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Bent County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Bent County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Bent County District Court, sitting at the Bent Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 16th Judicial District, shared with Crowley and Otero counties |
| Courthouse address | Bent Combined Court, 725 Bent Avenue, Las Animas, CO 81054 |
| Mailing address | 725 Bent Avenue, Las Animas, CO 81054 |
| Probate contact | Clerk of the District Court and Bent County probate registrar: (719) 456-1353 |
| Fax | (719) 456-0040. Call the clerk before using fax for probate paperwork. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed daily from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. |
| Opening fee | $229 for a first filing in a decedent's estate, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A small estate court case is $113, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)). |
| Local forms | No local probate forms are published for Bent County. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing and filing channels | Attorneys file through Colorado Courts E-Filing when the case type is in that system. Self-represented probate filers cannot use CCE for probate because the non-attorney system covers domestic relations and eviction case types only. Bent County publishes that, for cases not subject to electronic filing, self-represented parties may email pleadings to the court's published county email address or deliver them by U.S. Postal Service; you may also file in person. Audio and video exhibits cannot be emailed. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search includes Bent County, Bent Combined Court, and the PR probate case class. It shows hearing docket information, not filing copies. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate is presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Bent County's virtual courtroom page states that virtual appearance requires prior court approval. Confirm with the division before the hearing. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/bent-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Colorado probate path, list the decedent's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, and beneficiaries. In Bent County, that work determines whether you are preparing an informal application for the probate registrar, a formal petition for a judge, or a non-court collection process for personal property.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they file. That is especially useful when the personal representative needs a complete picture before mailing or emailing papers to the Bent Combined Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Bent County probate is filed in the Bent County District Court at the Bent Combined Court, 725 Bent Avenue in Las Animas. Bent County is part of Colorado's 16th Judicial District with Crowley and Otero counties, but venue is county-based: a decedent's estate is generally filed where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201), and Colorado requires district court terms at each county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
Use the Las Animas courthouse for estates of people domiciled anywhere in Bent County. Do not confuse the town of Las Animas, where the Bent County courthouse sits, with the separate Colorado county of a similar name.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right Colorado opening path. An informal case uses an application to the probate registrar under Colorado's Probate Code, and a formal case uses a petition for a judge. If the estate settlement only involves personal property and the statewide affidavit conditions fit, the court case may not be needed.
- Prepare the statewide JDF probate forms. Common starting forms include JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet, JDF 910 Application for Informal Probate of a Will, JDF 916 Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative, JDF 920 Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment, and JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at Bent Combined Court, 725 Bent Avenue, Las Animas, CO 81054. A self-represented probate filer may file in person, send papers by U.S. Postal Service, or email pleadings to the court's published county email address for case types not subject to CCE. Audio and video exhibits cannot be emailed.
- Pay the required opening amount or submit a fee-waiver request. The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)); a qualifying small estate court case is $113, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)).
- If the case is formal or a hearing is set, follow the court's notice instructions. Colorado formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and hearing notices use the statewide JDF probate notice forms.
- Confirm remote appearance before relying on it. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible, but the Bent County virtual courtroom page says virtual appearance requires prior approval from the court.
- After appointment, obtain JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. Those letters show the personal representative's authority to collect estate property, work with banks, and continue the estate settlement.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gives required notices, handles creditor claims, manages assets, distributes property, and closes through the appropriate Colorado JDF closing forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bent County
Bent County does not publish local probate packets, a local probate cover sheet, or county-specific decedent-estate forms. Colorado uses statewide JDF forms for probate filings in the Bent County District Court.
Start with the Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms page and choose forms by case type. For an informal estate, the opening form is an application to the probate registrar. For a formal estate, the opening form is a petition for a judge. The authority document after appointment is JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Bent County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First confirm how the home is titled and whether any assets still require court authority. If a Bent County probate is needed, file at the Bent County District Court in Las Animas and request appointment as personal representative using the statewide JDF forms. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize asset information, and generate a probate packet for the Bent Combined Court. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check whether the Colorado collection of personal property by affidavit fits before opening a court case. If a court case is needed, a self-represented filer may file in person, by U.S. Postal Service, or by emailing pleadings to the court's published county email address for non-CCE case types; audio and video exhibits cannot be emailed. | Sunset helps determine what property exists, prepare next steps, and connect the family with local counsel if travel or remote appearance questions make the filing harder. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires court authority unless title passes outside probate. File the appropriate informal application or formal petition in the Bent County District Court, then use the issued JDF 915 letters to work with the buyer, title company, and creditors. | Sunset supports the estate settlement by finding accounts, preparing the probate packet, and helping the family decide when attorney help is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known as a Sherlock | Procedural help for people without lawyers. The Sherlock can point you to forms and court steps but cannot give legal advice. | [email protected]; (719) 383-7152 |
| Bent County probate registrar | Handles informal probate functions for Bent County and may request corrections or additional information for an informal filing. The registrar can provide procedural information but not legal advice. | (719) 456-1353 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Use the statewide JDF probate forms for Bent County filings. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate information | General Colorado probate information, statewide forms, and links to related public resources. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Legal Services, La Junta office | Statewide civil legal aid provider for Bent County. Its published program areas do not list probate or estates, so call to ask whether any help or referral is available for your situation. | 401 Santa Fe Ave, La Junta; 719-384-5438 |
| Colorado Bar Association public resources | Public brochures and lawyer-referral information for Colorado residents. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Colorado probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor claims are significant, a nonresident decedent is involved, or you are unsure whether informal probate is available. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when the estate settlement needs legal guidance.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property before filing in Bent County, so the personal representative starts with a clearer estate settlement picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Colorado probate packet using the statewide JDF forms and the local Bent County filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When a case needs legal advice, a contested hearing, or help selling real estate, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset is paid by partners, not by grieving families, so you can use the platform to organize the estate settlement without an upfront software fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bent County?
File Bent County probate papers with the Clerk of the District Court at the Bent Combined Court, 725 Bent Avenue, Las Animas, CO 81054. The court serves estates for decedents domiciled in Bent County under Colorado venue rules (C.R.S. § 15-12-201).
Can a self-represented filer email probate pleadings in Bent County?
Yes, for case types not subject to Colorado Courts E-Filing, Bent County publishes that attorneys and self-represented parties may email pleadings to the court's published county email address or deliver them by U.S. Postal Service. Audio and video exhibits cannot be emailed. You may also file in person during clerk hours.
Can I use Colorado Courts E-Filing for a Bent County probate if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys file through Colorado Courts E-Filing when the case type is in that system, but the non-attorney CCE system covers domestic relations and eviction case types only. A self-represented probate filer in Bent County uses in-person filing, U.S. Postal Service, or the county's published email channel for non-CCE case types.
What are the Bent County clerk hours?
The Bent Combined Court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed daily from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch.
Does Bent County have local probate forms?
No local probate forms are published for Bent County. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms, including the probate case information sheet, the correct application or petition, acceptance forms, notice forms, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
How much does it cost to open a Bent County probate?
The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A small estate court case is $113, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)). These amounts are statewide Colorado court charges, not Bent County charges.
Can I appear remotely for a Bent County probate hearing?
Colorado's statewide virtual-proceedings policy treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03. Bent County's virtual courtroom page also states that virtual appearance requires prior court approval, so confirm the approved appearance method before the hearing.
Can I look up a Bent County probate case online?
Colorado Docket Search includes Bent County, Bent Combined Court, and the PR probate case class. It is a docket tool for hearing information. Copies of filed documents must be requested from the court where the case is filed.
Do I have to travel to Las Animas to file?
Not always. A self-represented Bent County probate filer may file in person, by U.S. Postal Service, or by emailing pleadings to the court's published county email address for non-CCE case types. Audio and video exhibits cannot be emailed, and any hearing appearance method should be confirmed with the court.
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.