Colorado: Recovering Funeral Expenses and Other Pre-Settlement Costs from an Estate
Can you get reimbursed for funeral bills and other costs you paid before an estate is settled? Short answer: Yes—under Colorado law, reasonable funeral expenses and other administration costs paid before an estate is settled can often be reimbursed from the decedent’s estate. You must present a timely claim to the personal representative (executor or […]
Read article →Colorado: Dying Before Divorce Is Final — Can an Estranged Spouse Claim Under the Estate?
When a Person Dies Before Their Divorce Is Final: How Colorado Law Treats the Estranged Spouse Detailed answer — what happens under Colorado law If someone dies before their divorce is finalized, Colorado law generally treats that person as still legally married at the time of death. That means the surviving spouse usually retains the […]
Read article →Can a consent order be used to skip the court hearing and distribute the sale money by agreement? (CO)
Detailed Answer Short answer: In Colorado, parties can often ask the court to enter a consent order (also called a stipulated order or agreed order) that implements their agreement to distribute sale proceeds without a contested hearing. However, the court has the ultimate authority to approve or reject that request, and certain situations require a […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take to re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died in Colorado (CO)
How to re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died — Colorado Short answer If the recorded deed created a true right of survivorship (joint tenancy or explicit survivorship language), the surviving owner(s) can usually document the death and record an affidavit (plus a certified death certificate) with the county recorder to show […]
Read article →What can I do if the personal representative sends me a payment without explaining how they calculated my share? — Colorado (CO)
Understanding What to Do When a Personal Representative Sends a Payment Without Explaining the Calculation — Colorado Probate Quick answer: If a personal representative (PR) sends you money from an estate but does not explain how your share was calculated, you can and should ask for a written accounting and supporting documents. If the PR […]
Read article →What documentation is required to prove I'm the next of kin and qualify as administrator in a reopened estate in CO?
Detailed answer This FAQ explains what documentation a person typically needs to prove they are the next of kin and to qualify as the personal representative (administrator) when reopening a deceased person’s probate estate in Colorado. This is a general guide based on Colorado probate practice and the Colorado Revised Statutes governing estates (Title 15). […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate? (CO)
What to do if the original estate administrator (personal representative) dies before probate is finished in Colorado This FAQ explains, in plain language, the steps to take when the person appointed to administer an estate (often called the personal representative or administrator) dies before closing the probate case. This is an overview of Colorado practice […]
Read article →How can I reopen my father's closed estate in Colorado so I can be appointed as administrator?
Detailed Answer — How to reopen a closed estate in Colorado and seek appointment as administrator Short answer: in Colorado you generally reopen a closed probate file by filing a petition in the court that handled the original probate asking the court to reopen the estate and either appoint a personal representative (administrator) or permit […]
Read article →How long does it usually take to get an out-of-state will approved in Colorado probate?
If you have a will executed in another state but need to handle property or open probate in Colorado, this FAQ-style guide explains what typically happens and how long the process usually takes under Colorado law. Detailed answer — How the process works in Colorado and typical timelines When someone dies owning property in Colorado […]
Read article →What happens if the survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago and I have no interest? (CO)
Detailed Answer Short answer: if a recorded deed or other conveyance from your mother’s estate (or from your mother during her lifetime) transferred the property to someone else decades ago and that conveyance is valid on its face, you likely do not have a property interest. But the result depends on whether the conveyance was […]
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