How probate works in Alamosa County: the Combined Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Alamosa County · 12th Judicial District
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Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Alamosa, probate runs through the Combined Court at 8955 Independence Way, Alamosa. The court sits in the 12th Judicial District. The same 12th Judicial District also serves Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Colorado intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Colorado estates take 6 months to 9 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsC.R.S. §§ 15-12-801, 15-12-803, 15-12-805, 15-12-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What probate costs in Alamosa County, Colorado comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Combined Court at 8955 Independence Way, Alamosa. The court is part of the 12th Judicial District.
Colorado charges $229CO Judicial Branch List of Fees (probate); C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7); HB 24-1286Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Colorado are negotiated, typically 2%Modeled estimate under C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Colorado allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payC.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Colorado requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Probate in Colorado typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate cases in Alamosa County, Colorado are filed at the Combined Court. The court sits in the 12th Judicial District.
The district's self-represented litigant coordinator gives information about court forms, rules and steps to people without a lawyer, and does not give legal advice.
In Colorado, informal probate is availableC.R.S. § 15-12-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Alamosa County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Self-represented filers file on paper
A filer without a lawyer files probate papers on paper with the clerk, and court staff scan them into the case record.
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Combined Court: Original will and any codicils (lodged/deposited with the court) (C.R.S. §§ 15-11-515 "Deposit of will with court in testator's lifetime", 15-11-516 "Duty of custodian of will; lodging of will after death"); Acceptance of Appointment (JDF 911); Proposed order submitted with the application/petition: informal JDF 913 (with a will) / JDF 917 (no will); formal JDF 921 (with a will) / JDF 923 (no will); Renunciation and/or Nomination of Personal Representative where a higher-priority person yields (JDF 912)C.R.S. §§ 15-12-301 to 15-12-311 (informal probate & appointment); §§ 15-12-401 to 15-12-414 (formal); § 15-12-701 et seq. (powers / Letters as proof of authority)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk and Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Alamosa County are recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder at 8999 Independence Way, Suite 101, Alamosa, CO 81101. Phone: 1-719-589-6681. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:15 PM.
The County Clerk and Recorder charges $43 flat, regardless of page count.
Alamosa County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Alamosa County
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Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $43 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
CRS 30-1-103(1) (recording fee, $40 flat); CRS 30-10-421(1)(b) (filing surcharge, $1); CRS 24-21-403(2) (electronic recording technology board surcharge, up to $2); CRS 39-13-102 (documentary fee); HB24-1269 (flat fee amendment)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Colorado allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Alamosa County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Colorado are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask an Alamosa County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Combined Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Solo PracticeAlamosa, CO
Serves southern Colorado, including Alamosa, Durango, and Pagosa Springs, from Alamosa. Drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and advance healthcare directives, alongside family law and Social Security disability claims. Consultations carry a fee and can be held by phone or Zoom.
PracticesEstate PlanningFamily Law
Solo PracticeDel Norte, CO
Serves the greater San Luis Valley from an appointment-only office in Del Norte. Opens probate and ancillary probate cases for families after a death, drafts wills and powers of attorney, and handles heirship determinations and quiet title actions. The office states that it speaks Spanish.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawCivil Litigationand 2 more
FirmAlamosa, CO
Serves the six San Luis Valley counties from Alamosa, sharing a site with Southwest Title Co. Handles probate, wills and trusts, powers of attorney and living wills, alongside real estate and Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Attorneys Paul E. Motz and Jeffrey E. Motz have been licensed in Colorado since 1976 and 2004.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBankruptcyReal Estate
FirmAlamosa, CO
Serves Alamosa, Conejos, and Rio Grande counties from Alamosa, including Monte Vista, Del Norte, Antonito, and La Jara. Drafts wills and trusts for San Luis Valley families, small business owners, farmers, and ranchers. Of counsel O. John Kuenhold served 31 years as a 12th Judicial District judge and as Water Judge for Water Division 3.
PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness LawPersonal InjuryReal EstateWater Law
Solo PracticeDurango, CO
Serves La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma, Dolores, San Juan, Mineral, Alamosa, and San Miguel counties from Durango. Handles probate, ancillary probate for out-of-state estates with Colorado assets, small estate administration, trust administration, will contests, and trust and probate administration disputes. Lynne Bruzzese brings three decades of litigation experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
Solo PracticeSteamboat Springs, CO
Serves Colorado statewide from Steamboat Springs, including Northwest Colorado and the mountain resort communities. Handles probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and gift plans. Offers a free initial consultation, including by telephone.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 5 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Colorado statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Free tools for settling an estate in Colorado: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
Settling an estate in Colorado: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysC.R.S. § 15-12-706Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsC.R.S. §§ 15-12-801, 15-12-803, 15-12-805, 15-12-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
Settling a trust in Colorado happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeC.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysC.R.S. § 15-5-813Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
In Colorado, informal probate is availableC.R.S. § 15-12-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
Browse vetted Colorado attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Colorado attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Colorado lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
