What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate in Colorado?

Estimate the fair market value of household items for the Colorado estate inventory — what furniture, electronics, and appliances would sell for today, not what was paid.

Beyond personal items? Track every account, property, and asset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Personal property in Colorado is valued at fair market value — what the item would sell for on the open market, not the original purchase price.C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (fees), § 15-12-1201 (small estate), § 15-12-801 (creditor claims), § 15-12-603 (bond), CO DoR Probate_Index_2026, Colorado Judicial Branch JDF 998 (R: March 19, 2026), JDF 943SC, JDF 906 (R: January 9, 2025)Verified Jul 15, 2026 Most household items (furniture, electronics, clothing) lose 50-90% of their value. Professional appraisals are used for art, collectibles, jewelry, and other high-value items.

No. Executors in Colorado can typically group low-value household goods into a single line on the inventory — for example, "household furnishings and personal effects" — while valuable items such as jewelry, art, and collectibles are listed individually. Each value reflects fair market value as of the date of death.

In Colorado, the executor must file the estate inventory within 3 months of appointment. If assets are discovered later, Colorado requires a supplemental inventory.C.R.S. § 15-12-706Verified Jul 13, 2026

Estates with personal property under $88,000 in Colorado may qualify for Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit, which avoids full probate.C.R.S. § 15-10-602 (fees), § 15-12-1201 (small estate), § 15-12-801 (creditor claims), § 15-12-603 (bond), CO DoR Probate_Index_2026, Colorado Judicial Branch JDF 998 (R: March 19, 2026), JDF 943SC, JDF 906 (R: January 9, 2025)Verified Jul 15, 2026 Accurate valuation at fair market value can determine whether the estate falls below this threshold. Check eligibility with the Colorado probate need checker.

High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles typically require professional appraisals, while typical household items — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing — can be valued using comparable sales data. Colorado lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisal, though valuable items still warrant a qualified appraiser.C.R.S. § 15-12-706Verified Jul 13, 2026

Once the inventory is filed, tangible personal property in Colorado passes under any specific gifts in the will, then under the will's residuary clause. Without a will, it passes under Colorado intestate succession. See who receives it with the Colorado inheritance calculator.

Not necessarily. Items with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts), jointly held property, and assets in a trust bypass probate. Only personal property owned solely by the deceased passes through probate in Colorado. The Colorado probate need checker determines which assets require probate.

Colorado Estate Planning Resources

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