What to Do When Someone Dies in Boulder County, Colorado
Probate in Boulder County runs through the Combined Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Boulder County, settling their estate runs through the Combined Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Combined Court
Boulder County · 20th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Departments
- Longmont Courthouse720-564-2522
- Self-Help Center720-664-1505
20th Judicial District. Mailing: P.O. Box 4249, Boulder, CO 80306. Email: BoulderCourtSelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us. Records: 20recordsrequest@judicial.state.co.us. Probate clinic 3rd Wednesday monthly.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Boulder County
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 Boulder, probate runs through the Combined Court at 1777 6th Street, Boulder. The court sits in the 20th Judicial District.
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. The 4 monthsC.R.S. § 15-12-801(1) (4 months from first publication); § 15-12-803(1)(a)(III) (one-year-from-death outer bar)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Boulder County
What probate costs in Boulder 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 1777 6th Street, Boulder. The court is part of the 20th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through Longmont Courthouse and Self-Help Center. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court: Self-represented parties may file in paper format. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Colorado charges $229CO Judicial Branch List of Fees (probate); C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7); HB 24-1286. Verified 2026-09-08 against CRS 2026 Title 13 and the live CO Judicial Branch List of FeesVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Combined Court (https://www.jbits.courts.state.co.us/efiling/web/login.htm). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Colorado are negotiated, typically 2%C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Colorado requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
Probate in Colorado typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout. The 4 monthsC.R.S. § 15-12-801(1) (4 months from first publication); § 15-12-803(1)(a)(III) (one-year-from-death outer bar)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
How to File Probate at the Combined Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Boulder County, Colorado, you can file at the Combined Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 20th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through Longmont Courthouse and Self-Help Center. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Boulder County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationCan You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Combined Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Boulder County Self-Filing Assessment.
Boulder County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Self-represented parties may file in paper format
Self-represented (pro se) litigants are not required to use ICCES electronic filing per Chief Justice Directive 11-01. Paper filings may be submitted in person or by mail, and court staff will scan and upload documents into the E-Filing system.
SourceBefore You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. No appointment required to file; self-represented filers may bring paper probate filings to the clerk counter during business hours and staff scan them into ICCES (Chief Justice Directive 11-01).
What to Bring
To file at the Combined Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Boulder County
Clearing title to real estate after a death—recording a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order—happens at the County Clerk and Recorder.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk and Recorder
Boulder County
Address
Phone
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $43 |
Effective July 1, 2025, Colorado recording fees changed from a per-page structure to a flat $43.00 per document ($40.00 base fee under CRS 30-1-103(1) + $3.00 in surcharges under CRS 30-10-421(1) and CRS 24-21-403(2)). No fee is charged for recording a certificate of death, a verification of death document, or a certified copy thereof (CRS 30-1-103(1), as amended by HB24-1269). E-recording is available in most counties via Simplifile or CSC.
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)
Transfer tax
Documentary fee of $0.01 per $100 of consideration when consideration exceeds $500 (CRS 39-13-102). Transfer-on-death deeds are generally exempt (No documentary fee is due on a Colorado beneficiary deed. CRS 15-15-402(1): "A beneficiary deed need not be supported by consideration." CRS 39-13-102(2)(a): "When there is no consideration ... no documentary fee shall be payable." The deed transfers nothing until the owner's death (CRS 15-15-402(1)).). The documentary fee is collected by the County Clerk and Recorder at the time of recording. It applies to warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, personal representative deeds, and other instruments where consideration exceeding $500 is exchanged.
Verified September 4, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Boulder County
Colorado allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Boulder 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 — typically 2%C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Boulder 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.
Denver Metro Firms
Althaus Law
FirmLongmont and Northglenn firm where attorney Jeff Althaus limits his work to estate planning and probate for Boulder, Adams, and Weld county families. Drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney and walks personal representatives through Colorado probate. Initial estate planning consultations are free; probate consultations are a flat rate.
Location
700 Ken Pratt Blvd, Suite 113Longmont, CO 80501
Phone
(720) 547-2319
Service Area
4 counties
Charles E. Longtine P.C.
Solo PracticeWestminster probate attorney providing guidance on estate planning and probate issues, including management of financial accounts and trust administration.
Location
9035 Wadsworth Parkway, Suite 2500Westminster, CO 80021
Phone
(303) 429-0419
Service Area
3 counties
Chayet & Danzo, LLC
FirmDenver boutique elder law and estate planning firm in business over 25 years, handling Medicaid and long-term-care planning, probate administration and litigation, guardianships, conservatorships, and special needs trusts. Offers free initial consultations and will travel to meet clients across the metro area.
Location
650 S. Cherry St., Suite 710Denver, CO 80246
Phone
(303) 951-9243
Service Area
5 counties
Don A. McCullough, Attorney at Law
Solo PracticeDenver-based attorney with 35+ years of experience in wills, trusts, estate planning and probate law. Serves Denver metropolitan area and Boulder.
Location
950 S. Cherry Street, Suite 418Denver, CO 80246
Phone
(303) 782-4900
Service Area
5 counties
Evans Case, LLP
FirmFull-service Denver law firm specializing in probate law, estate planning, elder law, and related litigation matters.
Location
1660 S. Albion Street, Suite 1100Denver, CO 80222
Phone
(303) 757-8300
Service Area
5 counties
Glatstein & O'Brien LLP
FirmDenver firm that limits its practice to Colorado probate administration, probate litigation, elder law, and estate planning, handling contested estates, guardianships, and conservatorships across the Front Range. Schedules phone appointments for out-of-state heirs and personal representatives dealing with a Colorado estate.
Location
2696 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 350Denver, CO 80222
Phone
(303) 731-3986
Service Area
6 counties
Hartney Law
Solo PracticeBoulder estate planning practice helping adventurous and entrepreneurial families plan for an uncertain future using flat-fee pricing.
Location
4450 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 100Boulder, CO 80301
Phone
(303) 747-3909
Established
2010
Service Area
1 county
Lyons Gaddis Kahn Hall Jeffers Dworak & Grant, P.C.
FirmLongmont firm founded in 1972, serving Boulder and Weld counties and the northern Front Range. Handles estate planning, probate, and trust administration, including trustee appointments and resignations, trust modifications and terminations, and related tax planning, plus federal estate tax filings and business succession planning.
Location
515 Kimbark Street, Second FloorLongmont, CO 80501
Phone
(303) 776-9900
Established
1972
Service Area
2 counties
Poskus & Klein, P.C.
FirmDowntown Denver firm handling probate, estate planning and administration for Denver-metro families. Also takes trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and will contests, with 30-plus years of combined experience in the Denver and Boulder-area probate courts.
Location
303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 900Denver, CO 80203
Phone
(303) 835-0049
Service Area
8 counties
Robinson & Henry, P.C.
FirmMulti-office Colorado firm (Denver, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Centennial) handling probate and estate administration from court filings through asset distribution, plus will and trust drafting and probate disputes for Front Range families. Free consultations on most matters.
Location
7555 East Hampden Ave, Ste 600Denver, CO 80231
Phone
(303) 688-0944
Service Area
8 counties
Scott Oliver Law
Solo PracticeLongmont attorney serving Boulder and Weld counties with estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and estate administration, trust administration, and estate and gift tax planning. Background in business and insurance informs his practical asset-protection work.
Location
1729 Terry StreetLongmont, CO 80501
Phone
(303) 485-0002
Service Area
2 counties
The Law Firm of Bruce A. Danford, LLC
Solo PracticeBroomfield solo practice serving the north Denver metro, representing personal representatives and families in estate planning, probate, and estate administration, plus guardianships and conservatorships. Offers weekend, evening, home, and hospital appointments on request.
Location
11971 Quay StBroomfield, CO 80020
Phone
(303) 496-0566
Service Area
4 counties
Firms from Neighboring Regions
Anzen Legal Group
FirmFort Collins probate attorneys who help individuals and families navigate probate efficiently, resolve disputes, and ensure that estate administration is handled correctly. Statewide service. Consultations are free.
Location
343 W Drake Road, Suite 270Fort Collins, CO 80526
Phone
(970) 893-8857
Established
2021
Service Area
11 counties
Stone Law LLC
FirmMulti-location firm serving Colorado's Front Range from Loveland to Lakewood, creating customized estate plans with asset protection and elder law expertise. Estate planning consultations are free.
Location
430 E 6th StLoveland, CO 80537
Phone
(877) 897-6591
Service Area
4 counties
Anderson Law Group
FirmSalida firm serving the Upper Arkansas Valley (Chaffee, Lake, and Fremont) since 1998, with a second office in Denver. Handles estate planning alongside real estate, business, family law, and civil litigation. Consultations are free at either office.
Location
7385 W US Highway 50Salida, CO 81201
Phone
(719) 539-7003
Established
1998
Service Area
4 counties
Chapman Law, PLLC
FirmPueblo estate planning and probate firm, with a second office in the Denver Tech Center. Foundation of the practice is estate planning, trusts, and probate, alongside trust administration and related civil litigation. Consultations are available by phone or video where appropriate.
Location
310 S. Victoria Ave., Suite GPueblo, CO 81003
Phone
(719) 497-9790
Service Area
4 counties
Mason Law & Planning Group
Solo PracticeMonument firm with a second office in Castle Rock, serving the Tri-Lakes corridor and northern El Paso County (plus Teller, Park, and Douglas) with estate and business planning since 2012. Prepares wills, trusts, succession plans, and charitable-giving strategies, and handles trust administration and probate. Runs free public estate planning dinner seminars.
Location
16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 301Monument, CO 80132
Phone
(719) 428-4495
Established
2012
Service Area
4 counties
Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel LLP
FirmDurango firm practicing in Colorado and the Four Corners region since 1961, serving La Plata, Archuleta, and Montezuma counties. Estate attorneys handle personal estate planning, probate, and trust administration, with a partner whose practice centers on estate and trust litigation.
Location
835 E 2nd Ave (Suite 123)Durango, CO 81301
Phone
(970) 247-1755
Service Area
3 counties
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.
Legal Sources
- C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- C.R.S. § 15-12-801(1) (4 months from first publication); § 15-12-803(1)(a)(III) (one-year-from-death outer bar)
- CO Judicial Branch List of Fees (probate); C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7); HB 24-1286. Verified 2026-09-08 against CRS 2026 Title 13 and the live CO Judicial Branch List of Fees
- Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)
Data sourced from Colorado statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
You open probate by filing a petition with the Combined Court in Boulder County, attaching the original will (if any), the death certificate, and the filing fee ($229). Once the court issues letters, the personal representative can act.
Total probate costs on a $500,000 estate run about $26,082 statewide in Colorado. For Boulder County, that means filing fees ($229 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
Yes. The Combined Court in Boulder County accepts e-filing through the state portal. In-person filing at the courthouse is still available for those without digital access.
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The Colorado self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
A simple Colorado probate typically closes in 4–6 months; average estates run 6–9 months. The mandatory creditor-claim period accounts for much of that, so even uncontested estates rarely close quickly.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Boulder County probate.
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