not mandatory, so judges can deviate based on assets, earning capacity, and need.
Does It Matter Who Filed First For Divorce?
Legally, no. Filing first does not give your spouse an advantage on custody, property, or maintenance.
What Happens To My 401(k) Or Pension In A Colorado Divorce?
Contributions and growth during the marriage are marital property, regardless of whose name is on the account. Dividing it typically requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, a separate court order sent to your plan administrator.
Can I Move With My Kids During Or After The Divorce?
Not without the other parent’s written consent or a court order while the case is open, and the automatic injunction enforces that.
How Does The Court Decide Parenting Time When Both Parents Stay In Westminster?
Judges apply the best interests of the child standard and look at each parent’s involvement, work schedule, the children’s school and activities, and each parent’s willingness to support the other’s relationship. Living close together helps, because week-on/week-off and 5-2-2-5 schedules become realistic.
What If I Think My Spouse Is Hiding Assets?
Colorado requires both spouses to file sworn financial disclosures, and hiding assets carries real consequences including sanctions and an unequal property award.
Local Resources in Westminster for Divorce Cases
- Adams County District Court
State trial court handling family law cases for residents in the Adams County portion of Westminster. - Jefferson County District Court
Handles family law filings for residents on the Jefferson County side of the city. - Adams County Clerk and Recorder
Office where marriage licenses and official vital records are filed and obtained. - Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder
Maintains property records, marriage documents, and other official filings for the Jefferson County portion of the area. - Adams County Human Services
County agency providing child welfare, financial assistance, and support services to families in need. - Jefferson County Human Services
Offers child support enforcement, protective services, and family assistance programs. - Colorado Child Support Services
State program that establishes and enforces child support orders through county offices. - Adams County Assessor
Determines property values used in asset division proceedings involving real estate. - Jefferson County Assessor
Provides official property valuations relevant to equitable distribution of marital assets. - Westminster City Hall
Municipal offices where residents can access city services, records, and local government information. - Family Crisis Center
Nonprofit organization serving Adams and Broomfield counties that provides emergency shelter and support for survivors of domestic violence.
Schedule Your Free Divorce Consultation with Jones Law Firm in Westminster
The response clock started the day you were served, and every day you wait is a day your spouse’s attorney gets to work uncontested. Your free 45-minute consultation costs nothing, is completely confidential, and you will leave knowing where you stand, what deadline you are facing, and what your first move should be.
We Choose Sides. Yours. Our team knows the Adams County courthouse in Brighton and the Jefferson County courthouse in Golden, and we build respondent strategy around getting you in front of the right judge with the right position.
Our Communication Guarantee means you are never left wondering what is happening, and our secure Client Portal keeps your documents and case updates in one place.
Call us to book your free consultation with a Client Relationship Specialist, or request your time online. We serve clients throughout Westminster in English and Spanish.
