Denver Probate & Estate Administration
Trusted Denver probate counsel for personal representatives, surviving spouses, and out-of-state families — informal probate in the Denver Probate Court, small-estate affidavits, beneficiary-deed transfers, and trust administration on flat, transparent pricing.
Serving Denver, Cherry Creek, LoDo, Capitol Hill, and communities throughout Colorado.
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Denver Probate & Estate Administration
When a loved one passes away, the legal and financial responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Your probate lawyer guides executors, personal representatives, and successor trustees through every step of estate settlement — from filing the initial petition through final distributions. Whether the estate goes through formal probate or is administered through a trust, your lawyer ensures legal requirements are met, creditors are properly handled, and beneficiaries receive what they're entitled to.
What We Offer
Probate Court Representation
Guide executors and personal representatives through the probate process, including court filings, hearings, and compliance with state probate law.
Trust Administration
Help successor trustees fulfill their fiduciary duties, manage trust assets, and make distributions according to trust terms.
Executor & Trustee Guidance
Advise fiduciaries on their legal obligations, potential liabilities, and best practices for transparent estate management.
Estate Asset Management
Identify, value, and manage estate assets including real estate, business interests, financial accounts, and personal property.
Creditor Claims & Estate Debts
Handle creditor notifications, evaluate claims, and resolve estate debts in accordance with state priority rules.
Beneficiary Distributions
Prepare accountings, obtain required approvals, and manage final distributions to beneficiaries and heirs.
Probate & Estate Administration in Denver
Denver, CO Probate & Estate Administration Lawyers
When a parent or spouse dies owning a Denver home, retirement accounts, and perhaps equity compensation or a closely held business, someone has to step forward and administer the estate — usually while grieving, and often from another city or another state. As Denver probate lawyers, we guide personal representatives through every stage: filing the will and application with the Denver Probate Court — Denver is the only Colorado county with a dedicated probate court — obtaining letters testamentary through informal probate under the Colorado Uniform Probate Code (C.R.S. §15-10-101 et seq.), publishing notice and managing the four-month creditor claim period under C.R.S. §15-12-801, marshaling and valuing assets, and closing the estate cleanly. Colorado adopted the Uniform Probate Code in full, so most uncontested estates run on paperwork with minimal court supervision, and there are no statutory percentage-based fees.
Colorado gives Denver families two significant shortcuts. Estates whose personal property falls under the inflation-adjusted threshold in C.R.S. §15-12-1201 (roughly $86,000, adjusted annually) with no real estate in the decedent's sole name can skip probate entirely: heirs collect accounts and property with a notarized small-estate affidavit starting 10 days after death, with no court filing at all. And Denver real estate held under a recorded beneficiary deed (C.R.S. §15-15-401) or in a funded revocable trust passes outside probate altogether. Because Colorado imposes no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, most administrations involve no death-tax filing at all — only estates above the federal exemption of $15 million per person (2026, indexed going forward) require a federal estate tax return, which we prepare and coordinate with the estate's CPA alongside fiduciary income tax filings, RSU and stock-option transfers, trust administration, and business-interest transfers under the Colorado Uniform Limited Liability Company Act.
Most probate work does not require anyone to appear anywhere. Colorado law does not require a personal representative to live in Colorado, and we routinely administer Denver estates for children and siblings in Texas, California, or overseas — documents move by secure portal, filings are handled by our lawyers, and updates happen by phone and video on your schedule. Colorado law keeps an estate open at least six months, and straightforward informal administrations typically close in 6 to 12 months. We quote flat fees for defined phases of administration so the estate — not the family — bears predictable, disclosed costs. Call (719) 960-4396 to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Us
The Relevant Law Difference
- 1Compassionate approach during a difficult and emotional time
- 2Clear communication that keeps families informed throughout the process
- 3Experience with estates of all sizes, from straightforward to complex
- 4Coordination with CPAs, financial advisors, and appraisers
Recognition & Trust
Relevant Law guides personal representatives, successor trustees, and out-of-state families through Denver Probate Court administration and Colorado estate settlement with flat, transparent pricing.
Why Denver, CO clients choose us
- Informal probate under the Colorado Uniform Probate Code handled start to finish — most families never appear in court
- Small-estate affidavits, beneficiary-deed transfers, and trust administration under one roof
- Out-of-state personal representatives supported end to end, with administration run by phone, video, and secure portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Probate & Estate Administration
How much does probate cost in Denver?
Colorado has no statutory percentage-based probate fees, so the real costs are the Denver Probate Court filing fee (a few hundred dollars), publication costs, and legal fees. Most straightforward informal probates we handle run a few thousand dollars in flat-fee legal work, with complexity — business interests, equity compensation, multi-state real estate, federal estate tax returns — quoted separately and in writing before work begins. Legal fees are ordinarily paid from estate funds, not by the personal representative personally. You will see the full fee structure at the first consultation.
What is the Denver Probate Court and how is it different?
Denver is the only county in Colorado with a standalone Probate Court — everywhere else, probate runs through the district court. For families, the practical experience is similar: most uncontested Denver estates proceed through informal probate under the Colorado Uniform Probate Code, where the court registrar issues letters and the personal representative administers the estate without judicial hearings. The dedicated court does mean Denver filings, procedures, and registrar practices have their own local rhythms, which is where local counsel earns its fee.
Do I have to live in Colorado to be a personal representative?
No. Colorado law allows an out-of-state personal representative to serve without appointing a resident agent. In practice we administer Denver estates for personal representatives across the country: filings are handled by our lawyers, signatures move by secure portal, and check-ins happen by phone or video. Most of our out-of-state clients never set foot in Colorado during the administration. This is one of the most common situations we handle, not an exception.
Does the estate owe any estate tax in Colorado?
Colorado imposes no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, so most Denver estates file no death-tax return at all. A federal estate tax return is required only above the federal exemption — $15 million per person for deaths in 2026, indexed for inflation going forward — and is due nine months after death. Even below the exemption, we review whether filing a return to elect portability of a deceased spouse's unused exemption makes sense for the surviving spouse, especially for estates with appreciating Denver real estate and equity. We prepare the return, coordinate valuations, and time disclaimers as part of the administration.
Is probate required if my parent had a living trust or beneficiary deed?
Usually no — assets titled in a revocable living trust pass outside probate through trust administration, which we handle as successor-trustee counsel: beneficiary notices, inventories, tax filings, and distributions. Denver real estate under a recorded beneficiary deed (C.R.S. §15-15-401) also passes outside probate. But trusts are only as good as their funding, and we regularly clean up the stray account or vehicle left outside the trust, often using the small-estate affidavit under C.R.S. §15-12-1201 instead of opening a probate. We review the trust and the titling before recommending any court filing.
Areas We Serve
Probate & Estate Administration Services Across Colorado
The Denver team provides probate & estate administration services throughout Colorado. Denver is served by Relevant Law's Colorado Springs regional hub.Whether you're located in Cherry Creek, LoDo, Capitol Hill, or anywhere in the surrounding area, your lawyer provides the same high-quality legal services.
Practice Breadth in Denver
We also help Denver businesses with formation, contracts, M&A, and succession — so the same trusted office handles both your family plan and your company's legal foundation.
Also Available
Business Law
Formation, contracts, M&A, and ongoing advisory counsel for Denver businesses.
Also Available
Business Formation
LLC and corporation formation, operating agreements, and entity structuring for Denver founders.
Also Available
Contracts & Agreements
Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation for Denver businesses.
Also Available
Mergers & Acquisitions
Buy-side and sell-side M&A support for Denver owners and acquirers.
Also Available
Business Succession
Buy-sell agreements, transition planning, and exit strategy for Denver business owners.
Also Available
Estate Planning
Wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for Denver families.
Ready to Schedule a Consultation?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your probate & estate administration needs. Serving Denver, Cherry Creek, LoDo, Capitol Hill and communities throughout Colorado.
Relevant Law offices are independently owned and operated by licensed attorneys.