Who we are:
Willoughby & Associates is a group of attorneys and staff in three offices across two states providing boutique, sophisticated and personalized legal services for clients in the areas of matrimonial law, estate planning and administration and marital agreements.
Kim Willoughby, Founder, has been practicing for over 30 years, with special emphasis on cases involving intergenerational wealth transfers. Kim has been peer reviewed as at the top of her field by many organizations for over 20 years. She is the only practicing attorney in the US admitted as a Fellow to both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel. She serves as an expert in the areas of professional malpractice, marital agreements, and trusts in divorce cases. She is asked to, and does, teach judges and professionals multiple times each year. For a full bio, click here. Her entire legal career has been devoted to limited areas of the law, and she has developed a consistent philosophy and reputation that is an excellent match for certain clients.
Partner Sara Cates has been practicing for nearly 20 years, and brings a specialization around child related issues, and a strong litigation bent with a Texas flair. For a full bio, click here.
Associate attorneys all started with the firm while in law school. They have been “brought up” with the firm philosophy and very high practice standards.
Support staff are an integral part of every matter, and also practice with dedication, care, smarts and a desire to support clients in times of transition.
Who we serve:
Our clients are varied, from fund managers, VCs, entrepreneurs, judges, lawyers, philanthropists, engineers, small business owners, CEOs of publicly traded companies, professors, professional athletes, artists, moms and dads. But they have one thing in common – the shared belief that major life changes bring about the potential for meaningful change, that families are to be treated like family, and litigating anger is self-defeating.
We don’t advertise. We don’t use SEO. Our clients find us through word of mouth. Most of them tell us that they decided upon our firm because they heard about it from three separate sources. People from across the county and outside the country refer to us because they know our reputation.
We believe strongly in a good fit with the people we serve, and if the fit is not there, we will refer people to other excellent attorneys. This way, we are able to give 100% support to the clients we accept.
Is this firm for you?
If you are a potential client and you have found this website, you were probably given our name by someone you know, and possibly someone you trust. Perhaps that person knows us both well enough to think we would be a good fit. After exploring our website, if you would like to meet with us, please give us a call.
NEWS AND events
News!
Willoughby & Associates announces with great excitement that Sara Cates has become an equity partner in the firm. Sara brings nearly 20 years of family law experience. Sara is a strong litigator with a deep background in high stakes child-related issues. She is a perfect complement to the firm’s practice both in her areas of specialization and her significant experience with the Colorado family law bench and bar. The addition of Sara will allow the firm to offer broader family law services and provide additional longevity to the firm as she assists the founder in developing the firm’s associate attorneys.
Kim has been selected as a 2026 Best Lawyer by the Best Lawyers organization.
For 2026, Kim has been selected as a Top 5 Attorney in Family Law, along with her 3rd year selected as a Top 10 Attorney in Colorado. This is in addition to her selection to 
the Top 50 Women Colorado SuperLawyers (for 2012-2014, 2016-2018, and 2020-2026), and Top 100 Colorado SuperLawyers (2012-2013, 2020-2026).
Kim has 4 upcoming speaking engagements for 2026:
- Kim is presenting at the Wealth Counsel Symposium on September 22, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada on Planning for Love and Legacy: Using Marital Agreements to Solidify Legacy Planning.
- Kim is presenting at the Family Law Institute’s Annual Conference on August 7, 2026 in Vail, Colorado on Don’t Mess with Death or Taxes, with Heidi Gassman.
- Kim is presenting to ACTEC on June 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts on What to Know and Do Before ‘Going to the Chapel.’
- Kim is presenting to the Texas Bar CLE on April 23, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado on On the Road Again: Issues When Things Move Around.
Our team at Family Law Institute 2025
Willoughby & Associates has opened a new office! Our Aspen office is located 420 E. Main Street, Suite 230. Aspen is always a good idea!
Olivia Heffner presented at the 2025 Annual Family Law Institute in Vail: “It’s Complicated: How to Divide Complex Assets”
For the 8th time, Kim has been named a Top Lawyer by 5280 Magazine for 2025.
Kim has been selected to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers Guide, one of only two attorneys honored in Colorado.
Kim presented to the Colorado Bar Association on “The Dark Side of Prenups” on February 28, 2025.
Kim has been selected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Council. ACTEC is a national organization of more than 2,400 lawyers and law professors peer-elected to membership.
Members are the best and brightest in the trust and estate practice, with years of experience representing and advising families. Kim is the only practicing attorney in the entire country who is a Fellow of both AAML and ACTEC.
Kim has been selected by Chambers and Partners to their High Net Worth List of providers in Colorado for Family and Matrimonial Law, and is one of only two Band 1 attorneys in this area. Chambers identifies the leading professional advisers to the Private Wealth market in Colorado.
Kim co-authored an article with Wendy S. Goffe and Peter M. Walzer entitled “When Estate Planning and Marital Agreements Collide.“
Kim has been selected to the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of 100 of the top family law trial lawyers from across the United States.
Kim is licensed to practice law in South Dakota (her home state), and has opened a satellite office in Bonesteel, South Dakota. This allows Kim to offer clients unique asset protection services.