Under Colorado law, if there’s no existing court order for parenting time, informal agreements like the one you had with your children’s mother can be challenging to enforce. This means that, although you both had agree on specific terms, there is no legal mechanism to ensure either party follows through.

Your first step should be to get a court order in place as soon as possible. From your question, it sounds like you need to file a petition for allocation of parental responsibilities (APR) to formally begin the process of creating a court-ordered parenting plan. While you work towards a final parenting plan, you can request temporary orders for parenting time. Temporary orders provide immediate relief and get you parenting time until a permanent agreement is reached. This can be essential in ensuring that neither parent unilaterally restricts the other’s access to the children.

Document any communication, such as texts or emails, that demonstrates any informal agreements or deviations. This documentation can support your case when you present it to the court.

If you would like to work with our family law practice please call us at (303) 688-0944 or text us at 833-691-7255 to schedule a case assessment.