Denver, CO family law attorney Chelsea Augelli talks parenting time and decision making under Colorado law. She explains that in Colorado, the terminology around custody and parenting time can be confusing, often referred to casually as “fake news” terms. The state officially uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities (APR), which is admittedly a mouthful, so it’s often shortened to PR. APR refers to how the court assigns parenting time to each parent based on the number of overnights a parent will have with the child. The court considers approximately twelve factors under the best interests of the child standard when determining this allocation.

While the term “custody” might imply that one parent has primary control over the child, Colorado focuses primarily on the practical aspect of overnights. If overnights are equal, the parenting time is equal. In some cases, a parent may be considered the primary parent simply because they have more parenting time.

Decision-making authority is another key aspect of parental responsibilities and is often misunderstood or overcomplicated. Major decisions—such as medical care, religious upbringing, education, mental health, and dental care—are generally expected to be made jointly by both parents. However, the court can assign sole decision-making authority to one parent, allowing them to make these decisions without consulting the other.

When parents share joint decision-making authority, they must collaborate on these major decisions. If disagreements arise, the court may intervene, or it may appoint parenting coordinators or decision-makers to assist. Ultimately, the court allocates decision-making authority based on the best interests of the child, carefully weighing each factor to ensure the child’s welfare is prioritized.