Affordable Family Law Support in Colorado: Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals at Dolan + Zimmerman
When family issues arise, you don’t have to face them alone, or break the bank to get the help you need. At Dolan + Zimmerman LLP, we understand that legal challenges like divorce, child custody, or domestic violence protection can be overwhelming, especially when hiring a full-service attorney seems out of reach financially.
That’s why our team is proud to offer affordable legal support through Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs), a new, budget-friendly option for resolving many family law matters in Colorado.
Whether you’re looking for practical legal guidance, a low-cost path to resolution, or simply a compassionate professional who listens and helps you understand your options, our Boulder family law attorneys are here to help.
What Is a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional (LLP)?
A Licensed Legal Paraprofessional is a legal professional authorized by the Colorado Supreme Court to assist with specific family law issues at a lower cost than traditional attorneys.
LLPs are trained, licensed, and experienced in family law and provide hands-on legal help, especially for individuals and families looking for mindful, cost-effective support.
LLPs Must Complete:
- A relevant degree (JD, Bachelor’s, or Associate’s)
- 1,500 hours of legal work experience, including 500+ hours in family law
- A licensing and ethics exam approved by the state
These professionals are not full attorneys, but they are qualified to guide you through common family law processes, including paperwork, negotiation, and some court appearances, saving you both time and money.
What Can LLPs Help With?
C.R.C.P. 207.1 governs the scope of an LLP’s practice of law in Colorado. LLPs can represent clients in: marital/civil union dissolutions and legal separations; allocations of parental responsibility; establishing, enforcing and modifying child support; name changes; protective orders; adult gender designation changes; and remedial contempt associated with that scope of practice.
LLPs will be able to advise those clients, prepare and file papers in court, assist clients in mediation, and with some important limitations, appear at hearings. A longer description of what LLPs can do is set forth at C.R.C.P. 207.1(g). Civil and ethical rules requiring lawyers to have a good-faith basis for their filings and statements would apply to LLPs as well.
These are often the types of cases where affordable legal help makes a big difference, and where hiring a full attorney might not be necessary.
When Might an Attorney Be a Better Fit?
There are some limits to what LLPs can do. If your case involves disputes about common law marriage, custody battles involving non-parents, or complex financial or immigration issues, then working with one of our experienced family law attorneys may be the right choice.
You don’t have to figure it out alone. Our team will help you review your case and budget to determine whether an LLP or attorney is the best option for you.
What are LLPs prohibited from doing?
C.R.C.P. 207.1 lists the types of matters and services that an LLP cannot handle by themselves, and for those situations, a client needs to obtain the services of a licensed attorney or must handle the matter by themselves. An LLP still can assist in such situations under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
Here is the list of matters and issues outside the authorized scope of an LLP’s practice of law:
- the registration of foreign orders;
- motions for or orders regarding punitive contempt citations under C.R.C.P. 107;
- matters involving an allegation of common law marriage in which either party disputes the existence of a common law marriage or the date when the common law marriage formed;
- matters involving disputed parentage where there are more than two parents or alleged parents asserting or denying legal parentage;
- matters in which a non-parent’s request for APR is contested by at least one parent;
- preparation of or litigation regarding pre- or post-nuptial agreements;
- matters in which a party is a beneficiary of a trust and information about the trust will be relevant to resolution of the matter;
- matters in which a party intends to contest jurisdiction of the court over any issue in the matter;
- the preparation by the LLP of a qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”) or other document allocating retirement assets that are not liquid at the time of the matter;
- the preparation by the LLP of documents needed to effectuate the sale or distribution of assets of a business entity or commercial property;
- matters in which an expert report or testimony is required to value an asset or determine income due to the inherent complexity of the asset or income at issue; or
- issues collateral to, but directly affecting, a matter which falls within the LLP’s scope of practice when such issues require analysis and advice outside that scope of practice, such as immigration, criminal, and bankruptcy issues that could directly affect the resolution of the matter.
Why Choose Dolan + Zimmerman?
We believe access to justice shouldn’t depend on your income. That’s why we’ve created a supportive, flexible legal team that offers both:
- Skilled family law attorneys for complex or contested matters
- Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals, like Tiffany Pennington, for straightforward or uncontested cases where clients want quality, limited-scope representation at a lower cost
We’re here to help you make the most of your time and resources, while making sure your rights and your peace of mind are protected.
Not Sure What You Need? We’ll Help You Decide.
Not every case needs a full-service attorney. And not every case is simple enough for a paraprofessional. Let us help you decide which path fits your situation best with no pressure and complete transparency about pricing, process, and expectations.
Contact us today at Dolan + Zimmerman LLP to schedule a consultation and talk through your family law matter. Whether you work with one of our LLPs or attorneys, you’ll have a compassionate, experienced team behind you.