Probate & Estate Administration
By Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr., 30+ years in the legal field. Settling a loved one’s estate in Colorado — informal probate, formal probate, and the small-estate shortcut, without the guesswork.
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On the Legal Front Lines · Former Government Investigator, Denver Human Services · Licensed Colorado Attorney · 20+ Years in Private Practice · Former Colorado Deputy District Attorney · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator
Steady guidance when you’re grieving and in charge
Under the Colorado Probate Code (Title 15), the person settling an estate carries real legal duties — and real personal liability for getting them wrong. Most estates are simpler than families fear; the job is matching your estate to the right track and doing it cleanly.
Ready when you are — talk it through with Attorney Liken.
Start here: a no-charge 20-minute phone call directly with Attorney Liken.
Planning ahead? We do that too
A good probate is one your family barely notices. If you’re here for a loved one’s estate, we’ll settle it — and we can build your own estate plan so your family never has to.
Frequently asked questions
Does every estate have to go through probate in Colorado?
No. Small estates under the statutory threshold can transfer with a collection-by-affidavit (C.R.S. § 15-12-1201), and assets with named beneficiaries or joint owners pass outside probate. Whether you need probate depends on what the person owned and how it was titled.
What is the difference between informal and formal probate?
Informal probate is the common, paperwork-driven path when the will is valid and no one is contesting it (C.R.S. § 15-12-301). Formal probate is court-supervised and used when a will is unclear or challenged, heirs disagree, or the estate is complex.
What does a personal representative have to do?
The personal representative inventories assets, notifies and pays creditors, handles taxes, and distributes what is left — in a specific order set by the Colorado Probate Code. Getting the order wrong can create personal liability, which is why guidance matters.
How long does probate take in Colorado?
Creditors generally have at least four months after the first published notice to present claims, and a personal representative usually cannot file the sworn closing statement until six months after appointment (C.R.S. §§ 15-12-801, -803, -1003). Simple informal estates often close in about a year; contested or complex estates take longer.
Take the first step. We'll take it from there.
No-charge 20-minute phone consultation directly with Attorney Liken.