Dr. Steve Portenga
Clear, Concise, Comprehensive
Civil Capacity Evaluations
Clear, Concise, Comprehensive Civil Capacity Evaluations
Dr. Steve Portenga is a Licensed Psychologist (CO) with experience in forensic and neuropsychology.
Throughout his career he has focused his work on the neuropsychological aspects of human performance and functioning. His interests have ranged from optimal human performance under pressure to performance deficits in independent decision making.
He has conducted over 2,000 psychological assessments that include questions related to capacity.
Dr. Portenga has provided forensic assessments and expert testimony for courts in Colorado. His areas of practice and expertise center on the assessment of Civil Competencies, such as in the following areas:
- Diminished capacity indicating the need for
- Conservatorship
- Guardianship
- Current and retrospective assessment of specific capacities
- Testamentary Capacity
- Capacity to Contract
- Donative Capacity
- Capacity to Convey Real Property
- Capacity to Consent to Medical Care
- Undue Influence
Retrospective Assessment
When evaluating Retrospective Capacity of a client, expertise in interpreting relevant data from different sources is essential. This includes evidentiary sources such as direct testimony from witnesses who had first-hand experience with the client, the client’s medical records, relevant documentation from the time of the execution of the will, and the nature of the will itself. Retrospective capacity evaluation requires a careful analysis of relationship patterns between the testator and influential others. This involves detailed interviews with individuals whom the testator interacted with, as the relevant relationship history may not be present in the medical records.
Written Reports
The written report may often be a key piece of evidence on which the judge will rely in making a decision about a client’s capacity.
When writing reports, Dr. Portenga takes a thorough and detailed approach to reviewing records, looking for the important, but often overlooked, data that can make or break a conclusion. He has written reports that lead opposing counsel to settle before going to trial.
As part of academic career, he was asked to contribute to journal articles and book chapters due to his skill as a writer. He knows how to balance being thorough in supporting an argument, while also valuing brevity. He is especially skilled in presenting complex concepts in clear and accessible language that non-professionals can understand.