Trinidad Divorce, Criminal & Estate Attorney
By Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr., 30 years in the law. Divorce & family law, criminal & DUI defense, and estate planning for Trinidad — cases filed at the Las Animas County Courthouse in the 3rd Judicial District. Free 20-minute call with Attorney Liken.
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On the Legal Front Lines · Government Investigator, Denver Human Services · Licensed Colorado Attorney ~ 20+ Years in Private Practice · Colorado Deputy District Attorney · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator
A Trinidad attorney who knows which courthouse your case goes to
Trinidad is the Las Animas County seat, and the 3rd Judicial District (Las Animas and Huerfano Counties) is a small, rural district far from the Front Range metro. A Trinidad client gets the same attorney who handles the case, not a hand-off.
Trinidad has a county seat of a few thousand residents on the New Mexico line. Trinidad is the Las Animas County seat. Trinidad is about three hours south of Longmont on I-25; consultations are by phone or video, with in-person meetings arranged as needed. Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr. — a former Colorado Deputy District Attorney, a Colorado court-appointed Child and Family Investigator, and a licensed Colorado attorney — personally handles every Trinidad matter from the first call to the last filing.
Where Trinidad cases are heard
- District court (divorce, custody, felonies, probate): Las Animas County Courthouse, 200 E. 1st St., Trinidad — 3rd Judicial District.
- County court (misdemeanors, traffic, small claims): Las Animas County Courthouse, 200 E. 1st St., Trinidad. District court, county court, and the District Attorney all sit in the courthouse on East 1st Street.
- Municipal court (city-ordinance and local traffic matters): Trinidad Municipal Court.
- Prosecutor: the 3rd Judicial District Attorney (Las Animas & Huerfano Counties), whose office is in the Trinidad courthouse.
- Law enforcement: Trinidad Police Department.
Trinidad Divorce & Family Law Attorney
A Trinidad divorce, custody case, or child-support matter is filed in district court at the Las Animas County Courthouse (200 E. 1st St., Trinidad). Colorado allocates parental responsibilities under the best-interests standard in C.R.S. § 14-10-124, and when a court appoints a Child and Family Investigator to report on a family, that CFI's work often decides the case. Attorney Liken is himself a court-appointed CFI — he knows what the report looks for and how to prepare a Trinidad parent for it. For straightforward filings the firm drafts your Colorado JDF documents for a flat fee quoted within 24 hours; run the numbers first with the child support calculator and maintenance calculator.
- Divorce & legal separation — property, debt, and the 91-day waiting period explained up front.
- Custody & parenting time — parenting plans built for Las Animas County judges.
- Child support & maintenance — calculated, argued, and enforced.
- Modifications & enforcement — when life changes after the decree.
- Mediation — resolve it without a trial when that serves your family.
Trinidad Criminal & DUI Defense Attorney
A Trinidad arrest by Trinidad Police Department is prosecuted by the 3rd Judicial District Attorney (Las Animas & Huerfano Counties), whose office is in the Trinidad courthouse if the State files charges; a city-ordinance violation stays in Trinidad Municipal Court. Attorney Liken served as a Colorado Deputy District Attorney — he has built the State's file from the inside and reads a Trinidad police report the way the prosecutor will. Arrested for DUI? The DMV's 7-day Express Consent deadline runs separately from the criminal case — start here.
- DUI & DWAI defense — first offense through felony, plus the DMV hearing.
- Criminal defense — misdemeanors to felonies in the 3rd Judicial District.
- Domestic violence defense — the mandatory protection order and what it really means.
- Record sealing — clear a Trinidad record when you are eligible.
Trinidad Estate Planning & Probate Attorney
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives protect Trinidad families now; when a loved one passes, probate for the estate is opened in district court at the Las Animas County Courthouse (200 E. 1st St., Trinidad). Attorney Liken keeps estate planning plain-English and probate manageable for Trinidad executors and heirs.
- Wills, trusts & powers of attorney — a plan that fits your family and adapts over time.
- Probate & estate administration — guiding Trinidad personal representatives from filing to final distribution.
- Guardianship & conservatorship — protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
Court locations and jurisdictions above are from the Colorado Judicial Branch and county and city government sources, reviewed September 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Trinidad deserves senior-level counsel. Start with a free call.
Your choice: no-charge 20-minute phone call OR in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Attorney Liken.
Questions Trinidad clients ask
Where will my Trinidad divorce or custody case be filed?
Divorce, custody, child support, and maintenance cases for Trinidad are district-court matters, filed at the Las Animas County Courthouse (200 E. 1st St., Trinidad) in Colorado's 3rd Judicial District.
What is the difference between Trinidad Municipal Court and county court?
Trinidad Municipal Court hears violations of Trinidad's own ordinances, including many local traffic tickets. Charges filed by the State of Colorado — misdemeanors, DUI, and felonies — go to Las Animas County courts and are prosecuted by the 3rd Judicial District Attorney (Las Animas & Huerfano Counties), whose office is in the Trinidad courthouse.
I was arrested for DUI in Trinidad. What is the first deadline?
The DMV deadline. Under Colorado's Express Consent law you generally have 7 days from a notice of revocation to request a DMV hearing, separate from the criminal case. Attorney Liken handles both.
Do I have to come to Longmont from Trinidad?
No. Consultations are by phone or video, and in-person meetings can be arranged. Trinidad is about three hours south of Longmont on I-25; consultations are by phone or video, with in-person meetings arranged as needed.
Who handles probate for a Trinidad estate?
Probate for a Las Animas County estate is filed in the district court at the Las Animas County Courthouse (200 E. 1st St., Trinidad). Attorney Liken handles wills, trusts, and estate administration for Trinidad families.
Is the first call free?
Yes. Every matter starts with a free 20-minute call with Attorney Liken — no charge, no obligation. An in-depth one-hour consultation is $300.
Ready when you are.
A no-charge 20-minute call with Attorney Liken starts it.