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Estate settlement · CO

Probate in Colorado.

The basics most families need to know. Not legal advice — see the official sources at the bottom of this page, or call a Colorado estate attorney for the specifics of your situation.

Small estate threshold

Estates under $80,000

Colorado's Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (C.R.S. §15-12-1201) handles estates of $80,000 or less in personal property. Wait 10 days after death. The successor presents the affidavit directly to whoever holds the asset.

Typical timeline

6–12 months for full probate

Colorado offers informal/unsupervised probate, which is typically faster and less expensive when the will is clean and the heirs aren't in dispute.

Colorado does not require an attorney for probate, though most families with non-trivial estates use one. Average legal fees: $1,500–$5,000.

Notable quirks

What makes Colorado different.

  • Colorado has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax.
  • Colorado adopted the Uniform Probate Code — informal probate (no hearing, just paperwork) is the default for uncontested estates with a valid will.
  • Independent administration (executor handles things without court supervision) is the norm.
  • Beneficiary deeds for real estate are recognized.
  • The 10-day waiting period before using a small-estate affidavit is among the shortest in the country.
Key forms

What the executor will file.

  • JDF 906 — Application for Informal Probate
    Standard path for uncontested wills.
  • JDF 998 — Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit
    Small-estate path under $80,000.
  • JDF 940 — Inventory of Estate
    Filed within 3 months of appointment.
Authoritative sources

For the actual current rules.

State rules and thresholds change. These links go to the Colorado courts and bar association — the source of truth for current forms, fees, and procedures.

Other states

We have probate guides for the 10 most populous states. Pick another:

CaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkPennsylvaniaIllinoisOhioGeorgiaNorth CarolinaMichiganNew JerseyVirginiaWashingtonArizonaMassachusettsTennesseeIndianaMarylandMissouriWisconsinMinnesotaSouth CarolinaAlabamaLouisiana

This page is general consumer guidance, not legal advice. For complex estates, contested wills, or jurisdiction-specific questions, talk to a licensed Colorado estate attorney.

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