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GUSTAFSON
LAW
OFFICE
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COLORADO
SPRINGS DO-IT-YOURSELF DIVORCE - DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
- LEGAL SEPARATION
COLORADO SPRINGS SELF HELP & PRO SE CLINICS
- DIVORCE & ADOPTION
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Colorado Springs Divorce & Adoption Self-Help Clinics & Pro-Se Clinics - "do it yourself" divorce,
mandatory parenting class, legal separation, annulment, custody, visitation, child support,
alimony, adoption
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| FREE CLINICS
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FOR PERSONS
REPRESENTING THEMSELVES
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DISSOLUTION
OF MARRIAGE
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LEGAL
SEPARATION
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DIVORCE |
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ADOPTION
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The pro-se clinics are a public service sponsored by the El
Paso County Combined Courts and the El
Paso County Bar Association to assist persons in dissolution of marriage
actions. An adoption class has been added.
Assistance with Other
Family Law Issues. Volunteer attorneys frequently answer questions regarding other family law
matters during the first 30 minutes while a video is shown
or at the end of the
clinic.
examples - adoption, paternity, child custody, support enforcement, restraining
orders.
Attorneys
volunteer their time and appear without compensation to answer questions or
assist in filling out paperwork if time permits. To avoid the appearance of
solicitation and make certain the public perceives this as a strictly
volunteer activity,
usually the volunteer attorneys neither identify
themselves except by first name nor accept cases from a clinic.
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MANDATORY
PARENTING CLASS
final orders will not be entered or hearing set unless class is completed |
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THIS CLASS IS MANDATORY
FOR
ALL DIVORCING PARENTS WITH CHILDREN
regardless of whether or not case is settled or parties agree |
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1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
12:00 Noon - 1:30 pm
* * AND
* *
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
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El Paso County
Judicial Complex
270 South Tejon
Street - West Tower - Jury Assembly Room
W113
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2203 |
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Questions ??? -
El
Paso County Combined Courts
status:
mandatory
-- cost:
paid for both parents by petitioner with initial filing fee --
MAPS & DIRECTIONS |
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IF ONE PARENT RESIDES OUT OF
STATE
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Contact the local court for a parenting class or if none, then an equivalent
program must be arranged with a local social worker, child therapist or
psychologist.
Proof of attendance will be required to obtain a final
decree.
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PRO-SE 1
FORMS * STARTING YOUR DIVORCE
overview of divorce process and initial
forms
volunteer attorneys
are present to answer questions/help fill out paperwork if time permits |
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1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
12:00 Noon - 1:30 pm |
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El Paso County
Judicial Complex
270 South Tejon
Street - West Tower - Jury Assembly Room
W113
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2203 |
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status: voluntary -- cost: free --
MAPS & DIRECTIONS
Questions ??? -
El
Paso County Combined Courts |
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PRO-SE II
FORMS * FINALIZING YOUR DIVORCE
overview of divorce after service of
process and interim to finalization forms
volunteer attorneys
are present to answer questions / help fill out paperwork if time permits |
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1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
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El Paso County
Judicial Complex
270 South Tejon
Street - West Tower - Jury Assembly Room
W113
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2203 |
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status: voluntary -- cost: free --
MAPS & DIRECTIONS
Questions ??? -
El
Paso County Combined Courts |
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SINGLE PARENT
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES
assistance with legal forms
pertaining to custody and / or child support issues for single parents |
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2nd Thursday of each month
12:00 Noon - 1:30 pm |
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El Paso County
Judicial Complex
270 South Tejon
Street - West Tower - Jury Assembly Room
W113
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2203 |
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status: voluntary -- cost: free --
MAPS & DIRECTIONS
Questions ??? -
El
Paso County Combined Courts |
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ADOPTION
PRO-SE CLASS
overview of adoption process and forms
volunteer attorneys
are present to answer questions / help fill out paperwork if time permits |
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3rd Wednesday of each month
12:00 Noon - 1:30 pm |
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El Paso County
Judicial Complex
270 South Tejon
Street - West Tower - Div. Z Courtroom No.
260 - 2nd Floor
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2203 |
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status: voluntary -- cost: free --
MAPS & DIRECTIONS
Questions ??? -
El
Paso County Combined Courts |
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LEGAL FORMS
AND INFORMATION |
SELF HELP
LEGAL
FORMS hardcopy packets and on-line forms
a. Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity & genetic testing,
adoption, allocation of parental responsibility, parenting time, child support
guideline computations, civil injunction, including domestic abuse. My office is computerized, therefore I will not use these
forms.
b. Any person may obtain a packet of
family law legal forms:
1.
Hardcopy
Legal Forms - local access to forms
2.
Colorado Supreme Court
Legal Forms
- available by internet download
3.
Colorado
Supreme Court Child Support Guideline Computation Worksheets - on-line
instructions & downloads or
4.
Child
Support and Spousal Maintenance Software (commercial site - cost
involved & computer installation required)
5.
Military and
Civil Service Defense Employee Pay and Benefits - links to military and civil
service defense employee pay and benefits
6. Form
DD-2058 - affidavit of residency. Obtain at your finance office
or refer to link. Military personnel must claim Colorado as their home of
record to file for dissolution of marriage in Colorado.
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Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) are available in
the local law library
supported by the
El Paso
County Bar Association - you may ask a librarian for
assistance in locating statute books.
Colorado
Bar Association - additional
on-line legal research
Governmental agencies contact
information - refer to the
Courts
and Government Agencies Community Resources page.
Additional
community resources, links and Colorado forms - refer to the
Resources
Gateway page.
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WEBSITE PUBLISHED
BY
GUSTAFSON
LAW
OFFICE
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Address
* Maps
* Directions |
Phone (719)
260-1002 |
Fax
(719) 260-1003 
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Colorado Springs, CO 80918
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Robert D.
Gustafson, Attorney at Law
Business Hours
*
Attorney
Availability
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Trade Area
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Toll Free (800)
410-1002
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PRIVATE ATTORNEY
NOT
A CLINIC |
I welcome representation
inquiries
but
please do not call thinking this office is a clinic or provides the
identified classes |
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ATTORNEY
REPRESENTATION
AND DECLINED MATTERS
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ALTERNATIVES
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FIND
A LAWYER |
if
you are seeking the below
please refer to above links for helpful information |
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sole practitioner
attorney does not accept these matters |
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a. a pro-bono (free) lawyer
b. an attorney who may take
lower fees - economic hardship
c. an attorney who may take installment payments |
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MID-LITIGATION
REPRESENTATION
alternatives and find a
lawyer links provided as a courtesy
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Attorney
Policies
Litigant Pro Se - Attempt to
Prepare or Defend Own Family Law Case |
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1.
Adequate Time. If sufficient time exists to adequately prepare your
family law case or
defense and if prospective client approves this
attorney's fees and costs structure, attorney will
likely accept representation. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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2.
Insufficient Time. If you've waited until the eleventh hour and there is not
sufficient time to adequately prepare your case or defense before a contested
court proceeding, please do not call. I decline. |
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3.
Limited Assistance.
Please do not call requesting instruction, directions, legal theory,
forms completion or limited document drafting, partial representation, or an explanation of
applicable law to assist you in preparation or defense of your own case. I decline. |
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Attorney
Policies
Representation
by Previous Attorney
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1.
Current Attorney.
Until an order has entered withdrawing representation by an
attorney, an ethical rule violation exists if counsel
knowingly speaks to another attorney's client without current
attorney's consent. This ethical rule governs all
attorneys. Please do not call until after
you have terminated representation by a former attorney.
After
other counsel's withdrawal it may take significant effort for the the new attorney to "catch up."
Please be aware fees and costs will be associated with procuring the court
file and coming up to speed in the case. |
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2.
Adequate Time.
If prospective client terminates employment of the
former attorney, if sufficient time exists to adequately prepare your
family law case, and if prospective client approves this
attorney's fees and costs structure, attorney will
likely accept representation. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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3.
Insufficient Time.
If you've waited until the eleventh hour and there is
not sufficient time to adequately prepare your case or
defense before a contested court proceeding, please do
not call. I decline. |
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4.
Second Opinion.
I will not arm chair quarterback another
attorney's case preparation, trial tactics or theory of
the case. Please do not call for a second
opinion or an opinion regarding the competence
of preparation or defense in your current family
law case. I decline. |
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POST
DECREE MATTERS
alternatives and find a
lawyer links provided as a courtesy
former clients are naturally welcome to call anytime
regarding any legal matter |
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1.
Post Decree Support, Property or Debt Enforcement. I accept most post decree requests
to
enforce a prior court order with respect to child support,
spousal maintenance, property or debt. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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2. Post Decree Modification.
I will consider post decree modification of support,
parental responsibility or parenting time or setting aside a
former property or debt order, however I do consider the amount
of time elapsed since last order, circumstances surrounding the
modification and number of prior attorneys retained by a
prospective client. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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3.
Appeals. I
do not accept appellate matters unless I provided
representation at hearing or trial and am familiar with the facts,
testimony and exhibits received into evidence
and meritorious issues for appeal. That's been my policy for
years. Please do not
call or inquire regarding appellate matters if you are not a
former client. |
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ATTORNEY
TRADE AREA & TRAVEL
CASES OUTSIDE EL PASO COUNTY
GEOGRAPHIC
DISTANCE
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
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Colorado is a big state. Ease of internet access, email and toll free
phone doesn't change that fact. Due to frequency of court appearances, it is not economically justifiable for a client to pay travel time or
expenses beyond nearby counties. |
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trade area due to travel cost considerations. |
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Attorney is very willing to travel
outside the Colorado Springs area to present or defend a case,
but please be aware travel time, mileage and expense would
apply. If you are out of state or unfamiliar with Colorado
geography, refer to the map to determine where
Colorado Springs
is located in relation to the county of your court case or
hearing. |
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| COUNTIES |
CITIES /
TOWNS |
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If travel is
necessary, a
trust deposit
would be required to cover anticipated travel time, mileage &
expenses. If it is not economically justifiable to retain
my services with travel, please contact counsel in the locale of
your case. |
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El Paso
County |
Colorado Springs / Manitou
Springs / Fountain |
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Arapahoe County |
Littleton / Centennial /
Englewood |
I welcome new cases. Intent is not to be harsh
or to discard potential new business, but to be practical. |
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Douglas
County |
Castle Rock |
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Elbert
County |
Kiowa / Simla |
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Fremont
County |
Canon City / Florence / Penrose |
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Lincoln
County |
Hugo (county seat) / Limon |
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Pueblo
County |
Pueblo |
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Teller
County |
Cripple Creek / Woodland Park |
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feel free to call or email if you are a client or are seeking representation |
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FREE
INITIAL CONSULTATION
not an offer for free legal
advice - refer to link for terms
I am a sole practitioner with need to manage my caseload & reserve
the right to decline any legal matter |
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self-help clinics, pro-se clinics, do it yourself, divorce, dissolution of marriage,
parenting class, mandatory parenting class, legal separation, annulment, custody, visitation, child support, alimony, property division, debt division, adoption, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, lawyer,
attorney
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Serving Colorado Springs Area Zip
Codes |
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| 80918 80920 80919 80917 80915
80908 80132 80909 80913 80916 80921 80922 80925 80901 80902 80903 80904 |
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80905 80906 80907 80910 80911 80912
80914 80921 80926 80928 80929 80930 80931 80933 80934 80935 80936 |
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80937 80940 80941 80942 80943 80944 80945
80946 80947 80949 80950 80960 80962 80970 80977 80995 90997 |
Copyright © 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Document Revised:
May 19, 2009
no copyright claimed to merchant logo, software logo, flag, envelope or drawing images
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