Laporte Family Lawyers

Colorado Lawyer Team is your go-to litigation law firm. Justie Nicol and her team expertly handle cases across many of Colorado’s major metro areas and rural communities. Specializing in criminal defense, family law, employment litigation, and civil litigation, we offer unparalleled legal support. As a cutting-edge, paperless firm, we ensure seamless, responsive communication in a fully virtual environment (we were virtual pre-COVID). With principal offices in Greenwood Village, Fort Collins, and Loveland, we have proudly served most major metro areas for the past 10 years. Our CEO and Visionary, Justie Nicol—a CSU graduate and University of Denver Law School alumna—is...

Mr. Johnson opened his own law firm upon graduation from University of Denver School of law in 1994. For over 20 years, he’s focused his practice on high-conflict cases and developed a reputation as a lawyer who can take a highly contentious case and focus the issues and emotions to reach a successful conclusion. As the product of a high conflict divorce himself, Mr. Johnson knows all too well the hidden and often permanent costs suffered by families in these highly emotional cases.

The Law Offices of Shawn H. Smith is a Family law firm serving Fort Collins, Colorado and surrounding areas. I handle all areas of family law, including property division, child custody issues, child or spousal support, and enforcement of court orders. If you have a tough divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, enforcement, or modification issue, you need to find competent representation that you can trust. I can help you understand the divorce process, giving your case the personal attention that it needs to get you the result you deserve. I also strive to make sure...

Attorney Jeremy Shufflebarger comes from a vast family of Colorado natives, and after moving around the United States has settled in Fort Collins, Colorado. Jeremy is a former judicial clerk for the Larimer County District Court in Colorado and the Laramie County District Court in Wyoming. He is well versed in a wide range of legal matters, including: domestic relations, mental health law, criminal defense, and general civil litigation. Jeremy is a University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) alumni as well as a graduate of University of Wyoming College of Law. During his time at the University of Pittsburgh, he...

Karlee Keller Stoppenhagen, a Colorado native, brings her unwavering dedication to individuals navigating complex family matters. Her practice is centered on family law, with a strong emphasis on high-net worth divorce, high-conflict custody battles, LGBTQ+ family issues, and matters related to spousal and child support. As the managing partner at Modern Family Law's Fort Collins office, she extends her expertise to families across northern Colorado, including Larimer and Weld county.

I am a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional with a solid background as a litigation paralegal, particularly in the realm of family law. Throughout my tenure as a paralegal, I developed a deep understanding of the complexities inherent in family law, recognizing the distinctiveness of each case. When Colorado introduced the Licensed Legal Paraprofessional role, I immediately saw it as the perfect opportunity to advance my career. This role allows me to combine my dedication to assisting others with my passion for the legal field. I thrive on solving problems and embrace the challenges that come with the legal profession. My drive is...

Introduction

A resident of Ft. Collins for over 20 years, RD began practicing law in 2008 as an associate of a high volume civil litigation firm. Followed by a few years as Policy Director of a national non-profit and General Council for a start up oil and gas company. Since 2016, RD’s practice has focused on Family Law. RD is divorced himself with a son and understands the difficulties created by ending a marriage or relationship.

Education

RD graduated Colorado State University in 1997 with a degree in Philosophy. Prior to attending law school, RD worked as an arborist, married and started a...

My name is Levi Brooks and I’m an experienced, yet reasonably-priced, family law and bankruptcy attorney in Fort Collins, Colorado.

I’ve been practicing family/domestic relations law in Larimer County for about fifteen years and bankruptcy law for approximately eleven years. Although practicing in those areas of law (especially family law) can be challenging, I find it highly rewarding. I appreciate having the opportunity to help people through what is often the most difficult time in their lives. Whether it’s a divorce or a bankruptcy, my goal is to get my client through the process as painlessly as possible and...

Sarah Lamborne received her Bachelor of Science in Biological and Cognitive Psychology with University Honors from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Upon graduation, Ms. Lamborne worked as an au pair in a small village in northern France, and then joined the Peace Corps in Chad, Central Africa. Her experiences abroad have fostered a life-long love of travel. Ms. Lamborne worked as a Legal Assistant prior to law school at law firms in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Boston, Massachusetts. She assisted Attorneys on criminal, domestic relations, insurance defense, and medical malpractice cases. As a...

Jessica Breckenridge has devoted her practice to family law – divorce, custody disputes, child support, and spousal maintenance. She has a passion for helping families during some of the toughest times. Ms. Breckenridge is a fierce advocate for her clients, both in and out of a courtroom. She enjoys being in the court room being able to help tell her client’s stories, but she is also prepared to fight outside of court to try to come to a resolution that meets the needs of the family. Ms. Breckenridge recognizes that every family is different, and every case is different with different...

Advocate. Counselor. Attorney. I work with residents in Colorado and many nearby communities on legal matters that are critical to their family. After law school, I spent years working with respected legal professionals on various family law matters, honing my skills and learning how to best serve our local community. In 2014 I decided to put my experience to work more directly and opened The Cossitt Law Firm. We provide comprehensive and advocacy with family law and estate planning matters. Are you going through a divorce? Trying to settle child custody disputes? Going through a...

We realize that you have come to this web site because you are facing or may be facing a family law issue. Whether you are at the beginning of a divorce or child custody issue or modifying prior orders we are here to offer the experience you need to get through this difficult time. Mitch Tacy has been helping people minimize the financial and emotional cost of divorce in Larimer County since 2000. Mitch Tacy will listen to your concerns and negotiate your case with creativity and common sense to earn the results you want. We can...

Alyssa is a Colorado Native, and has been practicing family law for six years. She attended law school in Salem, Oregon at Willamette University College of Law. After law school, Alyssa entered private practice in the area of family law at a small firm in Salem, Oregon. In 2020, she decided it was time to return home to the beautiful state of Colorado and now works in the Fort Collins Office of Modern Family Law.

Alyssa enjoys helping her clients reach amicable resolutions to their family law matters while recognizing that this is often one of...

Attorney James Frazier received his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School after receiving a bachelor's of science in biopsychology from the University of Michigan. Mr. Frazier worked with the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office in Colorado Springs and clerked for the 1st and 18th Judicial District Courts in Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. Attorney James Frazier has experience with domestic relations matters including allocation of parental responsibility, high conflict divorce, and grandparent visitation. That experience is the result of James Frazier's hard work and extensive knowledge about Colorado's state courts. James feels privileged to apply his legal acumen to help...

Alex started her legal career as a prosecutor in Colorado's 14th Judicial District, handling cases from speeding tickets to homicides. With nearly a decade of experience, she prioritized compassion for victims while ensuring fairness for all parties. Specializing in serious crimes against children, she tried over a hundred cases to juries. Transitioning to family law, Alex brings her negotiation and litigation skills to help families navigate challenging legal situations with empathy and understanding. She's dedicated to providing personalized representation for divorce, child custody, spousal support, and domestic violence cases.

PAUL M. GAIDE, ESQUIRE

EXPERIENCED | COST EFFECTIVE | THOUGHTFUL | TIMELY | TRUSTWORTHY

For over twenty-nine years Paul M. Gaide’s practice has emphasized superior representation of clients in state and federal courts, and in transactions.

Mr. Gaide’s unique combination of education and vocational experiences in family law, business litigation, commercial transactions, finance, insurance, tax and accounting result in his clients receiving valuable insights and exceptional service.

Mr. Gaide’s general approach, both with his clients and opposing parties / counsel, is to be direct, after gaining a full understanding of the facts, as applied to the applicable law. Mr. Gaide...

Kyra grew up outside of Seattle and attended undergrad at University of Washington, where she majored in sociology. She has worked in the legal field in Washington and Colorado since 2018. Kyra attended law school at University of Wyoming where interned and volunteered for organizations focused on children’s advocacy in the court system and divorce proceedings. She worked as a student attorney for the international human rights clinic, and won best oral advocate for the regional moot court competition. After graduating, Kyra participated in Modern Family Law’s flagship training program, where she spent months training with experienced attorneys to gain hands-on...

Stephen Vertucci was born and raised in a working class family in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. After graduating high school, Stephen enlisted in the military and served in the U.S. Navy during the first Gulf War. After being honorably discharged, he worked in his family’s restaurant and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Illinois. With an interest in public speaking, Stephen attended law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law, a law school with a reputation for their outstanding trial advocacy training program. It was during law school that Stephen discovered his passion:...

Joanne Crebassa is an experienced litigator who has represented both business and individual clients in Colorado since 1998. Her passion is for helping families navigate life-altering legal issues including  divorce, legal separation, mediation, complex division of personal and business assets, allocation of parental responsibilities, Child Family Investigations, Parental Responsibilities Evaluations, child support, post-decree modifications, paternity, and domestic violence.

Ms. Crebassa is a highly-skilled trial and appellate attorney as demonstrated in the following representative cases: 

In re Marriage of Foss, 30 P.3d 850 (Colo. App. 2001)(Successful appeal on behalf of parent requesting post-decree extrapolation from child support guidelines); Varupa v. Industrial Claim Appeals...

Tim has been practicing law in Colorado for fourteen years, spending some time with law firms but primarily working as a solo practitioner. This time has involved constant Court appearances and extensive experiences working with families addressing sensitive issues concerning their children. Employment Law, Criminal Law and Civil Law experience accumulated when working with business owners, college students or hard-working people facing legal issues who needed someone who could understand and give advice on how best to move forward. Case experience includes (but is not limited to):

-Responding to allegations of child abuse or neglect

-Navigating child care and...

Joshua Ritter has practiced law in Colorado since 2005. He began his career as a criminal prosecutor at the District Attorney's Office in Fort Collins. There he prosecuted crimes ranging from simple traffic matters to first degree murders and complex financial and organized crimes. Life for Joshua took an unexpected turn when he experienced his own divorce. This experience inspired him to reorient his legal practice to help others going through changes in their own family's lives. Whether it means working collaboratively with an opposing side to figure out the best solution for everyone, or zealously advocating for you in the...

Evan grew up in Boulder County, Colorado, and attended undergrad in Denver at the University of Denver. Evan graduated from the University of Denver in 3 years and, from there, went straight to law school at the University of Colorado Boulder. While at the University of Colorado, Evan focused primarily on juvenile and family law. Evan participated in their renowned Juvenile and Family Law Clinic as a student attorney representing parents and children in dependency, neglect, and allocation of parental responsibilities cases. While still in law school, Evan was authorized by the Colorado Office of Respondent Parent Counsel to practice as...

Brian J. Bagley, J.D., M.B.A. Chief Executive Officer & Senior Partner The founder and chief counsel of the Bagley Law Firm, LLC, Brian provides legal representation to businesses, families, and individuals. He specializes in the areas of family law, divorce, criminal law, personal injury, business law, and civil litigation. In addition to the practice of law, Brian served on City Council and as the Mayor of Longmont, CO for a decade of public service. Brian's other community activities include teaching at the University of Colorado at Boulder's Leeds School of Business, as well as a professor for the university's prestigious Presidents Leadership Class,...

When you’re grieving a family loss, dealing with a life-altering medical diagnosis, or working through any other significant change in your family dynamics, navigating the legal system can be overwhelming. I am here to help. I have several years of litigation experience and have completed over 40 jury trials, but I am also intent on finding the best resolution for my clients--financially, mentally, and emotionally--even if that means settlement without trial.

Backed by more than a decade of legal experience, Attorney Rebecca M. Pepin has what it takes to streamline various family law matters involving divorce, child custody, child support, and more. Because she truly cares about the futures of her clients, she works hard to see that her clients feel secure and confident as their cases progress. Due to her extensive knowledge and years of practicing law, she has obtained positive outcomes for a countless number of clients. Before joining the firm, Ms. Pepin attended Pomona College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. After completing...

Will Ellison is a Longmont attorney specializing in divorce and family law. In his career, Will has had the opportunity to represent clients in complex divorce and child custody disputes, probate cases, real estate lawsuits, construction lawsuits, and business lawsuits in courts in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Since 2018, Will has focused primarily on family law in Northern Colorado. With experience counseling clients facing complicated situations, he can remove the legal jargon that complicates understanding. He focuses on the practical outcome of your case and is sensitive to maximizing your financial resources. Will listens to what your goals are in your case...

Ryan C. Shellady is an associate attorney with Burnham Law and has a practice dedicated to Family law. Before moving to Colorado, Ryan graduated from the University of Iowa in 2016, receiving his B.A., with high distinction and honors, in Ethics and Public Policy. He received his J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019. During law school, Ryan was involved in the Pro Bono Society, was a Student Writer for the Iowa Law Review, a member of the National Moot Court Team, and a Student Representative for the Iowa Student Bar Association. He received the...

Stephanie joined Burnham Law after being opposing counsel to Todd Burnham on a challenging custody matter, quickly impressing all involved with her knowledgeable advocacy and fearless representation. A quick review of her professional experience shows her minor in legal studies from Milligan College, a paralegal degree and four years as a family law and personal injury litigation paralegal, prior to attending Washburn University School of Law, making her an immediate asset to the firm.

Stephanie has a passion for child advocacy and is listed on the judicial rosters in most Colorado jurisdictions as a Child and Family Investigator. Stephanie...

Emily is a passionate advocate who sincerely cares about her clients. She understands that each situation is unique and will listen carefully to your needs. To help make legal access available to more people, her rates are more affordable than other attorneys in the area. Call Emily today to find out how she can guide you to obtain the best outcome in your case.

Todd Stahly utilizes a diverse legal background to assist clients in family law. He has practiced in all areas of family law. He has litigated interstate child custody cases in Colorado and in New Mexico (with special permission from the State of New Mexico).

Todd regularly volunteers at Boulder County Legal Services Pro Se Clinics and has been recognized for his legal contributions there and the Women’s Crisis Center. In 2013 and 2014, Todd was honored as a Colorado Super Lawyer Rising Star (only 2.5% of Attorneys in Colorado are selected as Rising Stars).Todd received his B.S. from Michigan Technological University...

Scott Melin, J.D., M.A. Senior Managing Associate Attorney A senior managing associate at the Bagley Law Firm, LLC, Scott’s practice focuses on high-value civil matters, where his recent accomplishments include $1.58 million, $1.2 million, and $612,500 recoveries for his clients. Scott’s cases include personal injury, appeals, civil rights issues, business disputes, and other matters which may require complex litigation. Scott also handles high-conflict family matters, to which he brings years of family law experience. Born and raised on the Colorado Front Range, Scott attended Colorado State University, where he studied philosophy and English. Thereafter, Scott received a merit scholarship to attend the University of...

Charles E. Liken, J.D. Senior Managing Associate Attorney Charles E. Liken is a Senior Associate Attorney at the Bagley Law Firm. Charles specializes in Family Law, Criminal Defense, Estate Planning, & Probate. Charles is also a certified mediator as well as a Child and Family Investigator (i.e., a "CFI"). Graduating from Sturm College of Law in 2002 from Denver University, Charles has built his career on taking the time to listen and giving an honest assessment of where things stand in his clients' cases. Notably, Charles is a former Deputy District Attorney for the Colorado 12th District in Del Norte, Colorado. This brings...