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Arapahoe County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Arapahoe County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Arapahoe County District Court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, also styled locally as Arapahoe County Combined Courts |
| Judicial district | 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County alone (C.R.S. § 13-5-119(1)) |
| Courthouse address | 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112 |
| Mailing address | Same address: 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112 |
| Other courthouse | Arapahoe County Courthouse, 1790 West Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120, handles county court business such as small claims and evictions |
| Probate registrar phone | 303-645-6600, option 3, or direct line 303-645-6827. In Arapahoe County, the clerk of the district court also serves as probate registrar. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on state holidays |
| First filing charge | $229 as of August 2026 for a first filing in a decedent's estate (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)) |
| Local forms | No local probate forms. Arapahoe County uses Colorado statewide JDF forms and publishes a local filing information sheet. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys are subject to mandatory electronic filing by 18th Judicial District order dated January 2025. Self-represented estate filers use in-person, mail, or the clerk email channels because the non-attorney system covers domestic relations and eviction cases only. |
| Case search | Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets. It is a calendar search, not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate is presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023, but Arapahoe County's virtual courtroom page says prior approval is needed for virtual appearance. Confirm with the assigned division. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/arapahoe-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms, build the estate settlement picture: accounts, real estate, debts, beneficiaries, and whether the decedent lived in Arapahoe County at death. In Colorado, an application goes to the probate registrar without notice to interested persons, while a petition goes before a judge or magistrate with notice (C.R.S. § 15-10-201(21), (26)). In Arapahoe County, the clerk of the district court also serves as the probate registrar, so a complete asset and debt picture helps the first review go more smoothly.
The local logistics matter too. The estate filing counter is in Centennial, not Littleton; the self-help center has shorter hours than the clerk's counter; the free probate clinic meets on one Wednesday each month; and recording against Arapahoe County real estate goes to a separate Clerk and Recorder office in Littleton. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families identify accounts and assets before they spend time on forms, travel, or a filing that needs to be corrected.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Arapahoe County is filed with the Clerk of the District Court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. The Arapahoe County Courthouse at 1790 West Littleton Blvd in Littleton is a separate facility used for county court business such as small claims and evictions.
Arapahoe County is the entire 18th Judicial District. The statute now states that the 18th Judicial District is composed of Arapahoe County (C.R.S. § 13-5-119(1)). That matters because the district and the county are the same place for this page.
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is in the county where the decedent was domiciled or resided at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled or resident in Colorado, in any county where the decedent's property was located at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201(1)). Although Colorado generally requires a term of court at the county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101), Arapahoe County has a specific rule allowing district judges assigned to the county to maintain offices outside the county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-119(2)(e)).
The same filing location serves all Arapahoe County communities, including Aurora, Bennett, Bow Mar, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Deer Trail, Englewood, Foxfield, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Sheridan, and unincorporated parts of the county.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Arapahoe County is the correct venue. The first proceeding belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled or resided at death, or, for a nonresident, where Colorado property was located (C.R.S. § 15-12-201(1)).
- Use the correct building. Estate filings go to the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. Do not take an estate filing to the Littleton courthouse, which handles county court business such as small claims and evictions.
- If there is a will, plan to send the original to the court. Arapahoe County's own filing sheet asks that original documents, including the will, come to the court. A living person cannot simply deposit a will with this district for safekeeping unless good cause is shown under the 18th Judicial District order dated January 14, 2025, which addresses C.R.S. § 15-11-515.
- Choose the route. An informal application goes to the probate registrar, while a formal petition goes before a judge or magistrate with notice. Colorado describes informal proceedings as those conducted without notice by an officer acting as registrar, and formal proceedings as proceedings before a judge with notice (C.R.S. § 15-10-201(21), (26)).
- Assemble the statewide JDF forms. Use JDF 705 as the probate case information sheet, JDF 910 for informal probate with a will, JDF 916 for informal appointment without a will, JDF 920 for formal probate with a will, or JDF 922 for formal appointment without a will. Arapahoe County publishes no local probate form or local cover sheet.
- File through the right channel. Attorneys are subject to the 18th Judicial District's January 2025 mandatory electronic filing order and may be charged $50 per document, as of January 2025, if the district must scan an attorney paper filing. A self-represented personal representative uses the channels Arapahoe County publishes: bring the papers to the Justice Center, mail them to 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112, or send Word or PDF documents to the clerk's office email while confirming the current practice with the clerk for a new case.
- Pay or request waiver of the first filing charge. The Judicial Branch's posted list shows $229 as of August 2026 for a first filing in a decedent's estate (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). Use JDF 205 and JDF 206 if you are asking to file without paying at the start.
- Wait for registrar review if the case is informal. In Arapahoe County, the clerk of the district court also serves as probate registrar. The court's probate phone route is 303-645-6600, option 3, or direct line 303-645-6827.
- Use local help before a hearing problem develops. The free probate clinic meets at the Justice Center on the second Wednesday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon in Courthouse 2, Room 107. The Arapahoe District Court Self-Help Center is in Courthouse II, Room 131, and helps with procedural questions during its posted hours.
- If a hearing is needed, use the statewide hearing forms and confirm with the assigned division. Arapahoe County publishes no probate setting schedule. Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible, but Arapahoe County's virtual courtroom page says virtual appearance requires prior approval, so confirm before the hearing (Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023).
- Obtain the authority document. Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issue on JDF 915. Informal appointment establishes the personal representative's status and powers (C.R.S. § 15-12-307(2)).
- Administer the estate. Give required notices, handle creditor issues, prepare the inventory on JDF 941, collect assets, pay valid expenses, and keep records for interested persons and the court.
- Handle real estate recording at the separate recording office when needed. The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Recording Division is at 5334 S. Prince Street in Littleton and is separate from the court.
- Close the estate. Informal closing uses JDF 965, and the small-estate closing statement uses JDF 966. A formal final settlement uses the statewide formal closing forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Arapahoe County
Colorado uses one statewide, court-approved JDF form set to open, administer, and close a decedent's estate, and Arapahoe County uses that same set. Arapahoe County publishes no local probate packet, no local probate cover sheet, and no county-specific probate form.
For an estate filing, the common statewide forms include JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet, JDF 906 or JDF 907 instructions, JDF 910 or JDF 916 for informal matters, JDF 920 or JDF 922 for formal matters, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. Arapahoe County adds a local filing information sheet that tells filers to send paperwork to the Justice Center and to send originals, including the will, to the court.
| Need | Form or resource |
|---|---|
| Choose a route | JDF 906 for probate with a will, JDF 907 for probate without a will |
| Open informally | JDF 910 with a will, JDF 916 without a will, plus the corresponding proposed order |
| Open formally | JDF 920 with a will, JDF 922 without a will, plus the corresponding proposed order |
| Qualify for appointment | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Give notice | JDF 940 Information of Appointment, JDF 943 Notice to Creditors by publication, JDF 944 Notice to Creditors by mail |
| Set or notice a hearing | JDF 709, JDF 710, JDF 711, JDF 712, and related statewide probate hearing forms |
| Inventory and closing | JDF 941 for the inventory, JDF 965 for informal closing, JDF 966 for small-estate closing |
| Arapahoe County local guidance | Local filing information sheet for estates, local self-help handout, and local document request form |
Timeline
- The clerk's counter at the Arapahoe County Justice Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closes on state holidays.
- The free probate clinic runs on the second Wednesday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Justice Center, Courthouse 2, Room 107. It is first come, first served, and each person may speak one to one with a volunteer attorney for up to twenty minutes.
- The virtual version of the probate clinic runs through the Arapahoe County Bar Association. After a person submits the clinic form, a volunteer attorney attempts contact by phone or email within seven days.
- The Arapahoe District Court Self-Help Center at the Justice Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- For records and document requests, the court's own form asks for three to five business days for a response. Records in an estate may require a government-issued photo ID.
- If a courthouse closes unexpectedly, the 18th Judicial District order dated April 29, 2026 says a person who had a hearing that day appears at 8:30 a.m. on the first business day after the closure unless the court gives a different instruction.
Local nuance
Arapahoe County-specific considerations
| Consideration | What it means locally |
|---|---|
| Two court buildings | Estate filings go to the Arapahoe County Justice Center at 7325 S. Potomac Street in Centennial. The Littleton courthouse handles county court business such as small claims and evictions. |
| County seat exception | Littleton is the county seat, but Arapahoe County district judges may maintain offices outside the county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-119(2)(e)). That is why the district court estate counter is in Centennial. |
| Single-county district | The 18th Judicial District is Arapahoe County alone under C.R.S. § 13-5-119(1), so no judge travels in from another county and no other county's estates are pooled here. |
| Registrar contact | The clerk of the district court also serves as the county's probate registrar. The court's phone system puts probate on 303-645-6600, option 3, with direct line 303-645-6827. |
| Local filing channels | Arapahoe County publishes in-person, mail, and clerk email channels for the public. The court also asks that originals, including the will, come to the court. |
| Will deposits | The 18th Judicial District order dated January 14, 2025 says the district does not accept a will or codicil for safekeeping under C.R.S. § 15-11-515 except for good cause shown. That order does not change what an open estate requires. |
| Attorney electronic filing | The 18th Judicial District order dated January 14, 2025 makes electronic filing mandatory for attorneys in every case type except infractions and small claims. The district charges an attorney $50 per document, as of January 2025, to scan a paper filing. |
| Recording address | The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Recording Division is at 5334 S. Prince Street in Littleton. It is a separate office from the court and takes in-person recordings by appointment. |
| Emergency closure rule | If a courthouse closes unexpectedly, the 18th Judicial District order dated April 29, 2026 sends hearings from the closure day to 8:30 a.m. on the next business day unless the court says otherwise. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2025 | The 18th Judicial District became Arapahoe County alone. | C.R.S. § 13-5-119(1) |
| January 14, 2025 | The 18th Judicial District made electronic filing mandatory for attorneys in every case type except infractions and small claims, with a $50 per document scanning charge for attorney paper filings as of January 2025. | Chief Judge Order 25-05 |
| January 14, 2025 | The 18th Judicial District confirmed that it does not accept a will or codicil for safekeeping except for good cause shown. | Chief Judge Order 25-06; C.R.S. § 15-11-515 |
| April 29, 2026 | The 18th Judicial District set the local procedure for courthouse closures, including next-business-day appearances at 8:30 a.m. unless the court instructs otherwise. | Chief Judge Order 26-02 |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Open the estate at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial if a court case is needed. The clerk of the district court also serves as probate registrar, and the court's probate phone route is 303-645-6600, option 3. If anything must be recorded against Arapahoe County real estate, that step is handled by the Clerk and Recorder's Recording Division at 5334 S. Prince Street in Littleton, a different office. | Sunset traces accounts, titles, and debts first, so the spouse can see what is in the estate and what passed outside it before filing in Centennial. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A trip may not be needed for every step. Arapahoe County publishes mail and clerk email channels for the public, the district self-help center answers procedural questions by phone or email, and the county bar's virtual probate clinic has a volunteer attorney attempt contact within seven days. Original documents, including the will, still need to reach the court. | Sunset builds the asset picture and probate packet remotely, helping the child avoid travel just to find a missing account, title, or form. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Open the estate at the Justice Center in Centennial and expect JDF 915 Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration to be the authority document a buyer, title company, or lender asks to see. If a hearing is needed, confirm with the assigned division because Arapahoe County publishes no probate setting schedule. Recording for the sale happens through the Clerk and Recorder's Recording Division in Littleton. | Sunset's asset discovery helps identify the mortgage, liens, accounts, and other assets that affect whether the sale can close. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe District Court Self-Help Center | Procedural help for self-represented district court matters, including estate questions. Staff do not give legal advice and do not accept filings at the self-help email. | Justice Center, Courthouse II, Room 131; 303-645-6845; [email protected]; Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Free probate clinic | Volunteer probate attorneys speak one to one with members of the public about wills, trusts, estates, powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships. The clinic does not create representation. | Second Wednesday of each month, 8:00 a.m. to noon, Justice Center, Courthouse 2, Room 107. Virtual clinic requests go through arapahoecountybar.org. |
| Arapahoe County Bar Association public resources | Hosts the probate clinic information and an 18th Judicial District low cost and slow pay attorney list. The list does not state practice areas. | arapahoecountybar.org/Helpful-Links |
| Colorado Legal Services, Denver office | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving Arapahoe County. Its published program areas do not include probate, so call to ask whether help is available. | 1560 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203; 303-837-1313. New applicants are taken Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during the posted intake hours. |
| Metro Volunteer Lawyers | Listed on the 18th Judicial District self-help resources page. Intake runs through Colorado Legal Services, and the program says some matters may be outside its practice areas. | Start with Colorado Legal Services at 303-837-1313. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF probate forms used in Arapahoe County. | coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate self-help hub | Statewide probate information, including forms and general court resources. | coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Public brochures, including resources for personal representatives and what to do when someone dies. | cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Colorado publishes self-help probate forms, and Arapahoe County has both a district court self-help center and a monthly volunteer-attorney probate clinic, but those resources do not replace counsel when the estate becomes contested, when a supervised administration is requested, when real estate must be sold, or when a creditor claim has to be litigated. A supervised administration carries a $198 charge as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(c)), and contested matters move the estate settlement from registrar review toward judge or magistrate involvement. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property before choosing the Arapahoe County filing path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture into an organized estate settlement packet, including the information needed for Colorado JDF forms and the local filing channels used at the Arapahoe County Justice Center.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate is contested, involves a sale of real estate, or needs advice beyond procedural self-help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney familiar with Arapahoe County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next filing step, and decide when professional help is worth bringing in.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Arapahoe County?
File at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. The Arapahoe County Courthouse at 1790 West Littleton Blvd in Littleton handles other court business such as small claims and evictions.
Can I file an Arapahoe County estate electronically?
Attorneys are subject to mandatory electronic filing in the 18th Judicial District under a January 2025 order. A person filing without a lawyer uses the public channels Arapahoe County publishes, which are in person at the Justice Center, by mail to 7325 S. Potomac Street, or by clerk email in Word or PDF while confirming current practice with the clerk.
What does it cost to open an estate in Arapahoe County?
The Judicial Branch's posted list shows $229 as of August 2026 for a first filing in a decedent's estate (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). JDF 205 and JDF 206 are the forms used to ask to file without payment at the start.
Does Arapahoe County have its own probate forms?
No. Arapahoe County uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms. The county does publish a local estate filing information sheet that tells the public where to send paperwork and reminds filers to send original documents, including the will, to the court.
Can I get free help with an Arapahoe County estate?
Yes. The Arapahoe District Court Self-Help Center provides procedural information at the Justice Center, and the free probate clinic meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon with volunteer probate attorneys. The clinic also has a virtual request process through the Arapahoe County Bar Association.
Can I appear remotely for an Arapahoe County probate hearing?
Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible (Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023). Arapahoe County's virtual courtroom page still says virtual appearance requires prior approval from the court, so confirm with the assigned division before relying on a remote appearance.
How do I look up an Arapahoe County probate case?
Use the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search and select Arapahoe County, the courthouse, and case class PR. The Docket Search is a calendar search, not a document search. Copies come from the court, and records in an estate may require a government-issued photo ID.
Do I have to travel to Colorado to settle an Arapahoe County estate?
Not for every step. Arapahoe County publishes mail and clerk email channels, the self-help center answers procedural questions by phone or email, and the probate clinic has a virtual request option. Original documents, including the will, still need to reach the court, and any required hearing appearance should be confirmed with the assigned division.
Why is the estate courthouse in Centennial when the county seat is Littleton?
Littleton is the county seat, but C.R.S. § 13-5-119(2)(e) allows district judges regularly assigned to Arapahoe County to maintain offices outside the county seat. The estate filing counter is at the Justice Center in Centennial.
Can I leave my will with the Arapahoe County District Court for safekeeping?
Not as a routine service. The 18th Judicial District order dated January 14, 2025 says the district does not accept a will or codicil for safekeeping under C.R.S. § 15-11-515 except for good cause shown. That order does not change what must be done after a death when an estate is opened.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.