Top Estate Lawyers Near Me in Lakewood Area

While my office in in the Lakewood/Golden area, I live in Bennett, Colorado.. My practice focuses on litigation of all types, including construction defects, personal injury, contract disputes, and insurance matters. I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants and have litigated cases through arbitration and in all levels of Colorado courts from county courts up to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.. I was raised in the small town of Plains, Montana in the mountains of western Montana. I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology - Social and Criminal Justice from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, in 1990 and then attended the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis, Minnesota obtaining a Juris Doctorate Degree cum laude in May of 1993. I passed the Colorado Bar Examination and was admitted to practice in Colorado in October of 1993 and was also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado in 1993. In 1998 I was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. I have practiced extensively in both State and Federal Trial Courts in Colorado and have argued appeals before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.. From 1993 through 2001, I worked extensively in the area of civil rights law, pursuing claims before Colorado State administrative bodies and in United States District Court for the District of Colorado related to violations of employee's civil rights, including race and gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and disability discrimination.. In approximately 1999 I began representing homeowners pursuing claims related to construction defects. My firrm, Murray & Damschen, P.C., was formed in March of 2002 to focus on representing home owners and homeowner associations (HOAs) regarding all kinds of construction defect matters including, but not limited to, damages from expansive soils, structural defects and damages, drainage defects, builder's failure to follow engineering recommendations or industry standards, water infiltration, mold, and defective building envelope systems. The firm also handles cases involving real estate transactions in which a seller's has failed to disclose known defects and damages.. Through my years of practice I have also handled numerous personal injury cases, including injuries resulting from automobile accidents, premises liability, negligent security and medical malpractice. I and my firm have worked extensively on insurance-related claims, including bad faith breach of insurance contracts. These cases have involved varying disputes from health care coverage to fire damage to businesses.. I have represented the interests of many individuals and businesses in contract disputes, collection matters and other litigation. I have also represents both landlords and tenants in various disputes.. In addition to my civil litigation practice with Murray & Damschen, P.C., I also accept cases as a Mediator. In January of 2007 I completed 40 hours of Continuing Legal Education training in the theory and practice of mediation. Since that time I have gained experience providing mediation service through various local volunteer agencies. While I mediate all levels of disputes, I offer services at a significantly lower fee schedule in smaller cases in order to encourage parties to mediate cases that may not otherwise be mediated.. I am a Christian and attend Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Byers, Colorado.

Sheila-Marie Finklestein is the Principal Attorney at AHAVA Law, P.C. She practices exclusively in Trusts, Estates, and Probate.. Prior to becoming an attorney, Sheila-Marie was an elementary school science teacher with Teach for America, a clerk for the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Office, and served as an in-house counsel for a community hospital. These experiences taught her the importance of a well drafted and funded comprehensive estate plan. She helps clients with matters involving trusts, advance health care directive, trust administration, conservatorship, probate administration, etc.. Sheila-Marie serves on several community non profit boards, including the Orange County Women Lawyers Association, Orange County Jewish Bar Association, OCBA Veterans and Military Committee, and Veterans' Legal Institute. She also created and is the primary attorney for the VLI Estate Clinic, which provides pro bono estate services to service members and veterans.. She has received numerous accolades in appreciation of her charitbale service, including, the Proclamation Recognition from the City of Corona, Volunteer Recognition from the Orange County Bar Association, and recognition from the State of California for her work with Veterans.

Jason L. Wyatt was admitted to practice in 2005 and has over 10 years of experience focused on Trusts and Estates. He was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, and grew up in Branchburg and Far Hills. The son of two teachers, Mr. Wyatt graduated from the Far Hills Country Day School before attending high school at the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, graduating in 1998.. Thereafter, Mr. Wyatt received his B.A. cum laude from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., with a double major in English and American Studies, and with an informal minor in Economics (Cornell does not recognize formal minors). While at Cornell, Mr. Wyatt served as the Vice-President of the Cornell Economics Society, and graduated from the Cornell-in-Washington program.. Mr. Wyatt was awarded his J.D. in 2005 from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio, where he received the CALI Award for Excellence in Business Transactions and the esteemed Certificate in Dispute Resolution, which distinguishes those students who graduate from Ohio State Law with advanced knowledge and practical experience in the area of dispute resolution (most notably, negotiation, arbitration and mediation). While attending Ohio State Law, Mr. Wyatt was a published author, board member, and editor of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution (the “JDR”), the official law journal of the American Bar Association’s Section on Dispute Resolution. The JDR is a major component of the Ohio State Law School’s nationally recognized program on Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”).. In May 2010, Mr. Wyatt earned an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in taxation from New York Law School. An LL.M. is a postgraduate law degree for attorneys indicating specialized legal training.. Mr. Wyatt is Vice-President of the Far Hills Country Day School Alumni Association Board, and is active in alumni affairs for the Delbarton School. Mr. Wyatt was a professional singer between the ages of 9 and 14, during which time he sang for the Metropolitan Opera Company’s Children’s Chorus at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Algonquin Arts Theater in Manasquan, New Jersey, a former president of the Beauvoir Avenue Corporation residential cooperative, Summit, New Jersey, and a former board member of the Monmouth Business Group, Manasquan, New Jersey.  He is also an avid golfer and expert skier.

I have extensive experience in helping clients through the maze of our legal system.  I was a caregiver to my elderly mother and my Veteran husband. I have two grown children, and have dealt with end of life issues for my family members.. My life experience, on both sides of the desk, gives me the perspective needed when you are looking for a friendly ear.  I will always offer options to decisions, education to make informed decisions, and a commitment to answer all of your questions.

I am an attorney who is compassionate about the needs and wishes of my clients. I have helped clients navigate the legal system in order to achieve their desired results in family law and probate. I have helped them mediate results without the need of litigation but have also gone to trial and received successful outcomes for my clients. I have helped families in crisis fight to get their children back, fight to keep their children safe, fight to receive fair outcomes that protect their assets. I have also helped families in crisis navigate the medicaid system and set up trusts and wills for concerned families.. I have three beautiful children. I have aging parents and in-laws and a passion to fight for children and the elderly. I enjoy helping the elderly preserve their assets and their ensuring that their legacy continues by setting up their wills and trusts. I also understand the needs for documents setting powers of appointment and living wills as they were incredible helpful with my Grandmother passed away.. I enjoy family time including board games, skiing, and being outdoors. There is nothing as magical as the smile and laughter of those you love.

CARL G. STEVENS, J.D*., AEP**, AV PREEMINENT*** ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW. Carl Stevens has been an attorney since 1975. His planning emphasizes tax savings for family wealth and asset protection in the event of divorce, remarriage, bankruptcy and lawsuits. He practices primarily in the areas of wills, trusts, oil and gas, real estate, business planning, elder law and probate.. Carl teaches and writes on estate planning topics for the public and other attorneys, certified public accountants and financial professionals. He is a member of several committees of the Colorado Bar Association. As an active member of the Trust and Estate Section and the Elder Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association he participates in drafting new laws. He has testified before Colorado legislative committees in regard to trust, probate and tax legislation.. Carl is a member of several other professional organizations including the Centennial Estate Planning Council (past president) and Wealth Counsel, a national organization of estate planning attorneys dedicated to sharing the most up to date planning solutions.. Published Works Relating to Trusts and Estates:. • Joint Revocable Trusts, (Co-authored with Bette Heller and Ken Ransford) Colorado Lawyer, Aug., 1997. • Applying the Colorado Trust Company Act to CPAs and Lawyers, (Co-Authored with William F. Graf), Colorado Lawyer, May, 2001. • The Uniform Trust Code: A Divorce Attorney’s Dream, (Co-Authored Mark Merric and Jane Freeman) CCH Journal of Practical Estate Planning, October-November 2004. • The Uniform Trust Code: A Continued Threat to SNTs, Even After Amendment – Part I, (Co-authored with Mark Merric, Douglas Stein, Eric Solem, Wayne Stewart and Mark Osborne) Cross published: CCH Journal of Practical Estate Planning, May-June 2005 and CCH Journal of Retirement Planning, May-June 2005. • Beneficiary Deeds in Colorado – An Overview of Legislation – Part One (Co-Authored with James G. Benjamin), Colorado Lawyer, June 2005. • Beneficiary Deeds in Colorado – Practical Applications – Part Two (Co-Authored with James G. Benjamin), Colorado Lawyer, July 2005. • State Income Taxation of Trusts, Trust and Estate Section Council Notes Colorado Bar Association, Winter 2005. • The Uniform Trust Code: A Continued Threat to Special Needs Trusts – Part II, (Co-authored with Mark Merric, Douglas Stein, Eric Solem, Wayne Stewart and Mark Osborne) CCH Journal of Practical Estate Planning, December 2005-January 2006. • Evolution of Joint Tenancy Law in Colorado: Changes to CRS § 38-31-10, Colorado Lawyer, April 2009. • Joint Revocable Trusts, co-author, Chapter 15, Colorado Estate Planning Handbook, Sixth Edition, Colorado Bar Association CLE (2016). • Joint Tenancy, Chapter 9, Colorado Estate Planning Handbook, Sixth Edition, Colorado Bar Association (2016). • Asset Protection Planning, co-author, Chapter 33, Colorado Estate Planning Handbook, Sixth Edition, Colorado Bar Association (2016). * Juris Doctor – Degree awarded to law school graduates.. **AEP - Accredited Estate Planner, The AEP designation is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils to professionals who meet stringent experience and education qualifications regarding estate planning.  Colorado does not certify lawyers as specialists in any field.. ***AV Preeminent - AV Preeminent® is a rating prepared by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ in which other lawyers rank the lawyer at the highest level of professional excellence. Martindale-Hubbell has been used since 1868 to help buyers of legal services identify, evaluate and select the most appropriate lawyer for a specific task at hand.

Bill Graf has been a Colorado attorney since 1977. Individuals and families have used Bill’s advice to make lifetime, end of life and post-mortem decisions to provide for their needs and for those of their loved ones.  Corporations and other business entities have looked to him for legal guidance prior to making multi-million dollar development decisions.. Bill has achieved an AV® Preeminent™ rating. The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary. AV Preeminent® is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.. Bill limits his practice to estate planning, probate and trust administration, business organizations, contracts, real estate and oil, gas and mineral interests. He is active in his church, in community organizations and in charities operating in Africa and elsewhere in the world.

Available by referral only.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in Lakewood and surrounding areas.