Navigating Legal Custody and Decision-Making for Children in Divorce | Episode 199

Decision-Making for Children After Divorce in ColoradoIn this episode of Divorce at Altitude, Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha break down one of the most important parenting issues in a Colorado divorce: how parents make major decisions for their children after separation. While many people still use the word “custody,” Colorado law separates parenting issues into two categories: parenting time and decision-making. Parenting time refers to when the children are with each parent, while decision-making concerns the major choices that shape a child’s life.Ryan and Amy explain that decision-making covers the big issues, not everyday matters. Day-to-day choices—like what a child wears to school or what they eat for breakfast—are made by the parent who has the child at that time. Decision-making, by contrast, includes major areas such as medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and sometimes religion. Education disputes may include whether a child should attend private or public school, or which school district the child should attend. Medical disputes can involve more significant healthcare decisions, including vaccinations or treatment plans. Extracurricular activities can become especially contentious because they often involve both time and money.Episode HighlightsWhat “Decision-Making” Means in Colorado Colorado uses the term decision-making instead of legal custody and separates it from parenting time.Major Decisions vs. Daily Choices Decision-making covers education, medical care, extracurriculars, and sometimes religion—not routine day-to-day parenting.Joint vs. Sole Decision-Making Courts can order joint decision-making, sole decision-making, or even split decision-making by category.Best Interests of the Child Standard Colorado courts focus on what arrangement best serves the child’s welfare, stability, and long-term needs.Domestic Violence Matters A history of abuse, coercion, or control can strongly affect whether joint decision-making is appropriate.Past Involvement Still Counts Judges may consider which parent historically handled school, medical, and extracurricular decisions—but parents can also grow into bigger roles after separation.What is Divorce at Altitude? Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha provide tips and recommendations on issues related to divorce, separation, and co-parenting in Colorado. Ryan and Amy are the founding partners of an innovative and ambitious law firm, Kalamaya | Goscha, that pushes the boundaries to discover new frontiers in family law, personal injuries, and criminal defense in Colorado. To subscribe to Divorce at Altitude, click here and select your favorite podcast player. To subscribe to Kalamaya | Goscha's YouTube channel where many of the episodes will be posted as videos, click here.  If you have additional questions or would like to speak to one of our attorneys, give us a call at 970-429-5784 or email us at [email protected].************************************************************************DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS ON THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE. CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE OR AREA TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.