LLP Services -- What is an LLP?

LLP refers to a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional -- On June 20, 2024, the Colorado Supreme Court historically swore in the very first group of LLP's in the State of Colorado, and Cheri, Diane's Paralegal, was among them.  The new licensure of LLP's for Colorado was designed to help those who need legal help but are unable to afford an attorney, giving the moderate-means individual access to justice in the family court system, where nearly 75% of cases before the Colorado Courts involve unrepresented parties. Although LLP's are not attorneys, they are held to the same standards of ethics and professionalism as attorneys, and their scope of representation is defined under the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 207.1.

As a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional (LLP), Cheri is now able to represent clients in a limited variety of family law matters from dissolution of marriage or legal separations, undisputed common law marriages, allocation of parental responsibilities (with limitations), child support establishment and modifications, child support enforcement matters, and remedial contempts.

LLP's are permitted to contract with clients for services, prepare and file pleadings with the Court, provide legal advice and advocacy by communicating with the opposing party or opposing counsel, attending mediation, preparing the client and attending Court proceedings with the client, including sitting at the counsel table, providing organization and emotional support and communicating with the client during the proceeding to assist in the understanding of the proceeding and advise the client of the relevant orders and next steps. LLP's are also permitted to make opening statements and closing arguments to the Court on behalf of the client.

LLP's are not permitted to examine witnesses in Court proceedings, handle matters in which an expert report or testimony is required to value an asset or determine income to due to the inherent complexity of the asset or income at issue, prepare documents allocating non-liquid retirement assets (such as a QDRO) or documents executing the sale or distribution of business assets or commercial property, handle matters in which a party is a beneficiary of a trust and information about the trust will be relevant to the resolution of the matter, prepare or litigate pre- or post-nuptial agreements, or perform other tasks that fall outside the scope of the LLP'S representation, such as immigration, adoption, relinquishment, D&N proceedings, criminal or bankruptcy cases, jurisdictional disputes, punitive contempts, non-parent APR matters, muliple parent parentage disputes, or common law marriage disputes.