Back to Colorado
Chaffee County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Chaffee County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Chaffee County District Court, sitting at Chaffee Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 11th Judicial District, shared with Custer, Fremont and Park counties |
| Courthouse address | 142 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201 |
| Probate registrar phone | 719-539-2561, extension 30424 |
| Office phone | 719-539-2561 |
| Fax | 719-539-6281 |
| [email protected] | |
| Clerk hours | Beginning March 1, 2026, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First filing in a decedent's estate | $229, effective January 1, 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7) |
| Local forms | No Chaffee County probate packet or local probate cover sheet is published. Use Colorado statewide JDF forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys file Colorado probate cases through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers in Chaffee County file in person or by mail. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets, for calendars and PR probate case class searches, not case documents |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate proceedings are presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023, but Chaffee County's virtual courtroom page says prior approval is required for virtual appearance. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/chaffee-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, possible creditors and any real property. In Chaffee County, that information determines whether you are preparing an informal application for the probate registrar, a formal petition for a judge, or a different Colorado procedure.
Sunset's estate settlement platform helps families look for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions, then organize what you find before you contact the Chaffee County Clerk of the District Court or a Colorado probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Chaffee County District Court handles decedent estate cases venued in Chaffee County. Colorado venue for administration is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201). Colorado also requires a term of court in each county within a judicial district at that county's seat, so a Chaffee County estate is filed in Salida (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
Chaffee County is part of the 11th Judicial District with Custer, Fremont and Park counties. District-level judges, magistrates and shared self-help roles may serve more than one county, but that does not move a Chaffee County estate to Westcliffe, Canon City or Fairplay.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado probate route. Use an informal application when the matter can be handled by the probate registrar, or a formal petition when the matter must go before a judge.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms. Common starting forms include JDF 906 or JDF 907 instructions, 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, or JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment.
- Include qualification documents for the proposed personal representative, including JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment and any required renunciation or nomination on JDF 912.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at Chaffee Combined Court, 142 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201, during the published split counter schedule, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201. Self-represented probate filers do not use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate.
- Pay the first filing amount for a decedent's estate, $229 effective January 1, 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7), or submit Colorado fee-waiver papers if you are asking to file without payment.
- If the case is formal or a hearing is required, follow the court's hearing notice process using the statewide probate hearing forms, such as JDF 709, JDF 710, JDF 711, JDF 716, JDF 714 and JDF 719 as applicable.
- Address creditor notice. Colorado's statutory notice process includes publication and mailed notice where required, with forms JDF 943 and JDF 944 tied to C.R.S. § 15-12-801.
- After appointment, obtain JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. That document is what banks, title companies and other institutions usually ask to see before they work with the personal representative.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, deals with claims, prepares inventory and accounting records, distributes property, and closes informally with JDF 965 or through a formal closing path when a court order is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Chaffee County
Colorado uses statewide JDF probate forms, and Chaffee County does not publish a local probate packet, local probate form or local probate cover sheet for opening a decedent's estate. Start from the Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms pages, then file the completed packet with the Clerk of the District Court in Salida or by mail.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Instructions with a will | JDF 906 |
| Instructions without a will | JDF 907 |
| Probate case information sheet | JDF 705 |
| Informal opening with a will | JDF 910 |
| Informal opening without a will | JDF 916 |
| Formal opening with a will | JDF 920 |
| Formal opening without a will | JDF 922 |
| Acceptance of appointment | JDF 911 |
| Authority document | JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Informal closing | JDF 965 |
Probate forms are available through the Colorado Judicial Branch probate hub at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 and the probate form list at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047.
Local nuance
Chaffee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Chaffee County filer |
|---|---|
| Split clerk schedule | Beginning March 1, 2026, the Clerk of the District Court is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Lunch closure | Plan around the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily closure when filing in person at Chaffee Combined Court. |
| Registrar extension | The Chaffee County probate registrar is reached through 719-539-2561, extension 30424. |
| Shared district | The 11th Judicial District also includes Custer, Fremont and Park counties, but a Chaffee County estate remains a Chaffee County filing in Salida. |
| Self-help contact | The 11th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator serves Chaffee, Custer and Park counties at 719-539-2561, extension 30434. |
| Local forms | No Chaffee County local probate forms are published. Use the statewide Colorado JDF set. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2026 | The Chaffee County Clerk's Office published a split daily schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Chaffee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before opening a court case. If estate assets still require a personal representative, file the appropriate statewide JDF packet with the Chaffee County District Court in Salida. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title questions so the spouse can decide what must pass through estate settlement and what may pass outside the court file. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check whether a court appointment is needed. If a Chaffee County probate case is required, a self-represented filer may mail the packet to P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201, rather than filing in person. | Sunset helps collect institution information, organize forms and decide when a local Colorado attorney should handle filing or hearing steps. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Real estate generally requires careful review of title, authority and sale documents. A formal path or attorney-guided administration may be appropriate if there are disputes, unclear heirs or sale complications. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, generate a probate packet where appropriate and connect the family with a vetted attorney for the Chaffee County filing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Chaffee County probate registrar | Procedural contact for informal estate filings and registrar questions in Chaffee County. | 719-539-2561, extension 30424 |
| Clerk of the District Court | Receives filings at Chaffee Combined Court and by mail. | 142 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201; P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201; 719-539-2561 |
| 11th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator | Helps people without lawyers navigate court forms, rules and steps in non-criminal matters, but cannot provide legal advice. | 719-539-2561, extension 30434 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF forms for opening, administering and closing decedent estates. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate form list | Searchable probate category with JDF form numbers. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Docket Search | Search scheduled hearings by county, case number, party name and PR probate case class. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets |
| Colorado Legal Services, Salida office | Statewide civil legal aid provider's office serving Park, Chaffee and Custer counties. Its published practice areas do not include probate or estate settlement. | 1604 H St Ste 201, Salida; 719-539-4251 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Public legal brochures on probate and personal representative responsibilities. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Colorado probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, the estate includes real property that must be sold, creditor claims are contested, the personal representative lives outside Colorado, or you are unsure whether informal appointment is available. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across more than 2,300 institutions, organize known assets and debts, and create a clearer starting point for estate settlement in Chaffee County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns your answers into a structured Colorado probate packet using the statewide JDF form framework, so you can review what is ready before filing with the Clerk of the District Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Chaffee County estate needs legal judgment, real estate guidance, contested-hearing support or formal administration, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, discover assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Chaffee County?
File a Chaffee County estate with the Clerk of the District Court at Chaffee Combined Court, 142 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201. Mail filings to P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201.
What are the Chaffee County clerk hours for probate filings?
Beginning March 1, 2026, the Chaffee County Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan around the midday closure.
Can I use e-filing for a Chaffee County probate case if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys file Colorado probate cases through Colorado Courts E-Filing, but the Judicial Branch limits non-attorney e-filing to domestic relations and eviction cases. A self-represented Chaffee County probate filer files in person or by mail.
How much is the first filing in a Chaffee County decedent estate?
The first filing amount for a decedent's estate is $229, effective January 1, 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). The small-estate court filing amount is $113, effective January 1, 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). Supervised administration adds $198 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(c).
Does Chaffee County have its own probate forms?
No Chaffee County local probate packet, local probate form or local probate cover sheet is published. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms.
Who is the Chaffee County probate registrar?
Use the office contact, not a staff name. The Chaffee County probate registrar is reached at 719-539-2561, extension 30424.
Can I look up a Chaffee County probate case online?
Colorado Docket Search includes the PR probate case class and can show scheduled hearings by county, case number or party name. It is a docket tool, not a case-document portal.
Can I appear remotely for a Chaffee County probate hearing?
Colorado's Virtual Proceedings Policy makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible unless the court finds good cause to require in-person attendance. Chaffee County's virtual courtroom page still says prior approval is required for virtual appearance, so confirm the instructions for the assigned division before the hearing.
Do I have to travel to Salida to start a Chaffee County probate case?
Not always. A self-represented filer may mail the packet to P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201. If a hearing is set, check the court's notice and the virtual appearance instructions before making travel plans.
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.