Small Estate Affidavit Colorado - Small Estate Affidavit Form

Preparing a Small Estate Affidavit in Colorado is a beneficial way to administer the estate of a deceased person without having to go through the long, drawn out process of probate court proceedings.

The use of a Small Estate Affidavit for Colorado is limited to situations where the deceased person did not have a lot of assets. To qualify in Colorado, the estate in question must be valued below $66,000.

The major function of the Colorado Small Estate Affidavit is:

To inform the court that the estate in question meets the requirements of a small estate
And, that the simplified summary probate administration should be initiated instead

Also, this simplified process entitles the executor of the document to receive possession and ownership of the deceased person’s property without having to go through the formality of probate.

The person completing the Small Estate Affidavit Colorado form must also swear to make proper notice to other claimants, if any.

Fill out and print a free Colorado Small Estate Affidavit form in just minutes online.

While the major legal requirement for utilizing a Small Estate Affidavit in Colorado is the total worth of the decedent’s property, there are a number of factors you should consider to ensure that the estate administration goes as smoothly as possible.

How to fill out a Small Estate Affidavit Colorado form

The Small Estate Administration process in Colorado is started when the affiant makes the application at the appropriate local court in Colorado where the decedent passed.

The appropriate court may be a surrogate’s court, probate court or circuit court, whichever court is responsible for probate matters where the person died in Colorado and the estate is located.

There is usually a waiting period of about 45 days before Small Estate proceedings in Colorado can be started, however, the court may waive the waiting period with good cause.

While there is no formal process as to how a Colorado Small Estate Affidavit must be drafted, a few relevant specifics must be included:

The name and address of the deceased person
Whether or not the deceased person had written a will
A list of all the assets in the estate, with specific information on all of them including all account numbers. The assets may include bank accounts, insurance policies, investment accounts and cars and boats
Whether there are any unpaid debts by the deceased including funeral expenses. If there are, the name and address of each creditor, specifying the amount owed to each one
A list of everyone holding property due to the estate, with the particular property stated, as well as the name and address of the individual
A list of everyone entitled to receive property from the estate, stating their name, age, address and relationship with the deceased person
That notice will be given to other successors and creditors notifying them of the affiant’s intention to lay claim to the estate
That the affiant understands under penalty of perjury that the Small Estate Affidavit Colorado form is not false or misleading

Sometimes a Colorado Small Estate Affidavit might not be the right course of action for you to take, it depends on the deceased person’s assets and the conditions of their financial health.

For example, a Small Estate Affidavit for Colorado should not be filed when:

There are minor or disabled beneficiaries
The heirship may be disputed
There are creditors or funeral expenses yet to be settled
The will might be contested, ambiguous or of questionable validity
All estate assets are not known
Probate proceedings have already been initiated

A Colorado Small Estate Affidavit must be notarized

Once you have filled out your free Colorado Small Estate Affidavit form completely, it must be sworn and signed in the presence of a local notary public.

A certified copy of the death certificate is also required to be filed along with the Small Estate Affidavit in Colorado. The death certificate can be obtained from the local health department for a nominal fee.

After the Colorado Small Estate Affidavit has been filed, the normal court process for Small Estate Administration takes place, with the affiant receiving the court’s permission to take over the estate, taking into consideration the provisions of the law with regards to creditors as well as court costs and other expenses.

After satisfying all claims, the estate’s assets can then be distributed, either in accordance with the will, or with the laws of intestacy, when there is no will.

Fill out and print a free Small Estate Affidavit form for Colorado in just minutes online.