Colorado Declaration of Disposition of Last Remains and Appointment of Designee
DECLARATION OF DISPOSITION OF LAST REMAINS
Before you use this: Initial one disposition choice in paragraph 1. If appointing a person to decide disposition, name that person and an alternate. Paragraph 2 separately lets you appoint a person to arrange ceremonies. Sign and date the declaration. A witness or notary is optional under C.R.S. §§ 15-19-104(5), 15-19-107(2). Give a copy to each named designee and the people likely to handle your arrangements.
I, [DECLARANT'S FULL LEGAL NAME], being of sound mind and lawful age, revoke all prior declarations concerning disposition of my last remains and those provisions concerning disposition of my last remains found in a will, codicil, or power of attorney. I declare and direct that after my death the following provisions be taken:
1. Disposition of my body — initial one choice
If permitted by law, my body shall be:
[____] Buried. I direct that my body be buried at [CEMETERY AND LOCATION].
[____] Cremated. I direct that my cremated remains be disposed of as follows: [INSTRUCTIONS].
[____] Entombed. I direct that my body be entombed at [LOCATION].
[____] Naturally reduced. I direct that my reduced remains be given final disposition as follows: [INSTRUCTIONS].
[____] Otherwise disposed of. I direct that my body be disposed of as follows: [INSTRUCTIONS].
[____] Disposed of as my designee decides in writing. I appoint [PRIMARY DESIGNEE'S FULL NAME], of [ADDRESS; PHONE; EMAIL], to decide in writing how my body will be disposed of. If that person is unwilling or unable to act, I appoint [ALTERNATE DESIGNEE'S FULL NAME], of [ADDRESS; PHONE; EMAIL], as alternate designee.
2. Ceremonial arrangements — initial each desired choice
[____] Ceremonial designee. I request that [PRIMARY CEREMONIAL DESIGNEE'S NAME], of [ADDRESS; PHONE; EMAIL], make all arrangements for any ceremonies consistent with this declaration. If that person is unwilling or unable to act, I appoint [ALTERNATE CEREMONIAL DESIGNEE'S NAME], of [ADDRESS; PHONE; EMAIL].
[____] Funeral. I request these arrangements: [INSTRUCTIONS].
[____] Memorial service. I request these arrangements: [INSTRUCTIONS].
3. Special instructions
I make these additional requests about ceremonies or the absence of ceremonies: [INSTRUCTIONS / NONE].
I may revoke or amend this declaration in writing at any time. I agree that a third party who receives a copy of this declaration may act according to it. Revocation of this declaration is not effective as to a third party until the third party learns of my revocation. My estate shall indemnify any third party for costs incurred as a result of claims that arise against the third party because of good-faith reliance on this declaration.
I execute this declaration as my free and voluntary act on [__/__/____].
Declarant signature: [________________________________]
Printed name: [________________________________]
Mailing address: [________________________________]
Optional witness or acknowledgment
Witness: I am an adult and was present when the declarant signed this declaration.
Witness signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]
Witness printed name and address: [________________________________]
Notary acknowledgment, if used: State of Colorado, County of [COUNTY]. Acknowledged before me by [DECLARANT NAME] on [__/__/____]. My commission expires [DATE]. Notary signature and seal: [________________________________].
Official source
About this template
- Last updated
- October 25, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 25, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Colorado
- Category
- Estate Planning & Wills
Legal authority
- C.R.S. § 15-19-104(1), (3), (5) (declaration choices, priority, execution)
- C.R.S. § 15-19-106(1)(a) (declarant acting through declaration has first priority)
- C.R.S. § 15-19-107(1)-(4) (statutory declaration, substantial compliance, revocation, spouse designation)
Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 25, 2026.
C.R.S. § 15-19-104(1) (checked October 25, 2026): "The declarant may specify, in a declaration, any one or more of the following: (a) The disposition to be made of the declarant's last remains; (b) The person appointed to direct the disposition of the declarant's last remains;"
C.R.S. § 15-19-104(3)(a)(I) (checked October 25, 2026): "The provisions of the most recent declaration shall control over any other document regarding the disposition of the declarant's last remains."
C.R.S. § 15-19-104(5) (checked October 25, 2026): "A declaration shall be signed and dated by the declarant and may be notarized or witnessed in writing by at least one adult who confirms that he or she was present when the declarant signed the declaration."
C.R.S. § 15-19-106(1)(a) (checked October 25, 2026): "The decedent if acting through a declaration pursuant to section 15-19-104, subject to the provisions of section 15-19-104 (3)(a)(II);"
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