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Denver Elder Law Lawyer
Overview
During law school, Marco D. Chayet’s grandmother, Letty Milstein, was the principal party in one of the most controversial and public elder law cases in the state of Colorado. Estate of Milstein v. Ayers, 955 P.2d 78 (Colo. App. 1998), is a landmark probate case that upholds and protects the right to counsel and due process of incapacitated adults in Colorado and has been codified into the Colorado Uniform Protective Proceedings Act. This experience was the impetus for Mr. Chayet’s career-long practice commitment to the fields of elder law, special needs law, fiduciary law and probate litigation.
Mr. Chayet is the founder and managing partner of Chayet & Danzo, LLC. and ColoradoElderLaw.com. Mr. Chayet is also the Public Administrator of the 18th Judicial District, serving as a fiduciary for the counties of Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln. Mr. Chayet is the past chairman of the Elder Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association and the current Elder Law Section delegate to the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors. Mr. Chayet is a 2020-2021 Colorado Super Lawyer in Elder Law, a 2020 and 2021 Top 100 Super Lawyer in Colorado, Law Week Colorado’s 2020 and 2017 Barristers Best Trusts/Estates lawyer and is a dual award winner by 5280 Magazine as both a top elder law attorney and probate litigator for 2021.
Mr. Chayet’s experience in his areas of practice have been demonstrated through frequent CLE lectures in Colorado and around the country and publishing, including his book, “How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs – Colorado Edition,” and the chapter on “Estate Planning for the Child with Special Needs” in the 4th Edition of Elder Law in Colorado by CBA-CLE.
In 2017 Colorado Governor (now Senator) John Hickenlooper appointed Mr. Chayet as the gubernatorial attorney Commissioner for the Colorado Office of Public Guardian. Mr. Chayet is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Colorado School of Law and teaches Elder Law. Mr. Chayet is a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, where the Academy asked Mr. Chayet to serve on various committees as well as serving as the president of the Colorado Chapter of NAELA. Mr. Chayet continues to be an active member of the Colorado Bar Association assisting with drafting various rules and statutes for Colorado probate practice as well as being a Colorado Supreme Court appointee to the Attorney Disciplinary Hearing Board.
Mr. Chayet, born and raised in Denver, Colorado, is continuing in the footsteps of his family in assisting the philanthropic and civic community of Colorado by serving as the first Board Chair of The NextFifty Initiative, a $200million dollar foundation funded in 2016 that will fund grants for aging issues as well as having served on the board and committees of many not-for-profit organizations, including the Rose Community Foundation, Innovage Foundation, Jewish Family Services, Allied Jewish Apartments, Jewish Senior Recreation Network, the Foundation for Hope, and the Life Source Services Hospice.
Mr. Chayet received his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law. Mr. Chayet’s undergraduate training was at the University of California at Berkeley and at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he received his Bachelor of Arts.
About Marco D. Chayet
Current Employment Position(s)
- Managing Partner
Practice Areas
- Elder Law
- Special Needs Trusts
- Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security & Veterans Benefits
- Wills, Powers of Attorney & Trusts
- Guardianship & Conservatorships
- Estate Planning
- Types of Trusts
- Asset Protection Planning
- Charitable Planning
- Legacy Planning
- Special Needs & Disability Planning for Adults and Children
- Disability & Special Needs Planning
- The Use of Trusts in Disability Planning
- Understanding Your Private Insurance
- Probate Law & Probate Litigation
- Estate & Trust Administration
- Probate Litigation
- Representation of Fiduciaries
- Consulting Counsel to Personal Injury and Workers Compensation Cases
- Will Contest
- Real Estate Transactions
- Business Planning
- Consumer Advocacy
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Colorado
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- 6th Congressional District Commissioner for the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, Appointed by: Governor Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser and Justice Brian Boatright, 2021-2026
- Appointed by Governor Hickenlooper Commissioner of Colorado Office of Public Guardian, 2017-2023
- Colorado Supreme Court Disciplinary Hearing Board appointee, 2012-2025
- Elder Law Section Representative to Board of Governors, Colorado Bar Association, 2014-2024
- Chairman of the Elder Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association, 2008 - 2010
- Drafter/Committee Member: Post Adjudication Right to Counsel Statute, Probate Rule 16/63 revision, Compensation and Cost Recovery Act C.R.S.15-10-601 et.seq., Colorado Bar Association
- Chairman of Guardianship and Conservatorship Standards Committee, Colorado Bar Association, 2006-2008
- Elder Law Section Executive Council Member, 2011-2024
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association - Eagle Member, CTLA Chair for CBA G.A.L. Committee, 2015-2017
- Academy of Special Need Planners - Charter Member
- American Bar Association, Past Chair Surrogate Decision Making Committee
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Membership Committee, Practice Development Committee, Good and Welfare Committee
- Colorado Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – Current President
Classes and Seminars
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program, Practical Skills of Estate Planning 2023
- Featured Speaker, 18th Judicial District Senior Law Day, Powers of Attorney, Conservatorships, Guardianships and Fiduciary Issues, 2018, 2022
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Domestic Relations and Probate Judicial Best Practices Institute, Capacity and Interstate Jurisdiction Issues: When Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Divorce Cross State Lines, 2019
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association Estate Planning Retreat, Back to the Basics For The Courtroom, 2019
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Tips To Remember When Seeking Probate Court Approval of Your Settlement, 2018
- Featured Speaker, National Guardianship Association annual conference, Atypical Fiduciary Distributions, 2017
- Featured Speaker and Chair, Colorado Bar Association, “Elder Law in Colorado” seminar, 2017-2020
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Adult Protection Services - Annual Conference 2015, Professional and Legal Resources and Documentation Available to Assist APS in Investigations
- Featured Speaker, American Association of Daily Money Managers-Key Note Annual Meeting, Providing Fiduciary Services: Practical Guidelines for DMMs and How to Work with Attorneys, 2014
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association Real Estate Section, Real Estate Hot Topics in Elder Law, 2013
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Senior Law Day. 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association Estate Planning Retreat, Legal Representation of Fiduciaries-Are you Prepared for the Scrutiny?, 2009
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Program Chair and Moderator, Conservatorship and Guardianship Law 2008, 2009
- Featured Speaker and Chair, Colorado Bar Association, “Elder Law Basic Skills” seminar. 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Program Chair, Speaker and/or Moderator, Advanced Elder Law Retreat 2009, 2010,2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
- Featured Speaker, American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust & Estate Section, Contested and Interstate Guardianship Proceedings 2011, Annual Meeting Washington D.C.
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Elder Law and Probate For the Family Law Attorney, 2009
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, CLE, Advanced Elder Law Institute. 2010 Advanced Family Law Issues in Elderly Dissolutions
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Elder Law Update: Understanding the New Acceptance of Office for Conservators and Guardians, Co-presenter with Magistrate Michael Gallegos, 2006
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Hanging Your Shingle Seminar, 2004-2013
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Representing the Conservator or Guardian Client After Appointment, 2005
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Elder Abuse: Financial Exploitation: A Case Study; Road Blocks; Crawford; Civil and Criminal Remedies, Joint presentation with Ranae Johnson and Joseph M. Morales, 2005
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Elder Law Ethics, 2005
- Featured Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, Fundamentals of Conservatorships and Guardianships, 2004
- Featured Speaker, Guardianship Alliance of Colorado, Colorado Conservatorship and Guardianship Law, November 2003
- Featured Television Guest and Speaker, Senior Survival Television Show, Elder Law Issues, 2002, 2003, 2004
- Featured Speaker, CLE International, Elder Law: Helping Your Clients Deal with the Legal, Financial and Emotional Challenges of Aging, 2001
- Featured Speaker, University of Denver Elder Law Institute for Advanced Legal Studies 2001, 2000, 1999
Pro Bono Activities
- Trustee and Appointed First Chairman of The Next Fifty Initiative, 2016-2026 - $200 million foundation serving aging issues nationwide, funded by the sale of InnovAge in 2016
- Trustee of the Helen G. Bonfils Foundation, 2024
- University of Colorado School of Law Alumni Board Trustee, 2021-2025
- Denver Probate Court Volunteer Attorney for Pro Se office
- Metro Volunteer Lawyers
- Rose Community Foundation - Member Committee on Aging (past)
- Guardianship Alliance of Colorado - Board of Advisory Directors
- Innovage (formerly Total Community Options) Foundation - Board of Directors (Past)
- Jewish Family Services, Board of Governance
- Allied Jewish Apartments - Board of Directors (past)
- Colorado Citizens for Accountability - Board of Directors (past)
- The Foundation For Hope - Board of Directors (past)
- Jewish Senior Recreation Network - Board of Directors (past)
- Life Source Services Hospice - Board of Directors (past)
- Campaign For Colorado Law’s Future 2011-2016 – Committee Member raising $40 Million for CU Law
- Endowed first Elder Law scholarship at the University of Colorado School of Law in 2011
- 18th Judicial District Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney appointee for Adult and Minor Probate cases
- 1st Judicial District Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney appointee for Adult and Minor Probate cases
- Denver Probate Court Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney appointee for Adult and Minor Probate cases
- Guardian Ad Litem appointments, Special Conservator and expert work in Domestic Relations cases under In re Marriage of Sorenson, 166 P.3d 245 (Colo. App. 2007) and for long term care issues
- Guardian Ad Litem appointment in United States District Court, District of Colorado
- Office of Child Representative appointed Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem for probate cases
Past Positions
- Chayet & Danzo, LLC Denver, Colorado with offices in Vail, Colorado and Aspen Colorado, Managing Partner. February 2002 - Present
- Adjunct Professor of Law in Elder Law, University of Colorado School of Law, 2015 - Present
- Public Administrator for the 18th Judicial District (18JDPA, LLC)
- Law Offices of S.G.H., P.C., Denver, Colorado, Associate Counsel. October 1998 - February 2002
Education
- University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, 1997
J.D - University of Colorado at Boulder, 1994
B.A. Political Science - University of California at Berkeley, 1989-1990
- Army and Navy Academy, Carlsbad, California, 1989
- Graland Country Day School, Denver, Colorado
Fees
Accepts Credit Cards
Articles
Published Works
- Colorado Handbook of Elder Law, Fourth Ed. - Chapter on Special Needs Planning (CLE in Colo., Inc., 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022).
- How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets - Phylius Press, Colorado Edition, (2013-2024).
- Resolving a Medicaid Claim in a Decedent’s Probate Estate - The Colorado Lawyer, Feb. 2008, Vol. 37, No. 2. (2008).
- CPA’S Guide to Long Term Care Planning - Colorado Chapter, AICPA , Inc. (2008)
- Preserving Your Wealth: Long Term Care and Medicaid Planning in Colorado - Bradford Publishing of Colorado (2003) and (2013 First Western Trust Publication)
- Defects, Due Process, and Protective Proceedings: Are Our Probate Codes Unconstitutional?, American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, Vol. 33 (1998). (Haines) - Research, writing and citation assistance
- Issues for the Elderly Client, Part I and Part II-Estate and Healthcare Planning, The Colorado Lawyer, Sept. 2000, Vol. 29, No. 9. (2000) and Mar. 2001, Vol. 30, No. 3. (2001). (Haines) - Research, writing and citation assistance
Office Information
Address
650 S.Cherry St.Suite 710 Denver, CO 80246
Phone
Fax
- 303-355-8501
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Marco D. Chayet
Included on the 2025 Colorado Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Colorado Super Lawyers list
Honors
- John J. Campbell Award for Outstanding Contribution to The Practice of Elder Law in Colorado, 2023
- 5280 Denver Magazine Top Lawyer in Elder Law, 2015-2024
- 5280 Denver Magazine Top Lawyer in Probate Litigation, 2018-2024
- Barrister’s Best Trust and Estate Attorney Law Week Colorado 2017, 2020
- Barrister’s Best (People’s Choice) Trust and Estate Attorney Law Week Colorado, 2014
- Top 100 Colorado Super Lawyers, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Included in the list of Colorado Super Lawyers, Elder Law, 2012-2024
- Included in the list of Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star, Elder Law, 2009-2011
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