Kristi Anderson Wells, JD, LL.M.
Counties served: All of Colorado with focus on Greater Denver Metro Area and Mountain Counties
ATTORNEY
Wells Family Law PC
1660 Lincoln Street, Suite 1525
Denver, CO 80264
Phone (303) 309-1077
Fax (720) 677-0110
About ME
Kristi Anderson Wells is the founder and President of Wells Family Law PC where her practice focuses exclusively on domestic relations issues. She has been practicing law for twenty-eight years, sixteen of those in family law. Prior to her move to family law, Kristi’s areas of practice included taxation, benefits and executive compensation. Kristi serves as Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Council. In 2024, Kristi Chaired the 2024 Family Law Section Family Law Institute.
Kristi has written and lectured extensively on family law topics as well as having been a tax commentator for NPR’s Morning Edition. Her presentations have ranged from Advanced Tax Issues in Divorce, Attorney Fees in Family Law, the Duty to Confer, to Classifying, Valuing and Dividing Executive Employment Benefits. Kristi's book, "The Executive Compensation Handbook: Stock Option Awards, Restricted Stock Grants, Cash Bonuses, Incentives and Other Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation in Divorce," was published by the American Bar Association in 2018. She also authored “A Primer on Executive Compensation in a Colorado Divorce,” Parts 1 and 2, for the Colorado Lawyer magazine in 2022.
Kristi provides over fifty hours per year in pro bono legal services to clients through the Metro Volunteer Lawyers and the Denver Bar Association Family Law Ask-A-Lawyer Clinic. As part of her commitment to Collaborative law, Kristi is a member and past President of Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, and a member of the Academy for Collaborative Law Practice. She is also a trained mediator.
EDUCATION
B.A. Journalism, magna cum laude, 1994, University of Washington
J.D. (with honors), University of Washington School of Law, 1997
LL.M Taxation, University of Washington School of Law, 1998
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Past President of Board of Directors
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair of Family Law Section Executive Council
Academy for Collaborative Law Practice, Fellow
COLLABORATIVE TRAININGS Taken
CCDP Level 1, 2012
“Excellence in Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Strengthening your Collaborative Skills,” Linda Solomon, LPC, LCDC, LMFT, September 19-20, 2013, Lone Tree, Colorado - Sponsored by Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Other Relevant Trainings and Experience:
Completed 40 hours of hands-on mediation training at the University of Washington School of Law, Mediation Clinic, 1996-1997
“On Being a Child in a 50/50 Era: Research and Developmental Perspectives on Shared Parenting After Separation,” Jennifer McIntosh, PhD, October 4, 2013, Westminster, Colorado - Sponsored by Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee
“Emerging Consensus Views on Shared Parenting: AFCC Think Tank Findings and the Latest Thinking and Interventions,” Marsha Line Pruett, PhD, MSL and Herbie DiFonzo, JD, March 13, 2015, Westminster, Colorado - Sponsored by Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee and Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee
“Caught in the Web – Risk Management for Mental Health Professionals and Attorneys,” Jane Irvine, MA, LPC, Chad Gillam, Esq., Hon. Angela Arkin, November 7, 2017, Denver, Colorado - Sponsored by Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee
“Child and Family Investigators: Standards, Challenges, and Best Practices,” Michal Lord-Blegen, District Court Magistrate 2nd Judicial District, January 9, 2018, Denver, Colorado Sponsored by Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee
Presentations Given
Commentator: Complex Taxes (National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition, April 15, 2002)
Speaker, Advanced Tax Issues in Divorce, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, 2015
Commentator: New Tax Law (National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition, August 21, 2001)
Commentator: Estate Tax - the Mysterious Disappearing Repeal of the Estate Tax (National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition, June 7, 2001)
Author, Benefits Issues Arise When Same-Sex Relationships End, The Colorado Lawyer, Colorado Bar Association, 2013
Commentator: Tax Time Commentary -- An Ode to the Code (National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition, April 16, 2001)
Co-Author, Supreme Court Ruling on DOMA Raises More Questions Than It Answers for Colorado Families, CBA CLE Legal Connections, Colorado Bar Association, 2013
Implementing a Domestic Partner Benefits Program, Maine Business and Employment Law (Northern New England Publishers, Inc., Naples, Maine), January, 2001
Speaker, Divorce: Classifying, Valuing and Dividing Executive Employment Benefits, Strafford Family Law Webinar, 2013
Domestic Partner Benefits: Legal Issues, Maine Business and Employment Law (Northern New England Law Publishers, Inc., Naples, Maine), December, 2000
Speaker, Attorney Fees in Family Law, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Colorado Bar Association, 2013
Author, The Executive Compensation Handbook: Stock Option Awards, Restricted Stock Grants, Cash Bonuses, Incentives, and Other Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation in Divorce, American Bar Association, 2018
Speaker, The Duty to Confer, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Colorado Bar Association, 2013
Speaker, Rocky Mountain High: Navigating the Marijuana Divorce Without Losing Your Mind, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2018
Speaker, Same Sex Issues in Family Law: When it Isn't "Husband and Wife", MDIC March Luncheon, Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, 2013
Speaker, Unveiling the Mysteries of Dividing Executive Compensation, Stock Rights and Severance in Divorce, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Colorado Bar Association, 2012
Moderator, Judges Panel on Business Valuations in Divorce, CBA Family Law Section February Meeting, Colorado Bar Association, 2012
Speaker, Spoils of War: Dividing Deferred Compensation in Divorce, CBA CLE 2011 Spring Family Law Update, Colorado Bar Association, 2011
Trial Preparation and Practice, co-presented with John Tatlock, Colorado Bar Association, 2014 Fall Family Law Update, October 31, 2014
Speaker, Trial Preparation and Practice, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2014
Division of Benefits in Same-Sex Break-Ups: Assisting Clients in a Complex and Unsettled Area, co-presented with Ann Gushurst at the one-day International CLE program, "Civil Unions: Family Law and Estate Issues in a Time of Rapid Change," November 4, 2013
"Supreme Court Ruling on DOMA Raises More Questions Than it Answers for Colorado Families," CBA-CLE Legal Connection, June 28, 2013, Co-authored by Ann Gushurst and Kristi Wells
What Happens When the Unhappy Couple Isn't "Husband and Wife"? Co-presented with Ann Gushurst at the Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee Luncheon, March 5, 2013
Unveiling the Mysteries of Dividing Executive Compensation, Stock Rights and Severance in Divorce, at the Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado, August 11, 2012
How Technology and Social Networking Inform the Divorce Process, Colorado Serenity Magazine, December 2011
-Recent Changes to CRCP Rule 16.2 and Legislative Update, co-presented with Chelsea Augelli, Esq. and Kaela Zihlman, Esq., Colorado Bar Association Family Law Spring Update (April 11, 2024)
-Calculating Income After DePumpo: The Good, Bad and Ugly, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Fall Update (November 3, 2023)
-Thundering Through Stock Rights: Options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Fall Update, Lightning Round (November 12, 2021)
-Breaking Up is Hard to Do: How Movies Shape Our Ideas About Divorce, Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee Luncheon (November 3, 2020)
-Don’t Get Caught with Your Pants Down: Preparing for a Successful Mediation, co-presented with Richard Rotole, Esq. and Justin Ross, Esq., Family Law Institute (August 2020)
-Don’t Worry, Be Happy: A Family Lawyer’s Guide to Tax Return Illumination, co-presented with Shari Lutz, CPA, ABV, CFF ASA, American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers Advanced Family Law Institute (December 2019)
-The Sexy Side of Stock Rights: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Stock Awards in Divorce, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section Young Attorney Breakfast (November 2018)
- Judicial Panel on Maintenance, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Vail Colorado (August 2018)
-Rocky Mountain High – Navigating the Marijuana Divorce Without Losing Your Mind, co-presented with Carolyn Witkus, Colorado Bar Association Luncheon CLE (March 2018)
-Civility in the Practice of Family Law, co-presented with Rebecca Alexander, Colorado Bar Association Fall Family Law Update (October 30, 2015)
-Advanced Tax Issues in Divorce, co-presented with Brian Campbell, CPA, 2015 Family Law Institute, Vail Colorado (August 8, 2015)
-Trial Preparation and Practice, co-presented with John Tatlock, Colorado Bar Association, 2014 Fall Family Law Update (October 31, 2014)
-Division of Benefits in Same-Sex Break-Ups: Assisting Clients in a Complex and Unsettled Area, co-presented with Ann Gushurst, International CLE, “Civil Unions: Family Law and Estate Issues in a Time of Rapid Change” (November 4, 2013)
- Attorney Fees in Family Law, co-presented with Alex White, Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado (August 10, 2013)
-The Duty to Confer, Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado (August 10, 2013)
-Classifying, Valuing, and Dividing Executive Employment Benefits, co-presented with Noah B. Rosenfarb, CPA, a Strafford Webinar (July 30, 2013)
-Unveiling the Mysteries of Dividing Executive Compensation, Stock Rights and Severance in Divorce, at the Family Law Institute in Vail, Colorado (August 11, 2012)
-Spoils of War: Dividing Deferred Compensation in Divorce, Colorado Bar Association, 2011 Spring Family Law Update (May 13, 2011)
-New COBRA Premium Subsidy Rules, Van Gilder Breakfast Club (April 2009)
-New Issues in Employee Benefits, Southeast Metro Law Club luncheon (March 2009)
-What's Up with Your 403(b) Plan in 2008? Integrated Delivery Systems Roundtable, Co-Sponsored by Faegre & Benson LLP and the Medical Group Management Association (2008)
-SEC's Proposed Rules on Executive Compensation Disclosure, Seattle Pension Roundtable (March 16, 2006)
-New COBRA Notice Requirements (Presented to the Seattle Pension Roundtable (December 2004)
-A Brief Summary of Taxation of ISOs and Nonquals, University of Washington School of Law (Spring 2003)
-Commentary: New Tax Law, National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition (August 21, 2001) (to access all commentaries, go to www.npr.org and search prior name “Bjornerud”)
-Commentary: Estate Tax - the Mysterious Disappearing Repeal of the Estate Tax, National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition (June 7, 2001) (to access all commentaries, go to www.npr.org and search prior name “Bjornerud”)
-Commentary: Tax Time Commentary -- An Ode to the Code, National Public Radio broadcast, Morning Edition (April 16, 2001) (to access all commentaries, go to www.npr.org and search prior name “Bjornerud”)
-Moderator: Judicial Panel on Maintenance, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Vail Colorado (August 2018)