Richard A. Harris

Attorney Profile
Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Denver, CO
Denver, CO 80202
- Family Law
- English,
- Spanish
Attorney Richard A. Harris is the president and managing partner of The Harris Law Firm, P.C., which has office locations in Denver, Englewood and Evergreen, Colorado. Nationally recognized as one of the top attorneys in his state as well as the entire country, Mr. Harris focuses his practice primarily on family law, and he provides unmatched representation to clients throughout the greater Denver metro and Front Range regions who are going through a divorce or have some other serious legal issues affecting their families.
An intensely passionate attorney, Mr. Harris has more than 26 years of total legal experience, and he has gained a reputation for his in-depth legal knowledge and commitment to help all he serves obtain the favorable outcomes they seek as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Honored for his outstanding professionalism and service, Mr. Harris holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell, and he has received consistent top rankings and endorsements from his peers, including recognition from The Best Lawyers in America. Moreover, he has also received a Top Colorado Lawyer designation from The Denver Post, and designation as a Best Family Law Attorney from Law Week Colorado.
In addition, Mr. Harris has earned "Superb" 10 out of 10 client ratings on Avvo along with the Top 10 Attorney Award for Colorado from the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. Noted for his selfless contributions to the underprivileged in society and volunteer legal work, he has received the Pro Bono Achievement Award from the Colorado Supreme Court along with an Outstanding Volunteerism award from Metro Volunteer Lawyers.
A graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in international relations, Mr. Harris attended the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1993. He is an active member of the Denver and Colorado Bar associations, and he once served as president of Metro Volunteer Lawyers.
A leader in his field, Mr. Harris has published numerous articles and conducted lectures and continuing legal education seminars across his region on a variety of legal topics. He also co-authored the Colorado Family Law Deskbook.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Best Lawyers® and The Best Lawyers in America© are registered trademarks of BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC. The names, logo, and database are protected under the trademark, copyright, and fair use laws of the United States of America. Any use of name, including in electronic form, must be made only by permission and under the guidelines of BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC.
- 100%Family Law
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Same Sex Family Law
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Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2008, 2015 - 2017, 2021
To: Richard A. Harris
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Additional Sources of Information About Richard A. Harris
White Papers
About Richard Harris
Admitted: 1993, Colorado
Professional Webpage: https://www.harrisfamilylaw.com/meet-the-team/richard-a-harr...
Honors/Awards:
- The Colorado Supreme Court recognized Rich and The Harris Law Firm as a leader in pro bono activity, 2008 - 2018
- Top Ten Lawyers of the Decade by Law Week Colorado, 2011
- The Harris Law Firm was nominated as Law Firm of the Year by the Colorado Lawyers Committee (CLC), 2011
- Top Colorado Lawyer by The Denver Post, 2015
- Best Family Law Firm in Denver by the “People's Choice,” in Law Week Colorado, 2010
- Pro Bono Recognition from the Colorado Supreme Court in recognition of the firm’s pro bono work on behalf of the state’s underprivileged, 2008 - 2018
- Top Rated Lawyer in Family Law by Martindale-Hubbell®, 2015
- Colorado Super Lawyers for Family Law, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- NAFLA Top 10 Attorney Award for Colorado, 2017
- "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell (~2004-Present)
- Best Lawyers: The Best Lawyers in America®, 2020
- Avvo Rating of 10.0 Superb
- Attorney Rich Harris was awarded a certificate from Metro Volunteer Lawyers this year for his "Outstanding Volunteerism" throughout the year., Award, Metro Volunteer Lawyers, 2010
- Award to up and coming, business leaders by Denver Business Journal, Forty Under 40, 2006
- In 2010, Law Week Colorado's Barrister Best issue, voted Rich Harris as The Best Family Law Attorney., Barrister's Best 2010, Law Week Colorado, 2010
- Leadership in giving in Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellow
- Rich Harris, President, Founder, and Managing Partner of The Harris Law Firm has been selected as editor's choice for the Best Family Law attorney by Law Week Colorado 2011 for the second year in a row!, Best Family Law Attorney, Law Week Colorado, 2011
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Denver Rotary, Executive Committee
- Denver Rotary, Board of Directors
- Denver Rotary, Immediate Past President
- Colorado Lawyers Committee, Member
- Denver and Colorado Bar Associations, President
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Denver Rotary Club, past president
- CCAI (Chinese Children’s Charities), Board member and Executive Committee
- Rich Harris comments on Haiti and The Road to Hope on 9 News DENVER - Six months after a series of earthquakes devastated Haiti, Rich Harris is appalled by what he's seen. "I have to tell you, it is just terrible down there," said Harris. "This is a country that's only a short distance from Miami, and yet it feels like it's not even there." Harris and his wife, Lisa, recently adopted two Haitian children who were orphaned and came over to the U.S. after the January 21 earthquake. However, their commitment to Haiti did not end with these adoptions. Shortly after visiting Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake, the couple founded a non-profit called The Road to Hope, which is raising money to help build a village in Archaie, Haiti. The village will include an orphanage, medical clinic and school, and will include self-sustaining agriculture, water and a vocational training program. "It's really shocking. There are, by some estimates, close to a million orphans in Haiti. It's worse today than perhaps it's ever been. It's up to the people in this country to get something done," said Harris. Last week, the organization received a $250,000 donation from Denver-based Newmont Mining Corporation to get the non-profit off the ground. Harris believes this is just a start, because the damage over in Haiti is almost too devastating to begin to wrap a dollar amount around. "There are a million and a half people living in tents, no signs that we could tell of any major construction of housing, there's rubble clogging the streets of the capitol, and it's truly, truly terrible," said Harris. To learn more about Harris' non-profit supporting Haitian orphans, click onto http://theroadtohope.org. (KUSA-TV © 2010 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
- In addition to the above, Rich serves on the boards of directors of the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI). He is also a co-founder and chair of the board ofThe Road to Hope, a Littleton-based organization focused on building schools and other development around children in HAITI.
- Rich Harris and his staff remain active and staunch supporters of a number community organizations dedicated to serving children and the underprivileged. These include Denver Rotary, Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Denver Kids, Colorado Lawyers Committee, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, The Adoption Exchange, The Denver Rescue Mission, Family Tree, Food Bank of the Rockies, LawLine 9, Rocky Mountain PBS, Rotary International, Underwearness, Chinese Children Charities, and The Road to Hope., 2010
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Rich Harris: Family Lawyer, Business Leader, and Humanitarian - Memphisdivorce.com
- Rich co-authored the publication "Colorado Family Law Deskbook" by Bradford Publishing
- Testimonial for Colorado Public Radio
- Top Five Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney
- Dividing Debt a Contentious Issue in Divorce Cases - Denver Business Journal
- Non-Nuclear Families Change Courts - Law Week Colorado
- Preserving Children's Rights - Law Week Colorado
- Published by Bradford Publishing, Lead Author, Colorado Family Law Deskbook, 2008
- Should Family Lawyers Take A Hippocratic Oath? - Law Week Colorado
- Discussion on updates to Colorado’s antiquated adultery law, KDVR Fox31
- Featured in KMGH Denver 7News in a piece about parenting and marijuana
- Filing for Divorce and Obtaining the Best Possible Outcome
- Parenting Time, Marijuana, and Amendment 64
- Trapped: Kids and the Lingering Aftermath of Divorce - Law Week Colorado, April 2016
- Rich Harris, President and Managing Partner of The Harris Law Firm worked with legislators Rep. Debbie Benefield this year to help draft House Bill 10-1097. The bill was designed to protect children when unmarried parents separate, allowing them the same rights of children of divorced parents. The new bill corrects this anomaly in Colorado family law statute. The bill was signed by Governor Bill Ritter in March and will go into effect on August 5th of this year., Author, Preserving Children's Rights, Law Week Colorado, June 28, 2010, Colorado Family Law, 2010
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Rich currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Metro Volunteer Lawyers and is also a member of the board of directors for the Colorado chapter of The Adoption Exchange. Additionally, Rich participates on the board of The Colorado Lawyers Committee which is a consortium of major law firms in Denver pursuing global social justice for the citizens of Colorado and focusing on the needs of children, minorities, and the poor. In 2009, Rich Harris founded and continues to serve as the President of The Road to Hope, a Colorado-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping the orphaned children of Haiti. This year, Rich was an invited speaker at Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section annual meeting in August addressing practice management issues, including those that have allowed his firm to maximize client service and case management and contributed directly to HFM’s consistent recognition by the state Supreme court as a leader in pro bono activity
Videos:
- Rich Harris introduces The Harris Law Firm and his philosophy regarding the practice of Colorado Family Law., Introduction to Colorado's Family Law Team, Colorado Family Law, 2010
Newsletters:
- The Harris Law Firm Logo 2010 Community Service Activities Report “The Best Way to Find Yourself is to Lose Yourself in the Service of Others” Mahatma Gandhi Rich Harris, the President and Managing Partner of The Harris Law Firm, believes that giving back to our community means we are creating a better place to live. Rich has always encouraged members of the firm to change the world one deed at a time by sharing their resources with those who are less fortunate. Motivated by Rich’s strong example, and his commitment to making a difference, the attorneys and staff at The Harris Law Firm spend much of their time participating on non-profit boards, getting involved in community events, volunteering with charitable organizations, offering pro bono services, and raising funds for those in need . The Harris Law Firm believes that communities are made great by those who give. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” Winston Churchill The Adoption Exchange The Adoption Exchange was established in 1983 by concerned social workers and child advocates with the shared belief that every child deserves a stable family and a safe home. AE works tirelessly to connect waiting children with stable, permanent families. www.adoptex.org Animal Legal Defense Fund For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. www.aldf.org Arapahoe House Arapahoe House is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing a continuum of accessible, affordable, and effective services for individuals and families with alcohol, drug or other behavioral health problems. www.arapahoehouse.org Baby Bud’s Ministry Baby Bud's is a faith-based job training and life skills development program designed for single mothers and women in transition. These women are victims of domestic violence, drug abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, neglect, and coming out of incarceration. The goal of Baby Bud’s is to work with women in all stages of recovery and tailor a plan for success. Breakthrough Kent Denver Established in 1995, Breakthrough Kent Denver has a dual mission. (1) The organization helps to ensure that underprivileged Denver students graduate from high school and go on to college. (2) Breakthrough Kent Denver trains high school and college students to become urban educators. www.breakthroughdenver.org Children's Hospital's Ronald McDonald House For the past three decades, Ronald McDonald House® Charities of Denver has offered a loving home-away-from-home to families needing to be near their seriously ill or injured children while they are being treated at metropolitan area hospitals. www.ronaldhouse.org Colorado Bar Association The CBA organizes the always festive “Christmas in February” party to donate toys and gifts for metro Denver’s underprivileged children. CBA also provides an annual event for police officers and firefighters to meet with local attorneys who help to provide wills and estate planning for the men and women who so fearlessly serve our communities. www.cobar.org Colorado Lawyers Committee The Colorado Lawyers Committee is a 30 year-old nonprofit, nonpartisan consortium of 50 Colorado law firms that do high impact pro bono work and are dedicated to using “all the skills and discipline of the law in the service of others.” The organization seeks to advocate, negotiate and litigate for children, the poor and other disadvantaged groups. www.coloradolawyerscommittee.org Denver Bar Association (DBA) In addition to DBA’s annual school supply drive, the Denver Bar Association sponsors, "Legal Night at the Center” for Denver residents. Attorneys offer legal advice to those who participate in this referral clinic held every third Tuesday 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. www.denbar.org Denver Health The Volunteer Association Board for Denver Health organizes the volunteers for the many events and services provided by this non-profit organization. These include the creation and distribution of “Baby Baskets” for infants born at the facility, an annual holiday party for the children who have been served by Denver Health, and the annual fund raising gala for the hospital. www.denverhealth.org The Denver Rescue Mission Donations to The Denver Rescue Mission help to provide shelter, meals and services to many of the city's homeless men, women, and children throughout the metropolitan area. www.denverrescuemission.org Denver University - Law School Mentoring Program Attorneys volunteer their time to work with first year law students at Denver University’s Sturm College of Law to provide students with practical knowledge about the practice of law in Colorado. Family Tree Founded in 1976, the Family Tree provides a broad range of services and shelter to families and youth of Metro Denver to overcome child abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness. www.thefamilytree.org Food Bank of the Rockies The Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) is a local organization founded in 1978. FBR provides food supplies to more than 900 hunger-relief programs. Last year, FBR distributed more than 20.5 million pounds of food, enough to provide 43,000 meals each day to needy children, seniors and families. www.foodbankrockies.org GLBT Bar Association The Colorado Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender ("GLBT") Bar Association is a voluntary professional association of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender attorneys, judges, paralegals and law students and allies who provide a GLBT presence within Colorado's legal community. www.coloradoglbtbar.org The Horse Protection League Because they believe in humane treatment of horses as an alternative to slaughter or public auction for abused, neglected, abandoned and unwanted equines, HPL's primary purpose is the prevention of animal abuse. HPL is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe home for horses, and equine education classes for adults and children. www.cohpl.org The Larimer County Food Bank Founded by a Vista Volunteer in 1984 to avoid the duplication of food collection and distribution efforts by nonprofit agencies, the mission of the Larimer County Food Bank is to provide for all in need through community partnerships and hunger-relief programs. As a clearing house for donated and rescued food, their vision is a hunger-free Larimer County. www.foodbanklarimer.org Law Line 9 The Denver Bar Association runs this free legal program in conjunction with Channel 9 News. On the nights designated to family law, attorneys offer legal insight and answer questions from people all over Colorado. Law Line 9 airs on Wednesday nights from 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Max Fund The MaxFund is a non-profit organization that was established in 1988 to provide medical care for injured pets with no known owners, and to seek out new homes for these animals once they have fully recovered. The MaxFund is a true no-kill dog and cat shelter and assists hundreds of people and animals. www.maxfund.org Metro Volunteer Lawyers Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) is a department of the Denver Bar Association. MVL recruits and coordinates volunteer lawyers to perform free and low-cost legal services for those who cannot afford an attorney. www.MetroVolunteerLawyers.org Mi Casa The Colorado Lawyers Committee and the Young Lawyers Division of The Denver Bar Association sponsor Mi Casa’s “Legal Night.” The free consultation offered by Mi Casa allows women to meet with an attorney and discuss matters pertaining to Colorado family law. www.micasadenver.org The Road to Hope The Road to Hope is a non-profit corporation dedicated to helping the children of Haiti. The organization supports orphanages and other organizations focused on building self-sustaining communities. The vision of The Road to Hope is to help establish a culture where children can grow up strong and healthy, and free from the trauma of abandonment. www.theroadtohope.org Rocky Mountain PBS Rocky Mountain PBS seeks to enrich the lives of Coloradans through engaging and essential programs, services and community partnerships that inform, enlighten and entertain.www.rmpbs.org Rotary International Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members volunteer locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto “Service Above Self.” www.rotary.org The Tenth Mountain Division This organization honors the men of 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, who trained during World War II at Camp Hale in central Colorado. Hut visitors share the special spirit of these individuals, especially their pursuit of excellence, self reliance, and love of the outdoors. Every summer, volunteers congregate to build, restock and clean the huts for visitors. www.huts.org Underwearness Underwearness is a non-profit organization that provides new underclothing for underprivileged children. www.underwearness.org Wills on Wheels Wills on Wheels, a committee of the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association, provides pro bono estate planning for low income seniors and disabled adults and educational programs regarding medical directives and estate planning. www.rockymtnparalegal.org Wildflower Women’s Foundation Wildflower Women’s Foundation was created to inspire and inform women as they transition through divorce and widowhood. www.wildflowerwomensfoundation.org, 2010 - A Year of Giving Back, Law
- 2009 was a year of giving back for Rich Harris and The Harris Law Firm. Access the newsletter to view recipients of last year's efforts by Rich and his staff of attorneys and legal professionals at the firm., Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2010, Family Law
Educational Background:
- University of Southern California, (B.A. in International Relations)
Industry Groups
- Colorado Family Law
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Richard A. Harris:
Last Updated: 2/21/2021