Colorado Small Estate Affidavit: Free 2025 Template and Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve recently lost a loved one in Colorado and are facing the probate process, you may qualify to use a Colorado small estate affidavit (officially called an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property) to avoid full probate. As a business and estate-planning attorney who has prepared hundreds of these documents for Colorado families over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand how this simple form can save thousands in legal fees and months of waiting.

In 2025, the Colorado small estate limit is $74,000 (adjusted annually for inflation per C.R.S. § 15-12-1201). If the decedent’s Colorado personal property is valued at $74,000 or less and no real estate is involved, you can use the small estate affidavit form Colorado residents rely on to collect bank accounts, vehicles, stocks, and other assets quickly.

Below you’ll find my completely free, attorney-reviewed 2025 affidavit for collection of personal property Colorado template, plus everything you need to complete it correctly.

What Is a Colorado Small Estate Affidavit?

The Colorado small estate affidavit is a sworn statement allowed under Colorado Revised Statutes § 15-12-1201 that lets successors collect personal property without opening a formal probate case. It’s one of the fastest and least expensive ways to transfer assets after someone dies in Colorado.

Common situations where I help clients use this form:

• A parent passes with only a checking account, savings account, and a vehicle
• A spouse dies owning stocks and retirement accounts under the limit
• An adult child needs to close a deceased sibling’s bank accounts quickly

2025 Colorado Small Estate Limit and Eligibility Requirements

As of January 2025, the Colorado small estate limit is $74,000 in fair market value of personal property located in Colorado. This amount is adjusted every year based on the Consumer Price Index (source: Colorado Department of Revenue and C.R.S. § 15-12-1201).

Year	Small Estate Limit
2024	$72,000
2025	$74,000
2026	Expected ~$76,000 (pending official announcement)

Key eligibility rules:

• At least 10 days have passed since death
• No personal representative has been appointed (or application is pending)
• All debts, taxes, and funeral expenses have been paid or provided for
• Only personal property (no real estate titled in decedent’s sole name)
• Value of Colorado-located personal property ≤ $74,000

Free Download: 2025 Colorado Small Estate Affidavit Template

Click below to download my free, fully editable Word and PDF versions of the small estate affidavit form Colorado courts and banks accept in 2025:

Download Colorado Small Estate Affidavit (Word .docx)
Download Colorado Small Estate Affidavit (PDF)

Both versions are formatted to meet Colorado notary requirements and include line-by-line instructions in comment bubbles.

How to Fill Out the Colorado Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (2025)

Here’s my exact step-by-step process I walk every client through:

1. Wait 10 days – You cannot sign the affidavit until at least 10 days after death.
2. Gather documents – Original death certificate (with cause of death redacted if required by institution), account statements, vehicle titles, etc.
3. List all successors – Every person entitled under intestate succession or the will must sign (spouse, children, parents, siblings – in that order).
4. Inventory assets – Itemize every bank account, vehicle, stock certificate, etc., with current fair market value.
5. Pay or provide for debts – Funeral bill receipt and proof creditors have been notified/paid.
6. Sign before notary – Every successor must sign in front of a Colorado notary (or out-of-state notary with Colorado-compliant acknowledgment).
7. Deliver to holders – Banks, DMV, transfer agents, etc. Most accept the original affidavit + death certificate.

Sample Filled-Out Colorado Small Estate Affidavit (2025)

Here’s how a properly completed affidavit looks (names and numbers changed for privacy):

AFFIDAVIT FOR COLLECTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
State of Colorado
County of Denver

I/We, Jane Marie Smith (spouse) and John Robert Smith Jr. (adult child), being first duly sworn, state:

1. Robert Allen Smith died on January 15, 2025, in Denver County, Colorado.
2. At least ten (10) days have elapsed since death.
3. No application or petition for appointment of personal representative is pending or has been granted.
4. The value of all property in the decedent’s estate located in Colorado, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $74,000.
5. The undersigned are successor(s) entitled to payment or delivery of the property.

Description and Value of Property:
Wells Fargo checking x-1234: $28,500
Wells Fargo savings x-5678: $31,200
2021 Toyota Camry VIN 4T1BF1FK8MU123456: $14,000
Total: $73,700

Where to File or Submit the Colorado Small Estate Affidavit

Good news – you do not file this affidavit with any Colorado court. You present the original signed and notarized affidavit directly to:

• Banks and credit unions
• Colorado Department of Revenue (vehicle title transfer)
• Brokerages and transfer agents (stocks, mutual funds)
• Life insurance companies (if no beneficiary designated)
• Employers (final paycheck, 401k under limit)

Common Mistakes That Delay or Reject Colorado Small Estate Affidavits

In my practice, these are the top errors I see:

• Forgetting to wait the full 10 days
• Missing one successor’s signature
• Including real property (even mineral rights)
• Valuing assets above $74,000
• Using an old 2023 or 2024 template that references the wrong limit
• Not attaching certified death certificate

Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Small Estate Affidavits

Can I use the small estate affidavit for real estate?
No. Real property requires full probate or a separate procedure if titled with transfer-on-death deed.

Does the $74,000 limit include vehicles?
Yes – cars, boats, trailers, everything personal property counts.

What if the decedent lived out of state but had Colorado bank accounts?
You can still use Colorado’s affidavit for Colorado-situs property.

How long is the affidavit valid?
Indefinitely, once properly executed.

Final Thoughts from a Colorado Estate Attorney

In my 10+ years helping Colorado families, the Colorado small estate affidavit remains one of the most under-utilized tools in probate avoidance. When used correctly, it typically takes 2-4 weeks from death to having assets in successors’ hands – versus 6-18 months for formal probate.

Download the free 2025 template above, follow the instructions, and you’ll likely handle everything without ever stepping foot in court.

Disclaimer: This article and template are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Laws change and every situation is unique. Always consult a licensed Colorado attorney or tax professional before proceeding. Information accurate as of November 2025 based on C.R.S. § 15-12-1201 and IRS guidelines at IRS.gov.