Legal Services

Law for Locals, LLC is a civil law practice dedicated to helping high-country businesses, families, employees and immigrants get the legal help they need without breaking the bank. We specialize in family, business, employer/employee, and immigration matters. If you have any questions about our practice, please feel free to call or e-mail.

About Us

Law for Locals, LLC was established by attorney Melissa Decker, a 3rd-generation small-town lawyer dedicated to providing affordable legal and mediation services to working people. Before opening Law for Locals, LLC, Melissa was a litigator for seven years and clerked for Justice Nancy Rice on the Colorado Supreme Court. She has a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School (1997), an M.A. from Stanford University (1993), and a B.A. from Yale University (1991). She lives in Minturn with her husband, Mike Heaphy, young son Silas, and beloved yellow lab Pearl.

Mediation Services

Law for Locals, LLC encourages clients to mediate their disputes because lawsuits are expensive and endlessly time consuming. Mediation helps people and businesses resolve disputes without resorting to the hassle and expense of going to court. Unlike litigation, where the judge makes the decisions for you, mediation gives people in conflict the chance to make their own decisions and to solve their own problems with the mediator. Mediation is confidential, private, and expedient.

Melissa Decker