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Kit Carson County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Kit Carson County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Kit Carson County District Court, sitting at the Kit Carson County Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 13th Judicial District, shared with Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties |
| Courthouse address | 1650 Donelan, Suite 301, Burlington, CO 80807 |
| Mailing address | Same as the courthouse address |
| Probate registrar and clerk phone | 719-346-5524, extension 3 |
| Fax | 719-356-6525 |
| Office email | [email protected] |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed for lunch |
| First filing amount | $229 for a decedent's estate as of January 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7) |
| Small estate court filing amount | $113 as of January 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7) |
| Local probate forms | None published by Kit Carson County. Use Colorado statewide JDF forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Self-represented personal representatives file in person or by mail because the non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search, for scheduled hearings and PR probate case class. It is not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | CJD 23-03 treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible, but the Kit Carson County virtual courtroom page states that prior approval is required before using virtual appearance join links. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/kit-carson-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate route in Kit Carson County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account ownership and real property. The right estate settlement path depends on what actually needs a personal representative, whether there is a will, whether the estate is contested and whether a hearing is needed.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before they prepare the court packet. That helps the Kit Carson County filing match the estate instead of forcing the family to reopen the estate settlement plan later.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Kit Carson County probate cases are filed in the Kit Carson County District Court in Burlington, not at a separate local probate court. The courthouse facility is the Kit Carson County Combined Court, where district court and other court business share the same building and clerk counter.
Kit Carson County is part of Colorado's 13th Judicial District with Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties (C.R.S. § 13-5-114). Venue for a decedent's estate is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201), and Colorado requires a term of court in each county within a judicial district at that county's seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101). File a Kit Carson County estate in Burlington when Kit Carson County is the proper venue.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado probate route. Use an informal application when the matter can go to the probate registrar, or a formal petition when a judge must decide the appointment, will, intestacy or dispute. Colorado uses personal representative as the formal term for the person appointed to administer the estate.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms. For a will, start with JDF 906 and the correct informal or formal opening forms. Without a will, start with JDF 907 and the correct informal or formal opening forms. Include JDF 705, JDF 911 when needed, and the proposed JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court in Burlington. A self-represented filer submits the packet at 1650 Donelan, Suite 301, Burlington, CO 80807, or by mail to the same address. The counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The courthouse uses security screening at the south courthouse door.
- Pay the statewide first filing amount or request a waiver. The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A qualifying small estate court filing is $113 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). If payment is a hardship, use Colorado's file-without-payment forms.
- Handle notice and creditor steps. After appointment, send required appointment information and creditor notices using the statewide forms. When publication is required, Colorado's notice to creditors is published in a daily or weekly newspaper in the county of administration, or an adjoining county if needed, not less than three times, at least once during each of three successive calendar weeks (C.R.S. § 15-12-801).
- Watch for hearing instructions. Informal matters may be handled by the probate registrar. Formal matters and objections may be set before a judge. Kit Carson County does not publish a probate hearing day or standard wait time, so use the notice or court communication for the date, division and appearance method.
- Confirm any virtual appearance before the hearing. CJD 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, but the Kit Carson County virtual courtroom page states that prior approval is required before using virtual appearance join links. Follow the division's hearing notice.
- Use the letters, administer the estate and close correctly. Once appointed, the personal representative uses JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration to work with banks, title companies and other holders. Keep estate records, resolve claims, distribute property, and close informally with JDF 965 or use the formal closing forms when a court order is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Kit Carson County
Kit Carson County does not publish county-specific probate packets, cover sheets or local probate forms. Use Colorado's statewide JDF forms for a Kit Carson County estate.
| Need | Common Colorado form |
|---|---|
| Choose the route | JDF 906 Instructions for Probate with a Will, or JDF 907 Instructions for Probate without a Will |
| Case information | JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet |
| Informal opening with a will | JDF 910 Application for Informal Probate of a Will |
| Informal opening without a will | JDF 916 Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Formal opening with a will | JDF 920 Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Formal opening without a will | JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Acceptance and authority | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Informal closing | JDF 965 Statement of Personal Representative Closing Administration |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Kit Carson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home and accounts are titled. If assets still require appointment of a personal representative, file the Colorado JDF opening forms with the Kit Carson County District Court in Burlington. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse chooses the estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Confirm whether a court case is needed. If a Kit Carson County court filing is required, use the Burlington mailing address and the statewide JDF forms. If a hearing is set, follow the division's instructions and confirm any virtual appearance approval. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, generate the packet and coordinate with a Colorado attorney when distance makes the filing harder. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority from a personal representative. File in Kit Carson County if venue belongs there, request JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration after appointment, and use the letters to work with the title company. | Sunset helps gather financial information, prepare the estate settlement documents and connect the parent with local probate counsel if the sale or heirs create risk. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Kit Carson County Clerk of the District Court | Receives Kit Carson County probate filings and routes informal applications to the probate registrar. | 719-346-5524, extension 3; [email protected] |
| Kit Carson County probate registrar | Reviews informal estate filings, may request corrections, and handles informal personal representative appointments. The registrar cannot give legal advice. | 719-346-5524, extension 3 |
| 13th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known in Colorado courts as a Sherlock | Provides procedural information, forms direction and non-criminal court resources by appointment for self-represented people in Kit Carson and other 13th Judicial District counties. | 970-542-5252; [email protected] |
| Free Legal Self-Help Clinic at Burlington Public Library | Local legal self-help clinic hosted the first Wednesday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is not described as probate-specific. | Burlington Public Library |
| Colorado Legal Services, Greeley office | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving Kit Carson County. Its published program areas do not list probate or estates, so call to ask what help may be available. | 970-353-7554 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF probate forms and instructions used in Kit Carson County. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Docket Search | Shows scheduled hearings for PR probate cases. It does not provide filed documents. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets |
| Colorado Bar Association public resources | Public legal brochures and lawyer referral resources linked for Colorado residents. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is most useful in a Kit Carson County estate when heirs disagree, a will is challenged, real property must be sold, a creditor claim is contested, a bond issue appears, or a formal hearing is likely. Counsel can also help an out-of-state family avoid missed notice, title and closing issues. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help locate bank accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, investments and other assets that affect the Kit Carson County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into the Colorado JDF forms needed for the chosen path, including the opening documents and the forms commonly needed after appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset helps connect the family with a Colorado probate attorney who can advise on disputes, real property, creditor issues and court hearings.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement steps, organize information and get pointed toward the right filing path without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Kit Carson County?
File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Kit Carson County Combined Court, 1650 Donelan, Suite 301, Burlington, CO 80807. The Kit Carson County District Court is the court that handles decedent's estates for the county.
What are the Kit Carson County clerk hours for probate filings?
The clerk counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office closes for lunch, so plan an in-person filing before noon or after 1:00 p.m.
Can a self-represented personal representative use Colorado Courts E-Filing in Kit Carson County?
No. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate, but the non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. A self-represented personal representative files a Kit Carson County probate packet in person or by mail.
How much is the first court filing in a Kit Carson County decedent's estate?
The statewide first filing amount for a decedent's estate is $229 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A qualifying small estate court filing is $113 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7).
Does Kit Carson County have local probate forms?
No. Kit Carson County does not publish separate local probate forms or packets. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms, including JDF 705, JDF 910, JDF 916, JDF 920, JDF 922, JDF 911 and JDF 915 as the case requires.
How do I look up a Kit Carson County probate hearing?
Use Colorado Docket Search and choose the PR probate case class when searching for scheduled hearings. Docket Search is a calendar tool, not a document system, so copies of filed papers must be requested from the court where the case was filed.
Can I appear remotely for a Kit Carson County probate hearing?
CJD 23-03 treats uncontested informal probate as presumptively flexible, unless the court finds good cause to require a different appearance. The Kit Carson County virtual courtroom page also states that prior approval is required before using virtual appearance join links, so follow the hearing notice and contact the division before the hearing.
Do I have to travel to Burlington to start a Kit Carson County estate?
If you are self-represented, you may file at the Burlington courthouse counter or mail the packet to the same courthouse address. If a hearing is later set, the hearing notice controls whether travel is needed or whether a virtual appearance can be approved.
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.