Family Law Attorney/CFI/Special Master/PCDM/Arbitrator
Family Law Attorney
Amy L. Petersen believes that helping her clients start over and reach positive outcomes is rewarding and continues to motivate her in her practice. Amy is able to assist clients in all family law matters including:
- Dissolution of Marriage
- Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
- Modification of Child Support
- Modification of Parenting Time and/or Decision-Making
- Spousal Maintenance
- Division of Property and Debt
- Relocation
Amy understands that many family law issues are exacerbated by a tremendous amount of emotion. Clients need a trusted and compassionate attorney to help them get through a very difficult time in their lives. Amy prides herself on giving her clients personal attention and keeping them informed throughout the legal process. Amy strives to keep legal costs low for her clients by helping them handle their family law issues as cooperatively, respectfully, and sensibly as possible.
Child and Family Investigator
As one of Colorado’s foremost child advocates, Amy L. Petersen has conducted over 300 child and family investigations. As an investigative arm of the Court, Amy makes recommendations to the court regarding the best interests of children involved in high conflict domestic cases.
Special Master
Amy L. Petersen serves in the role of Special Master to investigate specific issues for the Court such as performing child-focused assessments of allegations regarding minor children in domestic relations cases.
Parenting Coordinator/Decision-Maker
Amy L. Petersen serves in the role of Parenting Coordinator/Decision-Maker (PC/DM) in domestic relations cases to assist Parties with implementing or clarifying current Court Orders. As Decision-Maker, Amy makes decisions for high-conflict Parties without the necessity or expense of going back to Court.
Abitrator
Amy L. Petersen serves in the role of Arbitrator to resolve issues between Parties without the necessity or expense of going back to Court.
What I need from my mom and dad: A child’s list of wants
- I need both of you to stay involved in my life. Please write letters, make phone calls, and ask me lots of questions. When you don’t stay involved, I feel like I’m not important and that you don’t really love me.
- Please stop fighting and work hard to get along with each other. Try to agree on matters related to me. When you fight about me, I think that I did something wrong and I feel guilty.
- I want to love you both and enjoy the time that I spend with each of you. Please support me and the time that I spend with each of you. If you act jealous or upset, I feel like I need to take sides and love one parent more than the other.
- Please communicate directly with my other parent so that I don’t have to send messages back and forth.
- When talking about my other parent, please say only nice things, or don’t say anything at all. When you say mean, unkind things about my other parent, I feel like you are expecting me to take your side.
- Please remember that I want both of you to be a part of my life. I count on my mom and dad to raise me, to teach me what is important, and to help me when I have problems.
Source: University of Missouri
FAQs
Can you help me get full custody of my child?
In Colorado, custody is now called “parental responsibilities.” One of the reasons for this change is because the word custody is inflammatory and implies possession. Colorado has also adopted the term “parenting time” instead of visitation. According to Colorado law, both parents should have frequent and continuing contact with their child unless time with one parent would endanger the child or significantly impair his/her emotional development. You would need to prove that your child’s other parent is unfit, but his/her bad behavior must have a direct effect on your child.
My child is 12 years old – can she decide which she parent she wants to live with?
No. Despite common beliefs, children in Colorado cannot make their own decisions regarding parenting time. The Court takes into consideration the wishes of children, but makes the final decision based on the best interests of the children. Courts often appoint a Child and Family Investigator (CFI) to assess factors including the interrelationship between the children and the parents, the mental and physical health of the parties, and the ability of the parents to place the needs of the minor children ahead of their own.
Can my child testify as to what parent she wants to live with?
As a general rule, family courts do not want children to go through the stress of testifying. In rare cases, children are allowed to meet with a judicial officer in chambers. More commonly, a Child and Family Investigator (CFI) or Special Master is appointed to meet with the child and report back to the Court as to the child’s wishes.
Testimonials
It's important to feel that your story is really heard by your attorney, and with Ms. Petersen I always felt that. She took notes as we spoke, making me feel like my case was important to her, and I wasn't just another client. She was always upfront with me on her professional opinions of the outcome of my case, never sugar-coating it, so that I could make better decisions of my own as far as the direction for my case. Thanks to Ms. Petersen, I felt very prepared for questioning and court, and the outcome could not have been better! If ever I need a Colorado attorney again, she will be the one I call!
- Jennifer C.
I worked with Ms. Petersen on a long-standing divorce issue that I could not get resolved with other attorneys. My ex had agreed to the terms I was asking for and as outlandish as it sounds, my prior attorneys could not get the deal done. I tried for the better part of a year before I reached Ms. Petersen. She took my case and had the entire issue resolved within weeks! I found her to be very friendly and very professional. I cannot begin to tell you how relieved I was to have my case resolved, and so quickly. My ex had also become a little agitated due to the length of the process and Ms. Petersen’s demeanor, although very firm, really helped defuse the situation. I am grateful to her and would use her again if any other legal needs arose.
- Mandy M.
Cost Efficiency
Petersen Law rates are more affordable than most family law firms in Colorado. Amy strives to help her clients get through difficult family transitions with the least amount of stress, conflict, and expenditure as possible. Amy provides complimentary consultations to review the circumstances of a case and provide an estimate as to total fees.
Children First
The greatest irony of the divorce gone mad is that the very people who would run into a burning building to save a child are now engaged in a conflict that is doing more than anything else to tear apart that child’s heart and spirit.
Source: Charlie Asher
Combining zealous advocacy and compassion
Amy L. Petersen believes that every each client is entitled to respect, compassion, support, and zealous legal advocacy. She works hard to achieve positive results for her clients.