About Kristen McLaughlin
Kristen McLaughlin Tarrin took a nontraditional route into law. She earned a B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1991. Years later she returned to school and completed both a J.D. and an LL.M. at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2006. Those degrees set the stage for a career that has combined courtroom work with investigative assignments for family courts.
After law school she joined a private firm, working as an attorney at Pitler and Associates in 2007. That early period gave her exposure to litigation and client counseling. She later expanded the scope of her work to include child and family investigation, a role that requires both legal knowledge and investigative skill. She is admitted to practice in Colorado and Utah.
McLaughlin Tarrin is a court-certified Certified Family Investigator through Colorado Court Services. In that capacity she conducts factual inquiries for family court proceedings, interviews parties and third parties, and prepares written reports for judicial consideration. The investigator role is distinct from litigation. It emphasizes neutral fact-finding and clear reporting to assist judges in custody and parenting-time decisions.
In 2021 she established McLaughlin Tarrin Law LLC. The firm name appears on court filings and professional listings as the vehicle for her combined attorney and investigator work. At the same time she has continued to accept assignments as a Child and Family Investigator. Balancing both hats requires careful attention to ethical rules that separate advocacy from neutral investigation.
Outside of practice she has taken on responsibilities in local bar organizations. She serves as Vice President of the Continental Divide Bar Association and as Treasurer of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, Mountain Chapter. Those leadership roles involve organizing events, supporting member activities, and representing smaller bar groups within the region.
Clients and courts see her work as practical and detail-oriented. She draws on a background in humanities and law to frame factual narratives for judicial review. Her portfolio ranges from client representation in family law matters to court-ordered investigative assignments. She practices at McLaughlin Tarrin Law LLC, handling family law matters and serving as a court-certified child and family investigator.
