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Colorado Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

Colorado PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for Fremont County: Key information about your local probate court (District Court in Colorado) for Fremont County.
How Probate Works in Colorado: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Fremont County's probate court.
- Here are links to:
  - Colorado Probate Forms and the
  - Colorado State Probate Court Website.
Small Estates Procedures in Colorado: Learn how to use Colorado's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.
- In Colorado, there's an Affidavit procedure for estates that are less than $70,000. This limit only applies to assets that would otherwise pass through probate, so excludes all joint tenancy property and all assets that pass by beneficiary designation, like life insurance and payable on death accounts. There is a ten-day waiting period.
  
  You can get the forms required here.
  
  Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. 15-12-1201
  
  There's also a summary probate procedure for estates whose value is less than the value of personal property held by the decedent as trustee (so living trust assets don't count), exempt property allowance, family allowance, costs of administration, funeral expenses, and medical expenses for last illness.
  
  Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. 15-12-1203
Colorado Estate Taxes:
- Colorado, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.
Avoiding Probate in Colorado. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
- Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

Bankruptcy & Debt

MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
- for Fremont County, Colorado (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
Colorado BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Colorado law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy.
- Federal Exemptions available in Colorado?:
  - No. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-54-107
- Colorado Homestead Exemption
  - Real property, mobile home, manufactured home, or house trailer you occupy to $250,000; $350,000 if owner, spouse, or dependent is disabled or age 60 or older; sale proceeds exempt 2 years after received (husband & wife may double)
- Colorado Vehicle Exemption
  - Motor vehicles or bicycles used for work to $12,000; to $25,000 if used by a debtor or by a dependent who is disabled or age 60 or older
Colorado BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

Colorado Unemployment Benefits

Benefit Amounts in Colorado: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
  - $25 per week
- Maximum:
  - $781 per week
- Duration:
  - In Colorado, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law.
Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Colorado.
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
  - 800-388-5515
Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.
Colorado Wage & Hour Law
- Colorado Minimum Wage:
  - The minimum wage in Colorado is $14.42 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Colorado must be paid at least $14.42 an hour.
- Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Colorado and whether they apply to you.
- Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Colorado.
- Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Colorado.
  - In Colorado, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $11.40 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14.42 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.