Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! On behalf of everyone here at DCG we wish you and your family a happy holiday weekend!

Veterans Day

Thank you veterans for your service… and please join us today in honoring those who have served in the armed forces.

Veterans Day commemorates the date in 1918 when the cease-fire agreement was signed that ended the battles of World War One. It is observed in Europe and elsewhere as Armistice or Remembrance Day. To mark the Veterans Day holiday, The Colorado Bar Association is by offering free legal clinics today in Denver and Colorado Springs.

Law Week Colorado Associate Roundtable

Jamie Rutten was invited to participate in Law Week Colorado's Associate Roundtable to be featured in the October 31^st issue. Law firm associates will meet at the Warwick Hotel soon to discuss hot legal issues facing firms today. Congrats Jamie on your selection!

New DCG Personal Injury Website

DCG would like to announce our new Personal Injury website – www.personalinjuryindenver.com. The website offers quick and easily accessible information on a wide range personal injury issues and cases we represent, including motorcycle accidents, automobile accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, slip-and-fall, and wrongful death. We think you will find timely helpful information especially in our Personal Injury Law 101 blog. Please check out the site when you have a chance.

ACCESS Housing, Inc. Awards Gala

Lisa Ciancio, wife of attorney Gene Ciancio, was the master of ceremonies at last night's ACCESS Housing, Inc.'s Awards Gala. The event, which DCG was a sponsor, raised money and awareness to help homeless families in the Denver Metro area. Six individuals were honored at the event. Find out more about this great organization at: http://www.acchouse.org.

Drug Court Launched in Adams County

The 17th Judicial District officially launched a new drug court in the Adams County Court this week. DCG founding shareholder Gene Ciancio was selected as a liaison for the court. The problem-solving court is one of sixty in the state, that have been working to reduce substance abuse and increase the likelihood that people will remain in recovery and reintegrate into their communities as productive and contributing members. The court will begin hearing cases in early October. Adams County Court Judge Leroy Kirby will preside over the court.

Relay for Life update

A quick update on the DCG Relay for Life team… Denise, Marlene, Tracey, and Kim together raised over $10K for the fight against cancer! But they didn't stop there as they also received two recognition awards - The Team Pacesetter Award and for being one of two teams to raise over $7,500 dollars. Great job team and we hope those blisters are finally all healed up. Ouch!

New DCG Business Hours

Effective September 26, 2011, Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C.'s new public office hours are as follows: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am through 5:00 pm.

Dancing with the Broomfield Stars

Congratulations John Long and Carlee Taga the winners of the 2011 Dancing with the Broomfield Stars! John Long is the Broomfield High School athletic director/asst. principal. Jenifer Madson danced for DCG and did a tremendous job in front of a large crowd and 7 other dancing pairs. But the real winner was the Broomfield Community Foundation which received roughly $37K raised by the dancers in donations (a new record for the event). This coupled with sponsorships should provide several grants to the non-profit groups in Broomfield in the areas of civic projects, human services, arts & humanities, seniors, and education. Congratulations to all the dancers!

CASA in the News

DCG attorney Loren Brown and other volunteers who work with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Adams and Broomfield Counties were featured in The Denver Post. The article talks about the great work the board is doing… read the full article here. Congrats Loren and thanks for your continued volunteer work in the community.

31st Annual Broomfield Days

This past Saturday, September 17^th, over 25,000 Metro North residents visited some 100 exhibits at the 31^st Annual Broomfield Days. The day was packed with activities including a parade, 5K race, a craft festival, food booths, and entertainment. DCG attorneys were on hand throughout the day offering free fingerprinting for children and answering questions. Fingerprinting only took 1 to 2 minutes per child and provided parents with basic safety information to keep on hand in case of an emergency. We had a great time talking to those of you who stopped by… Thank for saying hello!

For those of you who did stop and fill out a card we threw your name in a hat for two $25 gift certificates at Loftea Café. Loftea Café is a great little shop located close to our offices that we love. Stop by and tell them we sent you. We think you'll enjoy it too. Congrats to our winners – J. Ziegler and Z. Juliano!

Brad Varmo Joins DCG!

DCG is happy to announce that Brad Varmo joined DCG Family Law Team this week. Brad is a former prosecutor and family law attorney at Gutterman Griffiths PC. He brings with him great experience in a variety of facets, including dissolution, modification, allocation of parental responsibilities, and post-decree matters. Welcome to the team Brad!

Primo Award Winner – Cyndy Ciancio!

Congratulations to Primo Award winner Cyndy Ciancio! Cyndy is living la dolce vita as she was recently recognized with the Service to the Community award. She will be recognized at an upcoming dinner for her work in the community and to that we say Congratulazioni!

Trademarking & Intellectual Property Info for Any Business

While working with new and existing business owners, one question which often reoccurs is what type of protection should be obtained for the various types of property created by the business. In the early stages of a business, this property may include such items as the name of the business, the logo, business purpose, written materials related to the business operation, advertising materials, and quite possibly the actual property for which the business itself has been created.

This type of property created by a business is known as intellectual property of the business.  Intellectual property is defined as property created by the mind and includes inventions, works of literature and art, and symbols, names, images and designs used in commerce. Intellectual property is proprietary to the business which creates such property…

To read the entire article by John Vaughan and learn more click here.

An Inside Look

Extra, extra… read all about it! The women attorneys of DCG were featured in this month's September issue of Women's Edition magazine. The article featured the Family Law team and, group leader and founding shareholder, Cyndy Ciancio. As well as, Michelle Mieras, an associate specializing in estate planning, trust administration, probate, and taxation and Leslee Balten, a new associate with the litigation group. Stop by your local grocery, salon, or shopping center to pick up your copy. Locations listed here!

DCG Wins ABBA Golf Tourney!

Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin golfers teed them up and placed 1^st in the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association's (ABBA) Golf Tournament at Buffalo Run Golf Course! DCG's winning team consisted of DCG attorneys Loren Brown, Gene Ciancio, and Shawn McIntire, along with Dave Young, husband of DCG's Denise Young. The four person scramble benefitted the Sean May Memorial Fund and featured current and former members of the bar association and court staff. Congrats Team DCG on the victory!

Shelter Dog Expo Success!

Thank you to all the attendees, vendors, and volunteers who made Shelter Me Photography's first Shelter Dog Expo & Fundraiser a success this weekend. With 200+ attendees visiting and their four legged friends competing in a variety of competitions on Sunday, over $8,000 was raised to help increase awareness on the way people see shelter animals and expedite their adoptions into forever homes.

DCG attorney Kyle Kreischer, a Shelter Me Photography board member and shelter dog owner (five times over!), along with DCG attorney Jamie Rutten (another shelter dog owner), and DCG financial officer Brandy Bertram all worked countless hours for the event and were happy to see the event's success. Bertram added, "It was an amazing day for an amazing cause. Our efforts resulted in a big time impact for this small local nonprofit." For more information on Shelter Me Photography and other ways they are helping animals everywhere, visit their website at www.ShelterMePhotograpy.org.

Ingrid Burns Selected as Outstanding Legal Professional

Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C. paralegal Ingrid Burns was selected as a Law Week Outstanding Legal Professional. Ingrid was one of six legal professionals recognized in the state for her outstanding legal work. She was featured in this week's edition of Law Week on her instrumental role here at DCG.

Ingrid has been with DCG since 2008 and was nominated by the entire family law team she supports. Burns, an Alaskan native, and her firefighter husband recently became parents of a 3-month premature baby girl. Despite the high emotions arising from her own family emergency, she has continued to be a calming voice to clients and shown tremendous commitment to her profession and the firm.

Dancing with the Broomfield Stars

Join us as we support the Broomfield Community Foundation at Dancing with the Broomfield Stars. Jenifer Madson will be representing the law firm and competing against seven other great community leaders and dancers. Voting has already begun and we hope you will cheer on your favorite dancer by clicking here to place your votes. Ticket prices are $55 reserved floor seating, $40 adult general admission, and $20 student general admission (age 25 and under). Floor seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 303-469-7208.

Dancing with the Broomfield Stars will be held on Thursday, September 22nd. Food and beverages will be served at 5:30 pm with the show starting at 7:00 pm. Event location is the 1st Bank Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield, Colorado 80021. Parking and food Included in ticket price. See you there!

Shelter Me Photography Expo

DCG is proud to sponsor the Shelter Me Photography - Shelter Dog Expo, Dinner, & Silent Auction on Sunday, August 28^th. Your favorite 4 legged friend's will be participating in doggie competitions, including pool jumping, best trick, and kisser. The event will take place next to the Rocky Mtn Metro Airport at 8855 West 116^th Circle, Broomfield, CO, 80021. (Map).

The expo and silent auction will all support Shelter Me Photography (www.sheltermephotography.org) and their mission to: change the way people see shelter animals and expedite their adoptions into forever homes.  For more information on the non-profit and the event click here.

Kreischer Appointed to Shelter-Me Photography Board

Congratulations to Kyle Kreischer who has joined Shelter-Me Photography, Inc.(SMP) Board of Directors. Shelter-Me Photography works to change the way people see shelter animals and expedite their adoptions into forever homes. Kyle a long-time animal lover and owner of three shelter dogs himself is a natural fit for the organization. In fact, one of Kyle's dogs Iggy was recently featured in a short film seen here.

Kyle focuses his practice on Commercial Litigation; Commercial Banking; Real Estate; Appellate work; and Environmental Law.

Steve Donelson Selected as Five Star Wealth Manager

Steve Donelson, DCG Managing Director and Transactional Group Head, was selected as a 2011 Five Star Wealth Manager by 5280 Magazine and ColoradoBiz in partnership with Five Star Professional. Award winners are identified by clients, peers, and industry experts based on their ability to provide exceptional service and overall satisfaction. Five Star award winners are a select group of fewer than 7 percent of wealth managers in the Denver area.

Steve's business practice specializes in planning, partnership, and governance-related transactions. His corporate clients range from start-ups to large companies in a variety of industries. His experience includes evaluating, structuring, and negotiating a wide range of commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, private equity and venture capital opportunities, lending transactions, private placement of securities, debt financing, and real estate transactions. Congratulations Steve on your award!

Cynthia Ciancio Nominated for Outstanding Women in Business Award

Cynthia Ciancio, a founding shareholder and DCG Family Law Group Head, was nominated for the Denver Business Journal's Outstanding Women in Business award. Each year, the Denver Business Journal recognizes Denver's most influential women at their annual awards event. The luncheon honors several women in different industries who have achieved great success through leadership in business and community contribution. Congratulations Cyndy on your nomination!

DCG Wins Division at MNCC 5K!

The Metro North Chamber of Commerce "Chamber Challenge 5K" was held on Thursday, July 28^th at Multipurpose Fields in Thornton. DCG Team #1 took First Place Overall in the Professional Services division with Kate Lincoff leading the team to victory. Kate took 1st in her age division. DCG Team #2 joined in the celebration with a Third Place finish. Congratulations to all the MNCC competitors!

Team DCG Walking to Support American Cancer Society

Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C. will again this year support the American Cancer Society by raising money walking in the Webster Lake Relay for Life on Saturday, September 10^th. The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature activity. It is a unique event offering everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. More than just a fundraiser, the event brings together families, colleagues, and friends of cancer patients to celebrate those who have survived and to remember those that we have lost.

Tolison Joins Senior Hub, Inc. Board

Congratulations to Katie Tolison on her appointment to the Senior Hub, Inc. Board of Directors. Senior Hub works to advance the quality of life for older adults through advocacy, community partnerships, and a variety of direct services planned to sustain their health and independence.

Katie, a 2011 Rising Stars recipient, has long been involved with community groups including, Metro Volunteer Lawyers’ (MVL) where she continues to serve as a Board member. She has also participated in drafting efforts between MVL, the office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, DU and CU Law School, and the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center.

Second Wind 5K Music Festival

Sunday, September 18^th the Second Wind Fund of Metro Denver is hosting a 5K Music Festival to benefit the organization. The race/music festival will take place at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and feature several bands including local groups Opie Gone Bad and the Groove Hawgs.

Second Wind Fund's (SWF) mission is to decrease the incidence of adolescent suicide by removing financial and social barriers to treatment for all at-risk youth through its affiliates. DCG's Paula Colorosa serves as Vice President of the organization which is also celebrating its 10^th Anniversary.

Dancing with the Broomfield Stars

The Broomfield Community Foundation is hosting Dancing with the Broomfield Stars on Thursday, September 22^nd at the 1^st Bank Center. The fundraiser will benefit nonprofit groups in the Broomfield community. The foundation's mission was set up to provide support to such groups through grants to civic projects, human services, arts, humanities, seniors, and education to benefit Broomfield citizens.

Jenifer Madson will be competing for DCG alongside seven other dancers. Voting will be done through donations at broomfieldfoundation.org/event/vote-dancer.

The evening's entertainment will begin at 5:30 pm along with food provided by several local restaurants. Dancing begins approximately at 7:00 pm. All tickets are general admission starting at $20.- for ages 25 and under and $40.- for adults. Complete details can be found here.

Jamie Rutten Joins ABBA Board

Jamie Rutten, an associate attorney with the DCG Family Law Team, was elected Secretary for the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association (ABBA). Jamie joins the Executive Board where she also continues her role as Family Law Section Chair.

The Adams/Broomfield Bar Association is the bar association for the Seventeenth Judicial District. Established to include the bar for both Adams and Broomfield Counties after the expansion of the Seventeenth Judicial District from Adams County to include the newly formed City and County of Broomfield in 2001, the association has established itself as a key player in the communities it serves.

Loren Brown Elected to MVL & COBALT Boards

Congratulations to Loren Brown who was elected this week to Chair the Board of Governors for the Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) and as Marketing Chair for the Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training (COBALT) Executive Committee.

Loren is a COBALT graduate and has followed a tradition of many DCG attorneys who continue to volunteer their time for MVL. In fact, DCG Family Law attorney Katie (Laughlin) Tolison will continue to join Loren on the MVL board which oversees their operations. MVL provides pro bono legal services to people who could not otherwise afford them.

COBALT is an interactive leadership training program designed specifically for lawyers with demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to the legal community.  Congrats Loren on your new roles within each organization!

Tournament Champs!

Dan Goodwin, a founding shareholder and a senior attorney in the litigation group, was part of the winning team at yesterday's Colorado Trial Lawyers Association's (CTLA) golf tournament at Green Gables Country Club.  Dan was teamed with James Peters, Kevin Cahill, and Richard Poorman and ended up with a winning score of 61.

This win followed the firm's Championship trophy for the Westminster Rotary Bocce Ball Tournament last week benefitting a number of great Rotary programs. DCG was proud to join Vectra Bank, Pro Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, and Mickey's Top Sirloin as sponsors for the event. Read more about the event here.

Family Law – Overview of Divorce (Part 4/4)

Phase 4: Post Decree: After your decree is entered you may have a few tasks left to manage. The Judge/Magistrate might order that you set up an account with the Family Support Registry for child support or spousal support, or that you prepare a Qualified Domestic Relations Order to divide any retirement accounts. Usually, the post-decree process is not extremely labor intensive, but it sets up how the case will be managed in the future. If any maintenance, child support, parenting time or property distribution issues were addressed, this is the time where these Orders are managed in such a way that they are organized and clearly followed. Be sure to diligently follow the Court's directions from the beginning of the process all the way through the end. This way, you can try to avoid returning to Court any time in the near future.

If you have any questions and would like to consult with a Family Law Attorney during any step of the process, please contact Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C. We have a number of representation options ranging from full representation to assistance on an hourly basis if you intend to represent yourself as a pro se litigant. Call (303) 450-1665 for more information or use our online contact form here.

Family Law – Overview of Divorce (Part 3/4)

Phase 3: Resolution: If the case does not settle during the period of time leading up to your court date (discovery/waiting period), then the resolution phase of your divorce will begin approximately one month before trial. At this point, you will begin preparing witnesses, testimony, and assemble the necessary evidence to litigate your case in front of a Judge. Generally, the collection of evidentiary documents has ended, and you spend this time preparing for trial. At trial, you present your case, your spouse will present his or her case, and a Judge or Magistrate will make a final decision regarding the issues that were addressed at trial. The Order might be made at the end of the trial, or the Judge/Magistrate may render the Order after trial. Most likely, this will be the date that a Judge/Magistrate enters your Decree of Divorce, the document officially granting your request for a divorce.

Family Law – Overview of Divorce (Part 2/4)

Phase 2- Discovery/Waiting Period: After you have filed for divorce or been served with the Petition, it is time to prepare your Sworn Financial Statement. Both parties are required to report their income, assets, debts, expenses, and provide all supporting documentation. These forms are due 20 days after the Response has been filed, or, if no Response was filed, 40 days after the Petition was filed. After all financials have been disclosed, the parties (and/or attorneys) should address the major issues in the case. Often the issues to be addressed include a) property distribution; b) maintenance or spousal support; c) child support; and/or d) allocation of parental responsibilities, which includes parenting time and decision-making. If these issues cannot be resolved on a permanent or temporary basis, the parties can request a Temporary Orders Hearing, where the Magistrate or Judge will hold a brief hearing on the time-sensitive issues, and make a temporary order that will last until Permanent Orders, or final resolution. Additionally, during this time the parties may choose to engage in discovery. Discovery is the process in which a party requests additional documentation and/or specific answers to questions (called interrogatories). During this time you may engage in numerous settlement negotiations and attempt to resolve the case without going to court. This may include attending mediation and/or settlement conferences. This period of time usually lasts between 3-12 months.

Family Law – Overview of Divorce (Part 1/4)

Overview of the Divorce Process in Colorado

    So you are considering divorce in Colorado and want to know more about the process? This blog post offers a general overview of the process and anticipated timeline that you might expect when navigating through the courts in Colorado. Before going forward, we need to offer the following disclaimer: Keep in mind that many issues arise that are case specific and may affect your particular case in a different manner. Your case might be much more complicated, and require more judicial intervention than is typically proscribed. As such, it is recommended that you seek the advice of an attorney regarding your particular circumstances.

     Generally, the process can be broken down into four phases:

1. Phase 1- Beginning the Process: To initiate a divorce proceeding one of the parties will need to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Legally speaking, you are asking the Court to break an existing contract between you and your spouse in an equitable manner. The party who files the Petition is known as the "Petitioner." If both parties file the Petition together, they are considered "Co-Petitioners." However, filing the Petition is not enough for the Court to recognize that a divorce proceeding has begun. If the Petitioner files the Petition on his or her own, he or she will need to effectively serve his or her spouse with the Petition. Service can be achieved by having a process server physically serve the party, serving the other party's attorney, or having the other party sign a "Waiver of Service" in front of a notary, acknowledging acceptance of the Petition. Once the Petition has been filed, and the other Party (known as the "Respondent") has been served, the Respondent should file a Response to the Petition. Generally, the Response is due to the Court 20 days after being served with the Petition (or 30 if the Respondent is outside the State of Colorado). Once the Court has accepted these filings, they will contact you with a date for your Initial Status Conference. This is the court date where the Judge, Magistrate, Court Clerk, or Facilitator will give you a road map and timeline for your entire case. If you have questions about the process, this is the time to ask them.
   

Friday Kudos!!!

This week has been filled with good news. To start off the group simply known as "The Law" swept the competition at last week's Westminster Rotary Bocce Ball Tournament. Jamie Rutten, Katie Laughlin, and Mike Sandstrum took to the court early on Saturday morning and left with a well-deserved victory… Congrats team!

Jamie continued her winning ways with another victory on Friday, June 10^th, at Adams/Broomfield Bar Association's (ABBA) Annual Meeting & Election.  She was elected to ABBA's Executive Board as secretary. Additionally, Loren Brown was re-elected as one of ABBA's three representatives to the Metro Volunteer Lawyers Board.

2011 ACVIM Animal Survivor Media Event

Kudos to DCG's soon to be Oscar Award winning attorney Kyle Kreischer… well, sort of! Kyle and his wife Emily were part of a recent short film featuring their dog Iggy.

Iggy was diagnosed with diabetes and had a tremendous life change after cataract surgery and some careful home glucose monitoring. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is holding a media event for Iggy and some of the other survivors. The event will be at the Colorado Convention Center on Thursday, June 16th at 10:00 am.

The real star of the Kreischer family will be in attendance with of course Kyle and Emily… To learn more about ACVIM and the event click here.

DCG Relay Team Fundraiser

For 24 hours starting on September 10, 2011 members from DCG will be participating in the 2011 Relay for Life event at Webster Lake benefiting the American Cancer Society. Today that same team is having a fundraiser at Famous Dave's. So if you are finding yourself a little hungry why not support a great cause…

Famous Dave's is located in the Larkridge Shopping Center off 165^th and Washington in Thornton (that's right off I-25 and Hwy 7). The fundraiser runs today from 11:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m.  Remember to pick up a flyer outside the door and present it to your server so that 10% of the net sales will go to the American Cancer Society. So treat yourself to a meal and know you are benefiting a great cause!

Memorial Day

Thank you to all our military men and women for your service this Memorial Day. We thank all of you and your families of those who have and are still serving our country here and aboard.

A quick bit of history about "Decoration Day" as it was once known. Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May to commemorate U.S. soldiers who have died while in military service. It was first enacted to honor American Civil War Union soldiers but extended after World War I to honor all Americans who have passed away in conflicts.

Begun as a day of remembrance for military personal it has become a day that all families visit and remember those now gone. On behalf of all of us… we thank all of you for your service to our country.

Sean May Memorial Run/Walk

This upcoming Saturday, May 14th at Barr Lake State Park is the Sean May Memorial Run/Walk. The day was created to honor former chief deputy 17th district attorney Sean May who was killed some 3 years ago. He was a volunteer for the Child Victim Unit where he worked hard to find justice for children that had been abused.

The race benefits the May’s family and the Access to Justice program, including the new Self-Help Resource Center at the Adams County Justice Center. The day is sponsored by the 17th Judicial District Accessto Justice Committee, the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association (ABBA), and the Colorado Bar Association (CBA). And run by volunteers like DCG’s Loren Brown.

To learn more about this great event please click here and for online registration click here.

The Next Chapter Expo

This coming Saturday, May 14^th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm attorneys from Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C. will be at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum for The Next Chapter Expo.

DCG attorneys Jamie Rutten and Kate Lincoff will be on hand to answer some basic questions and give a brief overview of Colorado family law. They will be joined by Founding Shareholder and DCG Family Law Team Leader Cyndy Ciancio, who will also be speaking at the event. Cyndy's presentation on Navigating the Legal Maze of Divorce will be at 2:15 pm in the Lowrey Room.

Come stop by our event table to meet us and find out more about DCG. See you soon!

DCG's Dancing Bar Star!

Congratulations to Cyndy Ciancio!!! On Saturday evening, DCG's dancing Bar Star swept at Barristers Benefit Ball with the People's Choice Award and the Overall Win! However, the real victor was Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) which received roughly $14,000.- raised by all the dancers.

MVL will use the money raised to further their efforts in recruiting and coordinating volunteer lawyers to perform free and low-cost legal services for people with no or very low income who live and work in Adams, Broomfield, Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. Click here to see all the dancers videos.

Congratulations again Cyndy on all your hard work and your double victory!

DCG's Loren Brown wins ABBA Volunteer Attorney of the Year Award

The Adams/Broomfield Bar Association today hosted the 2011 ABBA Law Day Breakfast at the Adams County Fairgrounds in the Waymire Building. The ABBA event is one of the largest Law Day events in Colorado and honored law enforcement and legal professionals throughout the Greater Adams/Broomfield community.

Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C. attorney Loren Brown was one of those honored receiving the Volunteer Attorney of the Year Award. On behalf of the entire DCG Team congratulations Loren!

Pro se divorce clinics

Free divorce clinics are being offered at the Adams County Justice Center for persons seeking to obtain an uncontested divorce. The clinics are sponsored by Donelson Ciancio & Goodwin, P.C., the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association, the Colorado Access to Justice Commission, and other volunteer attorneys. Our own Cyndy Ciancio and other volunteer attorneys will provide a brief overview of Colorado divorce law and procedure, as well as, answer questions on how to fill out and file paperwork.

Clinics will be at 4:30 p.m. on the following dates: April 28, May 26, June 30, July 28, August 25, September 29, October 27, and November 17 in the first-floor training room at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton.

Please obtain either the necessary Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation forms prior to attending. All forms can be downloaded for free at courts.state.co.us “Self Help Center” or purchased at the Clerk’s Office.

Advance registration is not required. For more information please call (303) 450.1665 or e-mail annmarshall@colo-law.com.

Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 – 1099 Reporting Requirements

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 created a controversial amendment to I.R.C. Section 6041 that required greater Form 1099 reporting requirements for anyone engaged in a trade or business. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 amended the section so that beginning in 2012, payments to non-tax-exempt corporations, which had previously been exempt from the reporting requirements, would be subject to information reporting. Additionally, for payments made after 2010, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 provided that, subject to limited exceptions, a person receiving rental income from real estate would be treated as engaged in the trade or business of renting property for information reporting purposes. In particular, rental income recipients making payments of $600 or more to a service provider (for example, a painter or plumber) in the course of earning rental income would have to provide an information return to the service provider and IRS.

Recent Repeal
On April 14, 2011, President Obama signed The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011, which specifically repeals:
• the requirement for businesses, charities, and governmental entities to report payments to companies for merchandise purchased in the aggregate of $600 or more (originally effective for 2012),
• the requirement for rental property owners to report expense payments in the aggregate of $600 or more (originally effective for 2011), and
• the requirement for businesses, charities, governmental entities, and rental property owners to report payments for services and merchandise to corporations (other than attorneys and certain health care providers) in the aggregate of $600 or more (originally effective for 2012).

The repeals under the new law are retroactive, thus reinstating the status quo for Form 1099 reporting as established prior to enactment of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act.

If you have further questions on the Act please do not hesitate to contact us.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

Law Day 2011

The Adams Broomfield Bar Association will be hosting the 2011 ABBA Law Day Breakfast on Friday, April 29th at the Waymire Building. The Adams County tradition dates back some 30 years and continues this year with the theme of The Legacy of John Adams from Boston to Guantanamo.

Each year ABBA also honors the principles of freedom, justice, and equality under the law by recognizing the special contributions that the law enforcement and legal professionals make to the Adams / Broomfield community. To register for the event by email, click here.

For more information on the Seventeenth Judicial District and the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association please visit their website.

DCG’s Paula Colorosa Elected as V.P. of Second Wind Fund

Our very own Paula Colorosa recently became the Vice President of Second Wind Fund, Inc (SWF). Second Wind Fund’s mission is to decrease the incidence of adolescent suicide by removing financial and social barriers to treatment for all at-risk youth through its Affiliates.

In 2002, after four Denver area high school teen suicides, members of the Green Mountain Presbyterian Church initiated what would later become the Second Wind Fund. By 2009, the organization expanded forming the Second Wind Fund of Metro Denver, with SWF taking over management of all national programs and affiliates.

In the short time since its inception, over 2,400 kids have helped through the program with none being lost to suicide. Furthermore, the vast majority of youth who received help have reported significant reduction in suicidal thinking after completion of SWF’s program.

On behalf of the whole DCG Family, we share our congratulations to Paula and the organization for the service you provide to the teens in need and the Greater Denver community! To learn more visit Second Wind Fund.

Extraordinary Volunteers

This exemplified founding shareholder Gene Ciancio's late mother Mary. An extraordinary volunteer she lived each day by the motto: "What can we do for someone today?" On April 14, 2011, the Community Reach Center Foundation will recognize the contributions of other volunteers in Adams County at the Mary Ciancio Memorial Distinguished Service Award Dinner.

The award was founded in 1979, when then Governor Dick Lamm proclaimed it "Mary Ciancio Day." Mary was also a former board member at Community Reach Center raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Center over the years. She was also instrumental in raising funds towards the construction of Community Reach Center's first facility. Volunteering for a variety of organizations including, the March of Dimes, Easter Seals, Adams County United Fund, the American Cancer Society, and the Heart and Lung Associations she truly was an extraordinary volunteer.

Please join DCG in congratulating this year's recipients and visit Community Reach Center Foundation's site on ways you too can volunteer!

Cyndy Ciancio: Dancing With the Bar Stars for Metro Volunteer Lawyers

Barristers Benefit Ball is approaching soon on Saturday, April 30^th and our own Cyndy Ciancio will be competing in the dance competition to raise money for Metro Volunteer Lawyers! This event is so popular it has already sold out, however, tickets are still available for the "Dessert and Dancing" portion of the event at http://www.denbar.org/. Also you can help Cyndy win by donating money in advance of the Ball. Visit Cyndy's own donation page and donate now as each donation acts as a vote for her to become the Bar Star!

Make a donation at: http://tinyurl.com/4dsveoq.

Deceptive Solicitation from Corporate Controllers Unit

You may have recently received a notice from the "Corporate Controllers Unit" regarding the filing of the Periodic Report for your business. The notice cites provisions of the Colorado Revised Statutes requiring businesses to file annual periodic reports with the Secretary of State and requests a payment of $225.00. Please be advised that this notice is a deceptive solicitation, so do not send any funds to this entity.

Below is the link to the Colorado Secretary of State's notification of the deceptive solicitation and instructions for properly filing the annual report. As always, if you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call.

http://http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/pressrel/2011/PR20110404Alert.html