Colorado Probate: The Basics

If you’re the legal heir to the estate of a recently deceased Colorado resident, you most likely have questions about Colorado probate law – the area of the law that deals with the collection and distribution of a person’s assets after their death. However, depending on the size of the estate in question, you may be able to bypass Colorado probate court altogether.

Bypassing Colorado Probate

Some property does not fall within the jurisdiction of Colorado probate courts, and so by definition does not have to go through the probate process. This includes property that was jointly held (in other words, there is more than one owner on the title of a property), such as houses, cars, and bank accounts. In addition, “contract assets” such as living trusts or life insurance policies do not fall under Colorado probate law. Colorado state laws also allow “non-probate assets” with a clearly designated recipient to bypass the probate process.

Additional Colorado Probate Resources

Colorado Probate Forms

Denver Probate Court Website

First Judicial District — More info.
Second Judicial District — More info.
Third Judicial District
Fourth Judicial District
Fifth Judicial District
Sixth Judicial District
Seventh Judicial District — More info.
Eighth Judicial District
Ninth Judicial District
Tenth Judicial District
Eleventh Judicial District
Twelfth Judicial District
Thirteenth Judicial District
Fourteenth Judicial District
Fifteenth Judicial District
Sixteenth Judicial District
Seventeenth Judicial District
Eighteenth Judicial District
Nineteenth Judicial District
Twentieth Judicial District
Twenty-first Judicial District

Also, see our article on Colorado Probate Procedure