Family Law

• Divorce
  Sara M. Cates is a Partner/Member at Bloch & Chapleau, Cates, Ongert, LLC, and has been at the firm for over 13 years.  Sara Cates practices exclusively in divorce and family law cases. Mrs. Cates manages complex and high-asset divorce cases from intake through trial. Her experience allows her to identify key issues and recognize potential errors of law that may need to be resolved at the appellate level. Mrs. Cates’ knowledge of every step of her cases gives her an advantage when arguing flawed judgments to an appellate court. Her experience with complex divorce cases allows her to masterfully argue issues prone to trial court error. Mrs. Cates’ skills, attention to detail, and expertise make her the ideal representative for your divorce appeal.
• Child Support
  Top-Rated Child Support Lawyers Representing Parents in the Denver Metro Area, Vail Valley and throughout Eagle and Summit Counties
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Experienced Child Custody Attorneys Representing Parents in Child Custody and Child Time Sharing Disputes in Colorado, including Denver, Vail Valley, and throughout Eagle and Summit Counties
• Paternity
• Premarital Agreement
• Spousal Support
  When it comes to divorce and other family law legal proceedings in Denver, men have traditionally been at a disadvantage. Because the man of the home was typically seen as the “breadwinner†and primary wage earner of the family, it was easy for courts to order the man to pay spousal support to his or her spouse after the divorce. Because men were traditionally considered to spend most of the day working outside the home, courts believed that a child’s mother was a more suitable parent. These outdated stereotypes have been disproven. But courts still often enter orders in family law cases as if these stereotypes were still valid. The Colorado family law attorneys at Bloch & Chapleau LLC are here to assist divorcing men in Colorado. We want to help you receive justice and fair and equitable treatment from the courts in Colorado.
• Child Abuse
  Domestic violence charges often include assault, menacing/making threats, criminal mischief/damaging property, stalking, harassment, restraining order/ protection order violations, and even child abuse.   In fact, simply making multiple, unwanted telephone calls or sending multiple, unwanted texts to the alleged victim may be sufficient to support a charge of harassment or domestic violence.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  The criminal defense attorneys at Bloch & Chapleau have years of experience defending those accused of such crimes. Call Bloch & Chapleau today if you have been charged with a violent crime because you need an attorney to protect your rights.
• DUI/DWI
  A DUID will be charged if there is evidence that you are driving under the influence, or your ability to drive is impaired, due to the use of any drug.  Unlike a DUI/DWAI charge, there is not a set limit that makes you automatically guilty of DUID.  However, a drug test result of 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter gives rise to a presumption of impairment. You then must rebut by presenting evidence that you were not in fact impaired, despite the drug test result.
• Wrongful Death
  Compassionate Wrongful Death Lawyers Handling Claims throughout Colorado, including the Denver Metro Area, Vail Valley, and Eagle and Summit Counties
• Traffic Violations
• Sex Crimes
  A felony is any crime that can result in a significant prison sentence. Any felony conviction can have a life-changing impact if convicted. Sentences can range from years in prison, years or months in a halfway house, or time on probation. All of these can result in substantial restraints on your freedom, from prison time, work release, having your income managed and controlled by someone else, and curfews enforced by ankle bracelets. This type of conviction will damage your ability to obtain a job for years to come. Felonies include murder, serious assaults, vehicular homicides, theft, computer crimes, and crimes involving sexual assault.
• Robbery
  Violent crimes include murder, assault, battery, robbery, vehicular assault, and harassment. Depending on the severity of the allegations, these crimes can range in severity from misdemeanors to the most serious of felonies. The penalty for a conviction for a violent crime will depend on the severity of the allegations, the severity of the injuries, whether the alleged victim was “at risk†or a member of a protected class, whether the situation was aggravated by use of a weapon, and whether the accused was on parole, probation, or had a previous record.
• White Collar Crimes
  The serious nature of white collar crimes means that you have to act quickly to hire an attorney to defend you against these charges.  Thus, you need the experienced criminal litigators at Bloch & Chapleau to protect your rights.
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Municipal offenses can result in up to one year in jail or a $999 fine. However, along with these maximum penalties, municipal offenses can carry similar consequences to a misdemeanor, with mandatory treatment/classes and very strict terms of probation.
• Embezzlement
  White collar crimes typically include embezzlement, computer crime, theft, and tax evasion.  These charges often have additional collateral consequences in the community, irreparably damaging your reputation and ability to earn a living.  Although they are usually non-violent crimes, white collar crimes can still result in the same harsh consequences as violent crimes.  White collar crimes are often charged as federal crimes, which often have much more severe penalties than crimes charged at the state level.
• Drug Crimes
  Typically, the severity of drug crime charges and the resulting penalties upon conviction depend on the quantity and type of drugs allegedly found, whether any weapons were involved, and your prior criminal record.   The penalties for a drug conviction are severe and include prison and a permanent criminal record, in addition to thousands of dollars in fines. Moreover, the use of drugs and/or alcohol during the commission of other crimes can result in significant additions to your sentence, including counselling and drug testing.
• Assault
• Murder
  The attorneys at Bloch & Chapleau have extensive experience handling criminal matters, from pre-arrest to trial, to appeal. We represent clients in all criminal matters including sexual assaults, drugs charges, DUIs, murder and domestic violence. Because every case and client is unique, the attorneys at our firm use their expertise and experience to approach cases in a “team manner†if necessary. As part of our team, we have three attorneys that defend clients in criminal matters.
• Restraining Order
  Crimes involving domestic violence are usually processed on what is called the “fast track.†  After the mandatory arrest, the prosecutor will immediately make you a guilty plea offer that would allow you to get out of jail, but will result in years of undesirable consequences down the road.  Often the incentive of obtaining a release from jail can influence you into making an ill-advised guilty plea.  Also, a mandatory restraining order is put in place at your first appearance in Court.  This restraining order may forcibly restrain you from your home, prevent you from using any drugs or alcohol, prohibit you from possessing a firearm, and bar you from having any contact whatsoever with the alleged victim – even if the alleged victim initiates contact.  Because the “fast track†process moves quickly at the beginning of a Domestic Violence case, it is imperative that you have an experienced Domestic Violence attorney on your side from the outset.
• Hit and Run
  Moses Marquez (13), suffered a broken clavicle and several other ski injures after he was injured by a hit-and-run skier at Beaver Creek ski resort. Marquez shared his story with Channel 7 news in hopes of finding the person responsible for the hit-and-run incident. Says Marquez, “I was just skiing, like your regular day, and […]

Business and Corporate Law

• Business Disputes

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  Top-Rated Premises Liability Attorneys Serving Injured Victims throughout Colorado, including the Denver Metro Area, Vail Valley, and Eagle and Summit Counties
• Construction Litigation

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  If you or your child was injured by a dog, our Colorado personal injury attorneys will help you fight for full and fair compensation. We have the experience needed to hold the negligent dog owner and their insurance company fully accountable. If you were injured because of a dog owner’s negligence, we can help you seek money for any of the following...
• Medical Malpractice
  If harm has been suffered or/and nursing abuse is continuing, working with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney in Colorado may be necessary. A nursing home abuse attorney can help you to explore your options for bringing forth a claim for medical malpractice and nursing home abuse, including how to prove negligence/malpractice, and what damages may be available to your loved one and family.
• Auto Accidents
• Dog Bites
  Pet owners have a legal duty to protect members of the public from any dangers posed by their animal. Unfortunately, serious dog bites still occur far too frequently in Colorado. These attacks can be both serious and traumatic, especially for children. In many cases, the dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance policy will cover a portion of victim’s medical bills regardless of fault. However, for dog bite cases involving serious injuries, you may be required to prove the negligence to get the full and fair financial compensation that you deserve.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
• Probate
  In some cases, probate is not a difficult process. Families may be able to get through probate without much, if any, trouble. However, in cases that involve a complicated estate, competing claims, or some type of alleged misconduct, parties should be prepared to seek professional legal assistance. An experienced Colorado probate law attorney can help to ensure that your legal rights and financial interests are fully protected. Our law firm handles a wide array of Colorado probate law and probate litigation issues. Some of the most common examples are as follows...