21st Dec 25 8:03 am
JamieThe Office of Language Access (OLA) is an important part of the Colorado Judicial System, and it provides “court users” (including divorcing spouses) with interpretation services for free. The OLA can provide these services across over 120 languages, and it ensures that interpreters receive proper oversight and certification before assisting the judicial branch. Spouses approaching multilingual or international divorces may want to take advantage of these services. Divorce can be difficult to understand, even for native English speakers. With the added complexity of a language barrier, it may be impossible to navigate this legal process in a confident, effective manner. Spouses who are concerned about their limited English proficiency may want to speak with experienced Colorado divorce lawyers to organize and ensure access to interpreters. Consider continuing this conversation with Colorado Divorce Law Group by contacting us at (720) 593-6442.
An international divorce in Colorado involves spouses with significant ties to foreign countries. In many cases, one or both spouses might live outside of the United States. The spouses might also have extended family living in different countries, and they may have considerable assets in their home nations. Before spouses even address their potential language barriers, they must determine whether filing for divorce in Colorado is even possible. A spouse can file for divorce in Colorado after residing in the state for at least 91 days. However, a parent can only file in the Centennial State if their children have lived there for at least 182 days. Alternatively, a parent could file for divorce in Colorado if their children had lived in the state “since birth.” A six-month residency requirement is fairly standard for divorces in various US states.
If spouses wish to file for divorce in Colorado, they should meet these residency requirements first. This may involve traveling to the state and living there for a few months. Colorado divorce lawyers typically cannot practice law in a foreign country, but they may be able to assist with gathering documents and other steps. A spouse might also participate in Colorado court proceedings through video conferencing technology, although their physical presence may be required during various stages of divorce litigation. Video conferencing technology may help spouses residing overseas participate in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as well.
A multilingual divorce involves spouses who understand multiple languages. In some cases, one spouse might speak a different native language than the other. This not only complicates legal proceedings, but it also makes it difficult for the spouses to understand one another outside of court. For example, communication during co-parenting may be extremely challenging if one spouse barely understands the native tongue of the other. While these situations are relatively rare, many people today form relationships across language barriers.
Interpretation and language experts help by ensuring both spouses fully understand the legal process of a divorce. While divorce lawyers may have the necessary experience to explain these legal processes, they may not have the necessary language skills to relay this information to spouses. An interpreter can act as an intermediary between the lawyer and their client, ensuring that they receive adequate guidance. An interpreter may also act as an intermediary between the judge and the spouse, ensuring that the latter understands important rulings and decisions.
Spouses and parents should not have to pay for interpretation services during a divorce or custody proceeding. The Colorado Judicial Branch states that any “party or interested person” to a legal case (including an international divorce) has the right to receive assistance from an interpreter at no additional cost. This means that spouses who understand limited English (or no English at all) can navigate their divorces with a full comprehension of the legal process. Discrimination based on national origin is illegal under the Civil Rights Act, a federal law that applies to the entire nation. Colorado also has its own laws regarding the right to receive help from an interpreter, and these laws have been affirmed by state Supreme Court rulings.
Those who wish to request help from an interpreter can do so online. The “Request an Interpreter” form is fairly straightforward, requiring interested parties to provide their names, contact information, preferred languages, and countries of origin. Spouses who need help requesting interpreters for their upcoming divorces may want to contact Colorado Divorce Law Group.
Spouses should know that language barriers are not the only issues that can lead to the involvement of interpreters in Colorado divorces. Hearing-impaired spouses may also get access to interpreters who may be able to relay information through sign language. Spouses should also get access to interpreters who understand the specific sign language they are familiar with, as there are differences between American Sign Language (ASL) and sign languages in different countries. For example, a spouse may only be familiar with Chinese Sign Language (CSL) or French Sign Language (FSL).
The right to a sign language interpreter is guaranteed by the Civil Rights Act, as this federal law prohibits discrimination based on disability. Because hearing impairment is a disability, spouses who fall into this category should get access to interpreters in the same way as people with limited English proficiency.
Language is only one example of a potential issue during an international divorce. One must also consider the various cultural differences between different nations and ethnicities as spouses approach this complex legal process. The logistics of an international divorce may represent another challenge as spouses fly long distances to end their marriages. Even with an interpreter, the various laws and tax implications associated with divorce can be quite confusing – especially across two different nations (or more). In the same way an interpreter translates one language to another, a Colorado divorce lawyer can filter legal information and relay it to spouses in an easy-to-understand manner. With a free-to-access interpreter working alongside a divorce attorney, spouses of all walks of life should be able to approach this process with confidence. Continue this conversation by contacting Colorado Divorce Law Group at (720) 593-6442.
