Divorce Transitions FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Locally Offered DT Classes
How does taking this class benefit me?
The simplest answer to this question is that the Court ordered you to attend the class. If you do not comply with the order it is your responsibility to explain to the judge or magistrate why you did not. Aside from the court order there is a much more important benefit for you and your child. Parenting after divorce is not something that most people instinctively know how to do. In the past there have been few resources for divorcing parents to learn how to be effective and involved parents following the breakup of a marriage or significant relationship. Even the term co-parent is relatively new. At a time when many parents' feelings are at an all time high and resources an all time low, there is an expectation that you will be able to make good decisions about parenting your children for the remainder of their growing up years. This seems slightly unreasonable to us. That's where the class can help by providing information, support and perhaps new ideas to assist parents in making the best decisions for everyone.
How will the court know that I attended a class?
At the end of the class, you will receive a class attendance certificate for your records. If your case is in the 8th Judicial District ( Larimer County ) once you have attended the class and your fee is paid, we provide the court clerk with a copy of your certificate of attendance. This certificate is placed in your court file so the judge or magistrate will see that you have complied with the order to attend the class.
If your case is in a location other than Larimer County, it is your responsibility to send the clerk of the court in that district a copy of your certificate of attendance. Please let us know and we will give you both copies of your attendance certificate.
If you have taken a class in another location and your case is in this district, mail or fax (970-407-0646) a copy of your attendance certificate to us at Divorce Transitions and we will see to it that the information is given to the clerk of the court to be placed in your case file.
What will happen if I ignore the court order?
The court order states that you have 40 days from the time the case was filed to attend a class. At the end of the 40 days, if you have not attended, Divorce Transitions will send you a courtesy reminder that your time is up and you have not yet registered for a class. You have 10 days from the time that reminder postcard is mailed to sign up for a class. At the end of those 10 days, if we have not heard from you, we will file a certificate of non-compliance with the court. It then becomes your responsibility to explain to the judge or magistrate why you did not comply with the court order.
My child's other parent is living in another state.
Does he/she still have to take this class?
Divorce Transitions is not in a position to make the determination that a person is not obligated to follow an order of the court. If you have a question about this, we urge you to consult with your attorney or the court. Classes similar to the ones offered by Divorce Transitions are offered in every state and in virtually every case are accepted in Larimer County. Contact the clerk of the court in your location for a listing of the classes offered in that area. Once an out of state parent has taken a class it is his/her responsibility to send the completion certificate to the clerk of the court in Larimer County.
My child's other parent is completely out of the picture.
Do I have to take this class?
Divorce Transitions is not in a position to make the determination that a person is not obligated to follow an order of the court. If you have a question about this, we urge you to consult with your attorney or the court. When one parent is not involved in their child's life it can still be helpful for the other parent to learn what the experience is like for their child; how to talk about the missing parent; how to deal with extended family etc.
May I attend the class with my child's other parent?
In the Co-Parent class we leave this decision to you. Both parents must agree that it is all right to attend with the other parent. If there is not agreement, the first person registered receives priority.
In the Succeed class, there is a policy that parents may not attend together. This class is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
May my new significant other attend the class with me?
Yes, unless it will cause a problem for your co-parent who is in the same class. The guest registration fee is $30 and must be received ahead of the class.
Where are the classes held?
All Co-Parent and Succeed classes are held at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins. The address is 417 West Magnolia Street. Classes are held in the northwest end of the Lincoln Center. There is diagonal parking on the street. Park at the northwest end of Magnolia and go in the doors that say "Conference Center" above the door. You will see a large stone waterfall structure in the courtyard. Click here for a map to the Lincoln Center.
My child is 17 years old. Do I still have to take the class?
The court order states that parents with children under the age of 19 must attend this class. If you have a question about this, we urge you to consult with your attorney or the court. We are not in a position to change a court order.
If our situation changes from high conflict to cooperation may I attend the other class?
Yes. We always issue the invitation for participants to attend the same class again or another class that now is more applicable. There is no charge to attend a second class once you have attended one class. We do ask that you register with us so that we know that we have adequate space. Call our office at 970.407.0463 to arrange this.
If my divorce is in another county/state will this class meet the requirements?
In most cases it will. To be sure, please contact the clerk of the court in your area.
What do I do if I miss the class I registered for?
If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to attend the class, please call 970-407-0463 to reschedule. If you miss a class without notifying us, you will be charged a $10 re-registration fee.
If we stop the court proceedings, do we still have to take the class?
No. Please let us know and we will happily refund your class fee minus a $10 administrative charge. We extend you our best wishes.
I am not getting a divorce but was ordered to take this class. Why?
Sometimes the court orders these classes when there is a parenting time or custody dispute. This may apply to parents who were never married or grandparents who may be seeking custody of grandchildren. If you aren't sure which class to take, please give us a call and together we'll discuss your options.
What is the class fee?
The class fee is $60. You may pay with cash, money order, check or credit card.
How do I register for the class?
Registration is simple. You can register by mail, online or by calling our office at 970-407-0463. First select the class and date that works best for you. To register online click here and follow the instructions.
How do I get a brochure?
Brochures are available at the office of the Clerk of the Court at the Justice Center in Fort Collins. And you can call the Colorado Center for Life Changes at 970-407-0463 and request that a brochure be mailed to you.
What if I can’t afford the class fee?
If at the time of filing, either party meets the Court criteria for indigence and received paperwork from the Court waiving your filing fee, you may be eligible for a reduced registration fee of $30 for the class. Include a copy of your paperwork with your completed registration form. The online registration option is not available if you are using a Court Fee Waiver.
Please plan ahead if you are going to apply for a fee waiver. The process usually takes about two weeks.
Download the fee waiver form
Download the fee waiver form in Spanish
Do you have a class in Spanish?
No. We have two options for Spanish speakers.
- There is a class taught in Spanish in Denver. For information contact Parenting After Divorce Denver,
303-329-9942 or 970-407-0463; www.parentingafterdivorce.org.
- Register to view a video in Spanish at our Fort Collins office. The fee for this is $25.
Para Padres de Habla Hispana
Si usted no está cómodo en asistir una clase enseñada en inglés, tenemos dos opciones para escoger.
Vea un video (en español) para padres de divorcio
Llame a la oficina de Divorce Transitions al 970-470-0463 para hacer cita para ver el video de 30 minutos para padres que se divorcian.
Le pediremos que complete una forma mientras usted ve el video y se entrega la forma al administrador cuando termine.
El costo de ésto es $25 y se debe pagar al tiempo que vea el video.
Terminación de este proceso satisface el requisito de la Corte.
Le daremos un certificado de asistencia para su registro.
Divorce Transitions archivará su certificado de asistencia con la Corte.
Usted puede traer una persona de apoyo o alguien para traducir si lo desea.
Asista a una clase en Denver
Nuestros colegas en Denver ofrecen una clase en español una vez al mes.
Si usted tiene interés en asistir a esta clase, tiene que registrarse en la clase por medio de ponerse en contacto con:
Parenting After Divorce Denver
303-329-9942
www.parentingafterdivorce.org
Esta clase satisface el requisito de la Corte. Es su responsabilidad enviar el certificado de asistencia que reciba a Divorce Transitions para que sea archivado en su expediente de la corte. Envielo a: Divorce Transitions, PO Box 1362, Fort Collins, CO 80522
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