If there's abuse, Colorado offers civil protection orders, fast, through the courts, and abuse is directly relevant to parenting decisions.

When a relationship involves violence, threats, stalking, or coercive control, the ordinary divorce playbook ("stay in the house," "gather documents") can be dangerous, and safety planning comes first. Colorado law lets a victim seek a civil protection order, which can require the other person to stay away, leave the home, and stop all contact, and can address temporary parenting and support. You can get a temporary protection order quickly and then a hearing for a permanent one, and you can pursue it separately from (and alongside) a divorce.

If you're in immediate danger, call 911. For planning and support, a domestic violence advocate or a hotline can help you make a safety plan, find shelter, and navigate the court process confidentially. Abuse also matters in the divorce itself. It's directly relevant to the allocation of parental responsibilities under the best-interests standard, and a recent law even lets courts consider a protection order when dividing property.

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Colorado

Colorado, USA