At Jones Law Firm, PC, we represent people across Centennial in divorce. Since 2000 we have practiced Colorado family law and nothing else, serving more than 4,000 Colorado families.
Our founder, April D. Jones, is Vice President of the Colorado Bar Association and its 2027 President, and the firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
A divorce case legally ends your marriage and sets the terms you will live under afterward: parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, and how property and debt get divided. If your spouse filed first, you are the respondent, which simply means the case started without you.
Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-106(1)(a)(III), a Colorado court cannot finalize a divorce until at least 91 days have passed since the petition was filed and served. What gets decided in those first weeks at the Arapahoe County Justice Center often shapes the final orders.
We start with a free 45-minute consultation, tell you straight which path fits your situation, and keep you updated while you keep showing up for work.
In Our Clients’ Own Words
“April is well prepared and understands the law and court processes well beyond anything I have experienced, ensuring success.” J.M.
“You get the power of a firm behind the attorney. The support staff is efficient, thorough and friendly.” A.M.
“It takes a truly talented firm to represent a father and ensure full custody of his daughter remains intact.” C.D.
“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.
“She encouraged me to settle as much as possible to cut down on costs.” J.B.
Why Clients Come to Jones Law Firm in Centennial
Twenty+ Years, One Practice Area
Colorado family law only, since 2000, with more than 4,000 families served. That depth means we can tell you what is likely to happen in your case before it happens, including how Arapahoe County courts tend to handle parenting time.
Round Table Brain Trust
Multiple attorneys and staff review every case together, so your strategy is never stuck inside one person’s head and no deadline rides on one calendar.
A Full Team, Not a Solo Attorney
Forty-four people, including 17 attorneys and 13 paralegals, working in attorney-plus-paralegal pairs. Your calls still get answered when your attorney is in court.
Communication Guarantee
Proactive updates and digital access to your documents, built for people who cannot take calls all day. You will not be left wondering what happened at your hearing.
Mediation-Ready, Litigation-Proven
According to Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-129.5, parties must generally attempt mediation before a Colorado court will decide a contested parenting time dispute, except where domestic violence is involved. We prepare you to resolve it there if possible, and to win if it does not.
Will I Have to Pay Spousal Support if We Both Work Full Time?
Not necessarily. The fact that both spouses work full time does not automatically prevent an award of spousal maintenance, but the court will closely examine each spouse’s income, financial resources, reasonable needs, and ability to support themselves after the divorce.
Courts may consider factors such as the length of the marriage, the standard of living established during the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, and whether one spouse has a financial need that the other has the ability to meet.
When both spouses earn similar incomes and can independently meet their reasonable needs, maintenance may be minimal or unnecessary. A significant income gap, however, can still support a maintenance request even when both spouses are employed full time.
Our Divorce Representation Services in Centennial
- Contested divorce representation
- Uncontested divorce filings
- Collaborative divorce process
- Property and asset division
- Spousal maintenance calculations
- Child custody arrangements
- Child support determinations
- Parenting time schedules
- Legal separation filings
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.
How Long Does It Take To Get Divorced In Centennial, CO?
Colorado requires at least 91 days from the date the other spouse is served before a judge can finalize a divorce. That clock started the moment you were served, so you are not as far behind as it feels.
Cases where both spouses agree on parenting time, support, and finances often finish close to that 91-day minimum. Contested cases run longer, usually six months to a year or more, because disputes over assets or a parenting schedule require hearings and the Arapahoe County District Court docket fills up fast.
What drives your timeline is how far apart you and your spouse are on the children’s schedule, whether support numbers are disputed, and how property gets divided. Resolving two of those three in mediation can cut months and thousands of dollars off the process.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Centennial
Colorado uses statutory child support guidelines to determine how much support should be paid. The calculation generally considers both parents’ incomes, parenting time, the number of children involved, work-related childcare expenses, health insurance costs, and certain other permitted adjustments.
Colorado’s current guidelines also provide parenting-time credit based on overnights spent with each parent.
Because the calculation depends heavily on the financial information provided by both parents, accurate income reporting is important. Issues such as bonuses, self-employment income, commissions, or underemployment can significantly affect the final amount.
Parents can agree on child support terms, but the court is not required to accept an amount simply because both parties agree to it. Any agreement must still comply with Colorado law and adequately provide for the child’s needs.
Our Process in Centennial
1. Intake Qualification And Consultation Scheduling
A quick first call confirms your situation, your county, and your deadlines. We schedule your free consultation around your work hours, including remote options.
2. Free 45-Minute Consultation
You sit down with a Client Relationship Specialist who walks through what was filed, what the court expects from you next, and what the fees look like. No cost, no pressure, and you leave knowing your options.
3. Agreement Signed And Retainer Processed
Once you decide to move forward, we handle the engagement agreement and initial retainer so work can start immediately. You get clear numbers up front, not surprises later.
4. Your Attorney And Paralegal Team Is Assigned
A named attorney and paralegal are assigned to your case, and your intake materials go out right away. Two people know your file, so calls get answered even when your attorney is in court.
5. Round Table Strategy Session
Your case goes to the firm’s collaborative strategy review, where multiple attorneys and staff weigh in on custody, support, and the fastest realistic path, whether that is mediation or litigation. Your case never lives inside one person’s head.
6. Ongoing Support Through Resolution
Your legal team, administrative staff, and billing contacts stay accessible through the secure client portal, backed by our Communication Guarantee. You are never left guessing where things stand.
7. Case Closed And Follow-Up
When your orders are final, we close the file and check back in on how your next chapter is going.
How Do Colorado Courts Decide Parenting Time and Decision-Making?
Colorado courts decide parenting time and decision-making responsibilities based on the best interests of the child. The court does not automatically favor one parent because of that parent’s sex, and current law does not create a presumption that one parent should receive more parenting time than the other.
When determining parenting time, judges may consider the child’s relationship with each parent, the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community, the parents’ ability to encourage a healthy relationship with the other parent, and each parent’s ability to place the child’s needs first.
For major decisions involving issues such as education, medical care, and religion, the court also considers whether the parents can cooperate and make decisions together.The goal is to create a parenting arrangement that supports the child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs rather than simply dividing time equally between the parents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce
What Does A Divorce Lawyer In Centennial Actually Cost, And How Do Retainers Work?
Most Colorado family law firms bill hourly against an upfront retainer, and the retainer size depends on whether your case is contested, how many assets are in play, and whether custody is disputed. An uncontested divorce costs a fraction of a contested case that runs through temporary orders, discovery, and a permanent orders hearing.
I Was Just Served Divorce Papers In Arapahoe County. How Long Do I Have To Respond?
You generally have 21 days from the date of personal service in Colorado, or 35 days if you were served outside the state. Missing that deadline lets the court move forward without your input, which is the worst position to be in when custody and support are on the table.
Does Colorado Have A Waiting Period, And How Long Will My Divorce Take?
Colorado requires at least 91 days from the date the other spouse is served or files a response before a judge can finalize anything, and one spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days before filing. An agreed case may close near that 91-day mark.
Who Gets To Keep The House When We Both Have Kids And A Joint Mortgage?
Colorado is an equitable distribution state, so the court divides marital property fairly, which is not always 50/50. The house is often awarded to the parent with the majority of parenting time, with that parent refinancing to remove the other from the loan and offsetting the equity elsewhere.
Do Both Spouses Need Their Own Attorney, Or Can We Share One?
One lawyer cannot represent both spouses in a Colorado divorce because it is a conflict of interest. You can use a neutral mediator to reach an agreement and each have an attorney review the paperwork, which keeps costs down.
Can Mediation Work If My Spouse Filed Without Warning?
Yes, and most Arapahoe County cases settle before a contested hearing. Colorado courts commonly order mediation before permanent orders, and reaching agreement there saves months and a large share of the legal fees.
Local Resources in Centennial For Divorce Cases
- Arapahoe County District Court
The state trial court handling family law filings, hearings, and orders for Arapahoe County residents. - Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder
Maintains official county records including marriage licenses and real property documents. - Arapahoe County Human Services
Provides child welfare, support enforcement, and social services for families in the county. - Arapahoe County Assessor
Values real property for tax purposes, relevant when dividing marital assets involving real estate. - Arapahoe County Combined Courts, Family Division
The specific division of the district court that presides over custody, support, and property matters. - Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office
Responsible for serving legal process, including protection orders and court summonses.
Talk to a Centennial Divorce Lawyer Today
Responding to a divorce filing on a deadline while holding down a full-time job is a lot to carry alone. The free 45-minute consultation costs nothing and is the fastest way to find out where you stand, what the next 30 days require, and what your options look like for custody, support, and your kids’ schedule.
Call us to schedule yours and start getting your footing back.
