Divorcing a Narcissist in Jefferson County, Colorado? Mediation Isn’t the Problem. But What Happens Before It Might Be.

Check out this incredible feature on Tia Zavaras in the Badass Women in Business Podcast blog. Learn how Tia is transforming family law and empowering clients through innovation and compassion.  Read the full blog here: https://badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com/.../disrupting... Stay inspired as Tia continues to change the game in family law!

Here’s to all the dad’s(and step-dad’s) out there who are willing to evolve and integrate a new way of being with your spouse or co-parent. Beginning in the womb, your kids were taking in every aspect of your marriage into their subconscious. You and your spouse have been programming them for how they should be with their partner and how you split with your partner. If you have a toxic relationship, your children are very likely to follow in your footsteps. But, you are open to breaking generational cycles for both you and your ex-spouse and learning how to parent your kids differently. You know that the single most effective thing you can do for your child is to display respect, compassion, empathy, and support for the other parent. Even when that other parent is behaving like a dick, it IS possible. And it is changing the future of your children. Watch and see. Happy Dad’s Day, to all those who father and love like a father. You are so important to your kids. -T

Discover a compassionate and evolved approach to divorce with Tia, an experienced civil and family law attorney. In this insightful blog, Tia shares her personal journey and the transformative shift from litigation to mediation. Learn how her unique perspective, gained through life-altering experiences, guides couples towards an amicable divorce. Watch the accompanying video for a deeper understanding of Tia's approach and the powerful impact on the lives of those navigating divorce. Choose a path that prioritizes well-being, compassion, and a healthier future for your family. Explore the possibilities at Evolved Law. #DivorceMediation #CompassionateResolution #EvolvedLaw

Delve into the nuanced dynamics of divorce in our latest article. Gain valuable insights into fostering resilience and leveraging divorce as a catalyst for personal growth. Explore practical strategies and expert advice on navigating this transformative journey with strength and optimism. Ready to redefine your narrative and embrace a brighter future post-divorce? Join us on this insightful exploration! #DivorceInsights #GrowthMindset #NavigatingChange

: Discover the faster and client-controlled alternative to traditional divorce with Evolved Law. Learn how an Evolved Divorce combines the efficiency of uncontested divorce with the guidance of a professional mediator for swift, cost-effective resolutions. Say goodbye to prolonged court battles and hello to a brighter future.

Finding co-parenting to be completely impossible? Take a moment to help yourself heal and cope with co-parenting by practicing my five mantras for conscious co-parenting.

7 Steps to Divorce in Colorado The divorce process is emotional and overwhelming, regardless of whether you are the one initiating the divorce. What follows is a simple step-by-step guide to the divorce process in Colorado. Use this guide as support to move forward when you’re feeling stuck, afraid, or unsure of what to do next. Step One: Breathe and Find Support. You don’t have to go through divorce alone. It will be a much easier process if you establish a support network early on. Before moving forward with this guide, take a moment to make a list of people who can support you through the process. These can be friends, family members, or professionals like therapists, counselors, or coaches. If you can, consider hiring a divorce coach before you hire your attorney. Hiring a divorce coa ch can result in a divorce that does no t waste your financial and emotional resources. Divorce coaches are thinking partners with you through the process emotionally, financially, and logistically. Step Two: Complete Initial Paperwork and Make Copies. To file for divorce, the person initiating the divorce must complete three documents. 1. A Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation 2. A Case Information Sheet 3. A Summons for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation Make four copies of each document. Step Three: File the Forms with the Court Next, the person initiating the divorce must file the documents with the Court. “Filing” is just a fancy way to say delivering your documents to the court and paying the required fee. You can submit your documents electronically using the “e-file system,” or submit your documents in-person by handing them to the clerk at the court. If you would like to use the “e-file system,” please follow the instructions on the Colorado Judicial Branch website . Soon after you file your forms, the court will schedule an Initial Status Conference. This is a meeting with either the judge or a Family Court Facilitator (a non-judge family law expert) to assess the progress of your case and help you effectively move forward towards your final hearing. Step Four: Serve the Respondent Once the forms are filed, the spouse who filed the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation – also called the “Petitioner” – must “serve” the other spouse – also called the “Respondent”. That just means the Petitioner must make sure the Respondent receives a copy of the documents filed with the court in a manner which is approved by the court. This is one of the most important moves that you should think through before you file because if you believe the only way to begin the divorce is by filing your paperwork and serving your partner at work with divorce papers, then you would benefit greatly by working with a divorce coach. Having a process server begin the divorce is going to be viewed 100% of the time as an act of war. While you may just intend to finally begin a process you two may or may not have discussed, remember that the other person is going to be caught off guard, put in fight or flight and could respond in a number of unpredictable ways from shutting off access to information and resources to having a knee jerk reaction and hiring the big bully attorney so that control can be restored. Think it through first. If you move forward with service, there are three ways to serve the Respondent: 1. Waiver: If the Respondent will accept the papers voluntarily, the Petitioner can ask the Respondent to waive service. 2. Personal Service: If the Respondent will not accept the papers voluntarily, the Petitioner must have a third party personally hand the papers to the Respondent. 3. Publication: If the Respondent cannot be found, the Petitioner can use an alternative to Personal Service called Publication. Detailed instructions for all three types of service are available on the Colorado Judicial Branch Website . Step Five: Both Parties File More Paperwork Step Five is to file additional documentation to help the judge make decisions about your divorce. If you are the Petitioner, you have 42 days from the date you filed your initial paperwork (Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Case Information Sheet, and Summons for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation) to file the following additional documents. If you are the Respondent, you have 42 days from the day you were served or waived service to file the following additional documents. Hiring a divorce coach to assist you to work through understanding what documents will be needed for your financial disclosures can be a great way to start your divorce in an organized and informed way. Because Coach Z has a law degree, she can make sure that you are prepared to provide your attorney with your documents and information in a credible and organized way resulting in a massive reduction in legal fees. For every Colorado divorce, the following documents are required: 1. A Sworn Financial Statement . The judge will use this document to assess your income and expenses. You must provide a copy of this document to the other party. a. This document is one of your most important documents in your divorce. Be prepared to identify and tally your assets and liabilities as well as your current living expenses, business assets, crypto currency, gambling losses and wins, family businesses and trusts, automobiles, pension plans, deferred compensation, etc. Plan to take this task on in bites because it can be overwhelming and emotionally triggering for many. Many clients rely on their attorney and staff to coach them through this process, often resulting in thousands of dollars of fees. 2. A Certificate of Compliance . This is a form which tells the court which financial documents you’ve provided to the other party. You must provide a copy of this certificate to the other party. Additionally, you must provide a copy of all the documents listed on the form, to the Other. 3. A Separation Agreement Form . This is your divorce contract. It identifies all of the property, assets, and liabilities that exist in the marriage. The separation agreement should state who gets what asset or liability, and when and how it will be transferred. This informs the judge as to how you would like your assets and debts to be divided. It should detail how retirement and investment assets should be transferred or retained, how the homes or other property will be sold, who will receive what amount after the sale, whether or not maintenance or alimony is waived or agreed-upon. If you and your spouse agree on the terms of your separation agreement, you can complete one and file it together. If you do not agree, you can file this form on your own as an indication of how you would like your assets and debts to be divided. If you are not in agreement, you must provide a copy of this document to the other party. If you are not in agreement regarding the division of assets, liabilities, and maintenance, then you will need to involve the court and go to a permanent orders hearing (trial). The following additional documents are required if you have children: 1. A Parenting Plan . Similar to the Separation Agreement, the Parenting Plan is a form used to show the judge how you would like your parenting responsibilities to be divided. This form covers your custody arrangement, who is responsible for making parenting decisions such as what extracurriculars the child[ren] will take, and the financial responsibility of caring for your children. If you and your spouse agree, you can complete one form and file it together. If you do not agree, you can file this form on your own as an indication of how you would like your parenting responsibilities to be divided. If you are not in agreement, you must provide a copy of this document to the other party and the court will determine the parenting plan after a hearing. 2. A Child Support Worksheet . This is an automatically generated calculation of how much child support shall be paid by one spouse to the other. Please follow these instructions to generate this worksheet. 3. A Support Order . This form is used by the judge to order one spouse to pay child support or maintenance (commonly known as alimony). Filling out the parts of this form that you can and filing it with the court will help ensure the judge has all of the information she needs to make such an order. 4. An Affidavit for Decree without Appearance of Parties . This form should only be filled out if you and your spouse are in complete agreement and either don’t have children under the age of 19 or are both represented by attorneys. It must be signed by both parties. In certain scenarios, submitting this form alongside a jointly-agreed-upon Separation Agreement allows the parties to obtain their final divorce decree without ever appearing in court. 5. A Decree . This is the form the judge uses to make your divorce final. Completing the top part of this form and filing it is helpful for the judge, and might make the process move more quickly. Step Six: Resolve Outstanding Issues and Finalize Divorce After all your documents are filed, you move on to the final step: resolving any outstanding issues and finalizing the divorce. If there are issues which you and your spouse don’t agree on, the court will do one of two things. The first option is to order that you complete mediation , and, if mediation is unsuccessful, to set a hearing. The second option is to skip mediation and immediately schedule a hearing, but most counties in Colorado require mediation first. Mediation is a wonderful opportunity to reach a collaborative agreement, and I highly recommend mediating when it is safe to do so. Mediation is your best chance for getting your divorce resolved with an outcome that does not consume your financial and emotional resources. Mediation allows you to control the end result. You don’t need a court order to attend mediation. You can choose to mediate at any point. Some clients choose to mediate without an attorney and prepare for the mediation with Coach Z. If you end up at a hearing, this is your trial. Both you and your spouse will have an opportunity to present all relevant facts and documents to the judge. Then, the judge will make a final decision on all outstanding issues. It is possible the judge will make a decision on the spot. However, if the issues are complicated or the judge is short on time, the judge may take time to decide. Once she decides, she will issue a written order. Once the judge decides on all outstanding issues, she will sign your final divorce decree, and you’ll be officially divorced. Step Seven: Build a Life You Love After Divorce I believe divorce is an opportunity for tremendous personal growth. You can use this time to take something which feels painful and destructive and leverage it to create something better than you ever imagined. If you want support in building a life you love after divorce, consider working with me as your Divorce Coach . I’ve been through divorce and, even though it was tremendously painful, I used it as a catalyst for transformation. I want to help you do the same! Together, we’ll figure out what will make you truly happy and take steps to get you there. 

Grandiosity: A hallmark of narcissistic behavior is an exaggerated sense of self-importance, often manifested as arrogance, a desire for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Sense of entitlement: Narcissists often believe that they are entitled to special treatment and privileges, regardless of their behavior or the feelings of others. Exploitative behavior: Narcissists are often manipulative and exploitative, using others for their own gain without regard for the impact on those around them. Lack of empathy: Narcissists have difficulty understanding and relating to the emotions and experiences of others, which can make it difficult for them to form deep and meaningful connections with others. Inability to handle criticism: Narcissists have a fragile sense of self-worth, and may react with anger, defensiveness, or aggression when criticized or challenged. It is important to remember that not all individuals who display these traits are necessarily a narcissist. Only a mental health professional can provide a true diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. If you want to discuss ways to communicate with or how extricate yourself from someone who exhibits narcissistic traits, contact us at moreinfo@evolved-law.com