Is there a way to avoid probate appointment in Colorado?

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Colorado?

See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.

Got the Letters? Run the whole estate from here.

State

Document Type

Getting Appointed in Colorado

Personal Representative

Where you file

District Court of the county where the decedent lived (Denver Probate Court in Denver County)

The form that opens the estate

JDF 920Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative · Fillable PDF · View sourceStart this petition for Colorado — we pre-fill it with your information. You review, sign, and file it with the court.

What the court issues (with a will)

Letters Testamentaryissued by Probate registrar in informal proceedings (no hearing); the judge in formal proceedings (after notice/hearing)

Letters are an output — the court issues them after granting the petition.

At a glance

UPC adoptedInformal trackE-filingSelf-represented filingLocal/county forms

Self-represented filers CANNOT e-file a probate case: Colorado Courts E-Filing for non-attorneys is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. A pro se filer takes or mails the JDF application/petition (and the original will) to the District Court — Denver Probate Court in Denver. Licensed attorneys may e-file probate, including Denver Probate Court cases, through Colorado Courts E-Filing.

Bond

Required before Letters: No
Waivable by will: Yes
Waivable by beneficiaries: Yes

Other official forms

Informal application: JDF 910 (testate) / JDF 916 (intestate)View source
Letters form: JDF 915View source

What to file with the petition

Certified copy of the death certificate
Original will and any codicils (lodged/deposited with the court) (C.R.S. §§ 15-11-515, 15-11-516)
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)
Information of Appointment (JDF 940) mailed to heirs and devisees within 30 days of appointment
Bond only if required by the will or demanded by an interested person (C.R.S. § 15-12-603)

Small-estate alternative

Bypasses full Letters: Yes
Form: JDF 999View source
Form name: Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit

State-specific notes

Colorado offers an informal (registrar, no hearing) and a formal (judge, notice/hearing) appointment track. Most uncontested estates use informal probate. The small-estate collection-of-personal-property affidavit (JDF 999, C.R.S. § 15-12-1201) is presented directly to asset holders ten or more days after death, is not filed with the court, does not transfer real estate, and is unavailable once a PR application/petition is pending or granted; the Colorado DMV requires its own affidavit (DR 2712) for vehicles. The § 15-12-1201 threshold is statutory ("twice the amount set forth in § 15-11-403, as adjusted by § 15-10-112") and indexed for inflation, so the current dollar figure is published on JDF 998 (year-of-death schedule; $88,000 for 2026 deaths, JDF 998 R: March 19, 2026) rather than hardcoded here — the eligibility figure the builder gates on lives in probate-rules `smallEstate.affidavitLimit`.

A revocable living trust passes assets to your family without this court appointment process — no petition, no Letters, no bond.

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

This tool provides general information about how a personal representative is appointed and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.Data verified 2026-07-15

Frequently Asked Questions

Colorado uses Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative (JDF 920) (JDF 920), filed with the District Court of the county where the decedent lived (Denver Probate Court in Denver County). After the court grants the petition, Probate registrar in informal proceedings (no hearing); the judge in formal proceedings (after notice/hearing) issues your Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without a will).

Along with the petition, Colorado generally requires: Certified copy of the death certificate; Original will and any codicils (lodged/deposited with the court) (C.R.S. §§ 15-11-515, 15-11-516); 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); Information of Appointment (JDF 940) mailed to heirs and devisees within 30 days of appointment; Bond only if required by the will or demanded by an interested person (C.R.S. § 15-12-603).

Colorado does not require a bond by default before Letters issue, though the court can order one.

Colorado permits self-represented filers to open an estate, using Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative (JDF 920) (JDF 920). E-filing is available. The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Colorado.

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Colorado — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

Getting Appointed in Colorado

Authority to act for the estate comes from Letters issued in Colorado by Probate registrar in informal proceedings (no hearing); the judge in formal proceedings (after notice/hearing), on appointment by the District Court of the county where the decedent lived (Denver Probate Court in Denver County). The document is Letters Testamentary with a will and Letters of Administration without. UPC adoption in Colorado: Yes.

The estate is opened by filing Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative (JDF 920) (JDF 920) with the court, which carries a filing fee of $229. Whether an informal (registrar) appointment track is available for qualifying estates: Yes.

Colorado does not require a bond by default before Letters issue, though the court can order one where it is needed to protect creditors or heirs.

For smaller estates, Colorado offers a small-estate procedure for estates under $88,000 that can transfer assets without a full appointment or Letters (JDF 999). The Colorado self-file probate assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 15, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Colorado statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Colorado Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Colorado probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Colorado?

Getting Appointed in ColoradoC.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 Jul 15, 2026View source

At a glance

BondC.R.S. §§ 15-12-603, 15-12-605Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Colorado Estate Planning Resources

Getting Appointed in ColoradoC.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 Jul 15, 2026View source

At a glance

BondC.R.S. §§ 15-12-603, 15-12-605Verified Jul 15, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Getting Appointed in Colorado

Bond

Getting Appointed in Colorado

Bond