Serves clients throughout Colorado from an Arvada office, including Sterling, Wray, Burlington, La Junta, and Ouray. A Probate and Trust Administration Department led by attorney Caroline Poole guides families through probate and trust settlement, alongside estate, business succession, elder law, and special needs planning. Founded in 1990; initial meetings are free.
Probate in Chaffee County
Probate Court Record
Chaffee County Combined Court
Chaffee County · 11th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-noon and 12:30 PM-4:30 PM
Office
142 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Chaffee County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Chaffee County? →Settling an estate in Chaffee County →
Tax Planning Firms Serving Chaffee County
Serves clients throughout Colorado from a Denver office. Handles probate administration, probate disputes and litigation, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and estate accountings, and drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, alongside real estate, business, and tax work.
Serves families throughout Colorado from offices in Lakewood and Denver, both by appointment. Handles probate and estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and drafts wills and trusts with asset protection and tax planning. Attorneys Andrew R. Kroll and Tim Bounds offer free consultations and remote or virtual appointments.
Serves clients statewide from Pueblo, including El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Otero, Crowley, and Las Animas counties. Guides personal representatives through probate and trustees through trust administration, handles guardianships, conservatorships, and will and trust disputes, and drafts wills, trusts, and Medicaid plans, alongside workers compensation and personal injury work.
Serves Colorado statewide from offices in Longmont, Louisville, Littleton, and Fort Collins. Administers probate estates and trusts after death, assists with federal estate tax filings, and represents families in estate and probate disputes. Founded in Longmont in 1972, the firm also handles guardianships and conservatorships.
Serves Denver, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Thornton and the rest of Colorado from an office on East Jewell Avenue. Guides personal representatives through formal, informal and small-estate probate, including inventories, accountings and creditor claims, and advises trustees on trust administration and fiduciary tax returns. Founded in 1982; meets in person or by secure video.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Colorado
Free Colorado forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Colorado.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
Last Will and Testament
In Colorado, a will is signed before 2C.R.S. § 15-11-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyC.R.S. § 15-11-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Free
Pour-Over Will
In Colorado, a pour-over will is signed before 2C.R.S. § 15-11-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Colorado
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Colorado: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Colorado.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Colorado levies no estate or inheritance taxNo Colorado estate or inheritance tax is payable. The Colorado Estate Tax Law (C.R.S. § 39-23.5-103) imposes a tax equal to the federal credit for state death taxes under IRC § 2011 (C.R.S. § 39-23.5-102(6)); that federal credit was eliminated, so the tax computes to $0 and no Colorado estate tax filing is required for deaths after December 31, 2004 — and independently, C.R.S. § 39-23.5-107(3) provides that "[n]o Colorado return need be filed if the gross estate or generation-skipping transfer does not require the filing of a federal return." The statute remains on the books rather than repealed — a "pick-up" tax that would revive if Congress restored the federal credit. Colorado replaced its 1927 inheritance tax with the estate tax in 1980 and has no inheritance tax.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; only the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Tax
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
Colorado imposes no inheritance or estate taxNo Colorado estate or inheritance tax is payable. The Colorado Estate Tax Law (C.R.S. § 39-23.5-103) imposes a tax equal to the federal credit for state death taxes under IRC § 2011 (C.R.S. § 39-23.5-102(6)); that federal credit was eliminated, so the tax computes to $0 and no Colorado estate tax filing is required for deaths after December 31, 2004 — and independently, C.R.S. § 39-23.5-107(3) provides that "[n]o Colorado return need be filed if the gross estate or generation-skipping transfer does not require the filing of a federal return." The statute remains on the books rather than repealed — a "pick-up" tax that would revive if Congress restored the federal credit. Colorado replaced its 1927 inheritance tax with the estate tax in 1980 and has no inheritance tax.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate.
Calculate the Tax
How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Colorado take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular ratesC.R.S. § 39-22-518 — "Tax modification for net capital gains" (as narrowed by HB21-1311 § 8, eff. TY2022)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Tax
When Do I Have to Withdraw an Inherited IRA?
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Check the Rules
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Colorado runs $3,390Estimate: 10 hours at $339, Clio's Colorado Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,085Estimate: 15 hours at $339, Clio's Colorado Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,044Estimate: 3 hours at $348, Clio's Colorado Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,088Estimate: 6 hours at $348, Clio's Colorado Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Calculate Costs
