Decisions regarding who gets to take care of the children in a divorce or custody battle are never easy ones. These decisions involve who will be making major decisions for the children, as well as where the children will live.

While Colorado courts prefer that both parents be actively involved, some situations do exist where one parent is given sole decision-making responsibilities over the parties’ children.

UNDERSTANDING PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In the State of Colorado, what is commonly referred to as custody falls under the realm of parental responsibilities, more specifically decision-making. Parental responsibility is actually divided into two parts: decision-making and parenting time.

Decision-making can either be joint or sole, and this term describes who will make the major decisions for the child, concerning all medical, educational, religious and extra-curricular activities. Parenting time is the schedule or time that the child will spend with each parent, called a parenting plan.

No one situation is the same. Courts ideally would like to see both parents actively involved in the child’s life, but unfortunately, sometimes that cannot be the case. While joint decision-making is the norm in Colorado, other arrangements can be made if it is found to be in the best interests of the child.

PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL CUSTODIAN

If the child spends an equal number of overnights with both parents, the parents are said to have joint parental responsibility. If anyone has 183 overnight (or more) with the child, they are considered the primary residential custodian. This is the parent with which the child lives with primarily.

Parents are able to petition the court to become the primary residential custodian. If the parties do not live close in proximity to each other, and they wish to keep the child in one school district and avoid disruption in daily routine, it often makes sense for the child to be with one parent more than the other. Colorado courts want to see parental involvement from both parents, but this can be done through a flexible parenting time schedule and open communication between parent and child.

SOLE DECISION-MAKING RESPONSIBILITY

Unlike being the primary residential custodian, decision-making responsibility involves making the major decisions for the child. These decisions include financial, legal, extracurricular, religious, medical and educational decisions. If one parent has the sole decision making responsibility for making these decisions, he or she can do this without consulting the other parent first.

If the parents are given joint decision-making responsibility, parents will need to make these decisions together and will need to consult each other before making big decisions for the child. While small day-to-day decisions may come up and may need to be made by whichever parent has the child that day, the big ones must involve both parents in a joint decision-making situation.

As opposed to being primary residential custodian, Colorado courts prefer to give parents joint decision-making responsibilities for the child. The courts prefer to not give one parent control over all major decisions on behalf of the child. If one parent wants to have sole decision-making responsibilities, that parent will need to prove that the other parent is not fit to be able to make these decisions. It can be a hard burden to meet, but it is possible in certain situations.

SOLE DECISION-MAKING FACTORS

That brings the questions of what factors play into whether one parent is given sole decision-making responsibility for the children.

For instance, if there has been a history of illegal substance or alcohol abuse, courts may believe it is best that the parent suffering from this issue not be given the authority to make these big decisions. If the parent also has a history of abusing the child, physically, emotionally or sexually, the other parent may be given the right to make decisions. Also, if the parent is not competent or able to properly make these important life decisions, the court may choose to have the other parent make the major decisions for the child.

It is ultimately up to the parent seeking to have sole decision-making authority to prove these factors, and the other parent is able to dispute the evidence submitted.

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Divorce is complicated and can be a stressful matter for anyone, and I am here to help you through the process. Call the Law Offices of Kelli J Malcolm today for your consultation at 720-261-7287.