Chapter 4 - § 4.7 • RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN'S ISSUES

• Jurisdiction: Colorado

§ 4.7 • RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN'S ISSUES

The allocation of parental responsibilities raises issues concerning the child that are frequently a source of great anger and emotion between divorcing parties. However, there are many excellent resources available to the parties to help them work through the issues. Use of child and family investigators, parenting coordinators, decision-makers, legal representatives, and arbitrators is addressed in Chapter 18, "Court-Appointed Neutrals."

§ 4.7.1—Parenting Seminars

There are many excellent therapists and counselors in Colorado who are trained and experienced in issues concerning children that often arise in the context of a dissolution or legal separation. These professionals offer individual counseling and many also offer group programs or seminars on child development, co-parenting, communication, and related matters.

Colorado law authorizes a court to order a parent to attend a program concerning the impact of separation and dissolution on children, and most courts in Colorado now require parties to an action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation that involves a child to attend a parenting seminar, regardless of whether the allocation of parental responsibilities is in dispute. C.R.S. § 14-10-123.7. Generally, court-ordered parenting seminars last about four hours and cost a nominal amount. Topics covered generally include child development, communication, co-parenting, children's needs, and common problem areas. When attendance at a parenting seminar or class is required, proof of attendance must be filed with the court by each party unless the seminar sponsor routinely notifies the court of attendance.

Practice Pointer
Most courts will allow attendance at any reasonable parenting class or seminar, or participation in counseling, instead of the court-ordered seminar, so long as similar topics are covered. To obtain court authority for the client to attend an

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