WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called custody, parenting time

What Colorado courts call custody: parenting time and decision making, decided in the best interests of the child with the child's safety always paramount.

Also called bail hearing, first appearance

The hearing at which a court sets an individualized bond for a person held in custody, no later than forty-eight hours after the person arrives at the jail.

Also called just cause, for cause eviction

The grounds the just cause section allows for a notice to end a tenancy, a demand for possession or an eviction case. Without one, a landlord may not proceed.

Also called restraining order, protection order

A court order, temporary or permanent, to prevent assaults and threatened bodily harm, domestic abuse, emotional abuse of the elderly or an at risk adult, sexual violence, or stalking.

The higher of the two misdemeanor classes: up to 364 days in jail, not more than a one thousand dollar fine, or both, for an offense on or after March 1, 2022.

Also called non compete, noncompete agreement

An agreement restricting a person's right to be paid for their labor. In Colorado it is void except as the section allows.

Also called garnishment, take home pay

Earnings left after the amounts the law requires withheld and health insurance the person pays for. For most debts, no more than twenty percent of a week's disposable earnings can be garnished.

Also called divorce

The legal end of a marriage, decreed once a party has lived in Colorado ninety-one days, the marriage is irretrievably broken, and ninety-one days have passed since the court acquired jurisdiction over the respondent.

Also called driving on a suspended license, driving while revoked

Driving with knowledge that one's license or privilege to drive is under restraint. For most restraints it is a class A traffic infraction.

Also called driving under the influence, drunk driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. DUI per se is driving with a BAC of 0.08 or more at the time of driving or within two hours after.

Also called driving while ability impaired, impaired driving

Driving after alcohol or drugs affect the person to the slightest degree, so that they are less able to drive safely.

Also called one party consent, recording a conversation

Knowingly overhearing or recording a conversation, by a person not visibly present, without the consent of at least one of the principal parties. It is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Also called 72 hour hold, M1 hold

Custody for evaluation where a person appears, because of a mental health disorder, to be an imminent danger to themselves or others or gravely disabled. A facility may hold the person for no more than seventy-two hours.

Also called implied consent, refusing the breath test

A driver is required to take and complete a test of breath or blood for alcohol when an officer with probable cause requests it, and failing to complete the chosen test counts as a refusal.

Also called door to door sale

A sale made at the buyer's home, which the buyer may cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing.

Also called dying without a will, no will

Dying without a will, so the estate passes by the shares the statute sets, beginning with the surviving spouse.

Also called bicycle, safety stop, stop as yield

A bicycle or similar conveyance whose rider, fifteen or older or younger with an adult, may slow to a reasonable speed and yield at a stop sign rather than stopping when no stop is needed for safety.

Also called governmental immunity act notice, 182 day notice

The written notice a person files within one hundred eighty-two days after discovering an injury by a public entity or its employee, before suing.

Also called right to cure, cure notice

The notice a creditor gives after a missed payment, twenty days before it may accelerate the balance or take the collateral, during which the consumer may pay what is due and restore the agreement.

Also called obstruction, interfering with police

Using or threatening violence, force, physical interference or an obstacle to knowingly obstruct, impair or hinder the enforcement of the law. It is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Also called sick time, healthy families and workplaces

Leave every employee earns at one hour for every thirty hours worked, up to forty-eight hours a year unless the employer allows more.

Also called left lane

The farthest left of two or more lanes going the same way. On a highway with a limit of sixty-five miles per hour or more it is for passing or turning left.

Also called petty ticket

The lowest level of offense: a fine of not more than $300, up to ten days in a county jail, or both, for an offense on or after March 1, 2022.

Also called CORA, open records

A record open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, presumed to be within three working days for records not readily available.

Driving a motor vehicle, bicycle or scooter in a way that shows a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property.

Also called damage deposit

Money a landlord holds against damage, returned within thirty days after the lease ends, or up to sixty if the lease says so, with a written statement of the exact reasons for keeping any of it.

Also called collection by affidavit

A sworn statement a successor presents to collect a decedent's personal property, at least ten days after the death, where the estate is within the limit and no probate is pending.

Also called time limit to sue, deadline to sue

The period within which a civil action must be commenced after it accrues. Tort actions and wrongful death have two years.

Also called stop and identify, Terry stop, having to give your name

A peace officer who reasonably suspects a crime may stop a person and require their name and address, identification if available, and an explanation of their actions. The stop is not an arrest.

Also called lockout, self help eviction

A landlord removing or excluding a tenant without court process, including by willfully shutting off utilities or removing doors, windows or locks.

Also called make my day law, castle doctrine

An occupant of a dwelling may use any degree of force against a person who made an unlawful entry, where the occupant reasonably believes the intruder committed or intends a crime beyond the entry and might use any physical force against an occupant.

Also called habitability, repairs

The landlord's warranty, in every rental agreement, that the premises are fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy and will be kept that way throughout.