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Gunnison County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Gunnison County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Gunnison County District Court, sitting at the Gunnison County Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 7th Judicial District, shared with Delta, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties |
| Courthouse address | 200 E. Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published for the courthouse page. Call the Clerk of the District Court before mailing a first filing. |
| General courthouse phone | (970) 642-8300 |
| Probate registrar phone | (970) 642-8310 |
| Fax | (970) 642-8350. The court does not publish that fax is an accepted channel for estate filings. |
| Office email | [email protected], for questions to the clerk's office, not as a confirmed filing channel |
| Clerk hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| First filing charge | $229 for a decedent's estate first filing, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7) |
| Small estate court charge | $113 for a small estate court filing, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7) |
| Local probate forms | None published. Gunnison County uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Self-represented probate filers use in-person filing or mail after confirming the clerk's current instructions. |
| Case lookup | Colorado Docket Search at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets, for calendars and scheduled hearings, not document access |
| Remote appearance | State policy treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible, but Gunnison County's virtual courtroom page says virtual appearance requires prior court approval. |
| Court website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/gunnison-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms, list the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, beneficiaries, and known creditors. In Gunnison County, that inventory decides whether you are asking the probate registrar for an informal appointment, asking a judge for a formal order, or using a non-court collection process that does not need an estate case.
Sunset starts estate settlement by helping families find accounts, policies, and other assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then turns that asset picture into the forms and next steps that fit Gunnison County.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Gunnison County District Court serves estate cases filed in Gunnison County. It sits at the Gunnison County Combined Court, 200 E. Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230.
Gunnison County is part of Colorado's 7th Judicial District with Delta, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties (C.R.S. § 13-5-108). The judicial district is not the filing location. Venue for administration of a decedent's estate is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, and Colorado law also provides for a term of court at each county seat (C.R.S. § 15-12-201; C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the route. Use an informal application when the matter can go to the Gunnison County probate registrar, or a formal petition when a judge needs to decide notice, objections, will validity, heirs, or appointment issues.
- Prepare the statewide JDF packet. Common starting forms include 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, and JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Gunnison County Combined Court. The courthouse is at 200 E. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison, and the clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A self-represented filer should call (970) 642-8300 before mailing a first filing because the court does not publish probate-specific mail, fax, or email filing instructions.
- Pay the opening charge or request a waiver. A decedent's estate first filing is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7).
- Complete notice steps. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons before the hearing. After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor notice, inventory, accountings, and interested-person communications required by Colorado law.
- Track the assignment and any hearing. Gunnison County probate matters are assigned within Division 2 of the 7th Judicial District under Administrative Order 2008-06, amended effective July 15, 2026. The order assigns the case internally; the filer does not choose the division.
- Confirm any remote appearance. Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as a presumptively flexible appearance, but Gunnison County's virtual courtroom page states that virtual appearance requires prior approval from the court. Confirm instructions before the hearing date.
- Receive authority if appointed. The authority document is JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration, issued after the court enters the necessary appointment order and the personal representative accepts the appointment.
- Administer and close. The personal representative gathers assets, pays valid expenses and claims, distributes property, and closes through the proper JDF closing route, such as an informal sworn closing statement or a formal settlement order when one is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gunnison County
Gunnison County does not publish local probate forms. Its court page points users to forms from the Colorado Judicial Department, so estate filings use the statewide JDF probate form set.
| Need | Statewide form set |
|---|---|
| Probate with a will | JDF 906 instructions, JDF 705 case information sheet, JDF 910 informal application or JDF 920 formal petition, plus related acceptance, renunciation, order, and letters forms |
| Probate without a will | JDF 907 instructions, JDF 705 case information sheet, JDF 916 informal application or JDF 922 formal petition, plus related acceptance, renunciation, order, and letters forms |
| Authority after appointment | JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Creditor notice and administration | JDF 940 information of appointment, JDF 943 publication notice, JDF 944 mailed notice, JDF 941 inventory, and JDF 942 accounting when needed |
| Closing | JDF 959 and JDF 965 for informal closing, or the formal closing forms if a court order of final settlement is needed |
Local nuance
Gunnison County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Correct phone numbers | Use (970) 642-8300 for the courthouse and (970) 642-8310 for the Gunnison County probate registrar. |
| Facility name | The court is the Gunnison County District Court. The Judicial Branch facility name is Gunnison County Combined Court. |
| Division assignment | Administrative Order 2008-06, amended effective July 15, 2026, assigns Gunnison County district court probate matters to Division 2 of the 7th Judicial District. |
| Fax, email, and payment portal caution | The courthouse publishes a fax number, a clerk office email, and an online payment portal for certain fees, fines, and restitution. It does not publish that those channels accept a first estate filing or the opening court charge. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2026 | The 7th Judicial District amended Administrative Order 2008-06 concerning division of the district court caseload. The order assigns Gunnison County district court probate matters to Division 2. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Gunnison County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Gunnison County Combined Court, 200 E. Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230, if an estate administration is needed. Whether probate is needed depends on how the home was titled and what else is in the estate. | Sunset searches for accounts and policies, helps the spouse understand what is actually in the estate, and assembles the Gunnison County packet for the counter or for mailing. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | A self-represented filer cannot use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Call (970) 642-8300 before mailing a first filing. If the decedent was not a Colorado resident, the registrar delays informal appointment until thirty days after death unless an exception applies (C.R.S. § 15-12-307(1)). | Sunset lets the adult child work from outside Colorado, find accounts, prepare the estate settlement packet, and connect with counsel if the matter becomes contested. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires an appointed personal representative and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration for the title company. The first filing is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). Certified copies can be requested through the Colorado Judicial Branch record and document request form for Gunnison County probate records. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, prepares the estate settlement packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for sale and closing issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Gunnison County | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnison County Combined Court | Court address, hours, closures notice, docket search link, virtual courtroom link, and local court information | 200 E. Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230; (970) 642-8300; [email protected] |
| Gunnison County probate registrar | Reviews informal estate filings, makes informal appointment decisions, and provides procedural information, not legal advice | (970) 642-8310 |
| 7th Judicial District Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator, known in Colorado courts as a Sherlock | Helps people without lawyers understand forms, rules, and court steps for non-criminal matters; does not provide legal advice | [email protected]; 970-252-4312 |
| Colorado Legal Services, Craig office, Northwest Colorado Legal Services Project | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving Gunnison County by appointment only. Its published program areas do not list probate or estate matters, so call to ask what help is available. | 1-800-521-6968 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms and self-help | Statewide JDF probate forms, instructions, and glossary | coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch record and document request form | Request copies of court records, including Gunnison County probate records. A photo ID may be required for probate records. | coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Plain-language public brochures and a public lawyer directory | cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if there is a will contest, disagreement among heirs, a home sale, creditor dispute, tax issue, nonresident decedent, missing heir, or request for formal or supervised administration. Court staff and the probate registrar can provide procedural information, 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 identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, and other assets that may belong in the estate. That asset picture is the starting point for a smoother estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset uses the information you provide to assemble the Colorado JDF forms and Gunnison County filing instructions that fit the estate, including whether the path is informal, formal, or another route.
Find a local probate attorney
When the matter needs legal advice, a contested hearing, real estate work, or formal court strategy, Sunset helps connect the family with a probate attorney familiar with Colorado estate settlement.
Sunset is free for families
Families can use Sunset to organize assets, understand next steps, and prepare for probate without paying Sunset. If legal help is needed, Sunset can make the attorney connection clear and simple.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Gunnison County?
File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Gunnison County Combined Court, 200 E. Virginia Avenue, Gunnison, CO 81230. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What is the correct phone number for Gunnison County probate?
The general courthouse number is (970) 642-8300. The Gunnison County probate registrar's direct line is (970) 642-8310.
Can I mail a probate filing to Gunnison County, or do I have to use electronic filing?
Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. A self-represented personal representative does not have that probate option through the non-attorney system. Call the clerk at (970) 642-8300 before mailing a first filing because Gunnison County does not publish probate-specific mail instructions.
What does it cost to open an estate in Gunnison County?
A decedent's estate first filing is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7).
Does Gunnison County have its own probate forms?
No local probate forms are published for Gunnison County. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms, including JDF 705, the correct informal application or formal petition, JDF 911, and JDF 915 when appointment is granted.
Can I appear remotely in a Gunnison County probate hearing?
Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, effective August 1, 2023. Gunnison County's virtual courtroom page also says virtual appearance requires prior approval from the court, so confirm the division's instructions before the hearing.
Can I look up a Gunnison County estate case online?
Colorado Docket Search at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets includes Gunnison County and the PR probate case class. It shows calendar and hearing information, not filings, wills, inventories, or downloadable documents.
Which judges hear a Gunnison County probate case?
The district's case assignment order places Gunnison County probate matters in Division 2 of the 7th Judicial District. The order assigns the case within the court system; it does not create a separate filing location.
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.