Unauthorized Charges to a Parent's Estate: How Colorado Probate Handles Them
Unauthorized or Improper Charges Affecting a Decedent’s Estate: A Colorado FAQ Short answer: In Colorado probate, the personal representative (executor or administrator) must identify estate assets, evaluate and pay valid debts, and protect the estate from improper or unauthorized charges. Unauthorized charges can be challenged through the probate process, recovered from the responsible person, or […]
Read article →Regaining control of a deceased parent's bank and credit card accounts in Colorado
How to regain control of a deceased parent's bank and credit card accounts in Colorado Disclaimer: This article explains general information about Colorado law and common practical steps. It is not legal advice. For help tailored to your situation, consult a licensed Colorado attorney. Short answer If someone else is using a deceased parent’s bank […]
Read article →Colorado: How to Secure and Inventory a Deceased Person’s House Before You Are Appointed Administrator
How to Secure and Inventory a Deceased Person’s House in Colorado Before You’re Appointed Administrator Short answer: Act quickly but carefully. Preserve the home and its contents (photos, locks, and a written inventory), notify law enforcement and the insurer if theft or imminent removal is a risk, and file a petition in probate court to […]
Read article →How to Become the Appointed Administrator of an Intestate Estate in Colorado
Short answer If a person in Colorado dies without a will (intestate), a probate court appoints a personal representative (often called an administrator) to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute property under Colorado intestacy rules. To be appointed, you generally must file a petition in the county probate court where your father lived, show you […]
Read article →Colorado: Order of Succession Among Children and Who May Administer an Intestate Estate
How children inherit and who can administer an estate when there is no will in Colorado This FAQ-style overview explains, in plain language, how a deceased person’s children share an intestate estate in Colorado and how the court chooses someone to administer that estate when there is no will. This is general information only and […]
Read article →How to Get Court Approval to Sell a House and Pay the Mortgage in Colorado
How to get court approval to sell a house and pay off the mortgage in Colorado Disclaimer: This is general information only and not legal advice. I am not a lawyer. For advice about your specific situation, consult a Colorado attorney. Detailed answer — step‑by‑step under Colorado law Below are the typical steps a person […]
Read article →Colorado — Can Payable-on-Death (POD) Accounts Be Used to Pay Estate Creditors?
Detailed Answer Short answer: In Colorado, payable-on-death (POD) accounts and other transfer-on-death (TOD) designations generally pass directly to the named beneficiary outside of probate. Because those funds usually are not part of the probate estate, they are not automatically available to pay the decedent’s creditors through the probate process. However, there are important exceptions and […]
Read article →Colorado: How to Open an Estate Bank Account Using an IRS EIN
Step-by-step guide to opening an estate bank account in Colorado with an IRS EIN Short answer: As the appointed personal representative (executor or administrator) for your deceased parent’s estate, you generally open a bank account in the estate’s name using an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS for the estate. The bank will […]
Read article →Colorado — What Happens If a Creditor Files After the 90‑Day Notice Period?
What happens when a creditor files a claim after the 90‑day notice period in Colorado? This FAQ explains how late creditor claims against a decedent’s estate are treated under Colorado law, what options the executor/administrator, creditor, and beneficiaries have, and practical next steps. Detailed answer — How Colorado treats creditor claims filed after the 90‑day […]
Read article →How to Claim Your Share of a Parent's Estate in Colorado When There Is No Will
Claiming Your Share of a Parent’s Estate in Colorado When There Is No Will Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Consult a licensed Colorado attorney about your specific situation. Detailed answer: How intestacy works and how to claim your share in Colorado If your mother died without a will (intestate) in Colorado, state […]
Read article →