After a will has been filed with a probate court, it becomes a public record, accessible by any member of the public. Finding a copy of a filed Colorado will requires contacting the appropriate probate court.
In general, a will is a private document unless and until a grant of probate is issued. Once a grant of probate has been issued, a will becomes a public document and anyone can apply to have a copy.
How to find a willSearch the house. It sounds obvious, but the first place you should look is at the deceased's home, as many people store their will (or a copy of it) in their home. ... Ask their solicitor. ... Ask their bank. ... Carry out a will search.
*Note: Colorado law requires that a decedent's will be filed (lodged) with the District Court in which the decedent was domiciled within ten days of the decedent's passing, even if no probate administration is expected.
Because probate files are public court records that anyone can read, you should be able to obtain a copy of it any will that has been filed for probate. 1 And with modern technology comes the ability to locate information about a deceased person's estate online, and in most cases for absolutely free.
How do I know if someone left a Will?look in the deceased's safe / box of 'valuable documents'ask family and friends if they are aware of a Will having been prepared.ask the deceased's accountant / solicitor / financial advisor / bank – as they may have a copy or they may have helped the deceased to draft up a Will.More items...•
How to find a will before probateCheck their home. Your first port of call should be to check the home of the person who's died for either the document itself or, if a solicitor helped to create the will, their contact details. ... Check with local solicitors. ... Check the National Will Register.
After probate has been granted, anyone can get a copy of the will by applying to the official Probate Registry and paying a small fee.
If you can't find a Will, you should first search the deceased's property and go through their paperwork. Even if you don't find the Will itself, you may find some information about their solicitor, a receipt for the Will or even a copy of the document.
The minimum time for formal and informal probate is six months by law. However, it can take much longer for an estate to be ready for distribution, depending on the size, complexity and any issues that may arise. It's possible that probate could be open for a year or even several years.
In order for a will to be considered valid in the state of Colorado, the testator must be at least 18 years old, have it signed by at least two witnesses (either before or after the testator's death), and have it either typed or handwritten. The state does not recognize oral (or "noncupative") wills.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Make a Will in Colorado? No. You can make your own will in Colorado, using Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust.