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Legal Information: Colorado

Custody

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Laws current as of February 12, 2026

If I leave the home because of domestic violence, will this hurt my chances of getting parental responsibilities?

According to the law, if you are absent or leave the home because of an act or threatened act of domestic violence by the other parent, your absence is not supposed to be a factor used by the judge to determine the best interests of the children.1

If you have not yet left the home, you may want to get help making a plan that allows you to safely and legally take your children with you when you leave.  If you want help doing this, you can talk to a lawyer who has experience with domestic violence and custody issues, or a domestic violence advocate in your area.  See our Colorado Places that Help page.

1 Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-124(4)(c)

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