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Washington County, CO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Washington County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Washington County District Court at Washington Combined Court |
| Judicial district | 13th Judicial District, shared with Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick and Yuma counties |
| Courthouse address | Washington Combined Court, 26861 Hwy 34, Akron, CO 80720 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 455, Akron, CO 80720 |
| Probate registrar phone | (970) 345-2756 |
| Fax | (970) 514-9757. The court does not publish that this is a probate filing channel. |
| Clerk email | [email protected] for clerk questions, not as a confirmed probate document filing channel |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| First decedent estate filing charge | $229 as of January 2025, under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b),(7) |
| Local forms | No local probate forms published for Washington County. Use Colorado statewide JDF probate forms. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys file probate through Colorado Courts E-Filing. Self-represented probate filers use in-person or mail filing with the Clerk of the District Court. |
| Case lookup | Colorado Docket Search, https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets, shows hearing calendar information and includes PR probate matters. It is not a document access system. |
| Remote appearance | Washington County states appearances are in person unless the court gives permission to appear virtually. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, subject to court control. |
| Website | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/washington-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a probate route in Washington County, list the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, possible co-owners, and whether there is a will. That work determines whether the personal representative should start with an informal application to the probate registrar or a formal petition for a judge.
Sunset's estate settlement process can search more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then help organize the information needed for the Washington County probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Washington County District Court sits at Washington Combined Court in Akron. Washington County is part of the 13th Judicial District with Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick and Yuma counties under C.R.S. § 13-5-114, but a Washington County estate is filed in Akron when venue belongs in Washington County.
Colorado venue for a decedent estate is tied to the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, with additional venue rules for nonresident decedents (C.R.S. § 15-12-201). Colorado also requires a term of court at each county seat within a judicial district, so the district grouping does not move a Washington County estate filing to another county (C.R.S. § 13-5-101).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Colorado probate route. An informal case uses an application directed to the probate registrar, such as JDF 910 for a will or JDF 916 when there is no will. A formal case uses a petition before a judge, such as JDF 920 for a will or JDF 922 when there is no will.
- Prepare the statewide JDF forms and any required originals, including the will if there is one, the death certificate, JDF 705 Probate Case Information Sheet, JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment, and proposed JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration when appropriate.
- File with the Clerk of the District Court at Washington Combined Court, 26861 Hwy 34, Akron, CO 80720, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 455, Akron, CO 80720. Self-represented probate filers should not use Colorado Courts E-Filing for a Washington County probate case.
- Pay the first decedent estate filing charge, $229 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b),(7), or submit the Colorado request to file without payment if you are asking the court to waive prepayment.
- Complete notice steps. Formal proceedings require notice to interested persons before the hearing. After appointment, the personal representative handles creditor notice, including publication when required by C.R.S. § 15-12-801.
- If a hearing is set, use the notice forms the court requires and check Washington County's appearance instructions. The county says appearances are in person unless you have permission to appear virtually, while Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible unless the court requires in-person attendance for good cause.
- After appointment, obtain JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. Those letters are the document banks, title companies, and buyers usually ask to see before dealing with the personal representative.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, manages claims, prepares inventory and accounting information, distributes property, and closes informally with JDF 965 or through the formal final settlement process when court approval is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washington County
Washington County publishes no local probate packet or county-specific probate forms. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms from the Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms page.
| Task | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Start with a will, informal | JDF 910 Application for Informal Probate of a Will |
| Start without a will, informal | JDF 916 Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative |
| Start with a will, formal | JDF 920 Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment |
| Start without a will, formal | JDF 922 Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment |
| Accept appointment | JDF 911 Acceptance of Appointment |
| Authority document | JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration |
| Notice to creditors | JDF 943 for publication and JDF 944 for mail notice |
| Inventory | JDF 941 Decedent's Estate Inventory |
| Informal closing | JDF 965 Statement of Personal Representative Closing Administration |
Local nuance
Washington County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a filer |
|---|---|
| Combined courthouse | Probate is filed with the Washington County District Court at Washington Combined Court in Akron. The Combined Court name means the facility houses more than one trial court function, not that probate belongs somewhere else. |
| Probate registrar contact | The Washington County probate registrar uses the same local phone line as the clerk's office, (970) 345-2756. Use that number for procedural probate questions. |
| Self-help walk-in time | The 13th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator is available for appointments and walk-ins at Washington County on the first Wednesday of the month between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. |
| Virtual appearance wording | Washington County tells parties to appear in person unless the court gives permission to appear virtually. If a virtual appearance is allowed, the county tells parties to contact the Clerk's office to confirm the courtroom. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Washington County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before opening a case. If probate property remains in the decedent's name, file the appropriate informal application or formal petition with the Clerk of the District Court in Akron. | Sunset helps identify titled assets, accounts, debts, and beneficiary designations so the spouse does not open a broader estate settlement than needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Start by checking whether Colorado's collection of personal property by affidavit route applies or whether a Washington County case is needed. If a court case is needed, mail the probate packet to the Akron court and ask the clerk how to handle any hearing appearance. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the right packet, and connect the family with local counsel if travel or signing issues become difficult. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a court-appointed personal representative with JDF 915 Letters Testamentary/of Administration. File in Washington County if venue belongs there, then use the letters to work with the real estate professionals and title company. | Sunset helps organize assets and liabilities, generate probate forms, and find a local probate attorney for sale authority, title, or heir questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Washington County contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 13th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator | 970-542-5252, [email protected]. Appointments and walk-ins are welcome at Washington County on the first Wednesday of the month between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. | Provides procedural information, court form direction, and navigation help for people without lawyers. The coordinator cannot give legal advice. |
| Washington County probate registrar | (970) 345-2756 | Reviews informal estate filings and can provide procedural information about probate filings. |
| Colorado Legal Services, Greeley office | 912 8th Ave, Greeley, 970-353-7554 | Statewide civil legal aid provider serving Washington County. Its published program areas do not include probate or estates, so call to ask what help may be available. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate forms | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/1047?form_category=1047 | Statewide JDF probate forms and instructions for Colorado decedent estates. |
| Colorado Judicial Branch probate self-help hub | https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-court-forms/probate?resource_type=1047 | Probate overview, form links, and public resources from the Colorado courts. |
| Colorado Bar Association public brochures | https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/Legal-Brochures | Public brochures on Colorado probate, personal representative duties, wills, and what to do when someone dies. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Colorado probate attorney if heirs disagree, the will may be challenged, real estate must be sold, creditor claims are disputed, the decedent lived outside Colorado, or you need a formal hearing in Washington County. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts so the personal representative can start Washington County estate settlement with a more complete asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into the Colorado JDF forms commonly needed to start an informal or formal estate case in the Washington County District Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When a court hearing, real estate sale, dispute, or unusual asset makes legal help important, Sunset helps connect the family with a probate attorney who practices in Colorado.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and decide whether they need attorney support without paying Sunset for the basic estate settlement workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Washington County, Colorado?
File a Washington County decedent estate with the Clerk of the District Court at Washington Combined Court, 26861 Hwy 34, Akron, CO 80720. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 455, Akron, CO 80720.
Does Washington County have its own probate forms?
No. Washington County does not publish local probate forms. Use the statewide Colorado JDF probate forms for decedent estates.
What is the first court charge to open a Washington County estate?
As of January 2025, the first decedent estate filing charge is $229 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(b),(7). A small estate court case eligible for summary administrative procedures is $113 as of January 2025 under C.R.S. § 13-32-102(1)(a),(7).
Can a self-represented filer use Colorado Courts E-Filing for Washington County probate?
No. Colorado Courts E-Filing for non-attorneys is limited to domestic relations and eviction case types. A self-represented Washington County probate filer uses in-person or mail filing with the Clerk of the District Court.
Can I appear remotely for a Washington County probate hearing?
Washington County says appearances are in person unless you have permission to appear virtually. Chief Justice Directive 23-03 treats an uncontested informal probate proceeding as presumptively flexible, but the court can require in-person attendance for good cause, so confirm appearance instructions before the hearing.
How do I look up a Washington County probate hearing?
Use Colorado Docket Search at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets and select Washington County with the PR case class if you have the case details. Docket Search shows calendar information. Copies of filings must be requested from the court that has the file.
Who answers probate procedure questions in Washington County?
Call the Washington County probate registrar and clerk's office at (970) 345-2756. For self-help navigation, contact the 13th Judicial District self-represented litigant coordinator at 970-542-5252 or [email protected].
Do I have to travel to Akron if I live outside Colorado?
Not always. You can mail a filing packet to the court, and some uncontested informal probate proceedings may be eligible for a flexible appearance under Chief Justice Directive 23-03. Washington County still requires permission for virtual appearance, so contact the clerk before assuming travel is unnecessary.
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.