The Denver Probate Court, referred to as the 24th Judicial District, encompasses all of the City and County of Denver. The Colorado Constitution Article VI § 9(3) created the Denver Probate Court and defines its jurisdiction. The Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over "all matters of probate, settlements of estates of deceased persons, appointment of guardians, conservators and administrators, and settlement of their accounts, the adjudication of the mentally ill, and such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law." The Denver Probate Court also has jurisdiction over Extreme Risk Protection Order matters filed within Denver County.
Establishment of the Probate Court came as part of legislation that reorganized the state court system. Prior to that establishment, Probate, Juvenile and Mental Health cases were handled by justices of the peace as well as municipal and county courts. The legislation moved these case classes under district court's jurisdiction. David Brofman, who presided over Probate matters as a Denver County Judge since 1951, became the first Judge of Denver Probate Court in 1965.
Denver's Probate Presiding Judge, Elizabeth D. Leith is appointed by the Governor. Magistrate, Beth A. Tomerlin, is hired by the Presiding Judge.
The Court is closed on State Holidays. Please review the State Holiday Schedule for a full list of State Holidays.
The Denver Probate Court hears probate matters within Denver County only. For counties other than Denver visit Courts by District.
Hourly pay parking is available on the streets surrounding the courthouse and surface lots in the area charge both hourly and daily rates.
For Jury Information, please contact the Jury Department.
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Join us for Free Legal Resource Day at the Denver City and County Building on Thursday, October 24, 2024!
Chief Judge Orders and Directives Judges and Staff Policies & Procedures Virtual Courtrooms
Denver District Court, Denver Probate Court, Denver County Court, and Denver Juvenile Court in conjunction with the Denver Bar Association Access to Justice Committee present this great opportunity to attend free classes on Family Law Matters, Probate Matters, and County Court Civil Matters from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please see below for the classes offered and their times and locations *:
Courtroom 224
Courtroom 209
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Protection Orders
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Trial Preparation
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: Mental Health and the Probate Court
9:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Landlord/Tenant Issues
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Guardianship vs. Custody
11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: Divorce and Custody 101
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: What to Do When Someone Dies
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: BREAK
12:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.: BREAK
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Small Claims
1:45p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Guardianship and Conservatorship
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Estate Planning
*Please keep in mind that class time and location are subject to change.
We are also offering the opportunity to register for free "Ask-an-Attorney" clinics as well as connecting with community vendors providing information about local resources and services.
For any questions, please contact the Denver District Court Self-Help Center by phone at 303-606-2442 or by email at DenverDistrictSelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us .
The Denver Probate Court does not accept pro se filings by fax or email. Pro se filings may be submitted in person or by mail to the address below.
1437 Bannock Street, Room 230
Denver, CO 80202
As you step off the elevator on the second floor, turn left. The Clerk's Office is at the end of the hall on the right.
The Self-Help Center provides procedural and general probate information to parties not represented by an attorney. Pro Se assistance can be provided in person in Room 230, by telephone at (303) 606-2502 or by email at DPCSelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us.
1437 Bannock Street, Room 230
Denver, CO 80202
As you step off the elevator on the second floor, turn left. The Self-Help Center is located around the corner at the end of the hall. Please be aware that the self-help center line is separate from the clerk's office line.
Need legal advice? Sign up to speak with a volunteer attorney regarding your probate related matter. More information can be found in our Volunteer Attorney Clinic Flyer.
Forms and instructions for initiating a probate case are not specific to the Denver Probate Court and can be found on the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
Forms specific to the Denver Probate Court are as follows:
Records and search requests may be submitted in person, over the phone at 303-606-2303, by mail or by email sent to DenverProbateRecordsRequest@judicial.state.co.us. You may also submit your request using our online portal. Please include the following information where applicable: case number(s), party's name, date of death, date of birth, county of residence and documents being requested. Please note that the statewide index for records does not go further back than 1988. For records that were filed in counties other than Denver prior to 1988, please contact those counties directly. Please see below for a list of fees that may apply.
Search Request Fee: $5.00 per name search (will be required upfront if you do not know the case number you are requesting records from)
Copy Fee: $0.25 per page
Certification Fee: $20.00 each
Exemplification Fee: $20.00 each
Offsite Record Retrieval: $15.00 per case
Postage: $1.00 for 10 pages
Transcripts Requests can be made using the Transcript Request Form.
Digital Recording Requests can be made using the Digital Recording Request Form.
A conservator is a person at least 21 years of age who is appointed by the court to manage the estate of a protected person. The respondent, the individual who is the subject of the proposed conservatorship, must reside in the county in which the petition is filed. If the respondent does not reside in Colorado, the petition may be filed in any county of this state in which property of the respondent is located. See Guardian and Conservator for additional information.
A conservator may be appointed for a minor if the court determines that the minor owns money or property requiring management or protection that cannot otherwise be provided or has or may have business affairs that may be put at risk or prevented because of the minor’s age, or that money is needed for support and education and that protection is necessary or desirable to obtain or provide money, pursuant to 15-14-401(1)(a) C.R.S.
A conservator may be appointed for any individual if they are unable to effectively receive or evaluate information or both or communicate decisions, even with the use of appropriate and reasonably available technological assistance, or because the individual is missing, detained or unable to return to the United States; and that individual has property that will dissipate unless management is provided or money is needed for support and that protection is necessary or desirable to obtain or provide money, pursuant to15-14-401(1)(b) C.R.S.
A guardian is a person at least 21 years of age who is appointed by the court to manage the welfare of a minor or incapacitated person. The respondent, the individual who is the subject of the guardianship, must reside or be located in the county in which the petition is filed. See Guardian and Conservator for additional information.
A guardian may be appointed for a minor under the age of 18, or under certain circumstances up to age 21, if it is in the minor’s best interest; and the parents’ consent, all rights have been terminated, the parents are unwilling or unable to exercise their rights, or a previously appointed third party guardian has subsequently died or become incapacitated and has not made an appointment of a guardian by will or written instrument pursuant to 15-14-204(2) C.R.S.
A guardian may be appointed for an adult if they are incapacitated and their needs cannot be met by less restrictive means, pursuant to 15-14-311 C.R.S. An incapacitated adult is one who is unable to effectively receive or evaluate information or both or make or communicate decisions to such an extent that the individual lacks the ability to satisfy essential requirements for physical health, safety, or self-care, even with the appropriate and reasonably available technological assistance.
A request for approval of a proposed settlement of claims on behalf of a minor or an adult in need of protection pursuant to C.R.S. 15-14-401 may be presented in accordance with Colorado Rules of Probate Procedure (C.R.P.P.) rule 62.
A request may be presented formally or informally to appoint a personal representative over a decedent’s estate for the purposes of administration. See Trust, Estates and Wills for additional information.
Pursuant to 15-12-614 C.R.S., an informal request may be presented to appoint a special administrator over a decedent’s estate to protect the estate prior to the appointment of a general personal representative, or if a prior appointment has been terminated. When it is necessary to preserve or secure proper administration, including circumstances where a general personal representative cannot or should not act, the request may be presented formally with notice. The formal appointment may be requested as an emergency without notice.
When a decedent leaves an interest in real property, any interested person or person who may be affected may petition the court to determine heirs and the descent of intestate property, or devisees under a will and the succession of testate property.
A detailed request for release of remains may accompany a Petition for Determination of Heirs or a formal request for appointment of personal representative.
The Denver Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine heirship for the purposes of inheritance and/or if the child is over the age of 21. The remains and/or blood spot card also must be in the custody of the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner in Denver County.
Wills may be deposited with the court prior to the death of the Testator for a fee. A deposited will may be withdrawn by the testator with valid photo ID or upon review of a notarized letter from the testator requesting withdrawal.
Wills may be lodged with the court after the death of the Testator pursuant to 15-11-516 C.R.S. Lodged wills are retained by the court. The court may consider a Motion for Release of a lodged will filed into an existing estate matter, once appointment and/or administration has concluded.
A trustee may register the trust in the principal place of administration pursuant to 15-5-205-207 C.R.S.
A Petition may be presented to request the court’s intervention in the administration of a trust pursuant to 15-5-201 C.R.S.
Extreme Risk Protections Orders (also known as ERPOs and/or the Red Flag Law), were effective January 1, 2020, per Joint Order Regarding Administration of Actions Filed Pursuant to 13-14.5-101 C.R.S., all actions brought under 13-14.5-101 C.R.S. are to be filed with the Denver Probate Court. For statewide ERPO procedures and forms , see Extreme Risk Protection Orders.
To be considered for Denver Probate Court-Appointed Counsel Appointments please see Policies and Procedures for additional details.
Denver Probate Court requires Attorney's to file electronically via the Colorado Court's E-Filing system. Should an attorney wish to submit pleadings in paper format, a fee of $50.00 per filing would apply. See the Amended Administrative Order Regarding Mandated E-Filing of Probate Cases for more information. For Attorney E-Filing Information please visit the Colorado Judicial Branch Website.
This list is published by the Denver Probate Court as a public service in compliance with Colorado Revised Statute §13-14.5-114 (2). The material presented is intended to be informational and should not be construed as an endorsement of any of the entities listed.
If you are seeking crisis intervention, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, or counseling, the following is a list of community resources available to all in the Denver Metro Area.
