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Conejos County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Conejos County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Conejos County District Court, also listed by the Judicial Branch as Conejos Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 12th Judicial District, shared with Alamosa, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties |
| Current in-person address | 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120, at the S.P.M.D.T.U. Concilio Superior while the courthouse remains closed after a fire |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 128, Conejos, CO 81129 |
| Court phone | 719-376-5465 |
| Probate registrar phone | 719-657-3394, the shared 12th Judicial District probate registrar line for Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties |
| [email protected] | |
| Published hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except state holidays. Call ahead before visiting because in-person service is operating from the temporary Antonito location. |
| First estate filing | Current as of August 2026: $229 for a first filing in a decedent's estate (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)); $113 for a qualifying small estate court filing (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)). |
| Local probate forms | No local Conejos County probate packet is published. Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms are used. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file Colorado probate matters through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers use mail or in-person filing because the non-attorney system covers domestic relations and eviction case types. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search can show scheduled hearings for Conejos County PR matters. It is a calendar search, not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | Colorado policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Conejos County directs parties or counsel requesting a virtual appearance to file a motion, and its virtual courtroom page says prior approval is required. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/conejos-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a Conejos County estate settlement path, list the assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and whether any real property must be sold. That list determines whether you need a Colorado court appointment, whether an informal application to the probate registrar is enough, or whether a formal petition before a judge is the safer route.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organize what was found into a probate-ready packet for the Conejos County District Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Conejos County District Court handles probate filings for estates that belong in Conejos County. Colorado venue is generally based on the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, with additional rules for nonresident decedents and property in Colorado (C.R.S. § 15-12-201). Colorado law also provides that a term of district court is held in each county at the county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
Conejos County is part of the 12th Judicial District with Alamosa, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties. The district can share judges and a probate registrar across those counties, but a Conejos County estate remains a Conejos County District Court case. The courthouse closure changes where in-person business occurs; it does not change the court or the county where the case is filed.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado probate route before preparing forms. Informal matters use an application to the probate registrar, commonly JDF 910 when there is a will or JDF 916 when there is no will. Formal matters use a petition to a judge, commonly JDF 920 when there is a will or JDF 922 when there is no will.
- Prepare the opening packet using Colorado JDF forms, including the probate case information sheet, the application or petition, the proposed order, any acceptance or renunciation forms, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration if appointment of a personal representative is requested.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court for Conejos County. A self-represented filer should mail the packet to P.O. Box 128, Conejos, CO 81129, or handle in-person business at 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120 while the courthouse remains closed, unless the court gives a different address in a notice.
- Pay the court amount due with the filing. Current as of August 2026, the first filing in a decedent's estate is $229 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)); a qualifying small estate court filing is $113 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)). If you cannot afford the amount due, use Colorado's fee waiver forms.
- If the case is informal, the shared 12th Judicial District probate registrar reviews the application and may ask for corrections or additional information. If the case is formal, the court will require notice to interested persons and a hearing before a judge or magistrate.
- Follow the notice requirements that fit the case. Formal probate requires notice before the hearing, and every appointed personal representative must handle creditor notice under Colorado law.
- For any in-person hearing, appear at the address printed on your own notice. The Conejos County page currently directs individuals with in-person court hearings to 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120, and says the court will notify parties and jurors of the location if a matter is set for trial.
- If you need to appear virtually, check the division instructions and file the required motion. Colorado's statewide virtual proceedings policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Conejos County's public instructions still require a request and prior approval.
- After appointment, use JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration to show authority to banks, title companies, and other institutions, then collect assets, pay valid expenses and claims, keep required records, and distribute property.
- Close the estate using the Colorado closing procedure that matches the case. Informal estates commonly close with JDF 965, while formal final settlement uses the court's final settlement forms and order process.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Conejos County
Conejos County does not publish a local probate packet or local probate form set. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms for decedent estates, and file them with the Conejos County District Court.
| Need | Common statewide JDF forms |
|---|---|
| Start with a will, informal route | JDF 910 Application for Informal Probate of a Will, JDF 913 proposed order, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Start without a will, informal route | JDF 916 Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative, JDF 917 proposed order, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, and JDF 915 |
| Start with a will, formal route | JDF 920 Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment, JDF 921 proposed order, hearing notices, and JDF 915 |
| Start without a will, formal route | JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment, JDF 923 proposed order, hearing notices, and JDF 915 |
| After appointment | JDF 940 Information of Appointment, JDF 941 Decedent's Estate Inventory, JDF 942 accounting forms, JDF 943 publication notice, and JDF 944 mailed creditor notice as needed |
| Close the estate | JDF 965 for informal closing, or the formal final settlement forms when a court order is needed |
Local nuance
Conejos County-specific considerations
| Local issue | What it means for a Conejos County filing |
|---|---|
| Courthouse closure | The Conejos County courthouse is closed until further notice because of a fire. In-person customer assistance is currently at 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120. |
| Mailing address | Mailed probate filings still go to P.O. Box 128, Conejos, CO 81129. |
| Hearing address | Use the address on your own summons or notice of hearing. The court's current public notice says in-person court hearings are at 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120, and trial locations may be separately noticed. |
| Shared registrar | The probate registrar line for Conejos County is the shared 12th Judicial District line, 719-657-3394, serving six counties. |
| Virtual appearance requests | Conejos County directs parties or counsel who want a virtual appearance to file a motion under Chief Justice Directive 23-03. Do not assume a remote appearance is set unless the court approves it. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2024 | The Conejos County courthouse closure notice was updated after a fire, stating that the courthouse is closed until further notice. |
| July 9, 2025 | In-person customer assistance became available at the S.P.M.D.T.U. Concilio Superior, 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120, until the courthouse reopens. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Conejos County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming the deed, account titles, and beneficiary designations. If assets pass outside probate, a full Conejos County District Court case may not be needed for those assets. If an asset is only in the decedent's name, prepare the Colorado JDF opening forms and use the current Conejos filing channels. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title information, and prepare an estate settlement checklist before you decide what must be filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Confirm whether a court appointment is actually needed. If a Conejos County court filing is needed, mail the packet to P.O. Box 128, Conejos, CO 81129, and call the court or the shared registrar line before traveling to the temporary Antonito location. | Sunset helps gather asset information, generate the Colorado forms, and flag when a local attorney may save a trip. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually requires clear personal representative authority or another valid nonprobate transfer path. If court authority is needed, file in the Conejos County District Court and watch the temporary hearing and in-person service address carefully. | Sunset helps build the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a Colorado probate attorney for sale-related questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 12th Judicial District Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator, known in Colorado courts as a Sherlock | Procedural help for people without a lawyer. The coordinator can point you to forms and court steps but cannot give legal advice. | [email protected]; 719-589-7621 |
| Conejos County District Court clerk | Questions about current in-person service, mailing, case status, and how to route a filing during the courthouse closure. | [email protected]; 719-376-5465 |
| 12th Judicial District probate registrar | Procedural questions about informal probate review and personal representative appointment in Conejos County. | 719-657-3394 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF forms and instructions for decedent estates, creditor notice, inventory, letters, and closing. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Legal Services, Alamosa office | Statewide civil legal aid provider for Conejos County. Its published program areas do not list probate or estates, so call to ask whether any help or referral is available. | 715 Main St., Alamosa; 719-589-4993 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Free public information on Colorado probate, personal representative duties, and what to do after someone dies. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Colorado probate attorney if heirs disagree, a will may be contested, real property must be sold, a creditor dispute is likely, the decedent lived outside Colorado, or the temporary Conejos County courthouse arrangements make in-person filing or hearing logistics difficult. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps you build the asset inventory that drives estate settlement decisions in Conejos County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized Colorado JDF forms and a filing checklist for the Conejos County District Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Colorado probate attorney who understands district court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the process, gather documents, and move estate settlement forward without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Conejos County?
File in the Conejos County District Court. Because the courthouse is closed after a fire, mailed filings go to P.O. Box 128, Conejos, CO 81129, and current in-person business is at 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120 unless the court tells you otherwise.
Which court handles probate in Conejos County?
Conejos County probate is handled by the District Court for Conejos County. Colorado's only dedicated probate court is in Denver.
What number should I call about an informal probate application in Conejos County?
Call the shared 12th Judicial District probate registrar line at 719-657-3394 for informal probate procedure. For local filing logistics, including the temporary Antonito location, call the Conejos County court at 719-376-5465.
Can I handle a Conejos County probate filing electronically if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate matters, but the non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction case types. A self-represented Conejos County filer should use mail or the current in-person service location.
How much is the first court filing in a Conejos County decedent estate?
Current as of August 2026, the first filing in a decedent's estate is $229 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A qualifying small estate court filing is $113 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)).
Does Conejos County have local probate forms?
No local Conejos County probate packet is published. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms, including the informal application forms, formal petition forms, JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration, and the Colorado closing forms.
Can I appear remotely for a Conejos County probate hearing?
Possibly, but do not assume it is set. Colorado's Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, while Conejos County tells parties or counsel who want a virtual appearance to file a motion and its virtual courtroom page says prior approval is required.
Can I look up a Conejos County probate hearing online?
Colorado Docket Search can show scheduled Conejos County hearings and includes PR probate matters. It is a docket and calendar tool, not a place to read wills, inventories, or filed documents.
Do I have to travel to Antonito for a Conejos County estate?
Not always. Many self-represented filings can be mailed to P.O. Box 128, Conejos, CO 81129. If you have a hearing or need in-person assistance, use the address on your notice and call the clerk before traveling because in-person service is currently at 603 Main Street, Antonito, CO 81120.
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.