Facing a child custody hearing in Colorado can feel more intimidating than almost anything else you have been through. You may be lying awake at night running through worst case scenarios, worrying about how a judge will see you as a parent, and what it would mean to lose time with your child. That level of stress is common, but you are not powerless in this process.
What you do in the weeks and months before your hearing can make a real difference. Colorado judges do not decide custody based on who tells the most emotional story. They look at specific information about your child’s life, your parenting, and the plan you are asking the court to approve. This guide focuses on child custody hearing preparation in Colorado, so you know what really matters and where to spend your energy.
At The Gasper Law Group, we represent parents in Colorado Springs and across Southern Colorado in divorce, custody, and parenting time cases. We regularly prepare parents, including servicemembers from nearby military installations, for hearings in local courts. The goal of this article is to share the same kind of practical, step by step guidance we use with our own clients, so you can walk into court more organized, more confident, and better able to show your commitment to your child’s best interests.
What Colorado Child Custody Hearings Are Really About
Many parents walk into a custody hearing thinking the judge is going to choose who is the “better” parent or punish the person who behaved badly in the relationship. Colorado custody hearings work differently. Judges are required to base decisions on the “best interests of the child.” That standard focuses on your child’s needs and circumstances, not on who won past arguments or who felt more hurt in the breakup.
In practical terms, best interests means the court looks at things like your child’s physical safety, emotional health, and day to day stability. Judges consider how involved each parent has been with school, medical care, and activities, whether the child has strong ties to their current community, and whether each parent can put the child’s needs ahead of anger toward the other parent. If there are serious concerns such as substance use or family violence, the court generally weighs those as part of the overall picture.
Colorado law also separates two big pieces of custody. One is parenting time, which is where the child lives and when they are with each parent. The other is decision making responsibility, which covers major decisions about education, medical care, and religion. A hearing might deal with both. Judges usually look for arrangements that allow a child to maintain strong, safe relationships with both parents, as long as that is consistent with their best interests.
Parents are often surprised at how focused judges are on practical details rather than dramatic stories. A parent who can clearly explain their child’s routine, describe how they help with homework, show that they attend medical and school appointments, and propose a realistic schedule will typically come across as more credible than someone who only talks about the other parent’s flaws. In hearings across Southern Colorado, judges tend to respond best to parents who bring organized information and a child focused proposal instead of turning the hearing into a replay of the breakup.
Clarifying Your Goals and Parenting Plan Before the Hearing
Before you can prepare for a custody hearing, you need to be very clear about what you are asking the court to do. Many people come in saying they want “full custody,” but that phrase does not tell the judge much. You will be in a stronger position if you translate your goals into a detailed parenting plan that shows exactly how your child’s time and important decisions will be handled.
A solid parenting plan in Colorado covers the weekly schedule, holiday and vacation time, transportation, communication between parents, and how you will resolve disagreements. For example, your plan might say that your child is with you from after school Monday through Friday morning, with exchanges at school, and with the other parent from Friday after school through Sunday evening. It might alternate Thanksgiving and Winter Break every other year, and set out times for vacation trips, video calls, and how you will share information about school and medical issues.
Judges also want to see that your proposal fits your real life. If you work early morning shifts, you should explain who gets your child ready for school and how that will work during your parenting time. If your child is deeply rooted in a particular school or activity in Colorado Springs or elsewhere in Southern Colorado, your plan should respect that routine. Parents who offer schedules that do not match their work hours or the child’s needs tend to look less credible, because the details do not line up.
For military families and parents with irregular shifts, planning is even more important. Deployments, training, and PCS moves can disrupt routines, but they do not automatically count against you. Parents in the service can show the court that they are thinking ahead by including backup caregivers, clear communication expectations during deployment, and provisions for make up parenting time when they return. At The Gasper Law Group, we often help servicemembers build parenting plans that work around deployments, training, and unusual work hours, which shows the court that they are serious about preserving their child’s stability even when their schedule is demanding.
Gathering Documents and Evidence That Actually Help Your Case
Parents often assume they should bring every text message, photo, and school paper they have ever collected. Judges do not have time to sort through boxes of unorganized material. The strongest preparation focuses on gathering and organizing documents that directly show your involvement, your child’s needs, and the practicality of your parenting plan.
School and daycare records are a good starting point. Report cards, progress reports, attendance records, notices about behavior, and invoices from daycare or after school programs can all paint a picture of how your child is doing and who is involved. Medical records that show who takes the child to appointments or follows up on treatment can also be helpful, especially if health issues are part of the case. If your child sees a therapist, it is important to talk with your attorney about what, if anything, can appropriately be shared without harming confidentiality or putting the child in the middle.
Parenting logs and calendars can be powerful, especially in close cases. A simple calendar showing where your child spent each night, who drove them to school or activities, and any missed time can give the court a clear, objective view of the current pattern. Some parents also keep brief notes about key events, like school conferences or doctor visits, noting which parent attended. When organized chronologically, this kind of information can be much more convincing than vague testimony about who “usually” does what.
Communication records need to be chosen carefully. Screenshots of text messages or emails that show you offering make up time, sharing school information, or calmly responding to conflict can support your image as a cooperative, child focused parent. Long, angry message threads, even if you feel provoked, usually do more harm than good when handed to a judge. We help our clients filter their digital records so that only the most relevant and helpful examples make it into the evidence packet, and so that they are presented in a way the court can understand.
Organization matters as much as content. Put your documents into labeled sections such as “School,” “Medical,” “Parenting Log,” and “Communications,” and use simple tabs or a table of contents. In our work at The Gasper Law Group, we often use secure digital tools to collect and sort clients’ emails, texts, and documents, then create clean, easy to navigate sets of exhibits. Judges in Southern Colorado courts generally appreciate when information is presented in a way they can understand at a glance during a short hearing, instead of having to dig through stacks of disorganized paper.
Preparing Your Testimony and How You Present Yourself in Court
Even with strong documents, your own testimony and behavior in the courtroom have a major impact on how the judge sees you. Many parents are surprised by the types of questions they are asked and how quickly the time goes. Preparing in advance for what you are likely to talk about can lower your anxiety and help you stay focused on your child instead of the conflict with the other parent.
In a typical Colorado child custody hearing, you can expect questions about your child’s daily routine, school performance, medical needs, and relationships with family members. You may be asked who wakes the child up, who packs lunches, who helps with homework, and who handles doctor and dentist appointments. Judges also often ask about how you communicate with the other parent and how you handle disagreements about schedules or rules, because those answers give a window into your co parenting style.
Clear, direct, and honest answers carry more weight than long emotional speeches. For example, if asked about homework, a useful answer might be, “On school nights, my son comes home to my house. I give him a snack, then we sit at the kitchen table and work through his assignments together for about 45 minutes. I sign his planner and check his backpack for any school notices.” That kind of specific description tells the judge exactly what happens instead of just saying “I am very involved in school.” It also shows that you understand your child’s routine and needs.
How you talk about the other parent also matters. Judges understand that there may be real concerns and serious frustrations. However, when testimony consists mostly of insults or stories about old relationship problems, it signals that the parent may be more focused on the fight than on the child. It is usually more effective to focus on behaviors and how they affect your child. For instance, “When exchanges start late, our daughter gets to bed later and is tired at school the next day,” is more helpful than calling the other parent irresponsible, because it connects behavior to impact.
Your body language and courtroom conduct send strong messages too. Arriving early, turning off your phone, dressing neatly, and standing when the judge enters are small details that show respect. Rolling your eyes, shaking your head, or interrupting the other side’s testimony can damage your credibility in a matter of seconds. At The Gasper Law Group, we regularly walk clients through mock questions and talk about courtroom behavior so that by the time of the hearing, they know what to expect and can focus on their child’s needs instead of the unfamiliar setting.
Understanding Other Voices in the Case, From Evaluators to Teachers
In many Colorado custody cases, the judge hears from more than just the parents. Other adults in your child’s life and certain professionals can have a significant influence on how the court understands your family. Knowing who these people are and how their input fits into the hearing can help you prepare more effectively and avoid surprises.
Some cases involve a child and family investigator or a guardian ad litem. These professionals typically gather information about the family by interviewing the parents, talking to the child in an age appropriate way, and sometimes contacting teachers, doctors, or other caregivers. They may visit each parent’s home and review records. They usually prepare a written report for the court with their observations and recommendations about parenting time and decision making responsibility. Judges often give these reports considerable weight, especially when the professional has experience in local courts.
Other potential witnesses include teachers, school counselors, coaches, daycare providers, and extended family members. A teacher might testify about attendance, homework completion, and behavior in class. A daycare provider could speak to who usually picks the child up and how exchanges go. These types of witnesses can give the judge a grounded view of your child’s daily life, separate from the parents’ disagreements. However, not every possible witness should be called. Packing a hearing with friends and relatives who only repeat your side of the story can waste time and dilute the impact of more neutral witnesses.
Parents sometimes feel tempted to prepare children to say certain things or to pressure them to choose sides. That approach can backfire badly. Judges and evaluators are trained to watch for signs that a child has been coached or feels responsible for the outcome. Courts are usually more impressed by parents who encourage a healthy, safe relationship with the other parent, even during conflict, than by those who try to win the child as an ally in the case.
If a report or other witness says something you disagree with, the way you respond also matters. Instead of attacking the person, it is usually better to focus on clarifying facts or providing additional context. For example, you might calmly explain that the evaluator visited your home on an unusually chaotic day, and then offer clear examples of how your child’s routine normally works. We have worked with many parents in Southern Colorado to review evaluator reports, identify areas where the parent’s perspective was not fully captured, and prepare calm, fact based responses that help the judge see the full picture.
Common Mistakes Parents Make Before and During Hearings
Preparing for a child custody hearing in Colorado is not just about what you do. It is also about what you avoid doing. Certain missteps can seriously undercut what might otherwise be a strong presentation of your parenting and your plan. Being aware of these pitfalls ahead of time can save you from avoidable damage.
One frequent mistake happens long before the hearing date. Parents sometimes vent about the other parent on social media, post details about the case, or share screenshots of communication. Those posts can easily end up as exhibits in court. Angry or sarcastic messages, even in private texts, can also make you look unreasonable or unable to co parent. Another pre hearing mistake is ignoring temporary orders because you think they are unfair. Judges usually take note of who followed the rules and who did not, regardless of who asked for the orders in the first place.
On the day of the hearing, disorganization is a common problem. Bringing a huge stack of unsorted papers and trying to hand everything to the judge at once is not effective. Neither is arguing with the other parent in the hallway, rolling your eyes during their testimony, or talking out of turn. These behaviors draw the judge’s attention away from your child focused message and toward your difficulty managing conflict in the moment.
Another quiet but serious mistake is deciding to go into a high stakes custody hearing completely alone because you assume you cannot afford any legal help. While some parents do appear without counsel, they often underestimate how complex the process is and how much is at stake if an order does not meet their child’s needs. Even a short hearing can set patterns that influence your child’s life for years. At The Gasper Law Group, we offer low retainers and interest free payment plans because we know that many families are under financial strain when custody issues arise. Those options are designed to make it more realistic for parents to get guidance before stepping into court.
You can avoid many of these mistakes by making a personal rule not to post or message anything about the case, by following all existing orders even when you disagree, and by giving yourself enough time to organize documents calmly. Choosing to at least consult with a family law attorney about your plan and preparation can also help you avoid blind spots that parents, understandably, might not see on their own.
How Working With A Colorado Custody Attorney Can Strengthen Your Preparation
Parents sometimes feel that because they know their child best, they should be able to handle a custody hearing on their own. Knowing your child is essential, but it is only half of what the court needs to see. The other half is understanding how to present that knowledge within Colorado’s legal framework, in the limited time the judge has, and in a way that anticipates the other side’s arguments. That is where working with a custody attorney can make a significant difference.
An attorney can help you translate your goals into a clear parenting plan, sort through which documents truly matter, and prepare your testimony so that it stays focused and effective. We often sit down with clients to walk through their proposed schedule line by line, flagging areas that might raise concerns for a judge and suggesting adjustments that still meet the family’s needs. We also help clients organize their evidence into manageable, labeled sets that the court can actually use, instead of being overwhelmed by paper or scattered digital files.
Local knowledge matters here too. Courts in Colorado Springs and across Southern Colorado have their own routines and expectations. An attorney who appears regularly in those courtrooms can give you a better sense of what to expect from the moment you go through security to the way the judge typically handles a crowded docket. That familiarity can reduce surprises, help with scheduling questions, and make the entire process feel more predictable for you.
Concerns about cost are real, especially when you are already under financial pressure from a separation or divorce. At The Gasper Law Group, we approach fees with the same people first philosophy that guides our legal work. We offer low retainers and interest free payment plans to reduce the immediate financial burden so that parents can access guidance when it matters most. Even if you ultimately decide to represent yourself at the hearing, a focused consultation to review your parenting plan, your documents, and your testimony can help you walk into court more prepared.
Plan Ahead To Protect Your Time With Your Child
A child custody hearing in Colorado can shape your child’s daily life for years, from where they wake up on school mornings to how holidays are shared. You cannot control every detail of the process or predict exactly how a judge will rule. What you can control is how prepared you are, how clearly you present a child focused plan, and how you conduct yourself in and out of the courtroom.
If you have a hearing coming up in Colorado Springs or anywhere in Southern Colorado, you do not have to navigate this alone. Our team at The Gasper Law Group works with parents every day to organize evidence, craft realistic parenting plans, and prepare for the questions and pressures of a custody hearing.
We are ready to talk with you about your situation and help you take concrete steps to protect your relationship with your child. Call (719) 212-2448 today.