Practice Areas: Family law; view more
Licensed in Colorado since: 2006
Education: Samford University Cumberland School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2007, 2010 - 2011, 2019 - 2022 Details
Focusing his practice exclusively on family law matters, James Garts is the founder of Garts Law, LLC. Based in Denver, he provides knowledgeable representation to clients throughout the greater metropolitan area. Mr. Garts has been admitted to practice before all Colorado state courts since 2006, and he is also admitted to practice law in Tennessee.
A significant portion of Mr. Garts’s practice involves his representation of clients who are contemplating filing for divorce or who are already in the process of one. He assists them with such issues as the division of complex marital assets and debts, custody and other parenting time matters, and spousal and child support. His background and training in mediation often allow Mr. Garts to help many of his clients come to an accord on some or all of those issues through the use of that alternative dispute resolution method, but when sessions have failed to produce an acceptable result, he advocates on their behalf in front of family court judges.
In addition to his divorce practice, Mr. Garts regularly prepares and reviews prenuptial agreements, and he has also represented many clients whose marriages have previously been legally dissolved and who are now seeking to have existing support or parenting court orders modified or divorced. His excellent track record, along with the manner in which he handles what are often contentious and emotional cases, has earned him a great deal of acclaim from his fellow members of the bar, including a 10.0 peer review rating through Avvo. A 1999 graduate of Colorado College and a 2002 graduate of the Samford University Cumberland School of Law, Mr. Garts has written and lectured extensively on a variety of legal topics.
Practice areas
Family lawFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & spousal support, Child support, Custody & visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Juvenile law, Paternity, Prenuptial agreements, Marital property, Mediation & collaborative law, Same sex family law
- 100% Family law
First Admitted: 2002, Tennessee
- The attached article(s) summarizes of support modification and relocations the content of which was posted on the firm website, Modification of Parenting Time, Family Law
- Presenter, University of Denver Sturm College of Law – Advanced Family Law – Access to Justice and Professional Success in a Moderate Means Family Law Practice (October, 2014)
- Presenter, DBA-YLD Representing the Diminished Capacity Client (December, 2013)
- Presenter, University of Denver Sturm College of Law and University of Colorado Law School Rocky Mountain Public Interest and Social Justice Retreat – Moderate Means Representation (September, 2014)
- Presenter, CBA – Young Lawyers Division Continuing Education Seminar (November, 2007)
- Guest Lecturer, Front Range Community College Business Law Course (November 2008, March 2009, and August 2009)
- Presenter, CBA-CLE Representing Moderate Means Clientele – Discrete Task Representation (October, 2012)
- Presenter, CBA-CLE Representing Moderate Means Clientele – Lawyer Competence (November, 2013)
- Organizer, CBA – Young Lawyers Division Continuing Education Seminar (November, 2008)
- Co-Presenter, El Paso County Young Lawyer Continuing Education Seminar, “Staying Afloat in the Current Economy & Tips, Tricks and Hints for your New Practice” (July, 2009)
- Presenter, Denver Bar Association New Lawyer Orientation – Access to Justice and Professional Success in a Moderate Means Practice (November, 2014)
- Presenter, University of Denver Sturm College of Law – Lunchtime Panel on Successful Starts to a Solo and Small Firm Practice – Moderate Means Practice Component (February, 2015)
- Presenter, CBA-CLE Representing Moderate Means Clientele – Client Screening (May, 2015)
- Presenter, CBA-CLE Family Law Spring Update 2016: Counselor’s Focus on the Child, Client and the Court – Unbundling component (April, 2016)
- Presenter, University of Denver Sturm College of Law – Advanced Family Law Coach (Fall-Winter 2016, Fall Winter 2017)
- Presenter, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section – Family Law Institute Vail, Limited-Scope Representation (August, 2017)
- Serving the Moderate-Income Client, A Win-Win – Denver Bar Association “Docket” (January, 2013)
- Denver Domestic Relations “Firefighters” – Denver Bar Association “Docket” (July/August, 2014)
- The Practitioner’s Guide to Colorado Domestic Relations Law – 2nd Ed. – Chapter 41 The Unbundled Domestic Relations Practice - Co-Author with Todd Stahly (2016 and 2017 publications)
- Co-author, "How to Hire a Lawyer," Denver Bar Association Docket Magazine, September 2017
- Volunteer, El Paso County Jury Commission (2006)
- Mentor, Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Mentoring Program [CAMP] Mentor (2015 – present)
- Post-Decree Clinic Volunteer, Metro Volunteer Lawyers (2017)
- Volunteer, Friends of the Peak and Medicine Wheel outdoors organizations – El Paso County Trail Maintenance Projects (various dates during 2006 and 2007)
- Mentor, Colorado College Sociology Department’s At-Risk Youth Program (1998)
- Denver Self-Help Clinic Introduction to Divorce Program, substitute instructor (2014)
- Volunteer Permanent Orders Counsel, Metro Volunteer Lawyers (intermittent 2009 – 2011)
- Team Member, Courage Classic – Wheels of Justice (2009 and 2011)
- Participant, “Attorney of the Day” Pro Bono – Memphis Area Legal Svcs. (various dates during 2004 and 2005)
- Volunteer Mediator, Denver Domestic Court Firefighters (2014 – 2015)
- OSI Crew Leader Training, Volunteer Outdoor Colorado (Summer 2009)
- Graduate, COBALT [Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training] (2010)
- Denver Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, 2020
- Member, Wendelken Inn of Court (2006 – 2008)
- Interviewer, University of Denver Sturm College of Law and University of Colorado Law School Mock Interview programs (2010 – 2011)
- Member, Moderate Means Task Force – Colorado Bar Association (2012-2016)
- Member, Economic Task Force, Colorado Bar Association (2009 – 2010)
- Member, Board of Trustees, 1st Judicial District Bar Association (2011 – 2012)
- Member, Rhone Brackett Inn of Court – (2009 – present) Executive Council Secretary (2017-2018 term)
- Panelist, University of Denver Sturm College of Law – Lawyering Process introductory course (2010 – 2011)
- Member, Moderate Means Task Force – Colorado Bar Association (2012-2016)
- Executive Council Chairperson, Colorado Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division (2009 – 2010) (Council Member, 2007 – 2012)
- Member, Board of Trustees, 1st Judicial District Bar Association (2009 – 2011)
- Fellow, Colorado Bar Foundation (2009 – present)
- Judge, University of Denver Sturm College of Law – Various Client Counseling, Motions and Trial Competitions (2009 – present)
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court Modest Means Representation Super-Committee member and sub-committee chairperson for “Helpful Hiring” pamphlet (2013-2014)
- Member and Contributor, Board of Governors, Colorado Bar Association (2009 – 2012)
- Member, Modern Law Practice Initiative – Colorado Bar Association (2016-present)
- Chairperson, Colorado Bar Association Membership Committee (July 2010 – 2012)
- Included in the Twenty-fourth Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law
- 2020 Denver Bar Associate, Volunteer of the Year Award
- Denver Business Journal’s Top 50 Largest Law Firms, 2016 Edition
- Lead Counsel Rated
- A+ Rated by the BBB, Robinson & Henry, P.C.
- 10.0 Avvo Rating
- Colorado College, Bachelor of Arts, Major: Sociology, 1999
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2007, 2010 - 2011, 2019 - 2022
