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San Juan County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Court | San Juan County District Court, sitting at the San Juan County Courthouse |
| Judicial district | 6th Judicial District, shared with Archuleta and La Plata counties |
| Courthouse address | San Juan County Courthouse, 1557 Greene Street, Silverton, CO 81433 |
| Mailing address | P O Box 900, Silverton, CO 81433 |
| Clerk phone | (970) 387-5790 |
| Probate registrar phone | (970) 385-6027, a line shared with La Plata County and answered in Durango |
| Clerk email | [email protected] for questions to the office, not as a stated filing channel |
| Fax | None published |
| Hours | Monday, noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch closure from noon to 1 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Friday |
| First filing amount | $229 for a first filing in a decedent's estate, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court case is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). |
| Local probate forms | No local probate packet or cover sheet published. San Juan County uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Self-represented probate filers cannot use the non-attorney e-filing system, which is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. |
| Case lookup | Colorado Docket Search at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets shows scheduled hearings and includes the PR probate case class. It is a calendar search, not a document search. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate is presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but San Juan County's virtual courtroom page says prior approval is required for virtual appearance. Confirm before the hearing. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/san-juan-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in San Juan County, identify the assets, debts, title to any real property, and whether anyone is likely to object. Colorado's route depends on those facts, and the probate registrar may ask for more information if an informal application is incomplete. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can see what is in the estate before choosing a path.
The local schedule makes a complete first packet especially important. The Silverton office is open only Monday afternoon, Tuesday, and Thursday, with a lunch closure on Tuesday and Thursday, and a self-represented personal representative cannot e-file a probate case. Call (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] before mailing or travelling with an opening packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
San Juan County probate matters are filed in the San Juan County District Court at the San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton. Venue for administration of a decedent's estate is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201), and Colorado law provides that a term of district court is held in each county within a judicial district at that county's seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
San Juan County is part of the 6th Judicial District with Archuleta and La Plata counties. The district connection explains why the San Juan County probate registrar's direct phone line answers in Durango, but it does not move a San Juan County estate to La Plata County. A decedent domiciled in San Juan County is filed in Silverton.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado route before you prepare the packet. An informal matter uses an application directed to the probate registrar, while a formal matter uses a petition directed to a judge. Use JDF 910 for an informal case with a will, JDF 916 for an informal case without a will, JDF 920 for a formal case with a will, or JDF 922 for a formal case without a will.
- Build the local filing packet with the statewide JDF forms. San Juan County publishes no local probate packet or local cover sheet, so include the statewide case information sheet, the correct application or petition, acceptance documents, proposed order, and proposed JDF 915 Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration as the route requires.
- File through the channels available to your role. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. A self-represented filer cannot use Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system for probate, so plan around the Silverton counter hours or contact the clerk before sending a first packet to P O Box 900, Silverton, CO 81433.
- Use the published counter hours if you go in person. The clerk's counter is open Monday, noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch closure from noon to 1 p.m.; and closed Wednesday and Friday. Call (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] before travelling.
- Pay the statewide court charge or file the fee-waiver forms. The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court case is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). Fee-waiver papers use JDF 205, JDF 206, and the proposed order JDF 202.
- Work with the probate registrar on an informal filing. The San Juan County probate registrar is reached at (970) 385-6027, a line that answers in Durango and is shared with La Plata County. The registrar reviews informal filings, may request additional information to correct deficiencies, and cannot give legal advice.
- Give notice if the route requires it. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons, and creditor notice uses the statewide JDF notice forms. Follow the notice requirements in the Colorado Probate Code and the court's order or hearing notice.
- Confirm any hearing instructions before the date. San Juan County's regular docket is generally held on first Thursdays, but that is a general court schedule, not a probate calendar. If the court sets a hearing, use the date and appearance instructions on the notice.
- Handle remote appearance carefully. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, but San Juan County's virtual courtroom page says a virtual appearance requires prior approval from the court. Confirm with the court before relying on a virtual appearance.
- After appointment, use the letters to administer and close the estate. JDF 915 is the authority document. If you need certified copies, use the Judicial Branch record and document request form or ask the clerk during open hours. Informal closing uses JDF 965 when the estate is ready to close.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in San Juan County
San Juan County publishes no local probate packet, local probate cover sheet, or local probate form. The county uses Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms, available through the Judicial Branch probate forms page at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 and the probate self-help hub at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047.
| Need | Statewide form |
|---|---|
| Instructions for probate with a will | JDF 906 |
| Instructions for probate without a will | JDF 907 |
| Probate case information sheet | JDF 705 |
| Informal opening with a will | JDF 910 application |
| Informal opening without a will | JDF 916 application |
| Formal opening with a will | JDF 920 petition |
| Formal opening without a will | JDF 922 petition |
| Acceptance of appointment | JDF 911 |
| Authority document | JDF 915 Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration |
| Informal closing | JDF 965 |
If you plan to mail a first packet, call (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] first to ask what the clerk wants included with the original forms, copies, payment, and return materials.
Local nuance
San Juan County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a probate filer |
|---|---|
| Partial-week counter hours | The clerk's counter is open Monday, noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch closure from noon to 1 p.m.; and closed Wednesday and Friday. Call before travelling. |
| Urgent assistance when the office is closed | San Juan County's own court page directs urgent matters to the La Plata County Clerk of Court at (970) 247-2304. Otherwise, leave a message at (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] for a response during San Juan office hours. |
| Registrar phone answers in Durango | The San Juan County probate registrar is reached at (970) 385-6027, the same direct line listed for La Plata County. The case still belongs in San Juan County if venue is proper there. |
| Second-floor judicial facilities | The courthouse page states that a wheelchair lift serves ground-level county offices, but the judicial facilities on the second story are accessible only by stairs. Ask the court about accommodations before travelling if stairs are a barrier. |
| General docket note | The court states that its regular docket is generally held on first Thursdays. A probate hearing date still comes from the court's specific notice, not from that general statement. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely San Juan County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the home was titled and what other assets exist. If an estate must be opened, the packet goes to the Clerk of Court at the San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton. Because the judicial facilities are on the second story and the published wheelchair lift serves only ground-level county offices, ask about accommodations before travelling if stairs are a barrier. | Sunset identifies accounts and assets before filing, helps decide what belongs in the estate settlement, and assembles the packet for the Silverton counter or for a mailing plan confirmed with the clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A self-represented filer cannot use Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system for probate, so plan around mail and the partial-week counter hours. Call (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] before sending a first packet. If the decedent was not a Colorado resident, the registrar delays an informal appointment until thirty days have elapsed since death unless an exception in C.R.S. § 15-12-307(1) applies. | Sunset can search for assets from wherever the child lives, organize the JDF forms, and connect the family with a Colorado probate attorney if a hearing or objection becomes likely. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale usually requires a full administration and certified letters. Use the informal application route if the matter is uncontested and fits informal probate, or a formal petition if a judge must decide an issue. The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). Certified copies can be requested through the Judicial Branch record and document request form or from the clerk during open hours. | Sunset gathers the asset picture, prepares the estate settlement packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale, title-company requests, and closing steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 6th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator | Colorado courts call this role a Sherlock. The coordinator can provide procedural information and direct people to forms, but cannot provide legal advice. | [email protected], (970) 385-6179 |
| San Juan County clerk's office | Questions about local hours, where to bring papers, and how to contact the court during the partial-week schedule. | (970) 387-5790, [email protected] |
| San Juan County probate registrar | Reviews informal estate filings and decides informal personal-representative appointments. The registrar may give procedural information but cannot give legal advice. | (970) 385-6027, answered in Durango |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF forms used in San Juan County probate filings. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate self-help hub | Statewide probate information, form links, and related resources. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Docket Search | Shows scheduled hearings by county, party name, case number, and PR case class. It does not show filed documents. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets |
| Colorado Legal Services, Durango office | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving San Juan County. Its published program areas do not list probate, so call to ask whether any help or referral is available. | 679 East 2nd Avenue Suite B, Durango, CO 81301, (970) 247-0266 |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Public brochures on probate and serving as a personal representative. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
Many uncontested informal estates in Colorado are handled with the statewide JDF forms, the clerk's counter, the probate registrar, and the 6th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator. A lawyer becomes more important when real property must be sold, an heir or creditor objects, a claim is disputed, a will's validity is questioned, the personal representative lives out of state, or someone asks for supervised administration, which adds $198, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(c). In San Juan County, counsel can also reduce the burden of a partial-week counter schedule because attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate while self-represented filers cannot use the non-attorney system for probate. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, balances, and possible estate assets before they choose a Colorado probate route.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture and family information into a practical estate settlement packet using Colorado's statewide JDF forms for the San Juan County District Court.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, an objection, a creditor dispute, an out-of-state personal representative, or a formal hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset serves all 64 Colorado counties, including San Juan County, and helps families organize the estate settlement process without charging families for using Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in San Juan County?
File with the Clerk of Court at the San Juan County Courthouse, 1557 Greene Street, Silverton, CO 81433. Venue generally belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201), and a term of district court sits at each county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101). Probate is handled in the district court, not at a separate local probate courthouse.
When is the San Juan County courthouse open for court business?
The published hours are Monday, noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch closure from noon to 1 p.m.; and closed Wednesday and Friday. Call (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] before making a trip to Silverton.
Can I mail a probate filing to San Juan County, or do I have to use e-filing?
Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. Self-represented probate filers cannot use Colorado's non-attorney e-filing system, which is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. San Juan County publishes P O Box 900, Silverton, CO 81433 as its mailing address, so call or email the clerk before sending a first packet.
What does it cost to open an estate in San Juan County?
The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7). A small estate court case is $113, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7). Supervised administration adds $198, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(c). San Juan County does not add a local probate surcharge. If you need a fee waiver, use JDF 205, JDF 206, and proposed order JDF 202.
Does San Juan County have its own probate forms?
No local probate packet, local probate form, or local cover sheet is published for San Juan County. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms from https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047.
Why does the San Juan County probate registrar's phone number reach Durango?
The San Juan County probate registrar's direct line is (970) 385-6027, the same direct line listed for La Plata County in the 6th Judicial District. That line answers in Durango. The registrar reviews informal applications and decides informal appointments, but the estate remains a San Juan County case filed at the San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton when venue is proper in San Juan County.
What do I do if I have an urgent matter and the San Juan County office is closed?
San Juan County's own court page directs urgent matters to the La Plata County Clerk of Court at (970) 247-2304. Otherwise, leave a message at (970) 387-5790 or email [email protected] for a response during San Juan County office hours. The La Plata number is an urgent-assistance contact, not the place to file a San Juan County estate.
Can I appear remotely in a San Juan County probate hearing?
Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, subject to the court's ability to require in-person attendance for good cause. San Juan County's own virtual courtroom page also says a virtual appearance requires prior approval from the court. Confirm with the court before relying on any remote appearance.
How do I get certified copies of letters in San Juan County?
Ask the clerk during open hours or use the Judicial Branch record and document request form linked from the San Juan County court page. Probate records may require a United States government-issued photo ID. Certifying a copy of a court record is $20, current as of August 2026, under C.R.S. § 13-32-104(1)(f).
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.