M. Paula Ashen

M. Paula Ashen is a Denver family law attorney and the managing partner of Ashen Family Law. Divorce, legal separation and disputes over financial and business assets are part of her practice, as are interstate custody cases and grandparent rights.

Her work with children includes an earlier role as a Special Advocate and appointments as a Child and Family Investigator (CFI), a role she took on in 2018. She has received CFI appointments in Denver, Adams and Jefferson counties. In that capacity, Ashen investigates and makes recommendations to the court concerning minor children’s best interests. Her work has included cases involving alleged abuse or neglect, non-verbal autistic children and special education issues.

Ashen also takes on two distinct roles in parenting disputes. As a parenting coordinator, she helps parents address the implementation of court-ordered parenting plans; as a decision-maker, she has authority to issue binding decisions on specific disagreements, including school choice and parenting time.

Divorce and custody mediation form another part of her work. She offers sessions both before permanent orders and in post-decree matters, with private mediation and ODR-rate mediation available for qualifying cases. Parties can meet with her in person or by Zoom.

A Cherry Creek High School graduate, Ashen grew up in the Denver metropolitan area. Her college education took her to Waukesha, Wisconsin, for an undergraduate degree at Carroll College. She subsequently earned her law degree at St. Louis University School of Law.