How Does Estate Planning Work in Colorado?

Colorado has adopted the Uniform Trust CodeC.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source and does not require witnesses for trust executionC.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source. Notarization is not required for validityC.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, though many financial institutions require notarized trust documents. Colorado has no separate trust creditor-notice step — the settlor's debts stay subject to the general claims and limitations period (up to 12 monthsC.R.S. § 15-5-505(1)(c) (revocable trust property subject to claims "as provided in section 15-15-103"); § 15-15-103(2) (nonprobate transferee liable only to extent probate estate insufficient); § 15-15-103(7) (proceeding commenced via personal representative); § 15-15-103(8) (1-year-after-death bar). No affirmative trustee duty to notify creditors and no trustee-elective shortened bar in the Colorado UTC. Verified 2026-06-20.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source), which the trustee settles before distributing.

A healthcare power of attorney in Colorado requires 2 witnesses or notarizationC.R.S. § 15-18-106 (no separate statutory form; execution requirements only)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source to be valid. A financial power of attorney requires no witnesses or notarizationC.R.S. § 15-14-705 (execution); § 15-14-704 (durability); § 15-14-706 (validity/choice of law); § 15-14-707 (choice of law); § 15-14-709 (springing); § 15-14-713 (agent acceptance); § 15-14-719-720 (third-party protections); § 15-14-724 (hot powers); § 15-14-741 (statutory form); § 15-14-742 (agent certification); § 38-30-123 (mandatory recording of POA used to convey real property); § 38-30-124 (acknowledgment of real-property POA, permissive); § 38-35-109(1) (race-notice recording); § 13-22-101 (age of majority 18)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source. A financial power of attorney is durable by default, so it stays in effect if you become incapacitatedC.R.S. § 15-14-705 (execution); § 15-14-704 (durability); § 15-14-706 (validity/choice of law); § 15-14-707 (choice of law); § 15-14-709 (springing); § 15-14-713 (agent acceptance); § 15-14-719-720 (third-party protections); § 15-14-724 (hot powers); § 15-14-741 (statutory form); § 15-14-742 (agent certification); § 38-30-123 (mandatory recording of POA used to convey real property); § 38-30-124 (acknowledgment of real-property POA, permissive); § 38-35-109(1) (race-notice recording); § 13-22-101 (age of majority 18)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.

In Colorado, the executor files an inventory of the estate's assets within 90 daysC.R.S. § 15-12-706Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment. A revocable trust skips the court-supervised inventory, so a trustee distributes without filing one.

In Colorado, divorce automatically revokes a beneficiary designation that names a former spouseC.R.S. § 15-11-804Verified Sep 15, 2026View source on the covered accounts, so the asset does not pass to the ex-spouse unless the designation is renewed after the divorce.