Probate in Colorado · 64 counties
Colorado Probate Courts
Estates here go through the District Court (Probate Division) / Denver Probate Court. Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.
Small-estate limit
$88,000
Wait 10 days
Death taxes
None
No state death tax
Executor fee
Reasonable
Reasonable fee set by the court
Handwritten wills
Valid
Unwitnessed, in testator’s hand
Plate · CO
Every Colorado county, on one map
Population, low → high Green = county courthouse mapped in OpenStreetMap Green = probate office details checked on the court's own website courthouse probate office checked
§ I
Colorado probate rules
- Court
- District Court (Probate Division) / Denver Probate CourtIn Colorado, probate is administered by the District Court in 63 counties, and by the specialized, standalone Denver Probate Court in the City and County of Denver.
- Small estates
- $88,000 for 2026 deaths ($86,000 for 2025), CPI-adjusted annually; personal property onlyC.R.S. § 15-12-1201 (Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit)
- Filing the will
- Custodian must deliver (lodge) will with the court within 10 days after death or as soon as death becomes known (C.R.S. § 15-11-516); 3-year limit for most probate proceedings
- Creditor claims
- 4 months from the date of first publication of notice to creditors, or 1 year from death if no noticeC.R.S. § 15-12-801 & § 15-12-803
- Executor fees
- Reasonable compensation (C.R.S. § 15-12-719); subject to court review under § 15-12-721C.R.S. § 15-12-719 (review under § 15-12-721) · calculator
- Estate tax
- NoneColorado has no state estate tax.
- Inheritance tax
- NoneNo state inheritance tax in Colorado.
- Typical duration
- 6 to 12 months
- Official courts site
- coloradojudicial.govCase search: Colorado Judicial Branch CoCourts Public Record Search
Re-checked Sept 2026 against: coloradojudicial.gov (courts) · colorado.public.law · coloradojudicial.gov (courts)
Need help with an estate in Colorado?
Where to get help.
We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.
- 01 Colorado courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
- 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
- 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
§ II · Register
All 64 counties
Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.
| # | County | Seat | Population | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso County | Colorado Springs | 744,215 | office checked |
| 2 | Denver County | Denver | 716,577 | office checked |
| 3 | Arapahoe County | Littleton | 656,061 | office checked |
| 4 | Jefferson County | Golden | 576,366 | courthouse mapped |
| 5 | Adams County | Brighton | 533,365 | courthouse mapped |
| 6 | Douglas County | Castle Rock | 383,906 | courthouse mapped |
| 7 | Larimer County | Fort Collins | 370,771 | courthouse mapped |
| 8 | Weld County | Greeley | 359,442 | courthouse mapped |
| 9 | Boulder County | Boulder | 326,831 | courthouse mapped |
| 10 | Pueblo County | Pueblo | 169,422 | courthouse mapped |
| 11 | Mesa County | Grand Junction | 159,681 | courthouse mapped |
| 12 | Broomfield County | Broomfield | 76,860 | county site |
| 13 | Garfield County | Glenwood Springs | 62,707 | county site |
| 14 | La Plata County | Durango | 56,407 | county site |
| 15 | Eagle County | Eagle | 54,381 | courthouse mapped |
| 16 | Fremont County | Cañon | 50,318 | county site |
| 17 | Montrose County | Montrose | 44,156 | county site |
| 18 | Delta County | Delta | 31,746 | courthouse mapped |
| 19 | Summit County | Breckenridge | 30,465 | county site |
| 20 | Morgan County | Fort Morgan | 29,524 | county site |
| 21 | Elbert County | Kiowa | 28,806 | county site |
| 22 | Montezuma County | Cortez | 26,531 | courthouse mapped |
| 23 | Routt County | Steamboat Springs | 25,064 | courthouse mapped |
| 24 | Teller County | Cripple Creek | 24,617 | county site |
| 25 | Logan County | Sterling | 20,619 | courthouse mapped |
| 26 | Chaffee County | Salida | 20,617 | county site |
| 27 | Otero County | La Junta | 18,136 | courthouse mapped |
| 28 | Park County | Fairplay | 18,117 | courthouse mapped |
| 29 | Gunnison County | Gunnison | 17,321 | courthouse mapped |
| 30 | Alamosa County | Alamosa | 16,655 | courthouse mapped |
| 31 | Pitkin County | Aspen | 16,640 | county site |
| 32 | Grand County | Hot Sulphur Springs | 15,935 | courthouse mapped |
| 33 | Las Animas County | Trinidad | 14,348 | courthouse mapped |
| 34 | Archuleta County | Pagosa Springs | 14,189 | courthouse mapped |
| 35 | Moffat County | Craig | 13,327 | county site |
| 36 | Prowers County | Lamar | 11,751 | courthouse mapped |
| 37 | Rio Grande County | Del Norte | 11,188 | county site |
| 38 | Yuma County | Wray | 9,862 | courthouse mapped |
| 39 | Clear Creek County | Georgetown | 9,147 | county site |
| 40 | San Miguel County | Telluride | 7,868 | courthouse mapped |
| 41 | Conejos County | Conejos | 7,521 | courthouse mapped |
| 42 | Lake County | Leadville | 7,365 | courthouse mapped |
| 43 | Huerfano County | Walsenburg | 7,055 | county site |
| 44 | Kit Carson County | Burlington | 6,994 | courthouse mapped |
| 45 | Saguache County | Saguache | 6,688 | courthouse mapped |
| 46 | Rio Blanco County | Meeker | 6,569 | county site |
| 47 | Gilpin County | Central | 5,926 | courthouse mapped |
| 48 | Bent County | Las Animas | 5,681 | county site |
| 49 | Crowley County | Ordway | 5,636 | county site |
| 50 | Custer County | Westcliffe | 5,534 | courthouse mapped |
| 51 | Lincoln County | Hugo | 5,480 | county site |
| 52 | Ouray County | Ouray | 5,176 | courthouse mapped |
| 53 | Washington County | Akron | 4,855 | county site |
| 54 | Phillips County | Holyoke | 4,476 | county site |
| 55 | Costilla County | San Luis | 3,628 | county site |
| 56 | Baca County | Springfield | 3,344 | county site |
| 57 | Dolores County | Dove Creek | 2,513 | courthouse mapped |
| 58 | Sedgwick County | Julesburg | 2,299 | courthouse mapped |
| 59 | Cheyenne County | Cheyenne Wells | 1,727 | county site |
| 60 | Kiowa County | Eads | 1,384 | courthouse mapped |
| 61 | Jackson County | Walden | 1,309 | courthouse mapped |
| 62 | Mineral County | Creede | 944 | courthouse mapped |
| 63 | San Juan County | Silverton | 802 | county site |
| 64 | Hinsdale County | Lake | 765 | county site |
§ III
Colorado probate questions
What is the small estate affidavit limit in Colorado?
$88,000 for 2026 deaths ($86,000 for 2025), CPI-adjusted annually; personal property only (C.R.S. § 15-12-1201 (Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit)). It can be used 10 days after death. Wait 10 days after date of death. Personal property only; real estate cannot be transferred via small estate affidavit in Colorado (must use probate or deed).
How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Colorado?
Reasonable compensation (C.R.S. § 15-12-719); subject to court review under § 15-12-721 (C.R.S. § 15-12-719 (review under § 15-12-721)). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.
What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Colorado?
4 months from the date of first publication of notice to creditors, or 1 year from death if no notice (C.R.S. § 15-12-801 & § 15-12-803). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.
Does Colorado recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?
Yes. Colorado recognizes holographic wills if signature and material portions are in testator's handwriting (C.R.S. § 15-11-502).
Does Colorado have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?
Colorado has no state estate tax. There is no inheritance tax.