ABOUT RANDY GOLDEN, PC

Jessica Haworth graduated from Front Range Community College with her A.A.S in Paralegal Studies in 2015 and was in the inaugural class of Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs) to have been admitted in Colorado in 2024. Jessica is licensed to practice Family Law on a limited scope in the following areas:

• Legal Separation
• Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union
• Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage
• Allocation of Parental Responsibility
• Modifications of Child Support, Parenting Time, Decision Making, and/or Maintenance
• Protection Orders
• Name Changes
• Adult Gender Designation Changes
• Remedial Contempt actions

What is a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional?

• Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs) are not attorneys but are licensed in the State of Colorado to practice law without attorney supervision in limited areas in which they are licensed. While it may be absolutely necessary in some cases to hire a lawyer, not every legal matter requires the experience and training of a licensed attorney. New rules adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court in 2023 allow LLPs to practice in specific areas of law without direct involvement or supervision of an attorney. An LLP is a mid-level legal provider that is a step up from a paralegal and a step down from a fully practicing attorney. An LLP can do many of the things traditionally accomplished by attorneys while charging lower fees. The court created the LLP program to improve access to justice for Colorado residents.
• Currently, LLPs can be licensed to practice law in the area of family law. The scope of an LLP’s licensing is narrower than that of an attorney. LLPs can enter into a contractual relationship with their client, interview the client, review documents with the client, and explain documents and orders to the client, assist their client with the preparation of court-approved forms, gather facts and information related to the completion of the forms, sign and file the forms for the client. LLPs can also communicate with opposing counsel on behalf of their client, advocate for their client in mediation, and assist in the settlement of their client’s case, including with the completion of a settlement agreement. LLPs may not represent their client in court hearings or trials but may attend hearings and trials with their client.
• To learn more about the LLP program in the State of Colorado, please visit the Colorado Supreme Court.

Why hire an LLP?

If you cannot afford or do not need an attorney, consider the services of a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional. An LLP is an individual licensed by the State of Colorado to perform limited legal services to the public within family law. LLPs are not attorneys, but can provide many of the same services as attorneys, in a limited capacity. Most LLPs charge one-half of what an attorney charges per hour.

What can an LLP do?

• LLPs can offer limited services and representation to clients only within the family law practice area
• Prepare and file necessary documents for a client's case, including proposed parenting plans, separation agreements, motions or stipulations for establishing or modifying child support, child support worksheets, proposed orders, nonappearance affidavits, discovery requests and answers to discovery requests, trial management certificates, pretrial submissions, and exhibit and witness lists, or motions for or orders regarding remedial contempt citations under C.R.C.P. 107
• Obtain, explain, and file any document or necessary information in support of a a form or other document, including sworn financial statements and certificates of compliance
• Communicate with opposing parties and their attorneys
• Inform, counsel, assist and advocate for a client in negotiations and mediations with opposing parties and their attorneys
• Explain a court order
• Review documents of another party or documents and forms prepared by a pension or retirement plan which allocates pension or retirement benefits pursuant to a decree of dissolution, and explain the documents to clients
• Attend court proceedings in a limited capacity to provide emotional support, communicate with clients during the proceeding, answering questions posed by the court, addressing the court upon the court’s request, take notes, and assist the client in understand the proceeding and relevant orders
• Advise clients regarding the need for a lawyer to review complex issues that may arise in a matter

What can an LLP not do?

• Register a foreign order
• Motions for or orders regarding punitive contempt citations under C.R.C.P. 107
• Matters concerning common law marriage where there is a dispute on the existence of a common law marriage or the date the common law marriage was formed
• Matters involving disputed parentage where there are more than two parents or alleged parents asserting or denying legal parentage
• Matters in which a non-parent’s request for allocation of parental responsibilities is contested by at least one parent
• Preparation of or litigation regarding pre- or post-nuptial agreements
• Matters in which a party is a beneficiary of a trust and information about the trust will be relevant to the resolution of the matter
• Matters in which a party intends to contest jurisdiction of the court over any issue in the matter
• Preparation of a qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”) or other document allocating retirement assets that are not liquid at the time of the matter
• Preparation of documents needed to effectuate the sale or distribution of assets of a business entity or commercial property
• Matters in which an expert report or testimony is required to value an asset or determine income due to the inherent complexity of the asset or income at issue
• Issues collateral to, but directly affecting, a matter which falls within the LLP’s scope of practice when such issues require analysis and advice outside that scope of practice, such as immigration, criminal, and bankruptcy issues that could directly affect the resolution of the matter