Stage 3 of 7
Working Through the Case
After filing, there is a required middle period before anything can be formally resolved. Colorado courts mandate financial disclosure, a parenting education class, and — in almost all cases — mediation. Skipping or delaying these steps causes the case to stall and can hurt you at trial.
What happens in this stage
- 1Exchange detailed financial information through the Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111)
- 2Complete the mandatory parenting education program (required when children are involved)
- 3Attend mediation to try to reach agreement without a trial
- 4Use formal discovery if your spouse isn't voluntarily disclosing assets
- 5Involve expert evaluators if custody or parenting time is seriously disputed
Where you are
⚡ Key insight
Mediation is required before a contested hearing in Colorado, and most cases settle at or before mediation. Going in with a clear sense of your priorities — and your absolute bottom lines — makes a real difference in reaching a workable agreement.
Walk into mediation knowing your legal position
A pre-mediation strategy session helps you understand your rights, realistic outcomes under Colorado law, and what to push for before you negotiate. Many people don't realize how much this changes their results.
No ongoing commitment. Targeted help for specific tasks.
Required in every case
Steps the court requires before your case can move forward toward resolution, regardless of how much you and your spouse agree on.
Financial Disclosure
Colorado's mandatory financial disclosure requirements during divorce, including the Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111), supporting documents required, deadlines, and consequences of non-disclosure.
Parenting Education Requirement
Colorado's mandatory parenting education program for divorcing parents with minor children: what it covers, how to complete it, approved providers, and the deadline for compliance.
Mediation
Colorado's mediation requirement in family law cases: what mediation is, how to prepare, what to expect, costs, the mediator's role, and what happens if mediation fails to produce an agreement.
When disputes are serious
Additional tools and processes available when you cannot resolve key issues — especially about children — through negotiation alone.
Expert Witnesses and Evaluators
Court-appointed and party-retained experts in Colorado family law cases, including Child and Family Investigators (CFIs), Parental Responsibility Evaluators (PREs), and Guardians ad Litem (GALs): their roles, how they are appointed, scope of their investigation, and weight of their reports.
The Child's Voice in Proceedings
How a child's preferences and experiences are conveyed to the court in Colorado family law proceedings: through a CFI or PRE report, in-camera interview with the judge, or a GAL; the weight given to a child's stated preferences based on age and maturity; and why children do not testify in open court in Colorado family law cases.
Discovery
The formal exchange of information between parties in a divorce case, including interrogatories, requests for production of documents, depositions, and subpoenas to third parties.