Private representation · Colorado child-welfare matters
Private Representation for Kinship Caregivers and Proposed Intervenors
Ike Lucero, Jr., P.C. considers privately retained representation for relatives, kinship caregivers, foster parents and other proposed intervenors in Colorado dependency and neglect matters.
Work within an accepted engagement
What private caregiver representation can include
The written engagement defines the work accepted for the caregiver or proposed intervenor. Depending on that scope, representation can include these services.
Review of the client’s role
Reviewing the case record and applicable law, discussing the client’s objectives, and assessing the participation or intervention issues included in the engagement.
Preparation and communication
Preparing the client for covered proceedings and communicating the client’s position to other counsel or case participants when authorized and within scope.
Filings and court advocacy
Preparing filings and presenting the client’s position where included in the engagement and permitted by the court. Retaining counsel does not itself create party status or guarantee intervention, placement or any other result.
General role information
Colorado child-welfare matters can include different participants.
The rights and permitted participation of any person are determined by current law, the case record and court orders.
Relatives and kinship caregivers
A relative or caregiver may have information or interests connected with a child, but that relationship does not by itself establish party or intervenor status.
Foster parents and proposed intervenors
Current law may recognize participation in defined circumstances. This page does not decide whether those circumstances exist in a particular matter.
Other case participants
Parents, the county department, parent counsel, a GAL, counsel for youth, caregivers and intervenors have distinct roles and may have different interests.
Scope of service
Private representation depends on a separate engagement.
The firm considers whether it can represent a caregiver or proposed intervenor only after addressing conflicts, scope and availability.
Prospective client
The prospective client for this service is the caregiver or proposed intervenor, not every person connected with the family or case.
Conflict boundary
Current and former professional roles may prevent the firm from accepting a private matter. An appointment request does not establish that the matter can be accepted.
Engagement boundary
Representation begins only after conflict review, firm acceptance, a signed written fee agreement, and receipt and acceptance of the required retainer.
Official information
Colorado child-welfare sources
These official sources publish general law, rules and court materials. They do not determine the firm’s availability or a person’s status in a particular case.
Colorado Revised Statutes
The Colorado General Assembly provides current access to the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Visit the official statutes page →Colorado Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch publishes current court information, rules and forms.
Visit Colorado Judicial →Relative Information
The Judicial Branch publishes a dependency-and-neglect relative-information form.
Visit the official form page →General service information
Participation and representation are different questions.
Participation status
A family or caregiving relationship alone does not establish intervention status. Current law, the case record and court orders determine the recognized role in a particular proceeding.
Separate private representation
This service concerns private representation for a caregiver or proposed intervenor. It is separate from court-appointed RPC, GAL and Counsel for Youth work and from representation of a parent.
Firm acceptance
An appointment request is an inquiry. Conflicts, scope, availability and a written engagement determine whether the firm accepts private representation.
Related service and role information
Parents, relatives and foster caregivers have distinct roles.
Private parent representation
A separate service in which the identified parent, rather than a caregiver or proposed intervenor, is the prospective client.
Private parent service information →Grandparent and kinship participation
General information about family relationships, participation and the distinct status of an intervenor.
Grandparent and kinship information →Foster-parent participation
General information about foster caregivers and participation in Colorado dependency and neglect proceedings.
Foster-parent information →Related child-welfare pages
Keep each legal role separate
Private service · appointment only
Request a private appointment.
The office can provide scheduling and engagement information. An appointment request does not create representation or require the firm to accept a matter.