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Gilpin County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Gilpin County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Gilpin County District Court, sitting at the Gilpin Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 1st Judicial District, shared with Jefferson County |
| Courthouse address | Gilpin Combined Court, 2960 Dory Hill Road, Suite 200, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of the Combined Court, 2960 Dory Hill Road, Suite 200, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
| Probate registrar phone | 303-582-5522, extension 22760 |
| Clerk phone | 303-582-5522 |
| Fax | 720-894-8659 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Clerk's office: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Court dockets begin at 8:30 a.m. |
| First filing cost | $229 for a first filing in a decedent's estate, current as of January 2025 and cited to C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7) |
| Small estate court case cost | $113 when the estate qualifies for the Colorado small-estate court case category, current as of January 2025 and cited to C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7) |
| Local probate forms | No Gilpin County probate forms are published. Use Colorado statewide JDF forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys file Colorado probate matters through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers use in-person or mail filing because the non-attorney system covers only domestic relations and eviction cases. |
| 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 | State policy treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible, but Gilpin County's virtual courtroom page says prior court approval is required for virtual appearance. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/gilpin-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or contact the Clerk of the District Court, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and known family members. Gilpin County uses the statewide Colorado probate forms, but the right path depends on whether there is a will, whether a personal representative is needed, and whether any dispute or notice issue requires a judge rather than the probate registrar.
Estate settlement is easier when the asset picture is complete early. Sunset's asset discovery searches across more than 2,300 institutions so families can find accounts, insurance, investment assets, and other property before preparing the Gilpin County probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Gilpin County probate filings are handled by the Gilpin County District Court at the Gilpin Combined Court in Black Hawk. Gilpin County is part of the 1st Judicial District with Jefferson County, but a Gilpin County estate is filed in Gilpin County, not in Jefferson County.
Colorado venue for administration of a decedent's estate is tied to the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, with additional venue rules for other situations (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 (C.R.S. § 13-5-101), so the 1st Judicial District structure does not move Gilpin County estate filings out of Black Hawk.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado probate path. If the estate can proceed informally, use an application directed to the probate registrar. If a judge must decide a will, heirs, objections, or appointment issues, use a formal petition. Colorado's informal and formal paths come from the Colorado Probate Code, including C.R.S. § 15-12-301 and C.R.S. § 15-12-401.
- Gather the opening forms. Start with JDF 906 for probate with a will or JDF 907 for probate without a will, then prepare JDF 705. For an informal opening, use JDF 910 when there is a will or JDF 916 when there is no will. For a formal opening, use JDF 920 when there is a will or JDF 922 when there is no will. Include JDF 911 and any needed renunciation or nomination forms.
- File in Black Hawk or by mail. A self-represented filer files with the Clerk of the District Court at the Gilpin Combined Court, 2960 Dory Hill Road, Suite 200, Black Hawk, CO 80422, or mails the packet to the same address. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate.
- Pay the statewide first filing cost or request a waiver. The first filing in a decedent's estate costs $229 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). If the filer cannot pay, use Colorado's file-without-payment forms, including JDF 205 and JDF 206.
- Registrar review or hearing setting follows the route. In an informal case, the Gilpin County probate registrar reviews the application and may ask for corrections before appointment. In a formal case, the court sets notice and hearing requirements for a judge or magistrate.
- Handle notice. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons. After appointment, the personal representative uses Colorado notice forms such as JDF 940, JDF 943, and JDF 944 as the case requires, including creditor notice under C.R.S. § 15-12-801.
- Check remote appearance instructions before any hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats uncontested informal probate as a presumptively flexible appearance, but Gilpin County's virtual courtroom page states: "You will not be allowed to appear for court virtually without prior approval from the court." Confirm the division's instruction before relying on a virtual appearance.
- Obtain authority to act. Once appointed, the personal representative receives JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. Financial institutions, title companies, and buyers usually ask for that authority document before working with the estate.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative collects assets, manages claims, communicates with interested persons, distributes property, and closes the case through the proper Colorado closing forms, often JDF 965 for an informal closing. Sunset can keep the estate settlement work organized while the court process moves forward.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gilpin County
Gilpin County does not publish probate forms of its own. The county's court page lists local court sections such as Gilpin County, Chief Judge Orders and Directives, Jury Information, Virtual Courtrooms, Bond Hearing Schedule, Judges and Staff, and Probation, but it does not publish a Gilpin-specific probate forms page.
Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms. Common starting forms include JDF 906 or JDF 907 for instructions, JDF 705 for the probate case information sheet, JDF 910 or JDF 916 for informal cases, JDF 920 or JDF 922 for formal cases, JDF 911 for acceptance of appointment, JDF 915 for Letters Testamentary/of Administration, and JDF 965 for informal closing.
Jefferson County shares the 1st Judicial District with Gilpin County, but Jefferson's local probate packets are not Gilpin County forms.
Local nuance
Gilpin County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Gilpin County filer |
|---|---|
| Hours are on the location page | The Gilpin County court page does not publish a courthouse-hours block, but the Gilpin Combined Court location page gives clerk hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and says court dockets begin at 8:30 a.m. |
| Registrar role is designated by order | The 1st Judicial District chief judge orders page lists CJO 2025-03, Order Regarding the Assignment of the Probate Registrar and Deputy Probate Registrar. Colorado law allows the registrar role to be designated by court order (C.R.S. § 15-10-307). |
| Shared district, local filing counter | Gilpin County shares the 1st Judicial District with Jefferson County, and some administrative pages refer to both courts. A Gilpin County estate still files at the Gilpin Combined Court in Black Hawk. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| January 16, 2025 | CJO 2025-03 | The 1st Judicial District chief judge orders page lists an order regarding assignment of the probate registrar and deputy probate registrar. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Gilpin County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home was titled and whether any probate assets remain. If a personal representative is needed for assets in the decedent's name alone, file the appropriate Colorado JDF opening forms with the Clerk of the District Court in Black Hawk. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare the probate packet for the local court filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Confirm whether a court appointment is needed at all. If a Gilpin County court case is required, mail the opening packet to the Gilpin Combined Court and use the probate registrar phone line for procedural questions. | Sunset helps gather asset information remotely, generate Colorado forms, and connect the family with local counsel if travel or appointment issues become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A court appointment is usually needed before signing sale documents for estate property. File in Gilpin County if venue belongs there under C.R.S. § 15-12-201, then use JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration after appointment to work with the title company and buyer. | Sunset helps build the asset list, track required notices and closing tasks, and coordinate attorney help for sale or title questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Gilpin County probate registrar | 303-582-5522, extension 22760; [email protected] | Procedural contact for informal probate review and probate filing questions. The registrar cannot provide legal advice. |
| 1st Judicial District Court Resource Center | [email protected]; 720-772-2501 | The Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator, known in Colorado courts as a Sherlock, helps people without lawyers find forms and understand court steps. The office cannot provide legal advice. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 | Statewide JDF forms for decedent estates, including opening, notice, letters, inventory, claim, and closing forms. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate registrar contact page | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/probate-registrar | Statewide contact page for probate registrars, including the Gilpin County probate registrar phone extension and office email. |
| Colorado Legal Services, Denver office | 1560 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver; 303-837-1313 | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving Gilpin County. Its published program areas do not include probate, so call to ask whether any help or referral is available. |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures | Public brochures linked by the Judicial Branch, including probate and personal representative topics. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider working with a Colorado probate attorney if the will is contested, heirs disagree, real property must be sold, creditor claims are disputed, the decedent lived outside Colorado, or you need supervised administration. A lawyer can also help decide whether the informal registrar route is enough or whether a formal petition is safer. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families find bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect the Gilpin County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into the Colorado JDF forms commonly needed to open an estate, request appointment, and prepare for Letters Testamentary/of Administration in Gilpin County.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, a sale, a contested hearing, or formal court work, Sunset helps connect the family with a Colorado probate attorney familiar with the local court process.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, documents, and next steps without paying Sunset for access to the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Gilpin County?
File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Gilpin Combined Court, 2960 Dory Hill Road, Suite 200, Black Hawk, CO 80422. Mail goes to the same address.
Is there a Gilpin County probate court?
No. In Gilpin County, probate is handled by the Gilpin County District Court at the Gilpin Combined Court. Informal applications are reviewed by the Gilpin County probate registrar.
Can I e-file a Gilpin County probate case if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate, but the non-attorney system covers only domestic relations and eviction cases. A self-represented Gilpin County filer uses in-person or mail filing.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate in Gilpin County?
The first filing in a decedent's estate costs $229 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A qualifying small-estate court case costs $113 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7).
Does Gilpin County publish local probate forms?
No. Gilpin County does not publish county-specific probate forms. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms.
Can I appear remotely for a Gilpin County probate hearing?
Maybe, but confirm before the hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, while Gilpin County's virtual courtroom page states that virtual appearance requires prior court approval.
Can I look up a Gilpin County probate case online?
You can use Colorado Docket Search to look for scheduled hearings by county, party name, case number, date range, and PR case class. It is a calendar search, not a way to read wills, inventories, or filed documents online.
Do I have to travel to Black Hawk to start probate?
Not always. A self-represented filer may file by mail at the Gilpin Combined Court address. If a hearing is set, check the court's notice and the virtual courtroom instructions before deciding whether travel is required.
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.