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Logan County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Logan County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Logan County District Court, sitting at the Logan County Combined Courts |
| Judicial district | 13th Judicial District, shared with Kit Carson, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties |
| Courthouse address | 110 N. Riverview Road, Room 205, Sterling, CO 80751 |
| Mailing address | 110 N. Riverview Road, Room 205, Sterling, CO 80751 |
| Probate registrar and clerk phone | 970-522-6565 |
| Probate registrar email | [email protected] |
| Hours | The court does not post public counter hours on its Logan County page. Call 970-522-6565 before visiting. |
| First estate filing charge | $229 as of January 2025 for a decedent's estate first filing (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)); $113 as of January 2025 for a small estate court filing (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)) |
| Local forms | No local Logan County probate forms are posted. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Self-represented filers use in-person filing or mail because the non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets. It is a hearing calendar search, not a document-copy system. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate proceedings are presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Logan County's virtual courtroom page says prior court approval is required before appearing virtually. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/logan-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Logan County filing path, identify the decedent's assets, debts, titled property, beneficiaries and likely creditors. Estate settlement is much easier when you know whether the family needs court authority, a non-court transfer tool, or only certified copies after appointment.
Sunset's asset discovery searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, helping families find accounts and liabilities before they prepare the probate packet for the Clerk of the District Court in Sterling.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Logan County estate in the Logan County District Court when venue belongs in Logan County. Colorado's venue rule places administration in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, among other statutory venue rules (C.R.S. § 15-12-201).
Logan County is part of the 13th Judicial District with Kit Carson, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties. The district matters for shared judges and district-wide orders, but a Logan County estate remains a Logan County case filed in Sterling. Colorado law requires a term of court in each county within a judicial district at that county's county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct Colorado path before filing. An informal estate uses an application to the probate registrar, while a formal estate uses a petition to a judge. Start with JDF 906 if there is a will or JDF 907 if there is no will.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms. Most Logan County openings begin with JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet, the correct informal application or formal petition, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, any required renunciation or nomination, and a proposed JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Logan County Combined Courts, 110 N. Riverview Road, Room 205, Sterling, CO 80751. If you are filing without a lawyer, use in-person filing or mail and call 970-522-6565 before visiting because public counter hours are not posted.
- Pay the statewide court charge or request a fee waiver. As of January 2025, the first estate filing charge is $229 for a decedent's estate 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). Supervised administration adds $198 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(c).
- Use the correct e-filing path if counsel is involved. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Self-represented filers use in-person filing or mail because Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases.
- Complete notice steps required by the Colorado Probate Code and the JDF instructions. Formal matters require notice before the hearing. After appointment, the personal representative gives information of appointment and handles creditor notice using the statewide JDF notice forms.
- Check hearing and remote appearance instructions for the assigned division. Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Logan County's virtual courtroom page tells parties they need prior court approval before appearing virtually.
- Obtain authority documents after appointment. The personal representative uses JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration to show authority to banks, title companies, buyers and other institutions.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, handles debts and claims, distributes property, keeps records, and closes informally with JDF 965 when appropriate or through a formal final settlement when a court order is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Logan County
Logan County does not post local probate forms. The county uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate form set for estate settlement filings.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Instructions with a will | JDF 906 Instructions for Probate with a Will |
| Instructions without a will | JDF 907 Instructions for Probate without a Will |
| Case information sheet | 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 |
| Formal opening without a will | JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment |
| Acceptance of appointment | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment |
| Authority document | JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Informal closing | JDF 965 Statement of Personal Representative Closing Administration |
The Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms hub is https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047. The probate form list is https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047.
Local nuance
Logan County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Logan County estate |
|---|---|
| Public hours are not posted | The Logan County court page does not post counter hours. Call 970-522-6565 before bringing or mailing time-sensitive estate settlement documents. |
| Shared 13th Judicial District | District-wide orders and shared roles may apply across Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties, but the Logan County case is filed in Sterling. |
| Office-level probate registrar email | The Logan County probate registrar uses [email protected], an office address for probate questions and filing procedure questions. The registrar cannot give legal advice. |
| District Public Administrator | The 13th Judicial District has a court-appointed Public Administrator under Administrative Order 2025-3, dated March 7, 2025. The role may be used when a small estate needs administration and no family member or other interested person is available or willing to serve (C.R.S. § 15-12-623). |
| Remote appearance instructions | Chief Justice Directive 23-03 makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible, but Logan County's virtual courtroom page still requires prior approval before a virtual appearance. |
| Records requests | Logan County's court page says the clerk contacts the requester by email or phone after receiving and reviewing a records request. Certified copies cost $20 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-104(1)(f). |
Recent updates
| Date | Logan County update |
|---|---|
| March 7, 2025 | Administrative Order 2025-3 appointed a 13th Judicial District Public Administrator for Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Logan County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled and whether any asset still requires a Logan County District Court appointment. If court authority is needed, file the appropriate statewide JDF opening forms with the Clerk of the District Court in Sterling. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse decides whether an estate settlement filing is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Start by determining whether court appointment is needed at all. If a Logan County court filing is needed, mail the packet or coordinate with counsel because self-represented probate filings do not use the non-attorney e-filing system. | Sunset helps organize assets, prepare the probate packet and connect the family with Colorado counsel when distance makes filing harder. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires clear authority from the Logan County District Court unless title passes outside the estate. The parent should prepare the correct formal or informal JDF papers and request JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration after appointment. | Sunset helps find financial accounts, generate filing documents and coordinate attorney referrals for sale-related questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Logan County probate registrar | Ask procedural questions about informal estate filings and Logan County filing logistics. The registrar cannot provide legal advice. | 970-522-6565; [email protected] |
| Clerk of the District Court | File estate papers, request copies and ask about current counter access before visiting the Sterling courthouse. | 110 N. Riverview Road, Room 205, Sterling, CO 80751; 970-522-6565 |
| 13th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known as a Sherlock | Get help finding forms and understanding court steps for non-criminal matters. The coordinator cannot give legal advice. | [email protected]; 970-526-3978 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Download statewide JDF probate forms used in Logan County. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search | Search hearing calendars by county, party name, case number or PR case class. Contact the court for document copies. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets |
| Colorado Legal Services, Fort Collins office | This is the Colorado Legal Services office serving Logan County. Its published program areas do not include probate or estate settlement, so call to ask what help is available. | 215 W Oak St Ste 800, Fort Collins, CO; 970-493-2891 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Read public guides such as Probate in Colorado and So Now You Are A Personal Representative. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Colorado probate attorney if the estate involves a home sale, disagreement among heirs, creditor disputes, a missing or unclear will, a request for supervised administration, or an out-of-state personal representative who cannot easily travel to Sterling. Counsel can also help choose between an informal application and a formal petition. 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 families identify accounts, balances and liabilities before they file in Logan County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into the Colorado JDF probate forms needed for the chosen estate settlement path.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Logan County estate needs legal advice, 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 court without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for a Logan County resident?
File in the Logan County District Court at the Logan County Combined Courts, 110 N. Riverview Road, Room 205, Sterling, CO 80751, when venue belongs in Logan County under C.R.S. § 15-12-201.
What hours is the Logan County clerk open for probate filings?
The Logan County court page does not post public counter hours. Call 970-522-6565 before visiting the courthouse or mailing time-sensitive documents.
Can I e-file a Logan County probate case if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate, but the Judicial Branch's non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. A self-represented Logan County filer uses in-person filing or mail.
How much is the first estate filing charge in Logan County?
As of January 2025, the first estate filing charge is $229 for a decedent's estate 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 Logan County have its own probate forms?
No local Logan County probate forms are posted. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms, including JDF 705, the correct informal application or formal petition, JDF 911 and JDF 915.
Can I appear remotely for a Logan County probate hearing?
Colorado's statewide Virtual Proceedings Policy treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03. In practice, Logan County's virtual courtroom page says prior court approval is required before appearing virtually, so confirm with the court before the hearing.
How do I look up a Logan County probate hearing?
Use Colorado Docket Search at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets and select Logan County or search by case number, party name or PR case class. The tool is for hearing calendars, not document copies.
Do I have to travel to Sterling to start the estate?
If you are self-represented, you may file in person or by mail. Because public counter hours are not posted, call 970-522-6565 before planning a trip to Sterling.
Who can answer procedural questions in Logan County?
The Logan County probate registrar can answer procedural questions at 970-522-6565 or [email protected]. The 13th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator can help locate forms and explain court steps at [email protected] or 970-526-3978, but court staff cannot give legal advice.
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.