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.
Work within an accepted engagement
What private parent representation can include
The written engagement identifies the work the firm accepts for the parent client. Depending on that scope, representation can include the following services.
Case review and explanation
Reviewing the petition, court orders and other case materials; explaining the issues and how they relate to the parent’s position and the accepted representation.
Preparation and communication
Discussing the parent’s objectives, preparing for covered proceedings, and communicating with other counsel or case participants when authorized and within the engagement.
Court advocacy
Preparing filings and presenting the parent’s position at hearings included in the engagement. The court decides the issues before it; representation does not guarantee a particular result.
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.
Colorado Revised StatutesColorado Judicial D&N Advisement
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes dependency and neglect advisement information.
Colorado D&N AdvisementColorado Judicial D&N Family Handbook
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes a general handbook describing dependency and neglect proceedings and roles.
Colorado D&N Family HandbookOffice of Respondent Parents’ Counsel
ORPC publishes official information about court-appointed Respondent Parent Counsel and its Family Center.
ORPC Family CenterColorado Rules of Professional Conduct
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes current professional-conduct rules and adopted changes.
Professional-Conduct Rules and ChangesGeneral service information
Private parent representation: role boundaries
The following descriptions distinguish services and clients. They do not determine anyone’s case status, deadline, conflict, appointment or engagement.
An identified parent client
In an accepted private parent engagement, the identified parent is the client. Other family members and case participants do not become clients through that engagement.
Separate professional roles
The county attorney, a child’s Guardian ad Litem, Counsel for Youth and another participant’s attorney have different clients or duties. Their roles are separate from parent counsel.
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.