Rahul A - Avvo Review

An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services.

Five Ways to Save Money on Legal Fees

When you pay an attorney, you are paying for their knowledge, skill, and experience. How does an attorney charge for these intangible services? Almost invariably by charging for their time. So when it comes to working with your attorney, efficiency is your friend. Here are five simple things you can do to save your attorney time, and keep more cash in your pocket:

Consolidate:

There is a lot going on in your life, and much of it is emotionally difficult. Sometimes, you’ll want answers immediately. You can send an email every day, and most likely get a response on all of them. But if you can wait and ask all your questions at once, chances are your attorney will be more efficient in answering them, which will save you money.

Use the Paralegal:

Have a question about which legal option to take? Send it to your attorney. Have a question about when your court date is and what will happen there? Send it to your paralegal. Paralegals can’t give legal advice, but they are a wealth of information when it comes to the confusing procedures and the status of your case. In most firms, their rate is also quite a bit lower than the attorney rates, so when you have a question they can answer, it’s best to try them before asking your attorney.

Thems the Facts:

Attorneys know the law; they don’t know what happened to you last Friday until you tell them. Your attorney can only apply the law to your situation if you provide them the facts of your specific situation. How do they get these facts? By talking with you and by reviewing your documents. One of the most time-consuming things for attorneys and paralegals is reviewing documents that are out of context, incomplete, unreadable, or difficult to gather. How can you help reduce the time it takes them?

In a paperless firm like Gant Law, send your documents electronically whenever you can. Most of your documents are going to start electronic anyway (like bank statements you get through your bank’s website), so there is no need to print them and drop them off only to have us scan and shred them. Just save the electronic files then email or send them through the secure client portal.

In that same vein, it’s easier for your attorney and paralegal if you send separate documents as separate files. If you have 10 documents and you scan them all into one file, the paralegal will need to split them up, and that takes time. Similarly, if you can label your documents so it’s easy to tell what’s what, then there’s less renaming your paralegal will need to do.

Let Go of the Small Things:

Nothing in your case is “small,” per se. This is your life, your family, your livelihood. But some things in your case are not worth trying to control. A good attorney will help you highlight these things—the hills you should not die on. Take a breath, and some time, to truly consider your attorney’s advice. Focus on your future, not your past. If you can let go of the things you can’t control, you will save yourself both emotional pain and money.

Choose an Efficient Team:

Is your attorney still drafting letters when an email could do? Printing letters and signing them by hand? Dictating them to their paralegals? If so, you might be in an outdated office. These things take unnecessary time, and attorneys have little incentive (though their morals should be incentive enough) to streamline these processes when they charge by the hour.

Contact Gant Law today to learn how we innovate, automate, and update in order to save our clients on costs. 

Welcome, Ben Lutter, Gant Law's Newest Associate

Gant Law is proud to welcome Ben Lutter to the Gant Law team as the newest associate attorney.

Ben recently graduated with his Juris Doctorate from the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver and was sworn into the Colorado Bar earlier this month. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Colorado Denver. During law school, Ben was recognized for his multiple achievements. He received the Clarence L. Bartholic Award for the highest grade in the legal profession, the Scholastic Excellence Award for highest performance in natural resource law, and the Howard Jenkins Jr. Labor Law Award.

Needless to say, Ben brings with him an incredible wealth of knowledge and skills that will allow us to even better serve the Greeley and Northern Colorado communities. Welcome, Ben, we’re proud to have you on the team!

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Lia S - Google Review

Brynne is a top-notch lawyer who provides exceptional services to her clients.

FIVE FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT

1. Can we waive it? Answer: probably not. When it comes to kids, the court is gatekeeper. A judge has a duty, once a child support case is brought to it, to make sure the children are financially well cared for. While they will often allow parties to veer outside of the child support guidelines for good cause, they won't usually allow the parties to veer far outside those guidelines, and they can't make a child support order indefinite. Child support can always be modified.

2. What do I do if my ex quit their job to lower child support? Answer: impute it. Some folks figure out that child support is based on income, so they quit their job, thinking they're being savvy. The law is prepared for this scheme. This is why judges are allowed to impute income to people who are found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. This means they could potentially be stuck not only paying child support at the rate they would have before quitting, but now they don't have the income to support themselves through that order. The practice of quitting a job on purpose harms not only the children but the paying parent as well. 

3. What are the common variables that affect child support? Answer: the number of children, each party's gross monthly income, the number of overnights each party has with the children, the children's portion of health care premiums, and work- or education-related child care costs are the most common variables that affect child support. Some others that are rare but do come up from time to time are significant and ongoing out-of-pocket medical costs for the children, significant and ongoing travel expenses for the children, and children's income.

4. What counts as gross monthly income? Answer: income for child support purposes is defined pretty broadly. It can include salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, self-employment profits and payments, retirement pay, trust income, Social Security, disability, unemployment, worker's compensation, monetary gifts, major expense reimbursements, and even some insurance payouts. Overtime is also included if it is mandatory. For a full list and review of what counts and what doesn't, review Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-115 and scroll down to section (5).

5. How do I find out how much my ex makes in income? Answer: in a new divorce or custody case, the parties have to exchange financial disclosures. And even after that, the parents have a right to ask each other for financial disclosures at least once per year. What all do you have a right to ask for and what all do you have a duty to hand over?  There's a long list. Taxes and paystubs are a good place to start. For the full list, check out Rule 16.2 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, and scroll down to section (d).

When you’re grieving a family loss, dealing with a life-altering medical diagnosis, or working through any other significant change in your family dynamics, navigating the legal system can be overwhelming. We are here to help. Contact Greeley’s premium Probate and Family Law Attorneys at Gant Law.

In Re Parental Responsibilities of E.C

Our client and his partner had reconciled but had not updated their child support order. We were able to successfully prove to the court that there had been a mutually-agreed-upon change in primary care, allowing us to legally negate child support payments for the previous year, which resulted in $0 in arrears for our client.

Tanya P - Google Review

When I requested some legal advice from Gant Law my experience was amazing! Brynne was so timely, thorough, helpful and empathetic. She took her time in helping me understand my rights in layman’s terms and walked me through all of my options and possible outcomes. I felt empowered after speaking with her and comfortable with any outcome that might happen. She definitely eased my nerves and gave me the extra boost I needed.

S&R - Google Review

Great legal advice when we needed it most! Great humans! Great legal assistance!

5 Questions You Should Ask Your Lawyer About Pricing

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When you pay for legal services, you are, generally speaking, paying for your lawyer’s time. That is the product lawyers have to offer. Your lawyer spent years and thousands of dollars learning how to think the way they do. Now they use their time to put those skills to work for you and your case.

There are a few methods by which lawyers bill, each of which is intended to reimburse them for their time: 

Contingency billing is where the lawyer gets a percentage of what you win in your case. The lawyer estimates the time needed to help you with your matter, what they think you’ll win, and then the percentage of those winnings they would need to appropriately compensate them for the time they spent. 

In Flat-Rate billing, the lawyer may represent you in your whole matter for a flat rate, or they may offer to complete specific tasks in your matter, each at their own flat rate. Either way, the lawyer is estimating the time it will take to complete the case or task and then charging appropriately to compensate for that time. 

Finally, there is hourly billing, where the attorney charges you for their actual time spent representing you on the matter.

Each of these methods has pros and cons (as well as a slew of legal and ethical restrictions). In contingency billing, the lawyer may receive a windfall if the settlement or judgment was much higher than expected. And, of course, the opposite could be true if they lose the case. In flat-rate billing, the lawyer might be incentivized to cut corners and get things done too quickly. Hopefully, a lawyer’s reputation and care for their clients will negate this. And flat-rate billing is often a breath of fresh air for clients because they know exactly what they’ll be paying.

While flat-rate billing is increasing in use and acceptance, for family law and probate, the hourly rate is still the staple. Hourly billing can be the most accurate measure of reimbursing a lawyer’s time, since it does not require estimates or predictions, but it can also, unfortunately, incentivize inefficiency and inaccuracy. Like the flat-rate issues, we hope that lawyers will be efficient and honest, incentivized by their reputations and their desire to truly help clients. 

If your matter is being billed hourly, here are some things you should ask your lawyer about it:

1. Do you use timekeeping software?

Surprisingly, many lawyers do not use actual software to track their time. They simply estimate. Set a one-minute timer, place it on silent, and then close your eyes and count what you think is one minute. Check your accuracy against the actual timer. Were you right? Almost invariably the answer will be no. Now imagine you’re doing this with many minutes or even hours. You can see why time-keeping software is necessary.

2. Do you bill each item separately?

Many lawyers, regulation committees, and bar associations have appropriately ridiculed the use of “block billing.” This is where a lawyer lists several different, unrelated tasks in one billing entry on your bill. It could look something like “Drafted Response to Motion to Modify. Emailed client regarding extracurricular programs for child. Phone call to Opposing Counsel regarding upcoming Status Conference.” When lawyers do this, it is easy to hide or inappropriately state the amount of time something actually took them. Your bills should have each item listed separately. 

3. Do you bill when two people in the firm do the same thing?

Some firms use two lawyers on each matter. The idea is that some lawyers have expertise in one area and can focus there, while others will be better equipped for other areas. In addition, this can help keep client costs down, because one lawyer may have a lower rate and can do much of the legwork on a matter. In theory, this is a great system. However, there are then opportunities for billing overlaps, e.g. two lawyers both read one email and bill for it. Ask your lawyer what their plan is for this. Sometimes an overlap will be necessary. Other times it won’t. When it’s necessary, some lawyers will use blended rates (meaning the average of both lawyers’ rates). Some will simply have clear guidelines for the division of labor. Whatever the policy, the most important thing is that they have at least discussed it and have a policy in place to ensure you are not being unnecessarily double billed.

4. What’s your rounding policy?

Lawyers billing hourly will almost always round to the nearest .1 of an hour. Lawyers who are thoughtful about their client’s financial needs should have a policy in place (or an automatic system, such as through their timekeeping software) to round these hours. Do they round to the nearest .1? The nearest .05? Do they always round up? Whatever the answer, they should at least have thought enough about it to know the answer.

5. How many billable hours do you require of your attorneys per month?

One of the biggest downfalls with hourly billing is that firms with associate lawyers tend to require so many billable hours that their lawyers may feel the need to find more work than is necessary. In other words, they might make up work--and bill you for it. Some of the larger, urban firms require their lawyers to get over 175 billable hours per month, which means over 8 hours of billable time per working day. Not all of a lawyer’s time is billable, and many would say only about 50-80% of a lawyer’s time is billable. This means that these big-firm lawyers have to either be working ridiculous hours or finding ways to add more “time” to their timesheets. What does your lawyer require of themselves or their associate lawyers? Do their requirements incentivize the lawyers to round up, add more time, burn themselves out?

As we’ve seen, there are pros and cons to each type of billing. The most important thing is having the tools to be able to evaluate your bill correctly.

Gant Law is Seeking an Associate Attorney

You can make a living almost anywhere. At Gant Law, we invite you to make a life you love.

We offer competitive pay; remote work; flexible hours; clear goals, principles, and policies; billable-hour goals that don’t incentivize padding; structured training and advancement tailored to your learning style; regular communication to ensure you’re heard and have the tools you need to flourish in and out of the office.

We’d love to talk with attorneys who have 0-3 years’ experience, who are ambitious and hardworking, and who take the title of attorney seriously (but who don’t take themselves too seriously).

Please send resume and letter of interest to admin@gantlawoffice.com with "Associate Application" in the subject line.

Tim K - Google Review

On more than one occasion I have been helped by Gant Law. The advice, direction, and education I've received on a couple of legal matters was thorough, caring, and thoughtful. I felt like their character was above and beyond what I would expect as well. Thank you!

Anonymous - Google Review

I worked with Brynne for a few months regarding a custody case. She was so helpful in my case. I would strongly recommend using her if you are in search of a good family law lawyer!

Covid-19 Announcement and Thoughts

To our clients, colleagues, and community:

The Corona virus and our interactions with it have created a great deal of uncertainty in the world, in our communities, and likely in our own homes. We would like to clarify our plan of action at this time as well as provide some words of encouragement and helpful reminders:

Our Plan of Action: After completing research on the virus itself and the way it may affect a given community, Gant Law will be voluntarily participating in social distancing in the following ways: as has been requested by our local courts, from today until at least April 1, 2020, all court appearances and client conferences will be attended via phone. Any contested hearings will be rescheduled.

To avoid spreading the virus to those in our shared office, we will limit all in-office appearances. Thus, we ask that, wherever possible, you send in any documents and payments electronically rather than by standard mail or drop off.

On April 1, 2020, we will reassess this policy and may extend it.

Reminder: At times like this, we are confronted with opportunities for fear but also presented with opportunities for compassion, innovation, and strength. Look for the helpers. And if you need help, please reach out to your community and ask.

One simple way we can all help each other is by paying special attention to the language we use with one another. As a firm focusing on probate, elder law, family law, and criminal defense, we are particularly aware of the difficulties language can create: from ambiguous Wills and disagreements on medical treatment, to hurtful texts between spouses and alienation of children, to misunderstood “confessions” and false allegations. Language is one of humanities greatest tools for better or worse.

We all know that social media provides ample opportunity to use language in negative ways that we wouldn’t otherwise use in person. When, due to shut-downs and self-quarantines, even more of our communication necessarily turns to social media and other virtual platforms, we would do well to be vigilant about the language we use on these platforms.

Here are three simple rules that you can use to deescalate issues with language:

1.       Curiosity over Correction: Before you tell someone they are wrong, get curious about their statements and beliefs. Investigate before you make a determination. Rather than stating “You need to do your homework before you post things like this,” consider asking questions: “Can you tell me more about where you learned this? I am surprised by the results.”

2.       Method over Conclusion: When you’ve learned something you feel is important, you may find it more persuasive to present the material you have learned and then allow others to draw their own conclusions from it, rather than telling them what to think about it. There is so much information flying around; presenting it as 100% fact may be difficult for others to hear. Why not say “I found this interesting, and it makes sense to me,” as opposed to “People need to wake up and read the truth”? Do you see how one is much more likely to invite productive participation?

3.       Respect over Rightness: When we feel passionate about sharing our opinions, if we dig deep to examine why, we may find that fear is at the root of it. We are afraid that if others don’t understand and believe as we understand and believe, something negative will result.

If we are right, then how much more important is it to actually get people to listen as opposed to offending them? In all our language, if our goal is truly to persuade others, then above all else, we must be respectful. When was the last time you truly listened to someone who was being disrespectful to you? For many of us (maybe even most of us) rude language completely dissuades us from listening.

Thus, now is not the time for name-calling, for hyperbole, for sarcasm, for passive aggression. Now is not the time to use put-downs in any form in order to try to prove yourself right. Now, perhaps more than ever, is a time for respect.

We invite all within our community to listen before speaking, to learn before teaching, and to look for ways to help at this time.

Brian G - Google Review

I have been so impressed with Brynne Gant and with Gant law. They are helpful, considerate, intelligent and thorough. I would recommend their services and help to anyone I know.

Interest of R.B.

Client had cognitive and physical impairments and was being financially exploited by third parties. A family member petitioned for Guardianship and Conservatorship, and Client joined in the petition. However, a unique Visitor’s report was produced and threw a wrench in the uncontested matter. We were able to clearly represent our position and shore up the rebuttal information to make our Client’s wishes heard and made a reality.

Interest of K.E.

Client needed to track down heirlooms held by estranged mother and negotiate their return. We were able to professionally and successfully receive all requested items without litigation.

Should Colorado Change its Felony Murder Law?

In Colorado (and many other states), a person can be charged with murder if they are committing a certain felony and someone in their group commits murder in the process. If you go out, for instance, with a group of friends to rob a bank, and anyone of your friends kills someone at the bank, you could then be charged with murder and subject to life in prison without parole.

The statute that lays out the current rule is C.R.S. 18-3-102(1)(b) (current through 2019 legislative session). Senator Daniel Kagan (D, Colorado) has submitted a bill that would change the sentencing possibilities for this rule, essentially taking the crime from a class-one felony (potential penalty of life in prison without parole) to a class-two felony (with potential crime-of-violence sentencing). 

As with all major criminal justice issues, there are pros and cons to this rule from society’s perspective. Take, for example, a situation where a gang leader jumps and indoctrinates a vulnerable, 17-year-old kid who now becomes the youngest member of the gang. Now that leader demands that the 17-year-old carry a gun to a bank robbery and pull the trigger on anyone who stands in the gang’s way. If such a shooting actually occurs, who is society more worried about: the 17-year-old who pulled the trigger or the leader who manipulated the kid and demanded the shooting? Should the 17-year-old get charged with first-degree murder while the leader is only charged with the robbery?

Now let’s change the scenario up a bit: Let’s say that a group of criminals befriends a vulnerable, 17-year-old kid and invites him to “steal some money from a bank” with them. The kid goes along with this out of peer-pressure but has absolutely no idea that anyone in the group has a gun. Unfortunately, one of the group members does have a gun and kills someone in the process of the robbery. Should the 17-year-old, who just barely met this group, and who didn’t realize they had a gun, be held fully responsible for the other person’s shooting as though he had pulled the trigger? Hopefully, this is where the district attorney’s office would come into play and plead the case down. But what if the DA doesn’t believe the 17-year-old or the 17-year-old isn’t able to explain his position clearly?

What do you think about the bill? Should it pass or not?

Greeley Attorney, Brynne Gant, wins the Avvo Client’s Choice Award

It’s always awkward to brag, but we love our clients and are happy that they love us! We are proud to announce that Greeley Family Law and Probate and Estate Law Attorney, Brynne Gant, has been awarded the Avvo Client’s Choice Award. Thank you so much to all our amazing clients who took the time to leave a review for Brynne. As I’m sure you can imagine, online reviews are invaluable and we appreciate you sharing your positive experiences with others.

January 2020 Newsletter

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Gant Law Newsletter - January 2020 Legal needs vary person to person, year to year, event to event.   Our goal is to be there for you through them all.  At Gant Law, we know that it is important for you to feel comfortable with your representation, and a huge part of that is building and maintaining relationships.  It is our hope that this newsletter will help you to stay in touch, even when you don't need us at the moment. That way, when you do need some help, it feels like you are calling an old friend. Meet the Team Brynne Gant As a client, you've already met her and seen her in action.  But, did you know that Brynne grew up near the mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah? That's where she earned her Juris Doctorate from the J. Reuben Clark Law School in 2013 and was admitted to practice law in Colorado that same year. Before law school, Brynne worked for a law firm specializing in family law and estate planning. She continued pursuing those areas during law school, focusing on domestic relations, family law, and litigation skills.  After law school, Brynne served as a Weld County Deputy District Attorney for nearly four years, quickly gaining an astounding amount of trial experience. While a DDA, she handled over 40 jury trials, including everything from misdemeanor traffic to child homicide. Since leaving the DA's Office, Brynne has worked in private practice focusing on Probate Law, Elder Law, Family Law, and Criminal Defense.  In her spare time, Brynne loves to write, read, and spend time with her husband and children. Heather Bratt Heather is a Colorado transplant from the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  After graduating from high school in the Seattle area, Heather ventured east where she eventually met and married her husband of nearly 20 years, had a few kiddos, and decided to make Colorado her forever home.  As Brynne's legal secretary, you will most likely speak to Heather when you call the firm.  She will ask several prying questions and try really hard to make friends with you, but she will also make sure you get the help you need. From a community resource referral, to a shoulder to cry on, to an appointment with Brynne, she can set things up for you and help you get the ball rolling.  Friendly and helpful, feel free to call Heather anytime. Here When You Need Us It is not uncommon for a client to retain our firm to help them through a death, or to help protect a beloved family member who is unable to care for themselves anymore.  However, as the years pass, other needs arise for help through complicated legal situations.  We feel that it's important for you to know what we do, so we can help you through any process. We have years of experience in the following legal services.   Probate Law / Estate Planning Wills Codicils Trusts, Amendments Powers of Attorney Living Wills/Advance Directives Guardianships Conservatorships   Family Law Divorce Legal Seperations Annulments Custody/Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Parenting Plan Disputes Child Support Pre-Nuptial Agreements Post-Nuptial Agreeements Cohabitation Agreements Common-0Law Marriage Disputes Adoptions Restriction Hearings   Criminal Defense Misdemeanors Felonies on a case-by-case basis County Court Traffic Violations Gant Law is a family firm that believes strong families make for a strong community.   A strong community is also made up of people who look at each other and treat each other as extended family.  Welcome to ours. Find Out More Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* Gant Law, All rights reserved.

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Interest of A.C.

Client’s friend was at great risk of exploitation on account of cognitive impairments. The friend was having trouble navigating VA benefits and other financial needs. We were able to successfully appoint Client as Guardian and Conservator despite a Visitor report that missed important information and resulted in a questionable recommendation.