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Summit County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Summit County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Summit County District Court, sitting at the Summit County Justice Center |
| Judicial district | 5th Judicial District, shared with Clear Creek, Eagle and Lake counties |
| Courthouse address | 501 N. Park Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 269, Breckenridge, CO 80424 |
| General Clerk's Office line | 970-453-2272 |
| Probate registrar phone | 970-547-2613 |
| Fax | 970-423-2150 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Clerk's Office closes for a staff meeting from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month. |
| First filing fee | $229 for a decedent's estate, current as of August 22, 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)) |
| Small estate court fee | $113 for a qualifying small estate court filing, current as of August 22, 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)) |
| Local forms | Summit County publishes no local probate forms. Use Colorado statewide JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate. A self-represented Summit County filer files in person or by mail because the statewide non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. |
| Case search | Colorado Docket Search covers scheduled hearings and includes the PR case class. It is a docket search, not a document download service. |
| Remote appearance | Uncontested informal probate is presumptively flexible under Chief Justice Directive 23-03, but Summit County's virtual courtroom page says prior court approval is required for virtual appearance. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/summit-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Colorado probate route in Summit County, make a practical inventory of what the person owned, how each asset was titled, what debts are known, and whether any beneficiary designations or co-owned assets pass outside the estate. That first pass keeps the estate settlement from starting with the wrong form set or the wrong expectations.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, investments, and other property before filing at the Summit County Justice Center. Better asset information makes it easier to decide whether to use an informal application, a formal petition, or a non-court collection route if the statewide requirements fit.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Summit County District Court handles decedent estate filings for Summit County at the Summit County Justice Center in Breckenridge. Summit County is in Colorado's 5th Judicial District with Clear Creek, Eagle and Lake counties, but the judicial district is not the place where you file. A Summit County estate is filed in Summit County.
Colorado venue for a decedent estate is generally in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.R.S. § 15-12-201). Colorado law also provides that a term of district court is held in each county within a judicial district at that county seat (C.R.S. § 13-5-101), so Summit County filings go through the Clerk of the District Court in Breckenridge.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path before you go to the Clerk of the District Court. For informal matters, use JDF 910 for a will or JDF 916 when there is no will, both of which are applications to the probate registrar. For formal matters, use JDF 920 for a will or JDF 922 when there is no will, both of which are petitions for a judge.
- Prepare the statewide JDF packet and include the probate case information sheet, the proposed order, the acceptance of appointment, and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration when letters are requested. Summit County does not publish a separate local probate cover sheet or packet.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at the Summit County Justice Center, 501 N. Park Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 269, Breckenridge, CO 80424. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except that it closes from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month for a staff meeting.
- Pay the first filing fee or submit fee-waiver papers if needed. The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 22, 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A qualifying small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 22, 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)).
- If the filing is informal, the Summit County probate registrar reviews the application. The registrar may request more information to correct deficiencies and, when the Probate Code requirements are met, the court can issue the appointment order and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration.
- If the filing is formal, follow the court's hearing and notice process using the statewide hearing and notice forms. Formal proceedings are before a judge with notice to interested persons (C.R.S. § 15-10-201(21)).
- Check remote appearance instructions before any hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible, but Summit County's virtual courtroom page says a person will not be allowed to appear virtually without prior approval from the court.
- After appointment, administer the estate, give required notices, gather assets, address creditor claims, keep records, and close using the appropriate Colorado closing forms. Informal closing uses JDF 965, while formal final settlement uses the formal closing forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Summit County
Summit County publishes no local probate forms, packet, or local probate cover sheet. Colorado uses statewide JDF probate forms for Summit County District Court estate matters.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Probate with a will | JDF 906 instructions, JDF 910 informal application, or JDF 920 formal petition |
| Probate without a will | JDF 907 instructions, JDF 916 informal application, or JDF 922 formal petition |
| Case information | JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet |
| Acceptance and letters | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment and JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Notice and administration | JDF 940 Information of Appointment, JDF 943 publication notice, JDF 944 mailed notice, JDF 941 inventory, and JDF 942 accounting |
| Closing | JDF 965 for informal closing, JDF 966 for closing a small estate, or JDF 960 through JDF 964 for formal final settlement |
Local nuance
Summit County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Separate probate registrar phone | The general Clerk's Office line is 970-453-2272, but the Summit County probate registrar has a direct line at 970-547-2613. Use the registrar line for probate-specific procedural questions. |
| First and third Thursday closure | The Clerk's Office closes from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month for a staff meeting, even though the Justice Center's regular weekday hours run until 5:00 p.m. |
| Weekly virtual Sherlock hours | The 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator serves Summit County and publishes Friday virtual office hours from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., which can help a self-represented filer understand forms and steps without traveling to the courthouse. |
| No local probate packet | Summit County uses the statewide JDF probate forms and publishes no local probate packet or local probate cover sheet. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets pass outside the estate and which assets require Summit County District Court authority. If a court appointment is needed, file at the Summit County Justice Center in Breckenridge or by mail to the court's P.O. Box. | Sunset helps organize title, accounts, debts, and beneficiary information so the estate settlement starts with a clearer asset picture. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Confirm whether a court case is needed before traveling. If the Colorado court route is needed, a self-represented filer may file in person or by mail, and the 5th Judicial District Sherlock offers Friday virtual office hours. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the probate packet, and decide when a Summit County attorney should review the plan. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority from the Summit County District Court unless title passes outside the estate. File the appropriate informal application or formal petition in Breckenridge and request JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration if appointment is needed. | Sunset helps find financial accounts, track documents needed for the sale, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when real estate issues make the estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator, known as a Sherlock | Procedural help for people without lawyers in Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake and Summit counties. Sherlocks can explain forms and court steps, but they do not give legal advice. | 970-328-7036, [email protected]. Summit County publishes Friday virtual office hours from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by Webex. |
| Summit County Clerk of the District Court | Filing counter for Summit County estate cases at the Summit County Justice Center. | 501 N. Park Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424. Mail: P.O. Box 269, Breckenridge, CO 80424. General line: 970-453-2272. |
| Summit County probate registrar | Procedural contact for informal probate review and probate registrar questions. | 970-547-2613 |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | Statewide JDF probate forms used in Summit County. | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 |
| Colorado Legal Services, Craig office | Statewide civil legal aid provider for Summit County. The Craig office serves Summit County by appointment only, and its published program areas do not list probate. | Northwest Colorado Legal Services Project, 1111 W Victory Way Ste 109, Craig. 1-800-521-6968. |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | Public information on Colorado probate, personal representative duties, wills, and what to do after a death. | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures |
When to hire an attorney
A Summit County probate attorney is especially useful when family members disagree, a formal hearing is expected, real estate must be sold, creditors are disputed, a fiduciary is asking for court instructions, or the person handling the estate lives outside Colorado and cannot easily manage filing and hearing logistics in Breckenridge. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect the Summit County probate plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble the Colorado JDF forms and supporting documents for the estate settlement path you choose.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Colorado probate attorney familiar with county-level filing logistics.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and prepare for court without paying Sunset for the core estate settlement tools.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Summit County, Colorado?
File Summit County estate papers with the Clerk of the District Court at the Summit County Justice Center, 501 N. Park Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424. Mail filings to P.O. Box 269, Breckenridge, CO 80424.
What is the phone number for Summit County probate questions?
The general Clerk's Office line is 970-453-2272. The Summit County probate registrar's direct phone number is 970-547-2613.
What are the Summit County Justice Center hours?
The Justice Center lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Clerk's Office closes from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month for a staff meeting.
Can I file a Summit County probate case electronically if I do not have a lawyer?
No. Attorneys use Colorado Courts E-Filing for probate, but the statewide non-attorney system is limited to domestic relations and eviction cases. A self-represented Summit County filer files in person or by mail.
How much does it cost to start a Summit County decedent estate?
The first filing in a decedent's estate is $229, current as of August 22, 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b), (7)). A qualifying small estate court filing is $113, current as of August 22, 2026 (C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a), (7)).
Does Summit County have local probate forms?
No. Summit County publishes no local probate forms, packet, or local probate cover sheet. Use Colorado's statewide JDF probate forms.
Can I appear remotely for a Summit County probate hearing?
Check the court's instructions before the hearing. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 makes an uncontested informal probate proceeding presumptively flexible, but Summit County's virtual courtroom page states that virtual appearance requires prior court approval.
Can I look up a Summit County probate hearing online?
Colorado Docket Search includes the PR case class and can be used for scheduled hearings by county, case number, party name, or other search fields. It is a docket search, not a place to obtain copies of filings.
Do I have to travel to Breckenridge to file if I live outside Colorado?
Not always. A self-represented filer may mail the packet to the Summit County District Court at P.O. Box 269, Breckenridge, CO 80424. If a hearing is set, confirm the appearance method with the court because virtual appearance instructions depend on court approval and the assigned proceeding.
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.