Jennifer M. Spitz

Shareholder

PHONE: (303) 776-9900
FAX: (303) 776-9100
EMAIL: jspitz@lyonsgaddis.com

Overview

Jennifer M. Spitz has practiced law in Longmont since earning her degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. For more than two decades, her work has centered on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and the tax strategies that support them. Jennifer and her team partner closely with individuals, families, and business owners to craft personalized estate plans that reflect each client’s goals and circumstances.

Her practice includes preparing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and related documents, as well as guiding clients through the steps needed to ensure their wishes are carried out. She has a particular interest in tax planning, including strategies to reduce or eliminating estate taxes, and making strategic lifetime gifts with both gift tax and income tax planning in mind. Jennifer also helps families through the probate process and trust administration following a death, providing practical counsel and support during difficult a time of transition.

A recognized leader in her field, she is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), has been listed in Colorado Super Lawyers® since 2012, and has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2009. She has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for the Boulder area multiple times, including in 2027.

Practices

Estate Planning
Probate
Trust Administration

ACTEC

Education and Experience

Jennifer received her Bachelor’s Degree from Fort Lewis College in 1994 graduating summa cum laude and her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law, in 1998, Order of the Coif.

Awards and Acknowledgements

Named the Best Lawyers® 2027 Boulder Area Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year”

Jennifer has received several recognitions for her work in the fields of trusts and estates and tax law, including:

Listed in the Best Lawyers® in America since 2009

Named the Best Lawyers® 2016 Boulder Area Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year”

Named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Boulder Area Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year”

Named the Best Lawyers® 2021 Boulder Area Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year”

Named the Best Lawyers® 2022 Boulder Area Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year”

Listed in Colorado Super Lawyers® since 2012

Named in 5280 Magazine’s Top Lawyers

Admitted as a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)

Publications

Jennifer has authored several articles on trust and estate topics, including the following:

– Traversing Multi-Jurisdictional Estate Planning, The Colorado Lawyer, July 2001

– Planning for Other States’ Estate Taxes, The Colorado Lawyer, September 2008

– Mineral Royalties as Trust Income, CBA Trust and Estate Section’s Council Notes, Fall 2014

– 10 Estate Planning Considerations for Out-of-State Property, The Colorado Lawyer, August 2016

– The Lifecycle of a Revocable Trust, The Colorado Lawyer, February 2020

Presentations

Jennifer is also a regular speaker for the Colorado Bar Association and other professional organizations. Her most recent presentations have been on the topic of estate planning with retirement assets.

Multi-Jurisdictional Estate Planning
- November 29, 2000, Boulder County Bar Association, Probate Section
Multi-Jurisdictional Estate Planning,
- February 12, 2003, El Paso County Bar Association, Probate Section
Post‑Mortem Estate Planning in a Post EGTRRA World (co-presented with Thomas L. Stover)
- June 11‑12, 2004, CBA Estate Planning Retreat
Post‑Mortem Estate Planning in a Post EGTRRA World (co-presented with Thomas L. Stover)
- October 27, 2004, Boulder County Bar Association, Probate Section
Alternative Marital Deduction Planning in this Uncertain Estate Tax Environment, November 30, 2005, Boulder County Bar Association, Probate Section
Marital Deduction Planning in this Uncertain Estate Tax Environment
- November 9, 2007, Colorado Bar Association, Estate Planning Update
Sailing into the (EGTRRA) Sunset: Planning in Light of the Uncertain Future of the Estate Tax
- June 13‑14, 2008, CBA Estate Planning Retreat
Still Waiting: Planning in Light of the Uncertain Future of the Estate Tax
- October 21, 2008, Colorado Springs Estate Planning Council
There’s No Place Like Home: Planning for Other States’ Estate Taxes
- November 24, 2008, CBA Trust and Estate Section
There’s No Place Like Home: Planning for Other States’ Estate Taxes
- April 29, 2009, Boulder County Bar Association, Probate Section
Portability and Other Planning Under the 2010 Tax Act
- February 23, 2011, Boulder County Bar Association, Probate Section
Portability and Other Planning Under the 2010 Tax Act
- April 19, 2011, Boulder County Estate Planning Council
Planning Under the 2010 Tax Act
- June 2, 2011, Colorado Society of CPAs – Boulder/Longmont Chapter
Who are the Children?: Practical Responses to Revisions to the Probate Code
- March 6, 2012, CLE in Colorado, Inc.
Introduction to the Marital Deduction
- February 21, 2014, CLE in Colorado, Inc.
10 T&E Tax Tips (co-presented with Connie T. Eyster)
- June 13‑14, 2014, CBA Estate Planning Retreat
Introduction to the Marital Deduction
- February 27, 2016, CLE in Colorado, Inc.
Ten Planning Tips and Traps for Out-of-State Property
- July 12, 2016, Boulder County Estate Planning Council
The Initial Client Interview and Opening the Estate
- February 3, 2017, CLE in Colorado, Inc.
Ten Planning Tips and Traps for Out-of-State Property
- February 23, 2017, Boulder County Bar Association
Introduction to the Marital Deduction
- February 2, 2018, CLE in Colorado, Inc.
Introduction to Planning with Retirement Assets
- June 9, 2018, CBA Estate Planning Retreat
Leaving Retirement Assets to Trusts
- October 24, 2018, Boulder County Bar Association
The Initial Client Interview and Opening the Estate
- February 1, 2019, CBA-CLE
Lifecycle of a Revocable Trust,
- October 7, 2019, CBA-CLE
Introduction to the Marital Deduction
- January 31, 2020, CBA-CLE
Leaving Retirement Assets to Trusts
- September 8, 2020, Boulder County Estate Planning Council
Leaving Retirement Assets to Trusts
- October 15-17, 2020, CBA Estate Planning Retreat
The Initial Client Interview and Opening the Estate
- January 29, 2021, CBA-CLE
Introduction to the Marital Deduction
- January 28 2022, CBA-CLE
WET: Water Law for Trust and Estate Attorneys (Co-Presented with Madoline Wallace-Gross)
- September 10, 2022, ACTEC Regional Meeting
The Initial Client Interview and Opening the Estate
- January 27, 2023, CBA-CLE

Organizations and Community Involvement

Throughout her career, Jennifer has been an active member of the Trust and Estate Section of the Colorado Bar Association, including previously serving as Chair of the Section and participating in the Section’s subcommittee projects.

Member of Boulder County Bar Association (BCBA): 1998 – present
Member of Colorado Bar Association (CBA): 1998 – present
Member of Boulder County Estate Planning Council: 1999 – present
ACTEC Fellow: 2010 ‑ present

Member of Twin Peaks Rotary: 2005 – 2015

Member of the literacy committee
Arranged speakers for weekly meetings
Editarian for the weekly newsletter
Volunteered with several fundraising projects
Member of the Legacy Planning Advisory Committee for the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation (2014 – 2016)

Personal

Jennifer is married to a Colorado native whom she met while she attended college in Durango. She enjoys spending time with their two children and a big yellow lab.