Privately retained parent counsel · Colorado
Private Representation for Parents in Colorado Dependency and Neglect Cases
Ike Lucero, Jr., P.C. considers privately retained representation for parents in Colorado dependency and neglect cases. This private service is separate from court-appointed Respondent Parent Counsel and is available only when the firm can accept a defined engagement after conflict review.
A separate private service
Private counsel and court-appointed RPC are different engagements.
Both roles can involve counsel for a parent, but they are created through different processes.
Private parent counsel is retained by a client under a written fee agreement after the firm addresses conflicts, scope and acceptance.
Court-appointed Respondent Parent Counsel is appointed through the court and Colorado’s Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel process. A private inquiry does not create, select or influence an RPC appointment.
Service boundaries
The firm represents one identified client within an accepted scope.
A dependency and neglect case can involve several people and institutions with different roles and interests.
Parent counsel
Parent counsel represents the parent client within the scope of a private engagement or valid court appointment.
County and department
The county attorney and child-welfare department do not represent the parent.
Child representation
A Guardian ad Litem or Counsel for Youth has a role connected with the child or youth and does not represent the parent.
Caregivers and intervenors
A relative, caregiver, foster parent or intervenor may have a separate role or interest and may need separate counsel.
What the page can state
General role facts do not decide an individual case.
Current statutes, rules, court records, appointments and orders control the legal roles in a particular proceeding.
Court records
The filed case record identifies the parties, counsel, hearings and orders recognized by the court.
Firm records
The firm’s conflict review and written engagement determine whether it represents a person and the accepted scope.
Website boundary
A website visit, call, email, text or form submission is an inquiry and is not a court appointment or private engagement.
Conflicts and acceptance
The firm cannot accept every inquiry.
Current or former representation, court-appointed work and other professional duties may prevent the firm from accepting a private matter.
Representation begins only after the firm clears conflicts, accepts a defined scope, the firm and client sign a written fee agreement, and the required retainer or initial fee is received and accepted.
Current law and procedure
Official sources used for this page
Colorado child-welfare law changes. The current petition, rules, statutes, directives and orders—not a general website summary—govern an individual matter.
Colorado Revised Statutes
The Colorado General Assembly provides current access to the Colorado Revised Statutes, including Title 19.
Open official sourceColorado Judicial D&N Advisement
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes dependency and neglect advisement information.
Open official sourceColorado Judicial D&N Family Handbook
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes a general handbook describing dependency and neglect proceedings and roles.
Open official sourceOffice of Respondent Parents’ Counsel
ORPC publishes official information about court-appointed Respondent Parent Counsel and its Family Center.
Open official sourceColorado Rules of Professional Conduct
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes current professional-conduct rules and adopted changes.
Open official sourcePlain-language answers
Private parent representation questions
These answers explain general boundaries. They do not decide a case, deadline, conflict, appointment or engagement.
Is private parent counsel the same as court-appointed RPC?
No. Private counsel is retained under a written fee agreement after conflict, scope and acceptance review. Respondent Parent Counsel is appointed through the court and Colorado’s ORPC process.
Can a parent privately select Ike for an RPC appointment?
No. A private inquiry cannot create, select or influence a court-appointed RPC assignment. The firm may separately consider a private engagement, subject to conflicts and acceptance.
Who is the client in a private parent engagement?
The identified parent is the client. The county, child, GAL, Counsel for Youth, caregiver and other participants are not jointly represented unless a separate written agreement expressly and lawfully states otherwise.
Does another participant’s lawyer also represent the parent?
No. The county attorney, a child’s GAL, Counsel for Youth and counsel for another participant have different clients or duties and do not represent the parent.
When does a private attorney-client relationship begin?
Representation begins only after conflict review, firm acceptance, a signed written fee agreement, and receipt and acceptance of the required retainer or initial fee. A website inquiry alone does not create representation.
Pueblo office · appointment only
Request a private appointment.
The office can provide scheduling and engagement information. An inquiry does not create representation or require the firm to accept or act in a matter.