About Rocky Mountain Elder Law

Established in 2019 by founder Kate Silburn, Rocky Mountain Elder Law is a women-owned boutique law firm, established to help the elderly and anyone preparing for end-of-life circumstances. Rocky Mountain Elder Law practices all facets of elder law, including estate planning, estate administration, probate litigation, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Kate has brought together a team that is both skilled in elder law and genuinely cares about the well-being of its clients. Rocky Mountain Elder Law is available to support clients in Denver’s Metro area, Colorado’s Front Range, and high mountain communities.

Kate Silburn – Founder

Kate’s dual credentials of a Masters of Divinity from Harvard and a law degree from Columbia make her uniquely qualified to help families navigate end-of-life issues including estate planning, estate administration, probate litigation, guardianships, and conservatorships.

As a Hospice Chaplain, she understands the gravity of patient rights, palliative care delivery, and guardianship. She has seen first-hand what happens when protections are not in place and is a dedicated advocate for vulnerable people.

Kate has been an attorney for over 20 years and has worked in the areas of trusts, estates, and elder law cases since the beginning of her career. She was a partner for 13 years at O’Dell & Silburn. Before O’Dell & Silburn, LLC, Kate was the Executive Director of Denver Hospice’s Life Quality Institute, where she was an on-call Hospice Chaplain until 2009.

 

Kate earned her Juris Doctor law degree at Columbia University, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class. Before law school, she graduated from Harvard University with a Masters of Divinity, where she explored the value that the elderly bring to society, writing her thesis on the repatriation of sacred objects and human remains back to Indian tribes. She also has a B.A. in religious studies from Fordham University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

In her free time, Kate enjoys watching her son play sports, skiing, cooking, and gardening.

Kate Silburn, founder

Kate’s dual credentials of a Masters of Divinity from Harvard and a law degree from Columbia make her uniquely qualified to help families navigate end-of-life issues including estate planning, estate administration, probate litigation, guardianships, and conservatorships. As a Hospice Chaplain, she understands the gravity of patient rights, palliative care delivery, and guardianship. She has seen first-hand what happens when protections are not in place and is a dedicated advocate for vulnerable people.

Kate has been an attorney for over 20 years and has worked in the areas of trusts, estates, and elder law cases since the beginning of her career. She was a partner for 13 years at O’Dell & Silburn. Before O’Dell & Silburn, LLC, Kate was the Executive Director of Denver Hospice’s Life Quality Institute, where she was an on-call Hospice Chaplain until 2009.

 

Kate earned her Juris Doctor law degree at Columbia University, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class. Before law school, she graduated from Harvard University with a Masters of Divinity, where she explored the value that the elderly bring to society, writing her thesis on the repatriation of sacred objects and human remains back to Indian tribes. She also has a B.A. in religious studies from Fordham University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

In her free time, Kate enjoys watching her son play sports, skiing, cooking, and gardening.

 

Amber is an Associate Attorney at Rocky Mountain Elder Law, dedicated to providing the best service for her clients. She holds a Doctor of Law (JD) from Suffolk University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder. With over fourteen years of legal experience, Amber is also transitioning into business administration and management roles.

Amber Stone - Associate Attorney

Before joining Rocky Mountain Elder Law, she spent three and a half years as an Associate Attorney, specializing in elder law and estate planning. Amber’s career also includes working in class action and personal injury law, successfully trying cases and negotiating settlements representing individual clients, corporate clients, and class action lawsuit representatives and members. Her experience also includes two years providing legal defense services to the United States Postal Service in Denver.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her two cats and as a Colorado native, she loves participating in outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking. Additionally, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver.

Amber Stone - Associate Attorney

Amber is an Associate Attorney at Rocky Mountain Elder Law, dedicated to providing the best service for her clients. She holds a Doctor of Law (JD) from Suffolk University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder. With over fourteen years of legal experience, Amber is also transitioning into business administration and management roles.

 

Before joining Rocky Mountain Elder Law, she spent three and a half years as an Associate Attorney, specializing in elder law and estate planning. Amber’s career also includes working in class action and personal injury law, successfully trying cases and negotiating settlements representing individual clients, corporate clients, and class action lawsuit representatives and members. Her experience also includes two years providing legal defense services to the United States Postal Service in Denver. 

 

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her two cats and as a Colorado native, she loves participating in outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking. Additionally, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver.

Sam King – Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Sam is Rocky Mountain Elder Law’s Receptionist and Administrative Assistant. She loves helping people, particularly those at risk or in vulnerable positions.

Previously, Sam held Administrative Assistant roles at the US Bankruptcy Court and to the Superintendent of Gilpin County K-12 School, and Secretary to the Board of Education. Before that, she was a Nationally Certified Court Reporter for many years, working in County, State, District, and Federal Courts in New Mexico and Colorado, as well as Freelance Court Reporting in many different venues.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son’s family and friends and doing outdoor activities including camping, fishing, and horseback riding. She also enjoys learning new things, reading, Pilates, traveling, playing billiards, and music.

Sam King – Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Sam is Rocky Mountain Elder Law’s Receptionist and Administrative Assistant. She loves helping people, particularly those at risk or in vulnerable positions.

Previously, Sam held Administrative Assistant roles at the US Bankruptcy Court and to the Superintendent of Gilpin County K-12 School, and Secretary to the Board of Education. Before that, she was a Nationally Certified Court Reporter for many years, working in County, State, District, and Federal Courts in New Mexico and Colorado, as well as Freelance Court Reporting in many different venues.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son’s family and friends and doing outdoor activities including camping, fishing, and horseback riding. She also enjoys learning new things, reading, Pilates, traveling, playing billiards, and music.

The Legal Services We Offer

What is it?

Protecting your legacy begins with estate planning. Estate planning is the act of preparing for the end of a person’s life. This includes identifying who owns what to ensure the smooth transfer of a person’s wealth, as well as the creation of documents such as living wills and Powers of Attorney.

Why it matters

Everyone can benefit from a thorough estate plan. It is the final gift that you give to the people you love. It means that when you die, they can grieve, free of the burden of administration. An estate plan ensures that your legacy is safe. I believe that you are never too old and never too young to start an estate plan, but you might be too late.

How I help

I have a unique point of view on planning, both as a lawyer and chaplain. I have seen personally what happens when there is not a plan in place and the pain families can experience. 

What is it?

Whenever someone dies, their estate needs to be collected and managed. Estate administration includes gathering the assets of the estate, paying the decedent’s debts, and distributing any remaining assets.

Why it matters

Estate administration makes sure that heirs and beneficiaries receive what they are rightfully entitled to. 

How I help

I am well-versed in the rules and structures of estate administration and I work effectively to make the process as smooth as possible.

Case study

Read this case study to see how Kate resolved an estate probate conflict on the death of a child.

What is it?

Medicaid Planning involves short-term and long-term strategies to plan for nursing home care in such a way that you qualify for Medicaid support.

Why it matters

Many people will need a period of care towards the end of their lives. Medicare, which is available to everyone 65 and over in this country, does not cover nursing home care. The only plan that the government has for nursing home care is Medicaid, which is something that you have to qualify for, by having a very low income and very little assets

How I help

I work with clients to develop financial strategies so that when the time comes, your assets can be preserved and you qualify for care. I help clients plan now so that you have peace of mind and know your needs will be taken care of if the time comes.

What are they?

Guardianships and conservatorships ensure legal protection for minors, disabled people, or those who are incapacitated. Guardianships specifically concern decisions regarding healthcare, medical care or the care of a minor child. Conservatorships , on the other hand, concern financial decisions.

Why they matter

Guardianships and conservatorships assist those who care for vulnerable people and put court oversight of those vulnerable people in place.

How I help 

I care about the most vulnerable people in our society. I have seen what happens when the correct legal protections are not put in place and for me it is one of the sources of greatest professional satisfaction to see that a vulnerable person is protected. 

Case study

Read this case study to see how Kate helped Native American grandparents secure custody of their granddaughter.

What is it?

Sometimes people fight over estates, or over protected persons or wards under conservatorship or guardianship.

Why it matters 

I help people who feel that an error has been made in the administration of an estate seek what is rightfully theirs.  

How I help 

I want to help solve my clients’ problems and as their advocate, I fight for them.

Contact Us

Kate and her team helped us draft and execute our wills with such thoughtful care and professionalism. Kate made the hard conversations approachable, helped us think through pieces of our estate planning that we hadn’t examined yet, and made the legalese transparent and easy to understand. We have such peace of mind now, and we’re so grateful to everyone at Rocky Mountain Elder Law.

 

Brianna Spiegel