JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 1 of 7
JDF 907
Instructions for Probate without a Will
These standard instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal
advice about your case. There may be exceptions to the information outlined below. Please
consult with and attorney if you have specific questions about the Decedent’s estate. If you
choose to represent yourself, you are bound by the same rules and procedures as you would
be if you were an attorney.
Do I Need to File Probate Documents with the Court?
1.
Did the Decedent own real estate?
❑Yes ❑No
The following assets are not counted in number 1 above:
◆
Real Estate titled in joint tenancy with a surviving joint tenant.
◆
Real Estate titled with a beneficiary deed.
2.
Did the Decedent own non-real estate assets with a total value greater than $80,000.00?
❑Yes ❑No
The following assets are not counted in number 2 above:
◆
Assets owned in joint tenancy with a surviving joint tenant.
◆
Assets with beneficiary designations, such as Payable-on-Death (POD) or Transferable
on Death (TOD) accounts, and some life insurance policies and retirement accounts.
If you answered “No” to number 1 and 2, you may not need to file court documents. See
Instructions for Completing Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property - JDF 998.
If you answered “Yes” to either 1 or 2, please read the information below:
How Can I File – Informally or Formally?
A probate case may be commenced in one of two ways.
1.
By Application to the Registrar (Informal Proceeding). The Registrar may appoint a
Nominee as Personal Representative without prior notice to any Interested Persons, if the
Nominee has priority for appointment. The Applicant must provide the Registrar with proof
of priority for appointment, which may include documents in addition to the Application
such as JDF 912 – Renunciation and/or Nomination of Personal Representative. See §15-
12-203, C.R.S.
2.
By Petition to the Court (Formal Proceeding). The Probate Judge, Magistrate or Registrar
may appoint a Personal Representative and determine Heirs after notice to all Interested
Persons and after hearing on any objections.
If you need assistance with legal decisions, you should contact an attorney.
Court staff cannot advise you.
JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 2 of 7
Common Terms
Applicant: A person who files an Application for Informal Appointment of a
Personal Representative.
Creditor/Claimant: A person or entity to whom the Decedent or the estate has a financial
or other obligation.
Decedent: The person who passed away.
Devisee: A person or entity designated in a Will to receive real or personal
property.
Estate: All of the property (real or personal – non-real estate) owned by a
person on the date of death that is subject to probate.
Formal: Opening an estate after prior notice to Interested Persons.
Heir: Person(s) entitled to the property of the Decedent under statutes of
Intestate Succession. See Heirship Tree on page 6.
Informal: Opening an estate without prior notice to Interested Persons.
Interested Persons: Persons identified by Colorado Law who must be given notice of a
court proceeding. The term may include heirs, children, spouse,
devisees, beneficiaries, creditors, claimants, and persons having
priority to serve as personal representative, depending on the
circumstances.
Intestate: Estate in which the Decedent did not leave a will.
Intestate Succession: By Colorado law, a list of who will inherit the property when someone
dies without a Will. (§15-11-101, et. seq., C.R.S.)
Letters: A document issued by the Court, identifying the authority of the
Personal Representative.
Nominee: The person seeking appointment as Personal Representative.
Petitioner: A person who files a Petition for Formal Appointment of Personal
Representative and/or Determination of Heirs.
Personal Representative: A person at least 21, resident or non-resident of Colorado, who
has been appointed to administer the estate of the Decedent;
previously referred to as Executor/Executrix.
Right of Survivorship: Property that is owned by two or more people, such that upon the
death of one of the co-owners, his or her share passes to the
remaining co-owners without the necessity of probate.
Tenants in Common: Property that is owned by two or more people, such that upon the
death of one of the co-owners, his or her share passes to his or her
estate rather than to the remaining co-owners. Probate is
necessary.
Testate: Estate in which the Decedent left a will.
JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 3 of 7
If you do not understand this information, please contact an attorney.
General Information to File Your Case in Probate Court
◆
If the Decedent resided or was domiciled in a Colorado county, the Application/Petition must be
filed in that county.
◆
If the Decedent resided or was domiciled in another state, the Application/Petition may be filed in
the Colorado County where the Decedent owned property.
◆
The Court cannot act on an Application or Petition before 120 hours have elapsed since the time
of death.
◆
The nominated Personal Representative must be 21 years of age or older.
◆
A creditor cannot file an Application/Petition for Appointment of Personal Representative until
45 days have elapsed from the date of death.
◆
For additional information, please review §§15-12-101 through 1102, C.R.S.
◆
If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to access the courts, please
contact your local ADA Coordinator. Contact information can be obtained from the following
website: http://www.courts.state.co.us/Administration/HR/ADA/Coordinator_List.cfm
Fees
A filing fee of $199.00 is required. If you are unable to pay, you must complete the Motion to File
without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit (JDF 205) and submit it to the Court. Once you
submit the completed JDF 205 form and a blank Order (JDF 206), the Court will decide whether you
need to pay the filing fee.
Other fees that a party to the case may encounter are as follows:
❑
Certification of Orders and Letters $20.00
❑
Copy of Documents $ .75 per page
Forms
To access a form online go to www.courts.state.co.us and click on the “Forms” tab. The
packet/forms are available in PDF or WORD by selecting Probate - Decedent’s Estate - New Case -
Without a Will. You may complete a form online and print or you may print it and type or print legibly
in black ink.
Read these instructions carefully to determine what forms you may need. You have two choices on
how to file. You can file informally or formally as described above. The table below identifies the
forms that you may need to open the estate.
Informal
Formal
JDF 916 – Application for Informal
Appointment of Personal Representative
JDF 922 - Petition for Adjudication of
Intestacy and Formal Appointment of
Personal Representative
JDF 911 - Acceptance of Appointment
JDF 911 - Acceptance of Appointment
JDF 912 - Renunciation and/or
Nomination of Personal Representative
JDF 912 - Renunciation and/or Nomination of
Personal Representative
JDF 721 - Irrevocable Power of Attorney
JDF 721 - Irrevocable Power of Attorney
JDF 711- Notice of Hearing
JDF 917 - Order for Informal Appointment of
Personal Representative
JDF 923 - Order of Intestacy, Determination of
Heirs and Formal Appointment of Personal
Representative
JDF 915 - Letters of Administration
JDF 915 - Letters of Administration
JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 4 of 7
Steps to Filing Your Case
Step 1: Complete Forms.
The caption must be completed on all forms filed. Be sure to make a copy for your own records of
all of the forms you file with the Court.
❑
District Court ❑Denver Probate Court
County, Colorado Court Address:
COURT USE ONLY
In the Matter of the Estate of:
Deceased
Attorney or Party Without Attorney (Name and Address):
Phone Number: Email:
FAX Number: Atty. Reg. #:
Case Number:
Division: Courtroom:
NAME OF FORM
❑
Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative (JDF 916).
or
❑
Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative
(JDF 922).
❑
Complete all applicable sections on the form.
❑
All heirs living on the Decedent’s date of death must be listed. (§15-11-101, C.R.S. to §15-11-
108, C.R.S.). Create a family tree, if necessary. See heirship tree on page 6 of the
Instructions. Use the following as a guide when completing paragraph 8.
Address
(or date of death)
Age
(if Minor)
Relationship
(e.g. spouse, child, brother,
guardian forspouse, etc.)
Date of Death 10.15.08
N/A
Spouse of Decedent
123 South Street, Denver, CO
80123
N/A
Sister of Decedent
456 North Street, Denver, CO
80123
N/A
Brother of Decedent
850 Clark Street, Denver, CO
80266
N/A
Guardian for Joe Smith
Date of Death 10.1.05
N/A
Sister of John Smith
989 North Avenue, Paris, CA
90222
12
Nephew, son of Sandy Clark
❑
All addresses must be complete and include zip codes.
❑
List all names previously used by the Decedent in the caption, for example Robert Smith aka
Bob Smith, aka Robert A. Smith, aka Robert Aaron Smith. This is important because assets
cannot be released if the name on a deed, bank account, etc. is different from the name
identified in the Letters.
❑
This form must be signed and dated.
❑
Acceptance of Appointment (JDF 911).
❑
The Nominee should complete the form and sign and date.
❑
Renunciation and/or Nomination of Personal Representative (JDF 912).
❑
To file informally, file this form for any heir who has priority for appointment. To file formally,
file this form for any heir who has priority for appointment or give notice of hearing to such
persons.
❑
If there are heirs under the age of 18, the Court may require a Conservator to be appointed.
JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 5 of 7
❑
This form must be signed and dated.
❑
Irrevocable Power of Attorney (JDF 721).
❑
The nominated Personal Representative must complete this form and sign it before a Notary
Public if he or she lives out-of-state.
❑
Notice of Hearing (JDF 711).
❑
For Formal Probate only, obtain a hearing date by contacting the Court to determine whether
an appearance hearing is required.
❑
If an appearance hearing is required, the court will set a date for a hearing before a Judge or
Magistrate. That date and time will be used for completing JDF 711 - Notice of Hearing.
❑
If an appearance hearing is not required, you may set a hearing without appearance for 8:00
a.m. on any weekday (excluding holidays), by completing and filing JDF 712 – Notice of
Hearing Without Appearance Pursuant to C.R.P.P. 24 (Rule 24 of the Colorado Rules of
Probate Procedures). If no objection is filed, the Court will rule on the matter as soon as
practical after the hearing or hearing without appearance date. Parties are not expected to
appear for matters set on the non-appearance docket.
❑
Mail or deliver the completed Notice of Hearing and all documents filed with the Court to
the persons listed in paragraph 9 of the Petition.
❑
If the address of any person listed in paragraph 9 or the identity of any heir is unknown,
notice must be given by publication (JDF 716).
❑
The Court may require notice to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office on behalf of any
heir whose address or identity is unknown.
❑
Order for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative (JDF 917).
or
❑
Order of Intestacy, Determination of Heirs and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative
(JDF 923).
❑
Complete all applicable sections in preparation for the Court’s signature. Identify and
calculate each heir’s share of the estate in paragraph 8. See §15-11-101, C.R.S. through §15-
11-114, C.R.S.
❑
Letters of Administration (JDF 915).
❑
Complete only the caption on this form. The Court will complete the remainder of the form.
❑
Letters are evidence of the Personal Representative’s appointment and proof of authority to
act on behalf of the estate.
❑
More than one set of certified Letters may be needed during the administration of the estate.
Provide the Court with the number of Letters that are needed immediately. Third parties
may require Letters to have been certified within the past 60 days. Letters may be requested
as needed.
❑
The cost to certify Letters is $20.00 for certification and $ .75 per copy.
Step 2: You are ready to file your papers with the Court.
Provide the Court with the documents completed in Step 1 above and pay the filing fee.
JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 6 of 7
Step 3: Requirements after the Court appoints a Personal Representative.
It is the responsibility of the Personal Representative to administer the estate. This includes collecting
assets, valuing the assets, paying claims and distributing the remaining assets in accordance with the
law. In addition, the Personal Representative is required to complete the forms listed below:
❑
Information of Appointment (JDF 940).
❑
This form informs heirs that the Personal Representative has been appointed and they may
contact the Personal Representative with their questions about the estate.
❑
This completed form must be sent to all heirs within 30 days from appointment. If the
address or identity of any heir is unknown, this form must also be sent to the Colorado
Attorney General’s Office.
❑
This form, including the completed Certificate of Service, must be filed with the Court.
❑
Notice to Creditors by Publication (JDF 943).
❑
This form is used to notify any potential creditors of the Decedent’s estate of the deadline
for filing any claims.
❑
Unless one year or more has elapsed since the death of the Decedent, the Personal
Representative must publish notice to creditors in a local newspaper once a week for three
consecutive weeks.
❑
Complete the form and provide to a local newspaper.
❑
The newspaper will provide you with Proof of Publication. File the Proof of Publication with the
Court.
❑
Notice to Creditors by Mail or Delivery (JDF 944).
❑
This form is used to notify any known and unpaid creditors of the Decedent’s estate of the
deadline for filing any claims.
❑
Unless one year or more has elapsed since the death of the Decedent, a Personal
Representative must send this form to any known creditors.
❑
Decedent’s Estate Inventory (JDF 941).
❑
This form must be completed within three months from the date of appointment.
❑
Identify all assets and encumbrances.
❑
Send the completed form to Interested Persons who request it or file the original with the
Court.
❑
Send a copy of the Inventory to the Attorney General, if heirs are unknown or if there is
not a person qualified to receive the distribution.
❑
This form does not need to be filed with the Court at this time.
❑
Interim/Final Accounting (JDF 942).
❑
Send the completed form to Interested Persons who request it.
❑
This form does not need to be filed with the Court at this time.
Step 4: Closing the Estate.
The Personal Representative must complete forms to close an estate. Instructions are available. To
determine which forms to file and to access the forms and instructions online go to
www.courts.state.co.us and click on the “Forms” tab and then select Probate.
JDF 907 – Instructions for Probate without a Will R: May 16, 2023 Page 7 of 7
And
If decedent was
married at the time of
death, the spouse is an
heir, unless the
decedent is survived by
a person with the right
to inherit property
pursuant to a
designated beneficiary
agreement. In that
case, the designated
beneficiary is an heir.
See §15-11- 102.5.
If decedent had children
(or descendants of pre-
deceased children), the
children/descendants are
also heirs, unless all of
them are
children/descendants of
the surviving spouse AND
the surviving spouse does
not have any surviving
children/descendants with
any other person. If the
spouse is not an heir
because the decedent is
survived by a designated
beneficiary, then the
children/descendants are
heirs regardless of their
relationship to any
surviving spouse.
Decedent's grandparents, or if both grandparents
on either side (maternal or paternal) are
deceased, the descendants of the pre-deceased
grandparents are also heirs.
Heirs are those people who are entitled by statute to the decedent’s property when there is no will (or
when the will does not dispose of all assets).
If none of the above, then:
If none, then:
Important Note: If any person who would be an heir died before decedent, then their children substitute for
them and become the decedent’s heirs. Therefore, grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, etc., must be considered when determining heirship. Heirs must survive
the decedent by at least 120 hours.
Decedent’s brothers and sisters (and
descendants of any pre-deceased brothers and
sisters) are the heirs.
And
If no descendants
survive the decedent,
surviving parents are
also heirs, unless the
decedent is survived
by a designated
beneficiary.