Attorney Bios 
Attorney Bios
Richard A. Harris, President, The Harris Law Firm, P.C.
Schedule a Consultation with Rich
rich@harrisfamilylaw.com
Originally from New York City, Richard A. Harris, Esq. has made Colorado his home for the past 20 years. Rich received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California and his Juris Doctor degree from the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver.
Rich's passion for superior representation in the practice of divorce and child custody law is the driving force behind The Harris Law Firm. He has been recognized by his peers in the legal community on numerous occasions, and frequently lectures on family law issues. Committed to the idea that clients should be as informed as possible about their legal rights, he is the author of numerous, published articles about family law. In 2008, Rich co-authored the publication, Colorado Family Law Deskbook by Bradford Publishing.
In 2006, Rich Harris was chosen to be one of Denver's 40 Under 40 based on his business leadership, community involvement, and recognition of his accomplishments. Each year, the Denver Business Journal has includes a special section called "40 Under 40" to recognize a diverse group of young, dynamic business leaders whose efforts in the workplace and in the community are shaping the future of Denver.
In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Rich was selected as one of Colorado Super Lawyers for Family Law. Super Lawyers are considered leading attorneys in the area of law in which they practice, and are selected via a survey of the state's top lawyers by Law & Politics Magazine. In 2010, Rich was voted Best Family Law Attorney by Law Week Colorado's Barrister's Best Issue. Also this year, Rich was an invited speaker at Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section annual meeting in August addressing practice management issues, including those that have allowed his firm to maximize client service and case management and contributed directly to HFM’s consistent recognition by the State Supreme Court as a leader in pro bono activity.
Rich was awarded the highest "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The AV rating is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a peer review rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource. He also serves on the boards of The Adoption Exchange, and the Colorado Lawyers Committee. Rich is a Fellow of the Colorado Bar Association, and is active in Rotary International and The Denver Bar Association. In 2009 Rich was appointed as Chair of the Board of Metro Volunteer Lawyers, an organization that coordinates pro bono service to indigent people throughout the Denver metropolitan area. In 2009, Rich founded and currently serves as the President of "The Road to Hope", a Colorado-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping the orphaned children of Haiti.
Recent Press Releases about Rich Harris:
House Bill 1097
March 2010
On March 25, 2010 Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed into law House Bill 1097. This bill remedies a long standing anomaly in Colorado’s dissolution statutes that makes a distinction between married versus unmarried parents. Upon the filing of a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Colorado law places into effect an automatic injunction against all parties prohibiting the removal of any minor child of the marriage from the State of Colorado without the consent of both parties or an order of the court. The policy behind this injunction is that both parties to a divorce have the right to the care and control of the children of the marriage, and thus each party should be restricted from absconding out of state with the minor children during the pendency of the dissolution action.
However, unmarried parties seeking an allocation of parental responsibilities (APR) are not subject to the provisions of this law. In fact, unmarried parties are not subject to any temporary injunction upon the filing of a Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities. As a result, each year, several children are abducted by their parents and removed from Colorado at the outset of an APR action.
House Bill 1097 provides for an automatic temporary injunction prohibiting the removal of the children from the State of Colorado during the pendency of an APR action. The passage of this bill removes the disparity of protections afforded to children of married parties versus the children of unmarried parties. The bill also helps to reduce litigation and court costs as unmarried parties are provided in statute what they currently have to create for themselves by obtaining court orders.
Rich Harris recognized the need to close this legislative loophole. Throughout his 20 years of family law practice, Rich has seen the tragic consequences of parental abductions time and again. These abductions devastate families and have a terrible impact on the children involved. Sadly, some of these children are never found and the courts are in a powerless position to bring these children home.
Rich sought the experience and tenacity of Representative Debbie Benefield who agreed to sponsor the bill through the Colorado Legislature. Rich was instrumental in the drafting of the bill, and routinely advised the drafters on the current Colorado legal landscape and addressed potential public policy concerns and questions from several Colorado government agencies. Rich gathered support for the bill from Colorado’s legal organizations and bar associations. Perhaps most pivotal of all, Rich testified before the House Judiciary Committee regarding his first hand knowledge of child abductions and the imminent need for the passage of this legislation. Following Rich’s testimony, the House Judiciary Committee passed the bill unanimously. The bill was quickly passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and full floor vote. Governor Ritter proudly signed the bill into law and the children and families of Colorado have Rich Harris to thank for the significant increase in legal protections afforded to them when the law takes effect this August.
The Road to Hope
June 18, 2010
Newmont Mining Joins The Road to Hope to Support Haiti’s Orphans
Rich Harris, President and Founder of The Road to Hope (TRTH), a Littleton, Colorado-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping the children of Haiti is proud to announce that TRTH has joined forces with Denver-based Newmont Mining to help the orphans of Haiti. Newmont mining’s generous donation will help fund the building of the children’s dormitory within TRTHs signature project Nouvo Vilaj in Arcahaie, Haiti. The facility, which will encompass an orphanage, a medical clinic, and a school, will be named in honor of Guy and Nicola Lansdown and the Newmont Mining Corporation.
Guy Lansdown and Newmont Mining
Guy Lansdown is Executive Vice-President of Newmont Mining, one of the world’s largest gold producers and is the only gold company included in the S&P 500 Index and Fortune 500. Headquartered near Denver, Colorado, Newmont’s industry leading performance is reflected through high standards in environmental management, health and safety for its employees and by creating value and opportunity for host communities and shareholders. Throughout the world, it is Newmont Mining’s goal to take part in projects to further the development and welfare of the local community.
Rich Harris and The Road to Hope
As President and Founder of The Road to Hope, Rich Harris is also the President, Founder, and Managing Partner of The Harris Law Firm, Colorado’s largest family law firm located in downtown Denver.
Recent Articles featuring Rich Harris:
- Preserving Children's Rights, Law Week Colorado - Read Article
- Non-Nuclear Families Change Courts, Law Week Colorado - Read Article
