Initial custody determinations typically arise upon the filing of a divorce proceeding or when two unmarried individuals initiate a child custody or parentage action. However, child custody issues can also arise when modification to or enforcement of an existing child custody agreement is necessary.  Under New Mexico law, custody and timesharing are distinct from one another. There are two types of custody: Legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody pertains to a parent’s authority to make legal decisions over the child, such as the child’s religious upbringing, education ..read more

To be granted a divorce in New Mexico, one or both parties must have been residing in New Mexico for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the filing of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and is domiciled in New Mexico. What does “domicile” mean? Domicile means that an individual is (1) physically present in the state and has a place of residence in it, and (2) has a present, good faith intention to reside in New Mexico permanently and indefinitely.[1] The party who initially files the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is known as the Petitioner. There are ..read more

To be granted a divorce in Colorado, several requirements must be satisfied: (1) One or both parties must have been residing in the state for a minimum of ninety-one (91) days; (2) ninety-one (91) days must have passed between the filing of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or the non-filing party was properly served (whichever occurred later), (3) Colorado must have personal jurisdiction over the respondent, and (4) if there are children of the marriage, they must have resided in Colorado for a minimum of one-hundred-eighty-one (181) days. The party who initially files the&nb ..read more