Post-Decree Modifications in Denver

Changing Court Orders When Life Changes

A Colorado divorce decree or custody order is legally binding when entered, but it’s not permanent. When circumstances shift in a meaningful way, either parent can ask the court to revisit the existing terms. At Curtis Law Firm, we’ve been helping Denver metro families navigate post-decree modifications for over 15 years, with direct attorney involvement on every case and full bilingual services in Spanish.

If your circumstances have changed since your original order was entered, call us at (720) 408-7726 to discuss whether a modification may be available to you.

Types of Orders That Can Be Modified in Colorado

Post-decree modifications are legal requests filed with the court to change existing orders after a final decree. Colorado courts can revisit several types of orders, depending on what has changed and how the original decree was structured.

• Parenting time: A shift in a child’s age, school schedule, or a parent’s work hours can make an existing parenting time schedule impractical. Courts can modify the schedule to reflect current realities.
• Decision-making responsibilities: When one parent consistently fails to cooperate or violates the existing order, a modification to the allocation of parental responsibilities may be warranted.
• Child support: Under C.R.S. 14-10-122, child support can be modified when a substantial and continuing change in circumstances would result in at least a 10% difference in the monthly amount owed. Child support can’t be made nonmodifiable.
• Spousal maintenance: If maintenance was designated as modifiable in the decree, a substantial and continuing change in circumstances can support a request to revise the amount or duration. Spousal maintenance designated nonmodifiable in the decree can’t be changed.
• Related parental obligations: Parties can also seek changes to obligations covering health insurance, unreimbursed medical expenses, extracurricular costs, and private school tuition.
• Relocation: A parent seeking to move out of state with a child must obtain a custody modification, which involves procedural steps beyond a standard parenting time change.

The Colorado Legal Standard: Substantial & Continuing Change

The central challenge in any Denver post-decree modification case is satisfying the substantial and continuing change in circumstances standard. This threshold exists to prevent parties from returning to court over minor or temporary fluctuations.

For child support, Colorado courts won’t consider a change substantial unless it would shift the monthly support amount by at least 10%. A temporary drop in income is unlikely to qualify as “continuing” because the change must represent a lasting shift. The burden for modifying spousal maintenance is generally higher than for child support.

Timing matters as well. If a modification is granted, courts typically make it effective as of the date the motion was filed, not the date of the hearing, so filing promptly after a qualifying change can make a meaningful financial difference. One important procedural note: a motion to change a child’s primary parent generally requires a two-year waiting period between filings, though a motion to adjust parenting time can be filed at any time. Colorado courts assess all proposed custody and parenting changes against the best interests of the child.

Why Denver Families Choose Curtis Law Firm

Modification cases require someone who knows Colorado family law and knows your situation. Our clients work directly with attorneys, not paralegals or legal assistants. That means the person advising you understands the specifics of your original decree, your current circumstances, and how Denver-area courts approach these matters.

Personalized Attention
We don’t manage modification cases in bulk. Each client receives individualized attention tailored to their specific goals, whether that’s adjusting a parenting schedule, recalculating child support after a job change, or addressing a proposed relocation.

Bilingual Services in Spanish
We handle post-decree modification cases in Spanish. For Denver’s Spanish-speaking community, that means working through every stage of the process in your preferred language, from the initial consultation through any court proceedings.

Flexible & Affordable Representation
We offer both full representation and unbundled legal services, so you can choose the level of help that fits your needs and budget. Affordable fees, payment plan options, and financing are available. We serve clients across Jefferson County, Douglas County, Arapahoe County, Adams County, Denver County, and El Paso County.

Curtis Law Firm is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Arapahoe County Bar Association, and the Denver Bar Association.

Discuss Your Modification Options Today

If something significant has changed since your original order was entered, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Call Curtis Law Firm at (720) 408-7726 or reach out through our online contact form to talk through your situation. Consultations in Spanish are available, and we serve clients throughout the Denver metro area and surrounding Colorado counties.