Kris A. Zumalt, Esq., has 20 years of litigation and advocacy experience spending the greater portion of her career handling elder law and probate litigation matters. Ms. Zumalt’s early litigation and trial experience includes serving as a prosecutor seeking justice for victims of elder abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and financial exploitation and theft.

More recently, Ms. Zumalt’s litigation experience includes serving as an associate or partner with Colorado probate and elder law firms, and as the founder of her own solo elder law and probate practice. Ms. Zumalt has represented individuals privately and as a court-appointed attorney or guardian ad litem at the request of the court in elder law, probate, mental health, and criminal defense cases.

Recognizing the time, cost, emotional strain and uncertainty of litigation, Ms. Zumalt routinely explored opportunities for negotiation and settlement in her clients’ cases. As a probate litigator, Ms. Zumalt has unique insight into the emotionally charged nature of litigation and how mediation can be used to efficiently and effectively resolve these matters. Ms. Zumalt now turns that same diligent preparation and patience she used guiding her clients as a litigator to assisting the parties in the mediation process.

Ms. Zumalt is the past chair of the Colorado Bar Association Elder Law Section and actively serves on the Elder Law Section’s Executive Council. Ms. Zumalt has presented on a number of topics of interest to elder law and probate practitioners for the Colorado Bar Association and at the Elder Law Section’s annual retreat. Ms. Zumalt also has given presentations to assist senior citizens and their families at community out-reach programs.

Along with other Elder Law Section members, Ms. Zumalt regularly reviews and evaluates proposed legislation affecting elder law and probate practitioners and the various clients they serve. She has testified before the Colorado General Assembly regarding various new bills affecting disabled and elder persons and the fiduciaries who serve those communities. Ms. Zumalt has also contributed to the drafting of significant amendments to improve proposed legislation that became new law.

The foregoing clearly shows Ms. Zumalt’s commitment, focus and dedication to elder law, trusts and estates, and probate issues, and the various individuals affected by these issues.

Representative Matters

• Contested conservatorships and guardianships (ages infant to 97)
• Breach of fiduciary duty by trustees, personal representatives, conservators, guardians, and agents under powers of attorney
• Creditor claims in estate and trust administration
• Will contests
• CAPS appeals for individuals and professional fiduciaries substantiated by Adult Protective Services as a perpetrator of mistreatment of an at-risk adult.

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Fellow, Colorado Bar Foundation
• Member, Executive Council, Elder Law Section, Colorado Bar Association
• Past Chair, Elder Law Section, Colorado Bar Association, 2021-2022
• Past Legislative Policy Committee Liaison, Elder Law Section, Colorado Bar Association, 2019-2021
• Member, Colorado Bar Association, Elder Law, Trust and Estates, and Criminal Law Sections
• Member, 1st Judicial District Bar Association
• Section Editor, Probate Bench Book
• Speaker, “CAPS Reporting: Introduction to Regulations and Implications for Professional Fiduciaries,” Colorado Guardianship Association, 2022
• Speaker, “Navigating the Appeal of an APS Substantiated Finding of Mistreatment of an At-Risk Adult (A.K.A. CAPS Appeal),” Colorado Bar Association, 2021
• Panelist, “APS 201: Substantiated Findings of Mistreatment in the CAPS System and Potential Impacts in Guardianship and Conservatorship Proceedings,” 13th Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Elder Law Retreat, 2021
• Co-Presenter, “I’m a Beneficiary: What Do I Need to Know?” Jefferson County Senior Law Day, 2019
• Co-Presenter, “What to Do When Someone Dies: The First Few Days,” Jefferson County Senior Law Day, 2016, 2017; Denver Senior Law Day, 2016, 2017, 2019; Jefferson County TRIAD, 2016; and Applewood Valley United Methodist Church, 2018.
• Co-Presenter, “Criminal Issues in Elder Law – In Search of Good Solutions: Beyond Guilty and Not Guilty,” 8th Annual Elder Law Retreat, 2016
• Co-Presenter, “Domestic Violence and the Elderly,” Colorado Bar Association, 2016
• Recognition of Dedication and Service, Office of the District Attorney, First Judicial District, 2013
• American Jurisprudence Award in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Criminal Trial Practice, and Evidence, 1999-2000

Background and Education

• Private Law Practice, 14 years
  • 9 years in elder law, probate litigation, trust and estate administration, and estate planning
• Deputy District Attorney, First Judicial District, Colorado, 6 years
  • Including the prosecution of care takers for felony level elder abuse and neglect, financial exploitation, and theft.
• Law Clerk for the Honorable Henry A. Politz, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2001-2002
• J.D., University of Denver College of Law, Order of St. Ives, 2001
  • Editor-in-Chief, Water Law Review
• M.S., Environmental Science and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1996
• M.S., Computer Science, University of Central Florida, magna cum laude, 1988