Colorado Probate Court Records

Colorado probate court records are the official case files created when a decedent's estate is administered in the district courts (and in Denver, the Denver Probate Court). They document key steps in the probate process such as proving a will or establishing intestacy, appointing a personal representative, notifying creditors, valuing property, paying valid claims and taxes, and closing the estate. Typical filings include:

The will
The application for informal probate and/or appointment (C.R.S. § 15-12-301)
Petitions and orders for formal testacy or appointment when a hearing is required (C.R.S. § 15-12-402)
Letters issued to the personal representative, which show authority to act.

Per state statutes, the personal representatives must administer, settle, and distribute the estate, give required notices, including notice of appointment, and file an inventory of the estate's assets within the prescribed period. Smaller estates may use a simplified "collection by affidavit" process for personal property after statutory conditions are met.

These records are used to validate wills, establish authority for banks and insurers, transfer real estate, resolve beneficiary disputes, and support genealogical research, providing a transparent, permanent account of how the estate was administered under Colorado law.

Are Colorado Probate Court Records Public?

Colorado generally allows public access to probate case records. However, access to these records is primarily governed by the Judicial Branch's Chief Justice Directive 05-01 (Public Access to Court Records) rather than the general open-records statute. CJD 05-01 presumes reasonable access to court files while protecting privacy and safety interests, and it authorizes limits on sensitive information, redactions, and sealed materials.

Practically, many probate filings (e.g., wills admitted, letters, inventories, orders) are available unless a law, court order, or policy restricts disclosure.

Information Contained in Colorado Probate Court Records

Colorado's records reflect a front-end choice between informal filings and formal testacy proceedings, as well as a specialized probate court in Denver.

Estate administration files usually feature:

Case number, key filing/hearing/order dates, case status
Decedent's name, date of death, last residence, estate value category
Applications/petitions for informal or formal testacy and appointment
Letters (testamentary/administration) and proof of statutory notices
Estate inventories, appraisals, interim/final accountings, vouchers
Creditor claims, allowances/denials, settlements, releases
Admitted will, death certificate, and orders (e.g., sale of real property, determination of heirs, final decree)

Guardianship/conservatorship files often contain:

Protected person details and findings on necessity/capacity
Petitions, consents, and acceptance by guardian/conservator
Bonds, Letters, limits on powers, if any
Care plans, status reports, asset-management plans, and annual accountings
Orders for significant medical/residential/financial actions; termination/discharge

How to Search for Colorado Probate Court Records

Probate files in Colorado are maintained at the location where the case was opened. Outside Denver, probate matters are handled in the District Court for the county; within Denver, they're managed by the Denver Probate Court. The location, in this case, is generally the county where the decedent lived at death (or, if not a Colorado resident, any county where the decedent owned property).

Begin by identifying the county associated with the estate. Once the county is known, records can be located by:

Contacting the clerk's office for the District Court in that county (or the Denver Probate Court for Denver cases). Most clerks accept requests by email, mail, or in person and can run a name search if the case number is unknown.
Checking statewide tools, e.g., the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search shows daily dockets (calendar information) but not complete case files.
Looking for older files at the Colorado State Archives (selected counties/years). If Archives staff can't find an index hit, they'll ask for a case number from the originating court.

Access to court records is governed by Chief Justice Directive 05-01 (as amended Feb. 20, 2024) and related rules. Certain materials, especially in guardianship/conservatorship or cases involving minors, may be restricted or redacted.

How to Request Colorado Probate Court Records Online

Online access varies by court, but the following options commonly apply:

Official online request forms/email requests: Many courts accept electronic request forms or email submissions for copies, certified copies, and searches. Example:
- The Denver Probate Court offers an online records request portal and accepts email requests, noting that the statewide index generally does not extend back before 1988.
Statewide platforms:
- The third-party partner of the judicial branch (subscription/fee) can be used to search names and view registers of action for many Colorado trial courts
- The Judicial Branch Docket Search helps confirm settings and basic docket information; however, it is not a comprehensive document repository.

Typical online/remote request fees (exact amounts vary by court) include:

Copy: $0.25/page
Certified or exemplified copy: $20 per document
Name search (when no case number is provided): $5 per name
Off-site file retrieval/postage: charged when applicable

Commonly requested probate forms (statewide):

How to Access Colorado Probate Court Records In Person

In-person requests can be made at the appropriate courthouse during business hours. Bring the decedent's full name, approximate year of death/filing, and case number if known. Public terminals may be available, and staff can retrieve files on request. Viewing is typically free; copy, certification, search, and retrieval fees apply.

Some examples include:

Denver Probate Court

1437 Bannock St.,

Room 230,

Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 606-2303

Fees posted include $0.25/page copies, $20 certification/exemplification, $5/name search, and off-site retrieval when needed.

Jefferson County (District Court/Combined Court)

Records requests accepted by email or mail; clerk's records line: (720) 772-2570; jeffcorecordrequest@judicial.state.co.us; address:

100 Jefferson County Pkwy,

Golden, CO 80401.

Boulder County (Combined Court)

1777 6th St.,

Boulder, CO 80302;

P.O. Box 4249

Phone: (303) 441-3750.

When a file is older or stored off-site, expect a retrieval time and a retrieval fee. If a record is sealed or contains protected information, access must be obtained through a court order in accordance with the statewide public-access policy.

If the decedent's estate qualified as a "small estate," some assets may be transferred without opening a court case by using JDF 999 (Small Estate Affidavit), which cites C.R.S. § 15-12-1201. This can be useful when searching yields no probate case because one was never opened.

How Long Are Colorado Probate Records Available?

Colorado uses a judicial retention schedule rather than a single "one-size-fits-all" rule. For trusts, estates, and most probate (PR) cases, the court file and transcripts are kept permanently. Wills that are filed ("lodged" or "probated") are also permanent, while deposited wills (left with the court during the testator's lifetime) are kept for 100 years. A narrow class of "demands where no probate case exists" is kept for 50 years. Guardianship and conservatorship files have their own timelines: adult protective-proceeding PR files are permanent if active or 80 years from the filing date if terminated/deceased, while minor guardianship/conservatorship files are retained for 5 years after the year of termination. Electronic case-management records are treated as permanent until further notice. Older files may be transferred to the State Archives for long-term storage.

State Probate Courts: What You Need to Know

Outside Denver, county District Courts hear probate matters. Inside the City & County of Denver, the Denver Probate Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over estates, trusts, guardianships, and related proceedings. Substantive law is derived from the Colorado Probate Code (Title 15), specifically Article 12 (probate of wills & administration), Article 14 (guardianships & conservatorships), and the Colorado Uniform Trust Code (Article 5).

Can You Access Probate Records for Free?

Colorado's public-access policy (Chief Justice Directive 05-01) aims to provide reasonable public access while protecting confidential information. In practice, viewing non-confidential records at the courthouse is free at clerk/kiosk terminals. Online, the statewide Docket Search is free for calendars; CoCourts.com is a paid register-of-actions service. Copying and authentication do carry fees: the Judicial Branch lists $20 per certification/exemplification under § 13-32-104, and the Denver Probate Court posts $0.25/page copies, $20 certification/exemplification, $5 per-name search (when you don't have a case number), and $15 off-site retrieval.

What to Do If You Can't Find a Probate Record

Those who experience difficulty finding a probate record in Colorado may do one of the following:

Confirm Location: Estates usually start where the decedent was domiciled/resided, or, if not a Colorado resident, any county where property was located.
Consider access limits: Some materials (e.g., certain guardianship records, those involving minors) are restricted or redacted under CJD 05-01; online views may differ from what staff can provide in person.
Broaden your parameters: Try variant name spellings and a wider filing window; ask the clerk for a name search if you lack a case number.
Check older/off-site holdings: Files may be at off-site storage or the State Archives; clerks can direct you to the correct repository.
No probate may exist: Small estates often skip court using the Small Estate Affidavit (JDF 999) under C.R.S. § 15-12-1201, which means there isn't a probate case to find.