Loveland Ski Area

Dear Davis Schilken,

I just recently proposed to my girlfriend (now fiancée) and now her parents insist the two of us sign a prenup before we get married. How can I appease my in-laws while still protecting my rights? Sincerely, Perplexed by a Prenup

Dear Perplexed by a Prenup,

First off, let us congratulate your fiancée and you on your pending marriage. We hope your wedding day is as amazing as your life together will be!! Now, let’s get down to the business of nuptial agreements, which can either be done prior to or after marriage.

Marital agreements, both prenuptial and postnuptial, are a written contract executed between a couple to specify what will happen to the couple’s assets in the event of divorce or death.

Even if you build a happy, healthy marriage, one spouse will likely outlive the other. Marital agreements can give partners peace of mind about the financial future.

When you’re about to get married, divorce is the last thing on your mind. However, the reality is that between 40 and 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce. If you bring significant assets to your marriage or if your fiancée has significant debts, a pre-nuptial agreement is an important way to protect yourself financially. The attorneys at Davis Schilken, PC can draft a prenuptial agreement that details the assets and debts of both parties to be married and explain how property will be divided and support handled in the event of death or divorce. The agreement can encompass children’s and grandparents’ rights, if desired.

There are a few requirements that a nuptial agreement must meet before it becomes valid. These include the following conditions -

• The nuptial agreement must be written, signed, and notarized.

• The agreement must include valid disclosure of assets and financial obligations between both parties.

• Threats, force, or emotional duress must not have influenced the creation of the agreement.

• Terms of the agreement must not appear unethical or lacking fairness.

If nuptial agreements aren’t drafted correctly, they may do nothing but complicate things further. Unfortunately, just because you have created an agreement in writing doesn’t mean that it is presumed to be valid or enforceable. Therefore, it’s crucial that you have a nuptial agreement reviewed by a qualified lawyer to ensure everything is executed properly.

Contact the Davis Schilken, PC team with any of your Estate Planning needs (303) 670-9855. We offer no obligation in person or virtual meetings. We make estate planning simple!

Visit our comprehensive website for more tools www.dslawcolorado.com

Davis Schilken, PC – Let our deep experience meet your heartfelt goals!

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In true Colorado fashion, couples skied down the mountain at Loveland to get to their marriage ceremony, only accessible by ski or board.

On Feb. 14, 12 couples got married and 63 renewed their vows at the 32nd annual Mountaintop Matrimony mass wedding ceremony at Loveland Ski Area, hosted in the Forest Meadow run area.

Couples attending the ceremony came dressed to the nines, in top hats, veils, wedding dresses and kilts, with bouquets in hand.

Barbie and Ken Leach spend winters in Dillion and are celebrating their 50-year wedding anniversary in July. e couple came to renew their vows for what they said was the fourth or fth time at Loveland.

Barbie and Ken have been skiing together for 55 years and show no signs of slowing down. ey are season pass holders at Loveland.

“We think it’s a really wonderful event,” Barbie said. “Everybody is so happy.”

Lena and John Benisch came to the ceremony to renew their vows as well. e couple has been married for 20 years, but this is their rst time at the Loveland wedding.

“It’s epic,” Lena said. e couple met years ago in an exercise class, where they both immediately noticed each other and John asked Lena on a date. Skiing has always been a hallmark of their relationship.

Elkstraction: Evergreen firefighters perform an ice-water rescue for a cow elk

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Ice rescues in Evergreen are not common, but they do happen, even to help an elk that has fallen through the ice.

On Feb. 17, Evergreen Fire/Rescue received a call about a cow elk who fell through the ice in a pond in Timbervale behind Hiwan Homestead Museum, and members of the department’s dive team successfully pulled her out unscathed.

e pond has an aeration system, and re ghters surmise that the elk wanted to drink some water. She walked out onto some thin ice and fell through.

“We’re skilled at this,” said EFR spokeswoman Stacee Martin. “ is is not our rst wild-animal rescue. We have rescued deer and elk before.”

Fire ghters Doug Matheny and Chris Pace donned water rescue suits and cut a channel through the ice so the elk could move as close to the shore as possible. But the elk was tired and cold, so she needed help getting out.

Matheny and Pace grabbed her front legs and dragged her onto the ice. After a few minutes, she got up and turned to look at the re ghters, seemingly thanking them before wandering o .

“ is is one of those situations where everyone is happy that we rescued the elk, but with a wild animal, you never know what will happen,” Martin said.

Martin called Matheny the department’s animal-rescue hero since he rescued a deer who fell into Evergreen Lake and helped rescue a sleeping bear from under a deck in downtown Evergreen.

She said anyone who sees an animal, whether wild or domestic, fall through the ice should call 911 and leave the rescue to the professionals, who are trained and skilled in icewater rescues.

“We are on that edge where the ice is going to get thinner and thinner,” she said. “Please don’t try to rescue the animal yourself. Call us. We are glad to come out.” others brought candy rings, and some just exchanged promises and kisses with their partner. rst season working at Loveland, and her rst time taking part in putting together the wedding.

Couples said “I do” and shared a special moment together on the mountain.

I DO“John taught me to telemark ski on our rst date,” Lena said. (Telemark skiing is a technique that uses toe-only bindings and combines elements of Alpine and Nordic skiing.)

After sta at Loveland facilitated a dance party with all the couples in Forest Meadow, the short and sweet ceremony was carried out. Some couples brought rings,

After the 75 couples said “I do” and sealed their love with a kiss, they donned their skis and boards and took to the mountain. An aprés ski party was waiting at the base of the mountain for the newlyweds and re-newlyweds.

At the party, sta at Loveland made individual wedding cakes for all the couples and had treats and sparkling cider to snack on.

Daisy Warner works at the deli and bakery at Loveland. is is her e best-dressed couple was Barbie and Ken Leach, a popular couple all day. Barbie had donned her original wedding dress from 50 years ago, made for her by her mother. Ken had on a blazer, and the duo had matching red ower lapels. e Leach couple won a honeymoon getaway in Georgetown, with a stay at Rose Street Bed and Breakfast and dinner at Coopers on the Creek, and their surprise and elation at the win was enough to warm the chilliest air on the mountain.

Warner worked with a team to prepare the wedding cakes and treats for the special day.

“Each piece is like its own work of art, she has spent hours getting everything ready for today and a lot of love goes into it,” Warner said of her coworker who did the baking.

After enjoying some treats and music, the couples lined up and showed o their wedding day outts, with applause deciding who was best dressed.