State Unclaimed Property in Colorado

State Unclaimed Property in Colorado: key facts

Administering office

Colorado Department of the Treasury, Great Colorado Payback program.

Official search

unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov (free search and online claims); a multi-state search is available at missingmoney.com.

Heir claim

Heirs file a claim with proof of death and proof of authority — Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if the estate was probated, or estate/heirship documentation if it was not.

Time limit

The Treasury holds unclaimed property in perpetuity until a valid claim is made, so there is no deadline for owners or heirs to claim it.

Small estate option

Heirs may use Colorado's Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999, C.R.S. § 15-12-1201) instead of Letters Testamentary when the total fair market value of all personal property subject to disposition does not exceed the threshold for the year of death — $88,000 for Y.O.D. 2026 (adjusted annually). At least 10 days must have elapsed since death and no probate case may be pending. Holders, including financial institutions, are discharged when they transfer property on presentation of the affidavit (C.R.S. § 15-12-1202(1)).

Claim processing time

The Colorado State Treasury processes most unclaimed property claims within a matter of days of receiving all required documents. Complex claims involving probate documentation may take longer.