What to Do When Someone Dies in El Paso County, Colorado
Probate in El Paso County runs through the District 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 El Paso County, settling their estate runs through the District 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
District Court
El Paso County · 4th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Hours
Departments
- Probate Division (W149) - Protective Proceedings
- Probate Division (W149) - Estate Cases
4th Judicial District. Email: 04SelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us. Probate walk-up hours Wednesday only. Closed 3:30 PM on 3rd Wednesday of month.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in El Paso 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 El Paso County, probate runs through the District Court at 270 South Tejon Street, Colorado Springs. The court sits in the 4th Judicial District. The same 4th Judicial District also serves Teller.
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 El Paso County
What probate costs in El Paso 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 District Court at 270 South Tejon Street, Colorado Springs. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through Probate Division (W149) - Protective Proceedings and Probate Division (W149) - Estate Cases. 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 District 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 District Court
If you're handling probate yourself in El Paso County, Colorado, you can file at the District 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 4th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through Probate Division (W149) - Protective Proceedings and Probate Division (W149) - Estate Cases. 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 El Paso 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 District Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the El Paso County Self-Filing Assessment.
El Paso 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 District 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 El Paso 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
El Paso 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 El Paso County
Colorado allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in El Paso 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 El Paso County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the District 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.
Colorado Springs Firms
Beth Sparks Hunt
Solo PracticeColorado Springs estate planning attorney with over 27 years of experience, focusing exclusively on estate planning and counseling families through complex legal matters.
Location
660 Southpointe Court, Suite 210Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Phone
(719) 291-2598
Service Area
1 county
Goines Law
FirmColorado Springs estate planning firm offering free consultations for wills, trusts, probate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and special needs planning. 300+ five-star reviews.
Location
12295 Oracle Blvd, Suite 230Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Phone
(719) 622-6162
Established
2018
Service Area
1 county
Hammond Law Group, PC
FirmServes El Paso County from Colorado Springs with a practice focused on estate planning and elder law. Prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, and handles probate and trust administration. Runs regular estate planning workshops, offered in person and by Zoom webinar.
Location
2955 Professional Place, Suite 300Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Phone
(719) 520-1474
Established
2005
Service Area
1 county
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
Peakstone Law Group, LLC
FirmColorado Springs firm serving the Pikes Peak region (El Paso, Pueblo, Teller, Park, and Fremont counties) with estate planning, wills and trusts, estate administration, and will-contest and probate litigation. Also handles special-needs trusts and asset protection, with free confidential consultations.
Location
5475 Tech Center Dr Suite 210Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Phone
(719) 689-8861
Service Area
5 counties
Schroer & Williams Law Offices, PLLC
FirmColorado Springs (Briargate) firm led by retired Air Force JAG Ron Williams, building tailored estate plans and handling probate, trust administration, and elder-law matters for El Paso County families. Veteran-owned, with free initial consultations and weekend and evening appointments available.
Location
7045 Campus Drive, Suite 103Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Phone
(719) 900-3967
Service Area
1 county
The Law Office of Kevin R. Hancock LLC
Solo PracticeServes El Paso County and the Front Range from Colorado Springs. Builds wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills for traditional, blended, and non-traditional families, and handles probate and trust administration after a death. Consultations can be scheduled by phone.
Location
13570 Meadowgrass Drive, Suite 120Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Phone
(719) 575-9690
Service Area
1 county
Firms from Neighboring Regions
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
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
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
Johnston Law Firm, LLC
Solo PracticePueblo estate planning attorney serving southern Colorado, including Huerfano, Otero, Crowley, and Las Animas counties. Prepares wills, trusts, and special-needs plans, and structures assets for long-term-care Medicaid eligibility. Offers a free consultation.
Location
421 N. Main St., Suite 315Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone
(719) 309-9484
Service Area
7 counties
Law Office of Dan Slater
Solo PracticeCanon City native attorney serving Fremont and the Arkansas Valley corridor (Florence, Westcliffe, Salida, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Colorado Springs). Drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and handles probate, guardianships, conservatorships, and estate litigation including will contests.
Location
1415 Main Street, Suite ACanon City, CO 81212
Phone
(719) 269-3315
Service Area
5 counties
Naylor, Geisel & Boda, P.C.
FirmPueblo law firm with over 40 years of service providing estate planning, probate, guardianship, and family law services across southern and southeastern Colorado, including all six SECED counties.
Location
1123 N. Elizabeth St.Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone
(719) 543-7243
Service Area
15 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
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 District Court in El Paso 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 El Paso 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 District Court in El Paso 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 El Paso County probate.
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