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Cheyenne County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cheyenne County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Cheyenne County District Court, sitting at the Cheyenne County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | 15th Judicial District, shared with Baca, Kiowa and Prowers counties |
| Courthouse address | Cheyenne County Courthouse, 51 S. 1st St., Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 696, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810 |
| Probate registrar phone | (719) 767-5649. The Cheyenne County probate registrar is also listed as Clerk of Court, Probate Registrar, so the probate and clerk contact is the same office. |
| Fax | (719) 931-0022. Call before faxing anything, because no probate fax filing rule is published for Cheyenne County. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court also asks people to call (719) 767-5649 for instructions on proceeding with court business. |
| First filing charge | $229 for a decedent's estate first filing, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). |
| Local forms | No Cheyenne County local probate forms are published. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys file Colorado probate cases through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers cannot use the non-attorney e-filing system for probate, because it is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search can show scheduled hearings for Cheyenne County probate cases using the PR case class. It is a docket search, not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | Colorado's statewide virtual proceedings policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, but the Cheyenne County virtual courtroom page says virtual appearances require prior court approval. Confirm with the assigned division before any hearing. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/cheyenne-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Colorado probate path, list the assets, debts, account titles, beneficiary designations, and any real property. In Cheyenne County, that inventory helps you decide whether you need an informal application to the probate registrar, a formal petition to a judge, or a non-court transfer option for limited personal property.
Sunset supports estate settlement by helping families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets that might otherwise be missed. Having that asset picture early also helps you call the Cheyenne County clerk with specific questions about what you plan to file and how the court wants the filing delivered or paid for.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Cheyenne County District Court serves probate matters for decedents domiciled in Cheyenne County. Filing is local to the county, at the county seat in Cheyenne Wells, even though Cheyenne County shares the 15th Judicial District with Baca, Kiowa and Prowers counties.
Colorado venue for a decedent's estate is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201). Colorado also requires court terms to be held in each county at the county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101), so a Cheyenne County estate is filed with the Cheyenne County District Court rather than in another county simply because the judicial district is shared.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right Colorado path. If the estate can proceed informally, use the applicable application to the probate registrar. If a judge must decide notice, appointment, heirs, or a contested issue, use the applicable formal petition.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms. Start with the Probate Case Information Sheet, then select the with-will or without-will opening forms. Include the original will if there is one, the death certificate or other required proof, the proposed order, the acceptance of appointment, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration when letters will be needed.
- Call before filing in Cheyenne Wells. Cheyenne County asks people to contact the court at (719) 767-5649 for instructions on proceeding with court business. Use that call to confirm counter hours, mailing instructions, payment method, and whether the clerk needs anything else with your packet.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court. A self-represented filer uses the courthouse counter or mail to the Cheyenne County Courthouse, 51 S. 1st St., Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810, or P.O. Box 696, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing.
- Pay the current court charge or request a waiver. The first filing charge for a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A person who cannot pay may use Colorado's file-without-payment forms.
- Handle notice and hearing steps if they apply. Informal applications are reviewed by the probate registrar. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons and a hearing before a judge or magistrate. If a hearing is set, use the hearing notice forms the court requires.
- Confirm any remote appearance. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, but Cheyenne County's virtual courtroom page warns that virtual appearances require prior court approval. Confirm the assigned division's instructions before relying on a remote appearance.
- Receive authority and administer the estate. Once the appointment is approved and the personal representative accepts the role, the court can issue JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. Use the letters for estate settlement tasks such as gathering assets, dealing with creditors, and transferring property that requires a personal representative.
- Close the estate through the correct Colorado closing route. Informal estates generally close by sworn statement, while formal settlement requires court approval. Keep copies of all filed forms, notices, receipts, and letters because Colorado's public Docket Search does not provide the case documents themselves.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cheyenne County
Cheyenne County does not publish separate local probate forms. Its court page does not include a local probate forms section, so estate filers use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms.
| Need | Common Colorado JDF forms |
|---|---|
| Start with a will, informal route | JDF 910 Application for Informal Probate of a Will, plus JDF 913 proposed order |
| Start without a will, informal route | JDF 916 Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative, plus JDF 917 proposed order |
| Start with a will, formal route | JDF 920 Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment, plus JDF 921 proposed order |
| Start without a will, formal route | JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment, plus JDF 923 proposed order |
| Personal representative authority | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Notice, inventory, accounting, and closing | Statewide JDF notice, inventory, accounting, and closing forms from the Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms page |
Because Cheyenne County asks filers to call before proceeding with court business, contact the Clerk of the District Court at (719) 767-5649 before mailing a first estate packet.
Local nuance
Cheyenne County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Cheyenne County filing |
|---|---|
| Call-first instruction | The court tells people to call (719) 767-5649 for instructions on proceeding with court business. Use that call before you mail or bring a first probate packet. |
| Correct public hours | The courthouse location page lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Plan around the 4:00 p.m. close. |
| Same office for clerk and registrar | The Cheyenne County probate registrar is listed as Clerk of Court, Probate Registrar, and uses the same phone number as the courthouse. That means informal probate questions route through the local clerk's office in Cheyenne Wells. |
| No published email | No Cheyenne County courthouse email contact is published. Use the phone number rather than sending probate questions to an address found elsewhere. |
| No local probate forms | Cheyenne County publishes no county-specific probate packets. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms and confirm local delivery instructions by phone. |
Recent updates
| Local update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Cheyenne County courthouse hours | The courthouse location page lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so filers should not rely on a later afternoon close. |
| Call-first instruction | Cheyenne County's court pages direct people to call (719) 767-5649 for instructions on proceeding with court business. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Cheyenne County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First confirm how the home is titled and whether it passes outside probate. If a personal representative is needed for other assets or to clear title issues, file in the Cheyenne County District Court in Cheyenne Wells and call (719) 767-5649 before submitting the packet. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, and other assets so the spouse can decide whether a court estate settlement is needed and prepare a cleaner filing packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Start by checking whether Colorado's collection of personal property by affidavit is enough for the assets. If a court appointment is needed, call the Cheyenne County clerk for mail instructions because self-represented probate filers cannot use the non-attorney e-filing system for probate. | Sunset helps organize asset information, generate probate forms, and connect the child with Colorado counsel if travel or local filing logistics become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires careful review of title and authority. If the estate needs a personal representative, file the appropriate Colorado JDF opening forms with the Cheyenne County District Court and confirm hearing or remote appearance instructions before any court date. | Sunset supports the estate settlement by finding financial accounts, assembling the packet, and helping the parent find a vetted probate attorney when a real property sale is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Cheyenne County contact | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne County Clerk of the District Court and probate registrar | (719) 767-5649 | Call for local instructions before filing, mailing, or asking about an informal probate application. |
| 15th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known in Colorado courts as a Sherlock | Phone: 719-336-8929 | Ask for procedural help with forms and court steps. The coordinator serves Baca, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Prowers counties and cannot give legal advice. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 | Download statewide JDF probate forms used in Cheyenne County. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate registrar page | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/probate-registrar | Use it to understand the probate registrar role and to find the court's probate contact information. |
| Colorado Legal Services, La Junta office | 401 Santa Fe Ave, La Junta. Phone: 719-384-5438 | This is the statewide civil legal aid provider's office serving Cheyenne County. Its published program areas do not include probate, so call to ask what help or referrals may be available. |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures | Read public brochures on Colorado probate, personal representative duties, wills, and what to do when someone dies. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Colorado probate attorney if anyone disputes the will, heirs disagree about who should serve, the estate includes a home that must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, or you live outside Cheyenne County and need help managing filings and hearings from a distance. The court's self-help resources can explain procedure, but they cannot give legal advice. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families locate accounts, balances, and other assets that belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the asset picture and family information into the Colorado probate forms needed for the chosen path, including the Cheyenne County filing packet you can review before calling the clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, such as a contested appointment, a home sale, or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps, and decide when professional help is needed without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Cheyenne County?
File Cheyenne County probate matters with the Cheyenne County District Court at the Cheyenne County Courthouse, 51 S. 1st St., Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810. The mailing address is P.O. Box 696, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810. Call (719) 767-5649 before filing because the court asks people to call for instructions on proceeding with court business.
What is the Cheyenne County probate registrar phone number?
The Cheyenne County probate registrar phone number is (719) 767-5649. The probate registrar is listed as Clerk of Court, Probate Registrar, so the probate contact and clerk contact use the same office line.
Can I file a Cheyenne County probate case electronically if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate matters, but Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. A self-represented personal representative should call Cheyenne County at (719) 767-5649, then file by mail or at the courthouse counter as instructed.
What does it cost to start a Cheyenne County decedent's estate?
The first filing charge for a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)). Cheyenne County does not add a separate local probate charge.
Does Cheyenne County have local probate forms?
No Cheyenne County local probate forms are published. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms and call the Clerk of the District Court before mailing or bringing in a first estate packet.
Can I look up a Cheyenne County probate case online?
You can use Colorado Docket Search to look for scheduled hearings in Cheyenne County, including PR probate matters. The docket search is not a document search, so wills, inventories, and filed papers are obtained from the court rather than downloaded from the public site.
Can I appear remotely for a Cheyenne County probate hearing?
Possibly, but confirm before the hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, while the Cheyenne County virtual courtroom page says virtual appearances require prior approval from the court.
Do I have to travel to Cheyenne Wells to start probate?
Not always. A self-represented filer may be able to use mail, but Cheyenne County asks people to call (719) 767-5649 for instructions before proceeding. If a hearing is set, confirm whether the assigned division requires in-person attendance or allows a remote appearance.
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.