LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Top Ten
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS You Should Ask
WHEN LOOKING FOR A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY
ASHLEY OPFER, ESQ. O P F E R | C A M P B E L L P.C .
PG 1
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
1. How many cases have you tried similar to mine? What is your track record? Avoid someone
who has handled only a few cases similar to yours in a year or who does not have a good track record. It is generally good to avoid attorneys who practice in all areas of the law or are “general practitioners”. You want someone who specializes in family or domestic law. Ashley’s Answer I have practiced exclusively in the area of Family or Domestic Law since becoming licensed to practice law in Colorado. I have handled hundreds of divorce, child custody and family law cases over the years. I have, generally, had very positive results which, I believe, is a result of establishing and maintaining reasonable expectations for my clients and maintaining current knowledge and practice standards.
2. What is a PRE vs. CFI? In your opinion, who are the best PRE and CFI practices that keep the best interest of the children in mind. Are there any that I should avoid? Watch out for
attorneys that cannot answer this question very thoroughly. Avoid attorneys that don’t have experience with several different PRE and CFI practices.
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OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
PG 3
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Ashley’s Answer I have worked with and maintain good relationships with many Parental Responsibility Evaluators (PRE) and Child and Family Investigators (CFI). Just as every parent, child, family, attorney, etc. is different so too are PRE’s and CFI’s. PRE’s and CFI’s can specialize in different scenarios ranging from parental alienation and abuse to mental health or substance abuse concerns. We are careful to select a PRE or CFI that specializes in the areas that affect individual cases to achieve the most thorough and reasoned results in the best interest of your children.
3. How do you write Parenting Plans? What things do you include in them? He or she should be able to explain in great detail the different types of parenting plans, visitation, etc.. They should be able identify common pitfalls in the way that the plan is written that the other party can manipulate. Ashley’s Answer The parenting plan is, essentially, an ordered plan between parents regarding every aspect of co-parenting. It should lay out parenting time, decision making, and financial support for the children. We are careful when drafting parenting plans to pay attention to the details and to make sure that your parenting plan not only meets your goals and desires but is also practical and applicable to you and your children’s daily life. We make sure to include specific types of decision making such as major decision making for health, education, religion and welfare. PG 4
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
We address parenting time including school and summer or break parenting time, holidays, vacations and issues such as transportation. We also always make sure to address financial issues that are not included in child support. It is important to share financial responsibility for the children fairly.
4. How do you make sure that the best interest of the children is kept? He or She should be able to
assess you, your children, and your specific case to determine your children’s best interest. Watch out for attorneys who try to fit you and your family into a mold that doesn’t address your specific children’s needs. Ashley’s Answer Your children’s best interests are different and unique to them. We are careful to get a comprehensive understanding of your unique child and his or her needs from you in helping you to design a plan that will support the child’s best interests. We recognize that, sometimes, the children’s best interests conflict with the interests of a parent. We view it as our responsibility to educate our clients on those conflicting interests and guide them in choosing an option that will best support their children.
5. What county do you work in mostly? How well do you know the judge who would be ruling on my case? Avoid an attorney who practices in every jurisdiction. Look for an attorney who practices enough in your county to have a track record with the judges there.
PG 5
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Ashley’s Answer We practice primarily in the Denver Metro Area. This means Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson and Adams counties. We have also done work in Elbert, Weld and El Paso Counties.
6. What is your approach to dealing with high conflict divorces? Avoid any attorney who tells you
they “will get you everything” or who pressures you to be too aggressive. The simple fact is attorneys who make a divorce more contentious make more money from their client. In family law you want an attorney who will work with the opposing attorney or party in an effort to both reduce conflict and decrease attorney fees. Ashley’s Answer We have handled many high conflict divorces. We believe that the best way to serve our clients in a high conflict divorce is to decrease the conflict through professional dialogue with the opposing side, thorough but reasonable information gathering, setting reasonable goals and expectations, maintaining accountability, and representing our client’s best interests in an ethical way. It is our belief that, especially in cases involving children, our clients are set up for success in the future and will have a happier life if we can help facilitate mending of relationships enough to allow the parties to be at the very least cordial but in the best cases partners in co-parenting their children.
PG 6
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OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
PG 7
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OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
7. How do you document communication, emails, documents that are filed? Do you have a system that keeps track of everything? Avoid
any attorneys that do not have a service that allows them to easily search and record all communications. Ashley’s Answer Attorneys are governed by strict ethical standards regarding communication with their clients. We adhere with every ethical standard. We primarily communicate in writing, either via email or through our client portal. Written communication allows you to rely on what we have represented to you and hold us accountable.
8. How do you prepare for the hearing? How do you prepare me for the hearing? What questions are you going to ask me, that I am going to have to know how to answer? What documentation should I be ready to collect? Look for a very thorough answer. Look for how they form a strategy. Ashley’s Answer Trial preparation is a thorough process at our firm. Throughout your case we take notes and collect documents and other evidence that we may need should we need to go to a hearing. Prior to the hearing we review all the evidence collected and converse with you regarding your hearing goals. From this PG 8
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
information we build a trial strategy/presentation. We select exhibits and witnesses and prepare for examinations. We review our strategy with you to allow you to prepare and to allow you to give us feedback and address any concerns. We will meet with you with a question outline and to discuss what you need to be prepared for on the witness stand. In essence, for us, the entire divorce is an information gathering process designed to allow us to prepare for a hearing should your case require it.
9. What kind of information about my partner is helpful to know? If they are not interested in hearing about your insights about your partner and giving feedback on what information is helpful, that should be a red flag. Ashley’s Answer I always think it is important to hear about your partner’s personality and traits. I need to be informed about any safety issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse or significant uncontrolled mental health concerns. I also need to know your partner’s communication, financial planning and management and parenting styles. All of this information will allow me to craft a strategy and plan that will be most likely to be successful for you and your family.
PG 9
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
10. If my partner was trying to claim alienation, how would you defend me? Look for a basic
understanding of alienation, and if they have connections to experts on alienation. Ashley’s Answer Alienation is, essentially, where one parent is intentionally damaging the children’s relationship with the other parent. The key to any alienation case is a quick response and thorough documentation. I make sure that my client is protected by creating a case of solid evidence denying alienation. This may include getting an expert involved. I also make sure to coach my clients on the best ways to support the children’s relationship with the other parent. The best way to avoid or nullify an alienation claim is to help my clients encourage the sharing of love, affection and contact between the children and the other parent.
PG 10
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OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
PG 11
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OPFER CAMPBELL P.C.
MEET ASHLEY M. OPFER, ESQ.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Ashley Mae Opfer graduated cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 2008 receiving her B.A. in theatre, dance and education. While completing her student teaching experience in Minneapolis, Minnesota she witnessed many of her students and their parents struggling with legal issues. She determined that she could not help her students or their families with the significant issues they faced each and every day as a teacher and, so, she made the decision to attend law school in order to be an attorney to advocate for children and families. Ashley received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law in May of 2012 and was admitted to practice law in Colorado the same year. Ashley believes that family law and domestic issues should be handled in such a way that allows children to thrive, parents to work together in the best interest of their children, and lives to be divided with understanding, empathy and fairness. Outside of the practice of law, Ashley is married, has a son and a sheltie. Ashley is a Colorado native and enjoys snowboarding, camping, hiking, bike riding and otherwise taking advantage of the beautiful landscape and exciting adventures Colorado has to offer. Opfer & Stowell P.C. | Parker Station | 19751 E Mainstreet, Suite 357 Parker, CO 80138 | Telephone: (303) 791-0995 PG 12