How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property in Colorado?
In Colorado, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Colorado Department of the Treasury, Great Colorado Payback (Unclaimed Property)Colo. Rev. Stat. 38-13-101 to 38-13-1504 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. After a search match, the Unclaimed Property Office sends a claim form, and the claim form lists the documentation required for that claimClaim FAQ (Great Colorado Payback)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
File the claim with the Colorado Department of the Treasury, Great Colorado Payback (Unclaimed Property)Colo. Rev. Stat. 38-13-101 to 38-13-1504 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The search and the claim start at the office's site. After a search match, the Unclaimed Property Office sends a claim form, and the claim form lists the documentation required for that claimClaim FAQ (Great Colorado Payback)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Heirs may use the Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999) instead of Letters Testamentary when all property the decedent owned that is subject to disposition by will or intestate succession, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed the threshold for the year of deathColorado Judicial form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by AffidavitVerified Aug 24, 2026View source.
With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the deceased owner's personal representative, claiming as the owner's legal representativeColorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 38, Article 13 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Every state where the person had an address can hold some of the property: the holding company reports it to the state of the owner's last-known address, and to its own home state where it has no address on record. MissingMoney.com searches most states at once. Insurance, savings bonds, pensions, refunds and failed-bank deposits sit in federal and national databases: the Treasury (TreasuryDirect), PBGC, the IRS, the FDIC, the NCUA, the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and the VA.
A finder's agreement made within 24 months after the property reaches the Treasury is void. Later, it must be a signed record stating the property, the services, the amount before and after the fee, and that the owner may claim directly at no charge, and the fee may not exceed 10 percentC.R.S. §§ 38-13-1301, 38-13-1302; 8 CCR 1508-1, Rule 1.5.11Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.
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Free forms for settling an estate in Colorado: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Petition for Probate and Letters
In Colorado, the petition asks the District Court of the county where the decedent lived to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is availableC.R.S. § 15-12-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Notice to Creditors
In Colorado, the notice to creditors is published for 3C.R.S. §§ 15-12-801, 15-12-803, 15-12-805, 15-12-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source weeks in a local newspaper, and creditors have 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 from first publication to present claims.
Renunciation of Executor
In Colorado, a person named as personal representative may renounce the right to serveC.R.S. § 15-12-203(3)Verified Sep 22, 2026View source before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
In Colorado, heirs put their identity on the land records with a recorded affidavit of facts affecting title that states who the heirs areC.R.S. §§ 38-35-113, 38-35-109; 15-12-1302 to 15-12-1306; 42-6-114Verified Sep 24, 2026View source; once recorded it is prima facie evidence of the facts stated.
Small Estate Affidavit
In Colorado, the Collection of Personal Property by AffidavitC.R.S. § 15-12-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates with personal property of $88,000C.R.S. § 15-12-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 10 daysC.R.S. § 15-12-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.
Estate Inventory
In Colorado, the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysC.R.S. § 15-12-706Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment.
Estate Closing
In Colorado, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runsC.R.S. § 15-12-1003(2), § 15-12-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Colorado pays executors reasonable compensationC.R.S. § 15-10-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 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 the estate.
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.
How Do I Get Letters Testamentary?
In Colorado, the Probate registrar in informal proceedings issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration once the District Court of the county where the decedent lived appoints the personal representative; an informal (registrar) track is availableC.R.S. § 15-12-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Colorado, creditors have 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 from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
When an estate owes more than it holds, Colorado pays the claims in 10C.R.S. § 15-12-805Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with property held by decedent as fiduciary or trustee.
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