What to Do When Someone Dies in Pueblo, Colorado

How probate works in Pueblo County: the Combined Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

Probate Court Record

Pueblo County Combined Court

Pueblo County · 10th Judicial District

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Office

501 North Elizabeth Street, Pueblo, CO 81003

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

E-filing

Required for attorneysAttorneys must e-file probate cases through Colorado Courts E-Filing, which the district makes mandatory in probate. A filer without a lawyer files on paper; e-filing for self-represented parties is open only in domestic relations and eviction cases.

Filing in person

Walk-ins acceptedProbate papers and the original will are filed with the clerk at the courthouse during office hours.

Self-represented filing

AllowedColorado's estate forms are statewide: JDF 910 or 916 to open an estate informally and JDF 920 or 922 to open one formally, with instructions on the Judicial Branch's Open an Estate page. The estate is opened in the district court of the county where the decedent lived.

Self-help center

  • Self-help service1-719-404-8752 · 10JDSelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us · Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM-noonThe Self-Help Center helps people without a lawyer with court procedure and forms.

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Pueblo 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 Pueblo, probate runs through the Combined Court at 501 North Elizabeth Street, Pueblo. The court sits in the 10th 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. 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 Pueblo County

What probate costs in Pueblo 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 501 North Elizabeth Street, Pueblo. The court is part of the 10th 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.

How to File Probate at the Combined Court

Probate cases in Pueblo County, Colorado are filed at the Combined Court. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District.

Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate (Room 116), Records, and Collections.

The Self-Help Center helps people without a lawyer with court procedure and forms.

Can You File Without an Attorney?

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 Pueblo County Self-Filing Assessment.

Pueblo 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 filers file on paper

A filer without a lawyer files probate papers on paper with the clerk.

Source

What to Bring

Filed 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.

Transferring Property in Pueblo County

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 Pueblo County are recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder at 215 West 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pueblo, CO 81003. Phone: 1-719-583-6507. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

The County Clerk and Recorder charges $43 flat, regardless of page count.

Pueblo County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Indecomm and Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk and Recorder

Pueblo County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

215 West 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pueblo, CO 81003

Fees

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$43
Transfer tax on a TOD deedTOD 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

Forms that put a death on the title

Probate Attorneys Serving Pueblo County

Colorado allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Pueblo 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 a Pueblo 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.

FirmPueblo, CO

Banner, Bower & Coultrip, P.C.

Serves 1 county

Serves Pueblo County from an office on the Pueblo Riverwalk. Provides Colorado probate court representation, trust administration including disputes over a trustee's administration, and guardianship and conservatorship matters. Also drafts wills, trusts, and Medicaid and special needs plans alongside its business and real estate work.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 8 more

Office
115 E. Riverwalk, Suite 400Pueblo, CO 81003

Solo PracticePueblo, CO

Chapman Law, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Serves clients from offices in Pueblo and the Denver Tech Center. Attorney Daniel Chapman guides personal representatives through informal and formal Colorado probate, including court filings, creditor issues, and distribution of assets, and handles trust administration. Meetings are also available by phone or video.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateCivil Litigation

Office
310 S. Victoria Ave., Suite GPueblo, CO 81003
Virtual consultations

FirmPueblo, CO

Kwitek McMillan Law

Serves 1 county

Serves Pueblo County from Pueblo. Handles probate and estate administration, wills and living trusts, and elder law matters including Medicaid long-term care planning, alongside business and real estate law. Attorney Linda McMillan is the Pueblo County Public Administrator.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid Planningand 2 more

Office
601 N. Main Street, Suite 200Pueblo, CO 81003

Solo PracticePueblo, CO

Mullans, Piersel & Reed, P.C.

Since 1989 · Serves 1 county

Serves Pueblo County and Southern Colorado from Pueblo. Assists with the probate and administration of estates and drafts estate documents from simple wills to living trusts, covering health care and financial decision-makers and living wills. General practice since 1989, with personal injury and business work alongside.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawPersonal Injury

Office
1311 N. Greenwood St.Pueblo, CO 81003

FirmPueblo, CO

Naylor, Geisel & Boda, P.C.

Serves 1 county

Serves Pueblo County from Pueblo. Guides families and court-appointed personal representatives through probate, and prepares wills, trusts, living wills, durable health care and general powers of attorney, and beneficiary deeds. Attorney Teagan Boda handles probates and estate plans alongside family law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateFamily LawMediation

Office
1123 N. Elizabeth St.Pueblo, CO 81003

FirmCanon City, CO

Fredrickson Johnson & Terry, LLC

Since 1959 · Serves 5 counties

Serves Fremont, Custer, Pueblo, Chaffee, and El Paso counties from Canon City, in practice since 1959. Handles formal and informal probate, small estate affidavits, will contests, creditor claims, and guardianships and conservatorships, and drafts wills, living and irrevocable trusts, and powers of attorney. The initial consultation is a paid $120 meeting.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipand 7 more

Office
831 Royal Gorge Blvd, Suite 329Canon City, CO 81212
See all 28 firms serving Pueblo County →

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.

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Legal Sources

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Data sourced from Colorado statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.

Tools for Settling an Estate in Colorado

Free tools for settling an estate in Colorado: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.

How Do I Settle an Estate?

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.

Get Plan

How Do I Settle a Trust?

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.

Get Plan

Can I Self-File Probate?

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.

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