A plain-English field guide for Longmont families
What is happening in your family right now?
Pick the door that fits. Each one goes straight to clear answers drawn from Colorado's own court resources, with a Longmont lawyer a phone call away.
In danger right now? Call 911.
Just served?
You have a deadline. Here it is.
Sources: JDF 1012 Summons; C.R.C.P. 12(a)(1); C.R.C.P. 12(a)(2); C.R.S. 14-10-107 (4)(a). The day you were served is not counted.
Do these five things this week
- Write down the date and how you were served. Keep every page you received.
- Read the automatic court orders on the summons and follow them. Do not move money, take the children out of Colorado, or change insurance without permission or a court order.
- Do not ignore it. If you do not respond, the court may decide the case without your input.
- Prepare your response. The court's form is JDF 1015, Response to the Petition, filed online or at the courthouse with a fee or a fee waiver request.
- Talk to a lawyer before you file anything or sign an agreement.
Which court is mine?
Find your county court
You file in the county where you or your spouse lives. Longmont and several nearby towns sit in two counties, so the street address decides.
See every city on one list
- Berthoud: Larimer County or Weld County (depends on the street address)
- Boulder: Boulder County
- Brighton: Adams County or Weld County (depends on the street address)
- Broomfield: City and County of Broomfield
- Dacono: Weld County
- Erie: Weld County or Boulder County (depends on the street address)
- Evans: Weld County
- Firestone: Weld County
- Fort Collins: Larimer County
- Fort Lupton: Weld County
- Frederick: Weld County
- Greeley: Weld County
- Johnstown: Weld County or Larimer County (depends on the street address)
- Lafayette: Boulder County
- Longmont: Boulder County or Weld County (depends on the street address)
- Louisville: Boulder County
- Loveland: Larimer County
- Lyons: Boulder County
- Mead: Weld County
- Milliken: Weld County
- Nederland: Boulder County
- Niwot: Boulder County
- Platteville: Weld County
- Superior: Boulder County or Jefferson County (depends on the street address)
- Windsor: Weld County or Larimer County (depends on the street address)
Filing rule: Colorado Judicial Branch, Divorce or Legal Separation. Court names, addresses and phone numbers: the official court page linked on each result. Judicial districts: C.R.S. 13-5-102 to 13-5-121. County lines: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb current boundaries.
Words you will hear
The family court glossary
- Allocation of parental responsibilities # Link
Colorado's term for what many states call custody. The court decides parenting time and decision-making responsibility according to the child's best interests.
Source: Colorado Judicial Branch glossary, C.R.S. 14-10-124- Decree # Link
The court's final order that ends the marriage, or legally separates the spouses, and sets the terms. The court's form is JDF 1019.
Source: JDF 1019 Decree (bilingual)- Maintenance # Link
Colorado's term for spousal support, also called alimony. The court decides it without regard to marital misconduct.
Source: Colorado Judicial Branch glossary, C.R.S. 14-10-114 (2)- Colorado Child & Family Investigator # Link
A neutral person the court may appoint under section 14-10-116.5 in a case about parental responsibilities, to investigate, report and make recommendations to the court about the children's best interests, as the court's written order of appointment directs.
Source: Judicial Branch program page, C.R.S. 14-10-116.5- Response # Link
The paper the served spouse files to take part in the case, usually form JDF 1015. It is due within 21 days of service in Colorado, or 35 days if served outside Colorado or by publication.
Source: JDF 1012 Summons, C.R.C.P. 12(a)(1), C.R.C.P. 12(a)(2)- Parenting time # Link
The time each parent is court-ordered to have with the child. The court sets it in the child's best interests, with the child's safety always paramount.
Source: Colorado Judicial Branch glossary, C.R.S. 14-10-124 (1.5)(a)
Official resources
Go straight to the source
Your lawyer, start to finish
Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr.
When a guide is not enough, you talk to the lawyer, not a call center. Attorney Liken has worked family cases as an investigator, a prosecutor, a court-appointed Colorado Child & Family Investigator and a private attorney.
- Former Colorado Deputy District Attorney
- Colorado court-appointed Child & Family Investigator
- 700+ government fraud investigations
- 30+ years in the legal field
- Licensed in Colorado
Talk it through
Get a straight answer about your situation
Twenty minutes, no charge, no obligation. Attorney Liken calls you at the time you choose.
Office telephone 303-406-2791
Office fax number 720-713-7147
Email charles@longmont.law
Office mailing address
The Longmont Law Firm, LLC
1601 29th St. Suite 1292
Boulder, CO 80301
Please do not send confidential details by email before we speak. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.