Katie Hays

– PARTNER –

I have been practicing family law in Colorado since 1998.  Although I’m proud to have grown up in a small town in eastern Kansas, I am ecstatic to be able to live on the beautiful western slope of Colorado.  

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in Information Networking and Telecommunications with a minor in Political Science from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas in 1994.  In 1998 I received my Juris Doctor degree with Dean’s Honors from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas.  The opportunity to work at the law clinic at Washburn Law School initiated my interest in helping families through their most difficult times. My practical and tough but caring midwestern nature is well-suited to the family law practice.

Katie regularly volunteers to speak in classrooms and has helped coach the local high school Mock Trial teams.  

As a parent of two school-aged children, I am passionate about education and inspiriting all youth to achieve their dreams.  I currently serve as chair of the Garfield RE-2 District Accountability Committee.  I regularly volunteer to speak in classrooms and have helped coach the local high school Mock Trial teams.   I am equally passionate about volunteering my time for individuals of limited means and have done so through Alpine Legal Services and the 9^th Judicial District Family Law Day.

Professional involvement is also a vital part of my work as an attorney.  I am a member of the Colorado Bar Association (CBA) and have served on that organization’s Board of Governors, Budget Committee, Nominating Committee, and Family Law Section Executive Council.  I am a member of the Family Law and the Trust and Estate Sections of the CBA and am a Fellow Emeritus of the Colorado Bar Foundation.  I served as President of the 9^th Judicial District Bar Association (Garfield County) in 2005. I was recently voted to serve on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC).  I also served for 5 years on the 9^th Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission

Having started my legal career in 1998 in Colorado Springs, I was honored in 2001 by then-Governor Bill Owens as the El Paso County Bar Association New Lawyer of the Year.  I attribute much of my success as a lawyer and a person to my mentor, David Johnson, of Colorado Springs.  Dave showed me how important it is to always be honest, hard-working and dedicated to clients, family and community.    

My personal life is filled with lots of indoor and outdoor activities with my excessively patient and kind husband of 23 years and my two excessively awesome children.  Home improvement projects have also recently taken over much of my time outside of the office.  I look forward to the days when I can return to regular camping and adventures with my friends and family in our 1976 Airstream trailer—my “happy place”.