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Robert D.
Gustafson, Attorney At Law
COLORADO SPRINGS TRIAL LAWYER
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6538 Charter
Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918-1335
Phone (719) 260-1002
Toll Free (800) 410-1002
E-MAIL
ATTORNEY
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Attorney
Business Hours
Attorney
Availability Status
FREE
INITIAL CONSULTATION
Fax (719) 260-1003
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COLORADO SPRINGS
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
COLORADO SPRINGS FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY |
WELCOME
I appreciate your interest
perhaps I will become your attorney |
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I offer one free visit on every case. There is no obligation of any nature, and
you will not be billed for the first visit. The purpose of a
first
consultation is
to identify your legal problems, discuss possible remedies or action which may
be available, and discuss attorney's fees and costs. After gaining an
understanding of your case, I will quote fees and anticipated costs. I generally
decline further discussion of the case after the first visit unless retained. As
I maintain a small practice and manage my caseload, I reserve the right to
decline any first consultation or to decline representation in any case.
If you feel the need to contact a trial attorney quickly, please pick up your
telephone. I've made that easy with the addition of a toll free phone
number which is available throughout the entire United States and Canada.
You will reach either myself or voicemail - I have no secretarial screen.
When you call please bear in mind I may or may not have time to visit at that
instant if you've not made a previous appointment. If you reach my
voicemail, please leave your name, date and time called, return phone number(s)
and a brief message regarding the purpose of your call. I periodically
retrieve messages while away from the office and ask that you leave a number as
I may not have access to your file at the time. I don't memorize client
phone numbers. In criminal cases, I will only permit a client to discuss
case facts while we are each on a land line - not cell or wireless.
Confidential or time sensitive matters or information should be limited to
direct phone conversation with counsel.
I am most willing to visit with
prospective clients regarding representation
by phone or in-person appointment without
cost or obligation. However, I will not
provide information, legal opinions or legal advice in response to questions submitted from
non-clients - email, fax or phone. Please refer to the terms of
first
consultation.
If a prospective client leaves an email message or contact phone, I will
attempt to call once at each number provided, however once only. Unless
otherwise designated, if you
are not available I would leave my
name, number and date called on your answering machine or voicemail. I do
not identify myself as an attorney. Whether you
have an answering service or not, I only attempt one call regardless of
importance you assign to the matter. I will
respond to your contact,
however I accept no responsibility to make multiple return calls attempting to
reach non-clients who are unavailable. You are most welcome and encouraged to
call again.
If leaving a message by email
or voicemail, you may wish to consider some of the following
Full name
Primary and secondary
contact phones
including
best number and best time to call
whether you prefer
I not leave a message
Email address
Brief explanation of
legal problem
Court case number and county in which litigation is
pending
Date of birth and social
security number
Driver's license number
and state of issuance
Naturally the amount of
information you provide is totally in your discretion. The more
information you leave, the better prepared I can be when I return your
call. Conversely, please don't fill my voicemail.
In
addition to your legal problem, openly discuss fees and costs with the attorney
in the first visit. When retained I provide a written fee agreement to avoid
misunderstandings. Timeslips computer accounting produces billings which are
easy to read & understand. I accept charge cards - MasterCard, VISA,
American Express and Discover Card. Fee and trust deposit quotes will be honored
for a period of seven (7) days from the day of the quote. After that time, fees
or requested trust deposit are subject to change without notice if you have not
retained this office.
I have located my office in my home. I find it comfortable, plus it permits me
to manage my caseload and provide personal attention to each client and case.
Being a single parent, it also provides an environment for my daughter as close
as I can achieve to a stay at home parent. My home office is physically located
near North Union and Dublin. A map is included in this website. Access is easy
from I-25 via Woodmen or from North Academy Blvd via Union -
map and driving
directions. I schedule about 30
minutes for a first consultation to answer your questions and provide a fee
quote; this can be done by phone. Children should never be in a position to hear
or listen to your legal matters, particularly in the areas of my practice.
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DOCUMENTS
AND TRANSMITTAL |
Regarding documents, clients may mail, email, fax or bring to my office. A
secure document drop is accessible. No one else has access. The drop slot
is confidential and available to clients at any time day or night.
Dropping a check is acceptable as the canceled check provides an audit trail,
however NO CASH may be dropped. A receipt or printed billing
statement must be issued for cash payment. Due to lack of audit trail, I
accept no responsibility for cash placed in the document drop slot.
Except for potential evidentiary exhibits
retained in hard copy, my files are maintained electronically by image scans. I
argue court cases from a notebook computer as it is efficient. To assure
confidentiality, documents are mailed to the client or shredded subsequent to
scanning. I ask that clients retain copies of documents. Each client
is provided with a file folder for documents. A fee would be assessed to later
retrieve and print images of a client's file. If requested, a data CD of
all images in my electronic file my can be provided when I close file.
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CORDLESS,
WIRELESS & CELL PHONE CONCERNS |
Technology today is marvelous, however I can not warrant the privacy of conversations involving
cordless, wireless or cell phones. If the matter to be discussed is
sensitive, I
ask that we touch base from land lines or perhaps an office visit may be in
order.
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Although this
page is lengthy, my goal is to have satisfied clients at the conclusion of
representation. I have found that clarifying expectations regarding contact or
communication procedures avoids misunderstanding or frustration.
All inquiries will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to any third
person absent consent of the client or prospective client. However I accept no responsibility for
disclosure through unauthorized interception during email transit, access by
other persons sharing your email account password or interception of
conversations involving cordless, wireless or cell phone technology.
You have visited my website anonymously. The site is not encrypted or
otherwise secure, however no client information is retained in the
website. My websites do not surreptitiously glean information - my sites
do
not use "cookies" or otherwise gather personally identifiable
information except that which a visitor knowingly provides by email or phone
call. I'm an attorney - not a techie or a telemarketer. However, be aware cookies will be required at the
professional payment checkout site if you make an on-line
payment. For future
reference in communications with you, I print emails to scan or make brief
notations in a phone log regarding conversations. These are not shared
with any other person or business absent express consent of the client or
prospective client.
To keep client documents confidential I utilize protections including burglar /
fire alarm, computer virus detection, firewall, spyware filter, web bug filter,
and email filters.
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EMAIL
CONCERNS AND SECURITY |
CONFIDENTIALITY
I
usually check email multiple times daily - it will likely get my attention as
fast as voicemail. Email is not encrypted and may be subject to
interception while in transit. If you are not a client at present, by
using email you may not be covered by the attorney-client communication
privilege. The attorney can not and will not warrant or
guarantee confidentiality in the internet medium. Confidential or time
sensitive maters or information should be limited to direct phone conversation with
counsel.
VIRUS, TROJAN or WORM
All
incoming and outgoing email +
attachments are automatically scanned by Norton AntiVirus and a spyware sweeper.
I open attachments received from clients or opposing counsel in a particular
litigation case. For clients or counsel, I can open or convert most word
processing, image or spreadsheet files. If you are not a client, please do
not attach any files or documents to an email you may send me. Due to the
potential for virus, trojan or worm transmission, any email attachment received
from a person I don't know is deleted without opening.
Thank
you for considering my services.
Please
feel free to call or send email above if you are a client or are seeking representation.
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ATTORNEY
REPRESENTATION
AND DECLINED MATTERS
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ALTERNATIVES |
FIND
A LAWYER |
if
you are seeking the below
please refer to above links for helpful information |
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sole practitioner
attorney does not accept these matters |
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a. a pro-bono (free) lawyer
b. an attorney who may take
lower fees - economic hardship
c. an attorney who may take installment payments |
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MID-LITIGATION
REPRESENTATION
alternatives and find a
lawyer links provided as a courtesy
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Attorney
Policies
Litigant Pro Se - Attempt to
Prepare or Defend Own Family Law Case |
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1.
Adequate Time. If sufficient time exists to adequately prepare your
family law case or
defense and if prospective client approves this
attorney's fees and costs structure, attorney will
likely accept representation. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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2.
Insufficient Time. If you've waited until the eleventh hour and there is not
sufficient time to adequately prepare your case or defense before a contested
court proceeding, please do not call. I decline. |
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3.
Limited Assistance.
Please do not call requesting instruction, directions, legal theory,
forms completion or limited document drafting, partial representation, or an explanation of
applicable law to assist you in preparation or defense of your own case. I decline. |
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Attorney
Policies
Representation
by Previous Attorney
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1.
Current Attorney.
Until an order has entered withdrawing representation by an
attorney, an ethical rule violation exists if counsel
knowingly speaks to another attorney's client without current
attorney's consent. This ethical rule governs all
attorneys. Please do not call until after
you have terminated representation by a former attorney.
After
other counsel's withdrawal it may take significant effort for the the new attorney to "catch up."
Please be aware fees and costs will be associated with procuring the court
file and coming up to speed in the case. |
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2.
Adequate Time.
If prospective client terminates employment of the
former attorney, if sufficient time exists to adequately prepare your
family law case, and if prospective client approves this
attorney's fees and costs structure, attorney will
likely accept representation. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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3.
Insufficient Time.
If you've waited until the eleventh hour and there is
not sufficient time to adequately prepare your case or
defense before a contested court proceeding, please do
not call. I decline. |
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4.
Second Opinion.
I will not arm chair quarterback another
attorney's case preparation, trial tactics or theory of
the case. Please do not call for a second
opinion or an opinion regarding the competence
of preparation or defense in your current family
law case. I decline. |
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POST
DECREE MATTERS
alternatives and find a
lawyer links provided as a courtesy
former clients are naturally welcome to call anytime
regarding any legal matter |
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1.
Post Decree Support, Property or Debt Enforcement. I accept most post decree requests
to
enforce a prior court order with respect to child support,
spousal maintenance, property or debt. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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2.
Post Decree Modification.
I will consider post decree modification of support,
parental responsibility or parenting time or setting aside a
former property or debt order, however I do consider the amount
of time elapsed since last order, circumstances surrounding the
modification and number of prior attorneys retained by a
prospective client. This shall
not constitute an offer of representation; attorney and
prospective client retain discretion through
first
consultation. |
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3.
Appeals. I
do not accept appellate matters unless I provided
representation at hearing or trial and am familiar with the facts,
testimony and exhibits received into evidence
and meritorious issues for appeal. That's been my policy for
years. Please do not
call or inquire regarding appellate matters if you are not a
former client. |
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ATTORNEY
TRADE AREA & TRAVEL
OUTSIDE EL PASO COUNTY
GEOGRAPHIC
DISTANCE
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
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Colorado is a big state. Ease of internet access, email and toll free
phone doesn't change that fact. Due to frequency of court appearances, it is not economically justifiable for a client to pay travel time or
expenses beyond nearby counties. |
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his trade area due to cost considerations. |
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Attorney is very willing to travel
outside the Colorado Springs area to present or defend a case,
but please be aware travel time, mileage and expense would
apply. If you are from out of state or are unfamiliar with
Colorado geography, refer to the map to determine where
Colorado Springs
is located in relation to the county of your court case or
hearing. |
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| COUNTIES |
CITIES / TOWNS |
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If travel is
necessary, a
trust deposit
would be required to cover anticipated travel time, mileage &
expenses. If it is not economically justifiable to retain
my services with travel, please contact counsel in the locale of
your case. |
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El Paso County |
Colorado Springs / Manitou
Springs / Fountain |
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Arapahoe County |
Littleton / Centennial /
Englewood |
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Douglas County |
Castle Rock |
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Elbert County |
Kiowa / Simla |
I welcome new cases. Intent is not to be harsh
or to discard potential new business, but to be practical. |
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Crowley County |
Ordway |
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Fremont County |
Canon City / Florence / Penrose |
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Pueblo County |
Pueblo |
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Teller County |
Cripple Creek / Woodland Park |
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Adobe
Acrobat Reader version 5 or later is required to view .pdf files 
Free Download
| please feel free
to call or email if you are a client or are seeking representation |
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FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
not an offer for free legal advice - refer to link for terms
attorney is a sole practitioner with need to manage his caseload
attorney reserves the right to decline any legal matter |
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GUSTAFSON LAW OFFICE TOPICAL
WEBSITES |
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