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Broomfield County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Broomfield County details |
|---|---|
| Court | The Broomfield County District Court, sitting at the Broomfield Combined Courts |
| Judicial district | 17th Judicial District, shared with Adams County |
| Courthouse address | Broomfield Combined Courts, 17 Descombes Dr., Broomfield, CO 80020 |
| Mailing address | 17 Descombes Drive, Broomfield, CO 80020 |
| Clerk of the District Court | 303-464-5020 |
| Probate registrar | 17th Judicial District registrar for Adams County and Broomfield County, (303) 654-3227 |
| Hours | Building hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Clerk's Office is open 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; call 303-464-5020 to confirm lunch-hour access before traveling. |
| Court fee | $229 for a first filing in a decedent's estate, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). |
| Local forms | No local probate forms or local probate cover sheet. Broomfield County uses the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file probate through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers are outside the non-attorney system, which covers domestic relations and eviction cases, so they use the counter or call the clerk before mailing a first filing. |
| Case lookup | Colorado Docket Search includes Broomfield County, Broomfield Combined Courts and PR probate case class for hearing calendars. It is not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate is presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023, but Broomfield County's virtual courtroom page says virtual appearance requires prior court approval. Confirm before the hearing. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/broomfield-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before opening a Broomfield County estate, identify the assets, debts, ownership documents and likely heirs. Colorado's route choice depends on the facts, and the probate registrar may ask for more information if an informal application is missing something. Sunset's asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions helps families build that picture before the first estate settlement filing.
The local reason to prepare first is simple: a self-represented filer in Broomfield County does not use probate e-filing. A correction can mean another trip to 17 Descombes Dr. during a clerk's office window that closes over the midday hour, or another round of mail after a call to 303-464-5020.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Broomfield County is in Colorado's 17th Judicial District with Adams County. C.R.S. § 13-5-118 places the county of Adams and the city and county of Broomfield in that district. The district matters for shared offices, including the probate registrar and the self-represented litigant coordinators, but the filing location is still Broomfield County.
Venue for a decedent's estate is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201). C.R.S. § 13-5-101 also requires a term of court in each county within a judicial district, at that county's seat. For a Broomfield County decedent, file with the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts, 17 Descombes Dr., not with the separate municipal court in the same building.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado route before you file. An informal matter starts with an application to the probate registrar, usually JDF 910 if there is a will or JDF 916 if there is no will. A formal matter starts with a petition to a judge, usually JDF 920 with a will or JDF 922 without one.
- Gather the statewide JDF forms for the chosen route. A typical opening packet includes JDF 705, the correct application or petition, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, any needed renunciation or nomination on JDF 912, and a proposed JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts, 17 Descombes Dr., Broomfield, CO 80020. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; call 303-464-5020 to confirm lunch-hour access before going in.
- If you are self-represented and want to mail the first filing, call 303-464-5020 first. The court publishes 17 Descombes Drive, Broomfield, CO 80020 as the clerk's office mail address, but Broomfield County does not publish probate-specific mailing instructions.
- Pay the court fee or submit fee-waiver papers. A first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). Fee-waiver requests use JDF 205, JDF 206 and a proposed JDF 202 order.
- Use the right filing channel. Attorneys file probate through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers are not covered by the non-attorney e-filing system, which is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases.
- Handle notice and hearing steps if the case requires them. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons. If the court sets a hearing, follow the notice from the Broomfield County District Court rather than assuming a local probate calendar.
- Confirm any remote appearance before the hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible, but Broomfield County's virtual courtroom page also says virtual appearance requires prior court approval.
- After appointment, use JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration as the authority document. For certified copies, Broomfield County lists its records unit at 303-464-5020 and [email protected].
- Administer and close the estate. Informal closing generally uses JDF 965 Statement of Personal Representative Closing Administration. If real estate steps are involved, remember that recording is handled by the city and county recording office at One DesCombes Dr., not at the court counter.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Broomfield County
Broomfield County publishes no local probate packet, local probate form or local probate cover sheet. The county uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms, available through the Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms list and probate self-help hub.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Route instructions | JDF 906 for probate with a will; JDF 907 for probate without a will |
| Case information | JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet |
| Informal opening with a will | JDF 910 Application for Informal Probate of a Will |
| Informal opening without a will | JDF 916 Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Formal opening with a will | JDF 920 Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment |
| Formal opening without a will | JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment |
| Acceptance and authority | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Informal closing | JDF 965 Statement of Personal Representative Closing Administration |
The key Colorado distinction is that an informal opener is an application to the probate registrar, while a formal opener is a petition to a judge. If you are unsure what the Broomfield counter expects in the packet, call the Clerk of the District Court at 303-464-5020 before filing.
Local nuance
Broomfield County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a probate filer |
|---|---|
| Two courts use 17 Descombes Drive | The state Broomfield Combined Courts is where an estate is filed. The separate Broomfield Municipal Court in the same building handles city ordinance, traffic, parking, animal and code matters, not estate filings. |
| The clerk's office closes at midday | The Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 303-464-5020 to confirm access over the lunch hour before traveling. |
| The probate registrar is shared | One 17th Judicial District probate registrar serves Adams County and Broomfield County at (303) 654-3227. The estate itself is filed with the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts. |
| A probate and estate clinic is available | The district's 2026 free legal clinic schedule includes a probate and estate clinic on the second Monday of each month, noon to 1:30 p.m., held virtually with no registration needed. |
| In-person resource center help is Thursday | The Broomfield Court Resource Center offers in-person help on Thursday and phone, email or appointment help on the other weekdays. Contact 303-654-3213 or [email protected]. |
| Recording is a different office | The court is at 17 Descombes Dr. Deeds and other recording steps handled by the city and county clerk and recorder are at One DesCombes Dr. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2026 free legal clinic schedule | The 17th Judicial District's 2026 free legal clinic schedule, revised March 27, 2026, includes a probate and estate clinic on the second Monday of each month, noon to 1:30 p.m., held virtually with no registration needed. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Broomfield County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and what else is in the estate. If a court administration is needed, file with the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts, 17 Descombes Dr., and use the state court number, 303-464-5020, not the municipal court. Some real-property steps may end at the city and county recording office at One DesCombes Dr. | Sunset finds accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before the spouse chooses a filing route, then assembles the estate settlement packet for the Broomfield counter or the mail. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A self-represented probate filer does not use Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system. Call 303-464-5020 before mailing a first filing to 17 Descombes Drive. The district's free probate and estate clinic is virtual and needs no registration. If the decedent was not a Colorado resident, the registrar delays informal appointment until thirty days have passed after death unless an exception applies (C.R.S. § 15-12-307(1)). | Sunset builds the asset picture remotely, prepares the Broomfield County packet, and connects the family with a Colorado probate attorney if a dispute, hearing or out-of-state issue makes counsel useful. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires a court-appointed personal representative and certified letters. File the correct application or petition, pay the $229 first-filing amount current as of August 2026 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102, and use JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration after appointment. Broomfield County records requests go through 303-464-5020, [email protected], or the statewide record request form. | Sunset organizes the accounts, drafts the probate packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale and closing steps of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Broomfield County | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Broomfield County, Colorado Judicial Branch | County court page with the Broomfield Combined Courts address, clerk hours, records contact, resource center schedule, docket link and virtual courtroom link. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/broomfield-county |
| Broomfield County probate registrar | 17th Judicial District office serving Adams County and Broomfield County. The registrar reviews informal estate filings, may request more information to correct deficiencies, and can give procedural information but not legal advice. | (303) 654-3227 |
| 17th Judicial District free probate and estate clinic | Published 2026 schedule includes a probate and estate clinic on the second Monday of each month, noon to 1:30 p.m., held virtually with no registration needed. Confirm the current schedule before relying on it. | Ask the Broomfield Court Resource Center at 303-654-3213 or [email protected] |
| Broomfield Court Resource Center | The 17th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known in Colorado courts as a Sherlock, gives procedural help with forms and court steps but not legal advice. In-person help is offered on Thursday, with phone, email or appointment help on the other weekdays. | 303-654-3213; [email protected] |
| Colorado probate forms and self-help | Statewide JDF probate forms, probate instructions, glossary materials and links to probate resources. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Broomfield County court records | Use for copies or certified copies after a case exists. This is a records route, not a filing channel. | 303-464-5020; [email protected]; https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form |
| Colorado Judicial Branch docket search | Searches hearing calendars by county, courthouse, case number, party name and PR probate case class. It does not provide case documents. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets |
| Colorado Legal Services | Statewide civil legal aid provider for Broomfield County. Its published program areas do not list probate, so it is a first call to ask whether help is available, not a guaranteed probate representation resource. | 303-837-1313 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Free public brochures include Probate in Colorado, So Now You Are A Personal Representative, What to Do When Someone Dies and Wills in Colorado. | https://cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Many uncontested informal estates in Broomfield County are handled with the statewide JDF forms, the probate registrar's procedural information, the Court Resource Center and the district's monthly probate and estate clinic. A lawyer becomes important when real property must be sold, an heir or creditor objects, a claim is disputed, a will is challenged, the personal representative lives out of state, or supervised administration is requested. Supervised administration carries an added $198 charge, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(c), and it brings continuing court oversight. An attorney also uses Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate, while a self-represented filer does not use the non-attorney e-filing system for probate. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, real estate clues and debts before the first Broomfield County filing. That asset picture drives the estate settlement route and helps avoid a packet that comes back for missing information.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the Colorado JDF forms for the chosen route and tailors the packet for filing with the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts or for the mail after a call to the clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, a creditor dispute, an objection, a will issue or supervised administration, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney familiar with Broomfield County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a practical estate settlement workspace, document organization and attorney matching without charging families for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Broomfield County?
File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts, 17 Descombes Dr., Broomfield, CO 80020. Venue generally belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201), and Broomfield County estates are district court matters.
What are the clerk's office hours at the Broomfield County courthouse?
The building is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Clerk's Office is open 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court asks visitors to call 303-464-5020 to confirm access over the lunch hour.
Can I e-file a probate case in Broomfield County?
Attorneys file probate through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers do not use Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system, because that system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. If you are filing without a lawyer, use the counter or call 303-464-5020 before mailing a first filing.
What does it cost to open an estate in Broomfield County?
A first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). Colorado court fees are statewide by statute, and Broomfield County does not add a local probate surcharge. Fee-waiver requests use JDF 205, JDF 206 and a proposed JDF 202 order.
Does Broomfield County have its own probate forms?
No. Broomfield County uses the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms and does not publish a local probate packet, local probate form or local probate cover sheet. For a question about what the counter expects, call the Clerk of the District Court at 303-464-5020.
Is there free help with probate in Broomfield County?
Yes. The district's 2026 free legal clinic schedule includes a probate and estate clinic on the second Monday of each month, noon to 1:30 p.m., held virtually with no registration needed. The Broomfield Court Resource Center also gives procedural help at 303-654-3213 and [email protected], but it does not give legal advice.
Can I appear remotely in a Broomfield County probate hearing?
Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023, makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding a presumptively flexible appearance, unless the court finds good cause to require in-person attendance. Broomfield County's virtual courtroom page also says virtual appearance requires prior court approval. Confirm with the court before the hearing date.
Can I look up a Broomfield County estate case online?
You can search hearing calendars through Colorado Docket Search by Broomfield County, Broomfield Combined Courts, case number, party name and PR probate case class. The docket tool does not provide wills, inventories or other filed documents. For copies, contact the records unit at 303-464-5020 or [email protected].
Is the Broomfield Municipal Court where I file an estate?
No. The City and County of Broomfield runs a separate municipal court at the same street address, and that court handles city ordinance, traffic, parking, animal and code matters. A decedent's estate is filed with the state court, the Clerk of the District Court at the Broomfield Combined Courts, 303-464-5020.
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.