Todd A. Stahly

ATTORNEY, PARTNER & FOUNDER

Attorney Todd Stahly’s practice focuses primarily on complex divorce cases. He has successfully helped clients resolve cases involving the division and valuation of closely held business interests, family trusts, family limited partnerships, start-up businesses, oil, gas and mineral interests and unique asset and debt structures. Mr. Stahly is not fearful of the courtroom, but rather, capitalizes on creative settlement opportunities — which is always the first approach before engaging in trial. Using this approach helps him keep control of the outcome in the client’s hand. However, if all settlement approaches fail, he will have taken the steps necessary to ensure the client’s interests and rights are preserved to advance the case through trial to full resolution.

Mr. Stahly has handled numerous complicated family law cases in Boulder, CO and throughout the state involving custody, interstate custody, parenting time, decision-making, parental alienation and addressing both founded and unfounded allegations of child abuse and neglect. He relies on a unique approach to these cases that is child-based and focused, allowing solutions to be reached, inside and outside the courtroom, that account for the best interests of the child.

Mr. Stahly is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He is also a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (limited to selection of two attorneys per state) recognizing the achievements of the top 100 family law trial lawyers in the U.S. In addition, Mr. Stahly has presented on various topics of interests at continuing education events, both to local lawyers, Colorado Judicial Officers and colleagues

Practice Areas

Education

California Western School of Law, San Diego, California
- Juris Doctorate – 2003
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan
- S. – 1996
- Major: Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting

Bar Admissions

Colorado, 2003

Classes & Seminars

Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section, “The Motion in limine and Motions for Declaratory Judgement”, Denver, CO, March 2017
AICPA Expert Witness Workshop Speaker, Denver, CO, September 2016
Judicial Institute, “Child Support and Maintenance Modification”, Denver, CO, June 2016
Boulder IDC, Presented with Shirley Thomas, “To Talk or Not To Talk – That is the Question. Communication Guidelines between Lawyers and Evaluators”, Boulder, CO, October 2014
Colorado Bar Association Family Law Fall Update , “Pre-Trial Motions & The Trial Management Certificate”. Denver, CO, 2014
Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, “ Deposition Fundamentals”, Vail, CO, 2014
Lectured about “Deposition Fundamentals” Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado an event attended by over 400 family law attorneys, Judges, Magistrates, mediators and Court personnel, 2014
Lectured about “Discovery” and “Disclosures”, Fundamental Class, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado an event attended by over 400 family law attorneys, Judges, Magistrates, mediators and Court personnel, 2013
Lectured about Post-Decree Child Support Modifications, Intermediate level class, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado which was attended by over 400 family law attorneys, Judges, Magistrates, mediators and Court personnel, 2012
Co-Presented “Interaction Between Domestic Relations Cases and Criminal Cases”, Boulder County Bar Criminal Law Section, September 2017
Panel Presentation of “Maximum Capacity: Working with Clients Who Have Diminished Capacity”, Boulder County Bar, November 2017

Honors

Selected as CO Super Lawyer, 2019 – 2021 2023
Colorado Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2013 and 2014

Current Employment Positions

Attorney/Owner

Languages

English

Published Works

Co-Authored and updated “Support Modification,” Chapter 28 in CBA Family Law Section Bench Bar Book, 2014 and 2016
Co-Authored “The Unbundled Domestic Relations Practice,” Chapter 41 in Practitioner’s Guide to Colorado Domestic Relations Law, 2014 and 2017
Publication in the Colorado Lawyer, “The Motion in the Limine: Use in Domestic Cases”, March 2014
Book Review for The Colorado Lawyer, “Premarital Agreements: Drafting and Negotiation”, April 2012
Book Review for The Colorado Lawyer, “Endangered Species Act: Law, Policy and Perspectives”, August 2011
Book Review for The Colorado Lawyer, “Private Lawyers and the Public Interest: The Evolving Role of Pro Bono in the Legal Profession”, January 2011
Book Review for The Colorado Lawyer, “How to Build and Manage a Family Law Practice”, November 2010
Book Review for The Colorado Lawyer, “The 2009 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide: Critical Decisions Made Simple”, January 2010
“Helpful Hints for Working under the UCCJEA”, Boulder County Bar Association Newsletter, January 2006

Pro Bono Activities

Boulder County Legal Services Pro Se Clinics, Volunteer

Professional Associations

The American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL), Member, Jan 2022
Boulder County Bar Association, 2003 to Present
Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee (IDC), 2006, 2008-present
Fellow Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2017 to Present
Colorado Judicial Institute, 2013 to Present
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2003 to Present
Colorado Bar Association Legal Fee Arbitration Committee, 2008 to 2011
Colorado Bar Association, 2003 to Present
Past Chair, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2016 to 2017
Chair, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2015 to 2016
Chair-Elect, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2014 to 2015
Secretary, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2013 to 2014
Treasurer, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2012 to 2013
Elected Executive Council, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2011 to Present
Elected to Board of Directors, Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee (IDC), 2009 to 2012
President, Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee (IDC), 2011 to 2012
Co-Chair Family Law Section, Boulder County Bar Association, 2005 to 2006, 2015-2016
Scoring Panelist, Colorado Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition (Regional level), 2009 to 2011
Scoring Panelist, Colorado Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition (State level), 2009 to 2011
Served on State of Colorado Division of Real Estate Forms Committee, 2007
Member of the Steering Committee for the “Honoring Families Initiative” at the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver

Representative Cases

Successfully litigated to defend a prenuptial agreement drafted in another state, using that state’s law, pursuant to the choice of law provision in the agreement.
Successfully obtained an attorney’s fees award of over $40,000 in a post-decree child support matter where a parent did not appropriately disclose his income and failed to comply with the disclosure/discovery requirements.
Successfully litigated and obtained 100% of the assets in the marital estate for a mentally disabled client.
Successfully reopened a dissolution of marriage case to capture assets previously hidden by the spouse during the initial divorce proceeding.
Successfully negotiated a favorable division of a complex closely held business structure.
Successfully negotiated a child support reduction of over $1,200 per month for the payor.
Successfully helped a parent obtain 50/50 parenting time and proved that the other parent’s allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse were fabricated.
Successfully achieved 100% parenting time for a parent after the other parent continued to fail court-ordered drug/alcohol tests and did not comply with Court ordered substance treatment.
Successfully helped client to relocate out of state with young child in order to allow support of family and to craft a parenting plan that allowed both parents to spend time with child.
Successfully obtained sanctions of excluding 100% of a represented party’s exhibits and witnesses during trial due to noncompliance with the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
During the middle of trial, obtained an order immediately discharging the Child & Family Investigator [then called a Special Advocate] from the case due to the Child & Family Investigator failing to complete any investigation and failing to issue a report.
Successfully convinced a court appointed accountant to re-visit his business valuation calculations, resulting in a more favorable business valuation value for the client.
Specially admitted by State of New Mexico and traveled to rural court in New Mexico to successfully litigate interstate child custody dispute. (Special admission in New Mexico was for one case only- should not be construed as Stahly Mehrtens Miner LLC being licensed or currently being licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico).
Successfully litigated to retrieve a child who was abducted by a parent across state lines.
Successfully reopened a dissolution of marriage case to capture assets previously hidden by the spouse during the initial divorce proceeding.
Successfully negotiated a favorable division of a complex closely held business structure.