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Colby Merlound Lessmann

Colby Merlound Lessmann

Attorney at Law
  • Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law ...
  • Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota
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Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Biography

Attorney Colby M. Lessmann was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, and is a graduate of Sioux City North High School. Colby graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Business (B.S., 1996) and School of Law (J.D., 1999). During his law school education, he published a casenote in the South Dakota Law Review (1998) and was both the Managing Editor and the Production Editor for Volume 44 of the South Dakota Law Review (1998-1999). After graduating from Law School, Colby clerked for Justice Robert Amundson of the South Dakota Supreme Court in Pierre, South Dakota. In August 2000, upon completion of his clerkship, Colby returned to practice law in Sioux City, Iowa, where he practices in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota in the areas of General Litigation, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Landlord Tenant Law, Collections, and Personal Injury, including but not limited to, car accidents, wrongful death, slips and falls, and dog bites.

Colby is a member of the State Bar Associations for Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He is a member of the Probate Section for the Iowa Bar Association, the Woodbury County (Iowa) and Dakota County (Nebraska) Bar Associations, as well as a member of the Iowa Trust and Estate Council and the Iowa Association for Justice (formerly Iowa Trial Lawyers Association). He is also licensed to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Iowa, the District of Nebraska, the District of South Dakota, the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Supreme Court.

Education
University of South Dakota School of Law
J.D. (1999)
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University of South Dakota School of Law Logo
University of South Dakota
B.S. (1996) | Business Administration
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Professional Experience
Managing Partner
Tigges, Bottaro, & Lessmann, LLP
- Current
Managing Partner
Vriezelaar, Tigges, Edgington, Bottaro, Boden & Lessmann, L.L.P.
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Associate
Munger, Reinschmidt, & Denne, L.L.P.
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Clerk
South Dakota Supreme Court
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Challenging a Will aka Will Contest
Firm bLAWg
Common Estate Planning Questions
Firm bLAWg
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples and Common Law Spouses
Firm bLAWg
Third Party Bad Faith Refusals to Settle in Nielsen v. Boos
South Dakota Law Review
Speaking Engagements
Iowa Middle School Mock Trials, Tournament, Sioux City, IA
Iowa State Bar Association
Mock trial is designed to introduce students to our legal system by providing a challenging, academic competition. The program offers students an opportunity for personal growth and achievement, emphasizing the importance of research, presentation and teamwork.
Guardianship/Conservatorship Update: New Procedural Hurdles to Settling Cases For Minors and Incapacitated Clients, IAJ Personal Injury Seminar
Iowa Association for Justice (formerly Iowa Trial Lawyers Association)
New Procedural Hurdles to Settling Personal Injury Cases For Minors and Incapacitated Clients
Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts & Wills, Siouxland Center for Aging, Sioux City, Iowa
Elective Share in Iowa, Iowa State Bar Association Annual Meeting, Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa State Bar Association
Lessons Learned in Efiling In Iowa, Iowa Association for Justice Annual Meeting, Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa State Bar Association
Certifications
Accredited Estate Planner
National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
Awards
Best Lawyer in America for Trusts and Estates
BEST LAWYERS
Clients' Choice Award
Avvo
AV Preeminent
Matindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
Best Lawyers
Best Law Firms – Trusts & Estates Law (Metropolitan Tier 2)
Best Lawyers
AV Preeminent
Martindale-Hubbell
Clients' Choice Award
Avvo
Best Law Firms – Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs (Metropolitan Tier 2)
Best Lawyers
Top-Listed City Awards (Total Lawyers in Sioux City: 5 lawyers)
Best Lawyers
Client Champion - Gold
Martindale-Hubbell
Best Law Firm - Trusts & Estates Law (Metropolitan Tier 2)
Best Lawyers
Top-Listed City Awards (Total Lawyers in Sioux City: 4 lawyers)
Best Lawyers
AV Preeminent
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. https://www.martindale.com/ratings-and-reviews/
Best Law Firm - Trusts & Estates Law (Metropolitan Tier 3)
Best Lawyers
Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) Designation
National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
Best Law Firm - Trusts & Estates Law (Metropolitan Tier 3)
Best Lawyers
Client Champion - Silver
Martindale-Hubbell
Distinguished Attorney
Martindale-Hubbell
Clients' Choice Award
Avvo
Professional Associations
Nebraska State Bar  # 22298
Member
Current
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Iowa State Bar
Member
Current
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South Dakota State Bar
Member
Current
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Iowa Trust & Estate Council
Member
Current
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Iowa Association for Justice (formerly Iowa Trial Lawyers Association)
Member
Current
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Iowa State Bar Association - Probate Section Committee
Member
Current
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Woodbury County, Iowa Bar Association
Member
Current
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Siouxland Estate Planning Counsel
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Iowa
Supreme Court of Iowa
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Nebraska
Nebraska State Bar Association
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South Dakota
State Bar of South Dakota
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8th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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United States Court of Federal Claims
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United States District Court - Nebraska
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United States District Court - Northern District of Iowa
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United States District Court - South Dakota
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Contingent Fees
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Probate
Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Elder Law
Landlord Tenant
Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Landlord Rights, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights
Collections
Personal Injury
Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Real Estate Law
Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
Additional Practice Areas
  • General Litigation
  • Guardianship/Conservatorship
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Websites & Blogs
Website
Blog
bLAWg
Contact & Map
Tigges, Bottaro & Lessmann, LLP
613 Pierce Street
Sioux City, IA 51101
Telephone: (712) 252-3226
Fax: (712) 252-4873
Monday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed