Can We Settle Our Divorce Without Hiring Attorneys in Colorado?

People often reach out to our firm wondering if there is a way to settle their case without hiring individual lawyers. It makes sense: hiring an attorney, or two, if both parties are represented, is a massive financial undertaking. Many couples wisely want to preserve their marital estate and save money by avoiding a lengthy, lawyer-driven courtroom battle.

If you are considering this path, you are far from alone. According to data from the Colorado Judicial Branch, 75% of all initial divorce filings in Colorado were filed pro se (meaning without attorneys).

Your Options for a Pro Se Divorce in Colorado

If you choose to navigate a divorce in Colorado without a lawyer representing you individually, you have a couple of primary paths forward to reach a decree:

• Online Court Forms: The Colorado Judicial system provides free forms online that pro se parties can download, fill out, and file themselves.

• Colorado Divorce Mediation: Parties can work together to resolve their differences outside of a courtroom with a neutral professional. Mediation will help settle the substantive issues of your case, but you will still need to file the paperwork and your agreements with the Court.

  • In nearly every Court in Colorado, you will be required to go to mediation in order to get divorced. You will need to attend mediation whether you hire attorneys or not.

    
    

How a Family Law Attorney Mediator Can Help

If you decide you would like to settle your case in mediation without hiring attorneys, choosing a mediation professional who practices in family law is highly beneficial.

It is important to know that an attorney acting as a mediator cannot give individual legal advice or advocate for either side. However, their strong background in Colorado family law allows them to offer a highly effective approach known as evaluative mediation.

In an evaluative mediation, the neutral attorney mediator assesses the legal merits, strengths, and weaknesses of each party's position. While remaining entirely neutral, they use their vast knowledge of Colorado family law to give you a realistic "reality check" on how a judge might rule on custody or asset division. This legal expertise helps both parties cut through emotional standoffs and reach a fair, legally sound settlement that covers every detail of your divorce or custody case.

A mediator should remind both parties that they are always permitted to have an attorney review their agreement before signing, to determine if the agreement is in their best interest.

If you do decide to hire an attorney, they will go with you to the Court Ordered mediation. Your attorney will be able to give you legal advice and advocate for your position, while the mediator attempts to get both parties to come to an agreement. It is always a good idea to consult an attorney regarding your legal position. This blog post does not constitute legal advice.

Schedule a Consultation with Jennifer McDonald Law

You don't have to navigate the pro se process entirely alone. If you would like to discuss hiring an experienced family law attorney to act as a neutral mediator in your case, please contact our firm at Info@JenniferMcDonaldlaw.com.