Colorado: How to Be Appointed as an Estate Administrator (Personal Representative)
How to Be Appointed as an Estate Administrator or Co-Administrator in Colorado — FAQ Short answer To be appointed as an estate administrator (called a "personal representative" in Colorado) you must file a probate petition in the county where the decedent lived, provide the court with the decedent's death certificate and any will, give required […]
Read article →Colorado: Using Wills and Beneficiary Designations to Avoid Probate
How to keep inheritances out of Colorado probate using wills, beneficiary designations, and other tools Short answer: A will alone usually does not avoid probate in Colorado. To pass assets outside probate, use beneficiary designations, payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) designations, joint ownership with right of survivorship, TOD real estate deeds, or a properly funded […]
Read article →Submitting an Original Will to Probate Court in Colorado: Out-of-State Filing Guide
How to Submit an Original Will to a Colorado Probate Court When You Live Out of State Detailed answer: step-by-step guidance under Colorado law When someone dies owning property or with a will, the original will typically must be submitted to the probate court in the Colorado county where the decedent last lived or where […]
Read article →How to Confirm an Original Will in Colorado
Detailed Answer Short answer: Under Colorado law the court prefers to receive the original will when someone files it for probate. If you only have a copy, you can still try to start probate, but you will need additional proof to show the court that the copy accurately reflects an originally executed will that was […]
Read article →Colorado: Can an estate recover money an heir withdrew from a deceased parent’s bank account or credit cards?
Can the estate recover money an heir withdrew from a parent’s bank account or credit cards after death? Short answer: Yes — in most cases the estate can pursue recovery. Whether recovery is straightforward depends on how the accounts were titled, whether beneficiaries were designated, whether a personal representative (executor) has been appointed, and whether […]
Read article →How to Buy Out Siblings’ Shares in a Parent’s Colorado House Instead of Selling Through Probate
Buying Out Siblings’ Shares in a Deceased Parent’s Colorado House: Step-by-Step FAQ Short answer: In Colorado you can usually buy your siblings’ inherited interests instead of forcing a sale through probate, but the exact process depends on how title is held, whether the estate is in probate, and whether heirs agree. Typical steps are: confirm […]
Read article →Filing a Partition or Petition for Sale of Inherited Real Estate in Colorado When Heirs Are Minors
How to file a partition action or petition for sale of inherited real estate in Colorado when some heirs are minors Detailed Answer This is a plain-language, step-by-step explanation of how to proceed if you want to force division or sale of inherited real estate in Colorado and one or more co-owners (heirs) are minors. […]
Read article →Appointing a Guardian ad Litem for Minor Heirs Before Selling Inherited Land — Colorado
Can a court appoint a guardian ad litem for minor heirs before selling inherited land in Colorado? Short answer: Yes. In Colorado probate and civil matters, you can ask the court to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to protect a minor heir’s legal interests before selling inherited real property. The probate court will consider […]
Read article →Colorado: How to Get Court Approval to Sell an Inherited Home When Co‑Owners Include Minors
Detailed Answer — Selling an Inherited Home Co‑Owned with Minors under Colorado Law Short answer: You will usually need a court process to protect a minor’s share. The exact procedure depends on how title is held (was the home probated, held jointly, or passed outside probate?), whether a personal representative or guardian/conservator already exists, and […]
Read article →Filing a Year's (Family) Allowance Petition in Colorado
Detailed Answer Short explanation: In Colorado, a "year's allowance" is commonly called a family allowance or an allowance for the surviving spouse and minor children to provide reasonable support during probate. When you file a petition asking the probate court for this allowance, you must supply enough factual detail and supporting documents so the court […]
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