Detailed Answer

1. First facts to check (do these before you do anything)

• Find the recorded deed for the house at the county clerk and recorder. Check how title is held: sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, or with a beneficiary designation (transfer‑on‑death/beneficiary deed).
• Get several certified copies of the death certificate from the county vital records office.
• Look for a will, a beneficiary deed, a trust, or a life estate document. Also locate mortgage statements, tax bills, and any lien or judgment information.

2. Who inherits under Colorado intestate law?

If there is no valid will or beneficiary designation, Colorado’s intestate succession rules apply to decide heirs. See Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 15, Article 11 for the rules that govern who takes property when someone dies intestate (the state statutes explain order of priority among spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.). You can review the Colorado Revised Statutes here: Colorado Revised Statutes (leg.colorado.gov).

3. Common ways to transfer title after an intestate death (what usually happens)

1. No probate needed — nonprobate transfer exists:
   • If the property was held jointly with right of survivorship (e.g., joint tenancy) it typically passes automatically to the surviving joint owner(s) — you will record a death certificate and an affidavit/joint owner’s affidavit to update title at the county recorder.
   • If a valid beneficiary deed (transfer‑on‑death deed) named beneficiaries, the beneficiary can record the required affidavit and deed to take title without probate.
2. Small‑estate or simplified procedures:
   • Colorado provides simplified procedures in some situations to collect assets or transfer real property without full formal probate. Whether those procedures apply depends on statutory eligibility and the value and type of assets. Check local county court rules and the Colorado Judicial Branch resources for applicable forms and thresholds: Colorado Judicial Branch.
3. Probate administration (formal or informal):
   • If no nonprobate path applies, you generally must open a probate case in the county where the decedent lived. A personal representative (executor/administrator) will be appointed by the court, who can then inventory estate assets, pay creditors, and distribute the house to the heirs under the intestacy rules. After the court issues an order or letters of administration, you record a new deed to transfer title to the heirs.

4. Typical step‑by‑step process when probate is required

1. Obtain certified death certificate copies.
2. Confirm there is no valid will or beneficiary deed. If there is a will, the executor named in it usually starts probate.
3. File a probate petition in the county court in the decedent’s county of residence. Ask the court to appoint an administrator (if no executor named) and to issue letters of administration or official authority.
4. Provide public notice to creditors if required, collect assets, and determine estate liabilities (mortgage, taxes, liens).
5. If the house must be distributed to heirs, the personal representative will prepare and sign a deed (for example, a personal representative’s deed) transferring legal title to the heirs as ordered by the court. The deed is recorded in the county where the property sits to change title.
6. Pay any transfer taxes or recording fees and resolve any mortgage or liens that could block recording.

5. Practical issues and common complications

• Mortgages: A lender may require payoff or approval of any transfer. If the mortgage is in default, the lender can foreclose; talk to the lender early.
• Liens and debts: Creditors can make claims during probate. The house might have to be sold to pay debts if there are insufficient nonreal property assets.
• Heir disagreements: Disputes among siblings about sale, buyouts, or occupancy commonly require court intervention or a mediated settlement.
• Taxes: Estate or capital gains tax issues may arise; consult an accountant for tax consequences of any transfer or sale.

6. What you will likely need to record to change title

• Certified death certificate(s)
• Court documents: letters testamentary or letters of administration, and the court order approving distribution (if probate was used)
• Deed transferring title (prepared by the personal representative or by the heirs if permitted under small‑estate procedures)
• Existing deed to show prior ownership and legal description of the property
• Payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if any)

7. Where to find official Colorado resources and statutes

For the statutory rules governing intestacy and probate procedure, see the Colorado Revised Statutes: Colorado Revised Statutes (Title 15 covers probate and intestate succession). For practical probate forms and county‑level procedures, see the Colorado Judicial Branch: courts.state.co.us. For recording requirements, search your county clerk and recorder’s website (the office where the property is located).

8. When you should get legal help

• There are multiple heirs and the heirs disagree about how to handle the property.
• The estate has significant debts, a mortgage in default, or complicated creditor claims.
• Title is unclear, there are disputed claims (e.g., alleged earlier transfers or fraud), or multiple jurisdictions are involved.
• You need help deciding whether a small‑estate procedure applies or whether to open probate.

Even if you choose to handle a straightforward small estate yourself, an estate/probate attorney can review documents and ensure that the deed and court filings are correct so the county will accept them.

Plain language summary

If the house was held in sole name and there is no beneficiary deed or joint owner, Colorado law assigns heirs under intestacy. To change title you either use a nonprobate transfer if one exists, a small‑estate procedure (if eligible), or you open probate so the court appoints someone who can sign a deed transferring the property to the heirs. Contact your county recorder for recording details and consider a probate attorney when the estate has debt or family disputes.

Helpful Hints

• Collect the death certificate and recorded deed early — most title offices require certified copies to accept an affidavit or deed.
• Look closely for a beneficiary deed or trust documents before starting probate; these avoid court entirely if valid and properly executed.
• Don’t sign away or accept a deed to property until you confirm the estate’s creditors and mortgage status; transferring title doesn’t eliminate outstanding liens.
• When the heirs plan to keep the house jointly, consider getting a written co‑ownership agreement or quitclaiming to a single heir who will buy out others to avoid later conflicts.
• Recording rules and fees vary by county — check the county clerk & recorder where the property is located for exact recording steps and documents accepted.
• Keep careful records of all estate correspondence, notices, receipts, and distributions — these are important if creditors or other heirs later question the transfer.