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Eagle County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Eagle County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Eagle County District Court, sitting at the Eagle County Justice Center |
| Judicial district | 5th Judicial District, shared with Clear Creek, Lake and Summit counties |
| Courthouse address | Eagle County Justice Center, 885 Chambers Ave, Eagle, CO 81631 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 597, Eagle, CO 81631 |
| Phone | 970-328-6373. No separate Eagle County probate registrar contact is published, so use this court line for probate routing. |
| Fax | 970-423-2050. The court publishes this as an office fax; it does not say probate filings may be faxed. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Clerk's Office closes early, from 4 to 5 p.m., on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month for a staff meeting. |
| First estate filing | $229 as of January 2025 for a first decedent estate filing (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)) |
| Local forms | No Eagle County local probate forms are published. Use Colorado statewide JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys file through Colorado Courts E-Filing, which covers probate. The non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases, so self-represented probate filers use the court counter or mail route after confirming current instructions with the clerk. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search covers scheduled hearings and includes the PR probate case class. It is a docket search, not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate proceedings are presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Eagle County's virtual courtroom page says prior approval is required for virtual court appearance. Confirm with the assigned division before any hearing. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/eagle-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms, list the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, vehicle titles, account ownership, beneficiary designations and whether a will exists. In Eagle County, that first inventory helps you decide whether you are preparing an informal application for registrar action, a formal petition for a judge, or a non-court collection process for personal property.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families find accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions, organize what is owned, and turn that information into the documents and attorney questions needed for a Colorado estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Eagle County District Court serves probate matters for Eagle County from the Eagle County Justice Center in Eagle. Eagle County is part of the 5th Judicial District with Clear Creek, Lake and Summit counties, but the district is not the filing place. Venue for administration of a decedent's estate is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201), and Colorado law provides for a term of court in each county within a judicial district at that county's seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
Eagle County also has an Eagle County - El Jebel facility at 20 Eagle County Drive, Suite B, Carbondale, CO 81623. The county page says that office has limited hours of service and directs people who need assistance to call the Eagle Combined Courts at 970-328-6373. Do not assume El Jebel is the place to file an estate case unless the clerk tells you to use it for your situation.
The jurisdiction process
- Decide the route. An informal matter begins with an application directed to the probate registrar, while a formal matter begins with a petition for a judge. Eagle County does not publish a separate probate registrar contact, so route the packet through the Clerk of the District Court at the Eagle County Justice Center.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms. Use JDF 705 for the probate case information sheet, JDF 910 for an informal will case, JDF 916 for an informal no-will case, JDF 920 for a formal will case, or JDF 922 for a formal no-will case, plus acceptance, renunciation or nomination forms as needed.
- File with the Eagle County District Court. A self-represented filer should use the courthouse counter or call 970-328-6373 before mailing to P.O. Box 597, Eagle, CO 81631. Attorneys file through Colorado Courts E-Filing, which covers probate.
- Pay the opening fee or request a fee waiver. The first decedent estate filing is $229 as of January 2025 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). If you cannot pay, ask for the Colorado fee-waiver forms before you file.
- Handle notice and hearing steps. Formal cases require notice to interested persons, and the court may set a hearing. For an informal case, the registrar process is different, but the court may still ask for corrected paperwork or additional information before letters issue.
- Confirm remote appearance before any hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible, but Eagle County's virtual courtroom page tells parties they need prior approval for virtual appearance.
- Obtain authority to act. Once the court appoints a personal representative, the authority document is JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative collects assets, deals with creditors, prepares inventory and accounting information, distributes property, and closes by the Colorado informal or formal closing route that fits the case.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Eagle County
Eagle County uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms. The Eagle County court page and the 5th Judicial District orders page do not publish a local probate packet, cover sheet or local decedent-estate form.
| Need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Probate with a will | JDF 906 instructions, JDF 705 case information sheet, and either JDF 910 for informal probate of a will or JDF 920 for formal probate of a will |
| Probate without a will | JDF 907 instructions, JDF 705 case information sheet, and either JDF 916 for informal appointment or JDF 922 for formal adjudication of intestacy and appointment |
| Appointment paperwork | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, JDF 912 Renunciation and/or Nomination if needed, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Notice, inventory and closing | Use the statewide JDF notice, inventory, accounting and closing forms that match the route ordered in the case |
| Local Eagle County forms | None published for probate |
Local nuance
Eagle County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for families |
|---|---|
| No separate probate registrar contact is published | Call the Eagle County Justice Center at 970-328-6373 for probate routing, and use the 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator for procedural questions. |
| El Jebel facility has limited hours | The El Jebel location exists, but the county page directs people needing assistance to call the Eagle Combined Courts. Use the Eagle Justice Center as the main probate filing point unless the clerk instructs otherwise. |
| Recurring clerk early closures | The Clerk's Office closes early, from 4 to 5 p.m., on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month for a staff meeting. |
| Friday virtual self-help hours | The 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator offers virtual office hours every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for procedural help. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Eagle County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled and whether any assets require court authority. If an Eagle County estate case is needed, file in the Eagle County District Court at the Eagle County Justice Center. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare an estate settlement checklist before forms are filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check whether Colorado's collection of personal property by affidavit applies. If a court appointment is needed, call the Eagle court line before mailing papers and use the statewide JDF probate forms. | Sunset helps the child gather asset information remotely, decide what questions to ask the clerk, and connect with local counsel if a court filing is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Eagle County real property usually requires court authority for a personal representative unless title passes outside probate. Expect to file in the Eagle County District Court and obtain JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration before dealing with the buyer, title company or lender. | Sunset helps build the asset list, generate the probate packet, and find an Eagle County probate attorney for the real estate and closing issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator | Helps self-represented people understand court forms, rules and steps in non-criminal cases. The coordinator cannot give legal advice or decide whether you should be appointed. | 970-328-7036, [email protected]. Virtual office hours are Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., by Webex at 720-650-7664, meeting number 2661 236 7715, password SRLC. |
| Eagle County Justice Center | Clerk of the District Court contact for filing logistics and probate routing because no separate Eagle County probate registrar contact is published. | 885 Chambers Ave, Eagle, CO 81631. 970-328-6373. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF forms and instructions for opening, administering and closing Colorado probate matters. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate registrar information | Explains the probate registrar role statewide. For Eagle County, use the court's main line because no separate Eagle contact is listed. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/probate-registrar |
| Northwest Colorado Legal Services Project | Colorado Legal Services office serving Eagle County. Its published program areas do not include probate or estates, so it is a first call to ask whether any civil legal help is available. By appointment only. | 1111 W Victory Way Ste 109, Craig, CO. 1-800-521-6968. |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Public legal brochures include Colorado probate and personal representative topics. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Colorado probate attorney if the estate includes Eagle County real estate, a business, creditor disputes, family conflict, a formal hearing, missing heirs, tax questions, or a personal representative who lives outside Colorado. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, real estate clues and debts so the Eagle County estate settlement starts with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information you provide into an organized Colorado probate packet, with the statewide JDF forms and next-step checklist matched to the estate settlement path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the facts call for legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Colorado probate attorney who can handle Eagle County filings, real estate issues and contested questions.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next step, and decide whether to file on their own or work with counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for an Eagle County resident?
File in the Eagle County District Court at the Eagle County Justice Center, 885 Chambers Ave, Eagle, CO 81631, if Eagle County is the proper venue under Colorado law. The mailing address is P.O. Box 597, Eagle, CO 81631.
Is there a separate Eagle County probate registrar phone number?
No separate Eagle County probate registrar contact is published by the Judicial Branch. For probate routing, call the Eagle County Justice Center at 970-328-6373, and use the 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator for procedural help.
Can a self-represented filer use Colorado Courts E-Filing for an Eagle County probate case?
Attorneys file through Colorado Courts E-Filing, which covers probate. The non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases, so an unrepresented personal representative uses the courthouse counter or mail route after confirming the current instructions with the Clerk of the District Court.
What is the first estate filing cost in Eagle County?
The first decedent estate filing is $229 as of January 2025 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). Colorado probate fees are statewide, not set by Eagle County.
Does Eagle County publish local probate forms?
No. Eagle County does not publish a local probate packet, cover sheet or local decedent-estate form. Use the Colorado statewide JDF probate forms.
Can I appear remotely for an Eagle County probate hearing?
Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, meaning parties may elect to appear virtually without prior authorization unless the court finds good cause to require attendance in person (Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023). In practice, Eagle County's virtual courtroom page says virtual court appearance requires prior approval, so confirm with the assigned division before the hearing.
How do I look up an Eagle County probate hearing?
Use Colorado Docket Search at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets and choose Eagle County with the PR case class if appropriate. The search is for scheduled hearings and docket information, not copies of wills, inventories or other filings.
Do I have to go to Eagle if I live out of state?
Not always. You may be able to prepare documents remotely, mail after checking current clerk instructions, or ask about a virtual appearance if a hearing is set. Because Eagle County's virtual courtroom page requires prior approval for virtual court appearance, call the court before assuming travel is unnecessary.
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.