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Lake County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lake County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Lake County District Court, sitting at the Lake County Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 5th Judicial District, shared with Clear Creek, Eagle and Summit counties |
| Courthouse address | 505 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 55, Leadville, CO 80461 |
| Probate registrar phone | (719) 293-8105 |
| General court phone | (719) 293-8100 ext. 9 |
| Fax | (719) 293-7420 |
| Clerk email | [email protected] for questions, not as a confirmed filing channel |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Clerk of the District Court is closed daily from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The court also closes the second Monday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a staff meeting. |
| First estate filing | $229 current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7) |
| Small estate court filing | $113 current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7) |
| Local probate forms | No local Lake County probate packet; use Colorado statewide JDF probate forms |
| E-filing status | Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. A self-represented personal representative files in person, by mail, or by another method the court specifically accepts. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search for scheduled hearings and PR case class dockets, not case documents |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate is presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but the Lake County virtual courtroom page says prior approval is required for a virtual appearance. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/lake-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a probate route in Lake County, identify what the decedent owned, how each asset is titled, whether there is debt, and whether any asset passes outside probate. That work determines whether you need an informal application, a formal petition, a collection of personal property by affidavit, or another Colorado route.
Sunset helps families begin estate settlement by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets. That asset picture makes the Leadville filing packet more accurate and helps the personal representative avoid missing accounts after Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration are issued.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Lake County estate in the Lake County District Court in Leadville when Colorado venue belongs in Lake County. Colorado venue for a decedent's estate is governed by C.R.S. § 15-12-201, and Colorado law requires a term of district court to sit in each county at the county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
Lake County is part of the 5th Judicial District with Clear Creek, Eagle and Summit counties (C.R.S. § 13-5-106). The judicial district matters for shared judicial administration and self-help resources, but the filing location for a Lake County estate is the Clerk of the District Court in Leadville.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado route. An informal case uses an application directed to the probate registrar. A formal case uses a petition decided by a judge after notice to interested persons.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms. Common starting documents 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, JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, and proposed JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Lake County Combined Court, 505 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461, or mail the packet to PO Box 55, Leadville, CO 80461. Build in the lunch closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the second-Monday staff meeting closure from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Pay the statewide first estate filing amount of $229 current as of August 2026 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7), unless the court grants a fee waiver. A small estate court filing is $113 current as of August 2026 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7).
- If the case is informal, the Lake County probate registrar reviews the application and may request corrections or additional information before appointment. If the case is formal, follow the court's hearing-setting and notice instructions.
- Give required notices. Colorado probate commonly uses JDF 940 Information of Appointment, JDF 943 Notice to Creditors by publication, and JDF 944 Notice to Creditors by mail, depending on the route and the facts.
- Confirm any hearing format before the date. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, but Lake County's virtual courtroom page states that prior approval is required for a virtual appearance.
- After appointment, obtain JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. Financial institutions, title companies, and other holders usually ask for this authority document before dealing with the personal representative.
- Administer the estate, inventory assets, handle creditor claims, distribute property, and close through the correct Colorado closing form. Informal closing commonly uses JDF 965 Statement of Personal Representative Closing Administration.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lake County
Lake County uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms and does not publish a local Lake County probate packet. The county page lists Lake County court information, chief judge orders, jury information, virtual courtrooms, judges and staff, and probation, but no local probate forms page.
For an estate settlement filing, start with the statewide Colorado probate forms. The most common opening forms are JDF 705 for case information, JDF 910 for an informal will case, JDF 916 for an informal no-will case, JDF 920 for a formal will case, JDF 922 for a formal no-will case, JDF 911 for acceptance of appointment, and JDF 915 for Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
Local nuance
Lake County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lunch closure | The Clerk of the District Court closes every day from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., so do not plan a midday counter filing. |
| Second-Monday closure | The Lake County Combined Court closes the second Monday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a staff meeting. |
| Mailing address differs | Use PO Box 55, Leadville, CO 80461 for mail, not just the Harrison Avenue street address. |
| Separate probate registrar line | For informal estate questions, the Lake County probate registrar line is (719) 293-8105, separate from the general court phone. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lake County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before opening a case. If court authority is needed, file the appropriate Colorado JDF probate forms with the Clerk of the District Court in Leadville. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title questions so the spouse can see whether a full estate settlement filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the estate qualifies for Colorado collection of personal property by affidavit, the child may be able to collect personal property without opening a court case under C.R.S. § 15-12-1201. If a court filing is needed, use the Lake County mailing address. | Sunset helps gather balances and institution details before the child decides whether a Leadville filing or a non-court affidavit route fits. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires clear authority from the Lake County District Court. The parent should prepare the correct formal or informal JDF packet and obtain JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration before working with title or closing professionals. | Sunset helps organize assets, generate a probate packet, and connect the family with a Colorado probate attorney when a real estate sale adds complexity. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known as a Sherlock | Provides information, resources, and guidance on non-criminal court procedures, rules, and forms, but not legal advice. | 970-328-7036, [email protected]. Virtual office hours are every Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by Webex. |
| Lake County probate registrar | Handles registrar functions for informal estate cases and procedural questions within that role. | (719) 293-8105 |
| Colorado Legal Services, Craig office | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving Lake County by appointment only. Its published program areas do not list probate or estates, so call to ask whether any help is available. | 1-800-521-6968, 1111 W Victory Way Ste 109, Craig |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF forms for opening, administering, and closing Colorado probate matters. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Public information brochures on probate in Colorado, personal representative duties, wills, and what to do when someone dies. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Colorado probate attorney if family members disagree, the will may be challenged, the estate includes real property that must be sold, creditor claims are disputed, the decedent lived outside Colorado, or you are unsure whether an informal application is enough. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the safer estate settlement path.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify bank, brokerage, retirement, and insurance accounts that may belong in the Lake County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information you provide into an organized Colorado probate packet, including the JDF forms commonly needed to start an informal or formal estate case.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Lake County estate involves real estate, conflict, creditor issues, or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and prepare for the Leadville filing without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate paperwork in Lake County?
File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Lake County Combined Court, 505 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461. If filing by mail, use PO Box 55, Leadville, CO 80461.
What are the Lake County court hours for probate filings?
The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clerk's office closes daily for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the court closes the second Monday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a staff meeting.
Can I e-file a Lake County probate case?
Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. A self-represented personal representative does not have a Colorado Courts E-Filing probate option because Colorado's non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases.
What is the Lake County probate registrar phone number?
The Lake County probate registrar can be reached at (719) 293-8105. The general Lake County Combined Court phone is (719) 293-8100 ext. 9.
Does Lake County have local probate forms?
No. Lake County uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms and does not publish a separate Lake County probate packet.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Lake County?
The statewide first estate filing amount 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).
Can I appear remotely for a Lake County probate hearing?
Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible. Lake County's virtual courtroom page still says prior approval is required for a virtual appearance, so confirm the appearance method before the hearing date.
Can I look up a Lake County probate case online?
Colorado Docket Search can show scheduled hearings and PR case class docket information for Lake County. It is not a document portal, and trial court filings must be requested from the court where the case was filed.
Do I have to travel to Leadville to start a Lake County probate case?
Not always. A self-represented filer may mail the packet to PO Box 55, Leadville, CO 80461. If a hearing is set, check the notice and the court's current appearance instructions before assuming you can avoid travel.
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.