Guardianships and Conservatorships  

Usually, securing court approval of a suitable guardian or conservator for a minor child or an incapacitated adult is a straightforward matter.  Once appointed, guardians are responsible for making health care, housing and personal care arrangements for their “wards.”  Conservators manage the financial and business affairs for those who cannot act for themselves.  Our practice in this area ranges from simple, uncontested guardianships and conservatorships to  high-conflict, multi-jurisdictional disputes involving abduction of incapacitated persons and unauthorized transfers of their assets.

Once guardianships or conservatorships are established, our staff can help clients set up regular reporting practices to comply with the requirements of Colorado law.

Charitable Planning

To eliminate or minimize estate taxes or to meet philanthropic goals, some clients adopt a strategy of making charitable gifts.  These take a variety of forms, either during lifetime or at death.  Grandparents, parents and children can serve as directors or trustees of family-operated charities, providing an opportunity to teach succeeding generations the skills needed for good stewardship and service to the community. We can help establish charitable and non-profit organizations, charitable trusts and lifetime gift-tax qualified transfers.  Or we can help you accomplish your philanthropic goals by working with existing charities through donor-advised funds, charitable remainder or charitable lead trusts and other arrangements.