Colorado became the thirty-eighth state on the United States’ one-hundredth anniversary. This in turn gave Colorado the nickname of the Centennial State. Colorado is one of many others that is named for a different culture. The name Colorado in fact means brick read in Spanish. The state was named as such for the red-colored land that filled the area.
Nearly two hundred fifty years after it was named a state, Colorado has built its own legislature and laws where the federal government does not have laws. Some of these state laws include labor laws, gun laws, felony conviction laws, bankruptcy laws, divorce laws, expungement, and many others.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy in Colorado is determined by the amount of money an individual or a family is able to pay each month. Not all those petitioning for bankruptcy will be granted acceptance. Depending on ability, one individual will be allowed Chapter Seven bankruptcy while another will be allowed Chapter Thirteen bankruptcy.
To determine which kind of bankruptcy is best for which individual, the court will compare an individual’s personal income to that of the other residents in Colorado. Laws for bankruptcy were recently altered to decrease the ability to file for bankruptcy and limit the amount of abuse the bankruptcy system will receive. This new system has tripled the amount of paperwork required and also may include the assistance of a professional.
Divorce
All divorce cases in the United States are handled by the county circuit courts. Because of this jurisdiction, where individuals reside mandates where they will file for divorce. Colorado requires individuals to reside within state lines for a time minimum before they may petition for divorce in the state of Colorado.
A divorce must also be based on specific grounds. These grounds will state the reason why the individual desires a divorce. The divorce grounds for the state of Colorado are not the same as those of the other forty-nine states. Colorado law states that a divorce is only legal when based on reasons that are beyond repair.
Felonies
The constitution for Colorado states that a felony is an offense that requires the individual to be incarcerated in a state prison. Felony convictions can include prison sentences as little as one year or as many as life in prison. The number of years stipulated depends on the severity of the crime, any other crimes committed at that time, and any prior offenses. Sentencing for felonies can also include fine payment of several hundreds of dollars, probation, detention, community service, and home restitution.
Expungement
Expungement is the erasure of past criminal records. In most cases felony and misdemeanor offenses cannot be expunged. Driving under the influence charges are also normally not allowed to be expunged, unless a mistake in conviction or charging was made.
When a record is expunged it is not necessary gone completely. Records may still be available for general law enforcement purposes and civil usage, such as running for public office or entering the United State military. Expunged records may also be used as priors in new criminal cases.
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