Lynne Milford, JD
Counties served: Jefferson, Adams, Denver, Boulder, Arapahoe, Douglas
Attorney
Lynne Milford, JD
New Leaf Family
14143 Denver West Pkwy Ste 100, Golden, CO 80401
(720) 463-7559
About ME
Early on in my professional career (since 1990) I realized that courts are no place for families. Even the best judges (the ones who really care about people and try hard to do the “right” thing) cannot devote sufficient time and resources to get to know any particular family who appears in front of him or her.
And, often the “law” sets significant roadblocks before those judges with the best intentions by restricting the judges in terms of what he or she can do. No family has ever emerged from a contentious divorce trial feeling “good” or “special” or “really heard” or like a “winner.” Only the lawyers win in the traditional litigated case.
I decided many years ago to devote my work to helping people divorce differently. It is possible to navigate a huge life transition like a divorce without inflicting more trauma on a family, and without costing the family’s savings account. Even before “Collaborative” divorce was a thing, I encouraged people to remember that their sanity is priceless and that it is possible to divorce while remaining sane.
Treating the “other side” of a family, even during a crisis like divorce, with basic respect and kindness often results in being treated the same. When people remember that simple courtesy (I’m not saying its easy at all, but it is important) getting divorced does not have to lead to your relationship with your partner devolving into mud-slinging, blaming, taunting, threatening, and severe emotional pain and trauma. Add to that the financial stress and costs of a traditional divorce, and its long-lasting, often permanent damage. Hurt and even hatred lingers and poisons the soul. Behaving in a civil, respectful way allows the soul the freedom to heal. That can be a life-saving thing.
Having seen the enormous benefits of using the collaborative method to negotiate the difficult emotional path that a divorce often brings, I can heartily represent that THERE IS A BETTER WAY!
Collaboration allows you to work the divorce process with DIGNITY: it is private and not conducted in a public arena. It allows for the opportunity to be as CREATIVE as your special family circumstances deserve: no judge gets to tell you what to do with your money or how to raise your children. You get to MAINTAIN CONTROL over the outcome. Your professional team is focused on moving you forward and that is strong motivation to “leave the past behind.” You can’t move forward with your life if you are focused on what went wrong, who did wrong, and hate. You will be creating a new path for yourself and your family – one that does not suffer from the lasting effects of a toxic divorce. There is no better way to honor the commitment that you intended when you decided to marry or have children with another person, than to engage in restructuring (when necessary, as it can be) in a deliberately civilized manner. I will be happy to share my enthusiasm and experience about this with you!
EDUCATION
Penn State, B.S. in Public Service, 1985
Southern Methodist University - Dedman College of Law 1989
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Foothills Collaborative Divorce Professionals in Colorado.
Board of Directors, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association
Board of Directors, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
South Denver Collaborative Divorce Professionals
State Bar of Colorado*
State Bar of Texas
Texas State Bar Family Law Section
Texas State Bar Collaborative Law Section
Tarrant County Texas Collaborative Lawyers
Collaborative Divorce Texas
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Board of Directors Texas AFCC
Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association
Board of Directors TCFLBA
College of the State Bar of Texas
Penn State Alumni Association
Southern Methodist University Law Alumni
*Colorado practice authorized pending formal admission “On Motion” transferring from Texas.
COLLABORATIVE TRAININGS Taken
Introduction to Collaborative Law 2004
Annual Professional Trainings from a variety of collaboratively-focused
programs every year since