Colorado Probate Forms: The Complete JDF List for Estate Administration

Colorado's court system uses a standardized series of probate forms called JDF forms — short for Judicial Department Forms. Every estate, whether it goes through informal probate, formal probate, or the simplified small estate process, relies on these documents. The Colorado Judicial Branch provides them all for free on its website, but navigating which forms you need in which order is where most self-represented administrators lose hours.

This article maps out the forms by function and sequence so you know what to file, when, and why.

Small Estate (No Court Involvement)

JDF 999 — Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit

This form allows heirs to collect personal property and bank accounts for estates under the 2026 threshold of $88,000, without opening a probate case. No real property allowed. Must be notarized and presented 30 days or more after the date of death.

Important: JDF 999 is rejected by the Colorado DMV for vehicle transfers. Use DR 2712 (a DMV-specific form) instead.

Opening a Probate Case

JDF 910 — Application for Informal Probate

Filed when the estate holds assets above $88,000 (personal property) or includes real property, and the case is uncontested. Submitted to the probate court along with the original will (if one exists). The court registrar appoints the Personal Representative without a formal hearing. Filing fee: $229.

JDF 920 — Petition for Formal Probate

Filed when the will is contested, the will's validity is questioned, heirs are missing, or the court's oversight is otherwise required. Requires a formal hearing before a judge or magistrate. Also carries a $229 filing fee.

JDF 911 — Acceptance of Appointment

Signed by the nominated Personal Representative to formally accept their fiduciary duties. Filed alongside JDF 910 or JDF 920 at the time of opening.

JDF 721 — Irrevocable Power of Attorney

Required only if the appointed Personal Representative resides outside of Colorado. The out-of-state PR must designate a Colorado agent to receive service of process.

Notifying Heirs and Creditors

JDF 940 — Information of Appointment

The Personal Representative must send this notice to all known heirs and devisees within 30 days of appointment. If any heir's address is unknown, the Colorado Attorney General must receive a copy.

JDF 943 — Notice to Creditors by Publication

Published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county of probate, once a week for three consecutive weeks. This starts the 4-month creditor claim window for unknown creditors. Each county requires a different newspaper — verify with the court which publications qualify in your county.

JDF 944 — Notice to Creditors by Mail

Sent directly to known creditors. This is a strategic tool: when the Personal Representative mails JDF 944 directly to a creditor, that creditor's window to file a claim shrinks from four months to 60 days from the mailing date. This is one of the most powerful tools available to a Personal Representative managing creditor exposure.

Inventory and Accounting

JDF 941 — Decedent's Estate Inventory

The Personal Representative must complete this comprehensive asset inventory within 90 days of appointment. It must list all real estate, stocks, bank accounts, life insurance policies, pensions, and vehicles with their fair market value as of the date of death and any associated liens. Although not filed with the court, any heir who requests a copy is legally entitled to receive one. Failure to provide it upon request can result in removal proceedings against the Personal Representative.

JDF 942 — Interim/Final Accounting

Filed prior to estate closure. Documents all income received, expenses paid, and distributions made. Must balance to zero — every dollar that came into the estate must be accounted for in an expense or distribution.

Closing the Estate

Once the Final Accounting is filed and approved, the court issues a decree of final settlement. The Personal Representative is discharged and their bond (if required) is released. The estate ceases to exist as a legal entity.

DMV-Specific Form (Not a JDF Form)

DR 2712 — Colorado DMV Small Estate Affidavit

Not a Judicial Department form — issued by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. Required to transfer vehicle titles for small estates. The DMV explicitly rejects JDF 999. This distinction is the most common procedural mistake in Colorado estate administration.

Agency Tax Forms

DR 0105 — Colorado Fiduciary Income Tax Return

Filed with the Colorado Department of Revenue if the estate generated post-death income (rental payments, dividends, interest). Required whenever the estate is a Colorado income-generating entity, regardless of whether estate tax applies. Colorado has no estate tax, but post-death income is taxable.

DR 0104 — Final Individual Income Tax Return

The final personal income tax return for the deceased, covering January 1 through the date of death. Signed by the Personal Representative.

Where to Get the Forms

All JDF forms are available free from the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help website at courts.state.co.us. DR forms come from the Colorado Department of Revenue (colorado.gov/revenue). DR 2712 is on the DMV's website.

Do not use third-party legal form sites that charge for these documents — the official versions are free and always current.

Getting Through the Forms Without an Attorney

The forms themselves are straightforward. The difficulty is knowing which combination of forms applies to your situation, in what order, and what supporting documents each one requires. A missing exhibit or an incorrectly signed form results in a written rejection from the clerk — no phone call, no explanation beyond the deficiency notice — and then you are back to the start.

The Colorado Estate Settlement Guide at /us/colorado/estate-settlement/ provides a form-by-form execution guide with current thresholds, filing sequences, and county-level variations for Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, and other major counties. It also includes a creditor management strategy using JDF 944 to collapse the four-month creditor window.

See more Colorado guides →