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.
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. Probate registrar in informal proceedings issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration after the court grants the petition.
Along with the petition, Colorado generally requires: 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); 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, 15-12-605); Notice of Hearing (JDF 711) for the FORMAL track (JDF 920/922 petitions are heard after notice; the open-estate instructions list JDF 711 on both formal paths); Irrevocable Power of Attorney Designating Clerk of Court as Agent for Service of Process (JDF 721) if the nominated personal representative lives outside Colorado.
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 not open to self-represented filers. 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.
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Calculators and checklists for navigating probate and estate administration.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Prepare the application to open probate and request Letters Testamentary or of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Prepare the creditor notice for an estate — the official state form or a notice typeset to statute, plus mailed notices for known creditors.
Small Estate Affidavit
Prepare the affidavit that collects a small estate's property without probate — the official state form or an affidavit drafted to statute, plus a presentation letter for each holder.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
Estate Closing
Prepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing statement, petition for discharge, or final account, with the state's closing instructions and the optional federal forms.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter of instruction a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Hire a Colorado Probate Attorney
Browse 93 probate firms in Colorado with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
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Colorado Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Colorado probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.