Attorneys. Counselors. Business Partners.
Leia Ursery's practice focuses on trust and estate law and elder law matters. She specializes in estate and tax planning, marital agreements, estate and trust administration, and protective proceedings. Additionally, she has extensive experience in probate litigation, including will contests, breach of fiduciary duty actions, fiduciary removal and surcharge actions, common law marriage claims, and asset recovery actions.
Ms. Ursery enjoys working with a variety of clients to proactively problem-solve. Her goal is to identify efficient and effective solutions and to provide reassurance and confidence in what may be unfamiliar or challenging circumstances. Leia is well-equipped to support the needs of her clients and to aggressively advocate for the rights and positions of her clients.
In addition to her practice, Ms. Ursery is heavily involved in the legal community. She is a former Chair of the Colorado Bar Association - Trust and Estate Section and currently serves as its Co-Legislative Liaison to the Colorado Bar Association - Legislative Policy Committee. In 2017, Ms. Ursery was nominated as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Council (ACTEC). She enjoys volunteering for the Pro Se Clinic for the Denver Probate Court and the Tribal Wills Project and Wills Lab Clinic for the University of Denver Sturm College of Colorado. Ms. Ursery was a Colorado Super Lawyers - Rising Star between 2010 and 2015 and has been recognized as Colorado Super Lawyer since 2016.
Education
- University of Denver College of Law, Denver, Colorado
- LL.M. - 2010
- Major: Tax Program
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Denver, Colorado
- J.D. - 2004
- University of Hawaii at Manoa
- B.B.A. - 2000
- Major: International Business/Marketing
Practice Areas
- Trust and Estate
- Elder Law
Professional Associations
- American College of Trust and Estate Council (ACTEC), Fellow, 2017 – present
- American Bar Association, Member, 2004 - present
- Colorado Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2007 - present
- Trustee, 2019 - present
- Vice Chairperson, 2020 - present
- Colorado Bar Association, Member, 2004 - present
- Executive Council and Board of Governors, 2008 - 2009
- Legislative Policy Committee, 2014 - 2021
- Colorado Bar Association Trust and Estate Section, 2004 - present
- Executive Council, 2014 - 2020 (Past Chair)
- Statutory Revisions Committee, 2004 - present (Past Chair)
- Colorado Bar Association Elder Law Section, 2004 - present
- Colorado Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Executive Council, 2006 - 2011 (Past Chair)
- Denver Bar Association, 2004 - present
- Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training Program (COBALT), 2013 - 2018 (Past Chair)
- Colorado Supreme Court Probate Rules Committee, 2018 - present
- Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council, 2013 - present
- Liaison for Trust & Estate Section, 2013 - 2015
- Elder Law Section, 2004 - present
- Young Lawyers Division Executive Council, 2006 - 2011 (Past Chair)
- Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training Program (COBALT), 2013-2018 (Past Chair)
Bar Admission
- Colorado, 2004
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 2004
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 2004
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2010
Pro-Bono Activities
- Volunteer Attorney for Denver Probate Court Pro Se Clinic
- Supervising Attorney for University of Denver Sturm College of Law - Tribal Wills Clinic, which hosts legal clinics at various Navajo Nations throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Montana and Colorado
- Medical-Legal Partnership with Children's Hospital of Colorado
Classes & Seminars
- Presenter, “Will Contests: Testator Intent and Testamentary Freedom v. Public Policy and the Ethical Duties of the Drafting Attorney,” Colorado Bar Association – Continuing Legal Education, October 2022
- Co-Presenter, “Cannabis Business Succession,” Colorado Bar Association – Continuing Legal Education, April 2022
- Co-Presenter, “Estate Planning for Tribal Communities,” Colorado Bar Association – Continuing Legal Education, November 2021
- Presenter, “Determination of Heirs, Devisees and Property Interests by Special Proceeding – A Useful Tool and Practical Tips,” Domestic Relations/Probate Best Practice Institute – Colorado Judicial Branch, June 2021
- Co-Presenter, “Secure Act: A Primer on Retirement Planning,” Colorado Bar Association – Continuing Legal Education, March 2020
- Co-Presenter, "If You Wrestle with a Pig, You Both Get Dirty!," Rocky Mountain Area Conference for Finance & Accounting Professionals, September 2019
- Co-Presenter, "Conveyance of Decedents' and Trusts' Mineral Interests Probate Proceedings - What to Do with a Gap in Title or Missing Estate," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, September 2019
- Presenter, "Planning and Administration for Multi-State Clients," Colorado Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education, October 2017
- Co-Author/Co-Editor, "Estate Planning: Use of Wills," Elder Law in Colorado, Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., Fifth Edition, 2011 - 2019
- Presenter, "The New Determination Statute… When Will We Need It?" Colorado Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education, December 2016
- Presenter, "Nuts and Bolts of Mineral Title Examination - Probate Proceedings in Conveyance of Mineral Interests," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, April 2015
- Presenter, "Orange Book Forms: The Engagement Letter: Factfinder, Beneficiary Designations and Deeds," Colorado Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education, October 2012
Honors
- Colorado Super Lawyers, 2016 - 2022
- Colorado Super Lawyer: Rising Star, 2010 - 2015
- Best Lawyers® Trust and Estates
- Best Lawyers® Litigation - Trust and Estates
Past Positions
- Lathrop Gage LLP
- Lindquist & Vennum, LLP
- Olsen Traeger & Ursery, LLP
- Honorable C. Jean Stewart of the Denver Probate Court, Law Clerk
Current Employment Position
- Partner