Executor Duties in Colorado

Within 30 days after appointment, the personal representative sends an Information of Appointment to interested persons. Unless a year has passed since death, the representative publishes a notice to creditors at least once a week for three successive weeks; claims are due by the date in the notice (at least four months after first publication) and in any case within one year after death. Within three months after appointment, the representative prepares a sworn inventory with date-of-death values and encumbrances, sends it to interested persons who request it (or files it with the court), and sends a copy to the Attorney General if heirs or devisees are unknown. The representative pays claims, distributes the estate, and may close an unsupervised estate by a verified closing statement filed no earlier than six months after appointment or one year after death, whichever comes first, after sending it and a full written account to distributees and known unpaid claimants.

To act, a personal representative must be appointed by order of the court or registrar, qualify, and be issued letters; administration begins when letters issue. Filings go to the district court of the county where the decedent lived (Denver Probate Court in Denver), no sooner than 120 hours after death, and most proceedings must start within three years after death. Common Colorado Judicial Branch forms are the Application for Informal Probate (JDF 910) or Petition for Formal Probate (JDF 920), the Acceptance of Appointment (JDF 911), and Letters (JDF 915). Colorado uses "Letters Testamentary" when there is a will and "Letters of Administration" when there is not. A bond is generally not required in informal proceedings unless the will or court requires one.

The personal representative publishes a notice to creditors once a week for three weeks. Claims that arose before death are barred unless presented by the date in the notice (no earlier than four months after first publication), by the date in any written notice sent to a creditor, and in any case within one year after death.