The Law Office of Darci Gerdes – Gerdes of Counsel, PLLC

Darci Gerdes | Attorney and Counselor at Law

About twelve years ago, my husband and I decided we wanted to raise our children outside the hustle and bustle of Orange County. Our move to Windsor, Colorado has been everything we hoped it would be: we love our community, schools, church and friends. However, as a mom of four, with children who now range in age from 9 to 17 years old, I had to find an opportunity that afforded me flexibility. For several years, I have worked “Of Counsel” for California firms and in 2017 finally decided to license in Colorado so that I could serve my community and work locally. I now have the ability to be active in my community, my church and in my home. I do return to California a few days a month for those clients who desire face to face interaction.

I have over fourteen (14) years of experience working primarily in the estate planning and trust administration areas of the law. I enjoy working with families to create a perfectly customized plan for their particular situation. I enjoy asset protection and business planning as well. I believe in the saying (paraphrase from Benjamin Franklin) “failure to plan is planning to fail.”

I earned my Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law, now known as Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law. I earned this degree as well as a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution while working and attending night school part time. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University) while doing a major portion of coursework for my degree in Communication from California State University, Fullerton.

Sandy Ramlo | Attorney

Sandy Ramlo has lived in six states throughout her life, meeting and working with a diverse group of people. This experience has allowed her to have a variety of life and work experiences that has shaped the way she helps her clients achieve their goals.

Starting her journey in Minnesota, Sandy was born and raised in the small, rural town of Truman. After graduating high school, she attended college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. She received a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and minoring in Journalism. She had several pieces published in the Oakwood literary magazine. She had a passion for writing and helping others develop their writing skills, so she stayed at SDSU and obtained a Master of Arts degree, focusing on American literature. While working on her degree, she taught English composition courses and worked in the Writing Center. She continued to teach English composition at all levels as an English Instructor after graduation.

She later moved to Nebraska, teaching composition, literature, and journalism classes at Mid-Plains Community College in McCook, NE before getting married and moving to California with her husband Daniel. There, she continued to teach online classes for Mid-Plains before teaching for the University of Phoenix.

Daniel and Sandy moved again to Greeley, Colorado. Deciding to finally pursue her other goal of becoming an attorney, she attended The University of Denver Sturm College of Law only four months after the birth of her son. She kept busy using her writing skills to help clients in the Civil Litigation Clinic, as a staff editor for the University of Denver Criminal Law Review, and loving on her little boy.

After graduating and passing the bar, she worked as a criminal defense attorney and a dependency and neglect attorney in Greeley and had a baby girl. When Sandy moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, she knew her passion was in estate planning and probate—helping clients achieve their goals and navigate the court process. She met Darci and began working for The Law Office of Darci Gerdes.

Sandy has again moved. She now lives in Michigan but continues to work remotely for The Law Office of Darci Gerdes. “I find Darci to be such an intelligent, insightful, and kind person who has been blessed with the ability to utilize those gifts in her work and interactions with clients. I truly enjoy working with her.”

Sandy is currently a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.

Amy Coxhead | Attorney

Amy is a Chicago native and graduate of the University of Illinois and the University of Miami School of Law. Juvenile advocacy became a passion for Amy through her involvement in the Junior League of Boca Raton and working as a juvenile attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. Having been a lawyer for 30 years and spending the last two years practicing Immigration Law, Amy is enjoying her newest endeavor at the Law Office of Darci Gerdes helping clients create goals and objectives for their family assets and future plans.

Amy and her husband, Peter, have raised four kids while living in south Florida, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Northern Colorado. Amy loves walking her dogs, yoga, golf, paddle boarding, cooking and entertaining, needlepoint, reading, Bible study with friends, playing cards after dinner, and all the beach and ski days with her family.

Makenli Cleek| Director of Operations| Paralegal

Makenli joined our team in September 2021 and moved to Loveland from the Hoosier State of Indiana. She graduated in May of 2021 with her Bachelor’s in Legal Studies and Communication with a minor in Civic leadership with Honors from Indiana State University. She was heavily involved in her sorority Chi Omega, Student Government Association, and Phi Alpha Delta, law fraternity. Makenli is married to her high school sweetheart. She enjoys hiking, going to the movies, enjoying a good book, listening to Taylor Swift, and watching baseball or hockey. (GO AVS GO). Makenli keeps the office laughing with her good spirts.

Nisha Martinez | Legal Assistant

Nisha is a Colorado Native, born and raised in Windsor. Following graduation, she moved to Fort Collins where she has worked full time in customer the service field, and more specifically, spent the last fourteen years in a supervisor position of a medical office. Three years after moving to Fort Collins, Nisha began her family. She is excited to join us in her new position as a Legal Assistant within our office! When she is out of the office she is generally spending time with her daughter-helping her navigate her last year of middle school-or chatting on the phone with her son who is currently stationed far from home, serving in the United States Army. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family as much as possible, attending church and small groups, shopping and serving others.

Stephanie Wright | Paralegal

Stephanie was born and raised in Colorado. She graduated last June with her associate degree in Legal Support and Services. She is married and has three very active boys. Stephanie and her family enjoy hiking, camping, dirt biking and anything outdoors. She is very excited to pursue a career in the legal field and continue learning!

Bryce joined the team in May of 2022. She has lived in Colorado with her family since she was eight years old. Bryce has wanted to be an attorney since the 9th grade when she read To Kill a Mockingbird, so she was honored that Darci chose to hire her this year, as she prepares for law school. Bryce graduated with honors from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona in April of 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government with an emphasis in Legal Studies and a minor in Psychology. There, she was involved in student leadership as a resident assistant and as a student body vice president candidate. When Bryce moved home, she reached out to Darci and the rest is history. Bryce also coaches high school volleyball, which she thoroughly enjoys. She loves going to church, staying active, and spending time with friends and family.

Estate Planning

Probate

Trust Administration

Business Planning