How Do I Settle an Estate in Colorado?

Colorado allows estates valued at $88,000 or less to use the Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit, which avoids full probate administration.C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (fees), § 15-12-1201 (small estate), § 15-12-801 (creditor claims), § 15-12-603 (bond), CO DoR Probate_Index_2026, Colorado Judicial Branch JDF 998 (R: March 19, 2026), JDF 943SC, JDF 906 (R: January 9, 2025)Verified Jul 15, 2026 The Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court. The waiting period is 10 days after death. As you enter the estate's assets, the plan totals what is subject to probate and checks it against that limit.

Creditors in Colorado have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims against the estate.C.R.S. §§ 15-12-801, 15-12-803, 15-12-805, 15-12-806Verified Jul 13, 2026 The executor must publish notice in a local newspaper for 3 consecutive weeks. All claims are barred 1 year after death regardless of notice. No final distribution should occur until this period expires. Enter the date the clock started and the plan works out when the window closes, then holds the distribution and final-accounting steps until it does.

In Colorado, simple estates typically settle in 4-6 months. Average estates take 6-9 months. Complex estates with disputes, tax issues, or unusual assets can take 9-18 months or longer.C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (fees), § 15-12-1201 (small estate), § 15-12-801 (creditor claims), § 15-12-603 (bond), CO DoR Probate_Index_2026, Colorado Judicial Branch JDF 998 (R: March 19, 2026), JDF 943SC, JDF 906 (R: January 9, 2025)Verified Jul 15, 2026 The plan lays the work out across those months and reorders it around the dates you enter.

An executor (or personal representative) in Colorado is responsible for filing the will with the probate court, inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining property to beneficiaries. The specific duties depend on whether the estate goes through formal probate or qualifies for simplified procedures. The plan carries each of those duties as a task, with the institution, agency, or office it belongs to attached. See the Colorado executor appointment guide for how to get appointed and begin.

Estate settlement costs in Colorado include court filing fees, attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and potentially a probate bond. On a $500,000 estate, total costs run about $27,557 depending on complexity. Costs you pay out of pocket go on the ledger as reimbursable disbursements, so what the estate owes you back is on the record. Use the Colorado probate calculator for a detailed cost estimate.