Petition for Letters of Administration

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Colorado requires the use of official judicial branch forms for petitions for appointment
of a personal representative. Use form JDF 922 (Petition for Adjudication of
Intestacy and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative) for intestate estates, or
JDF 920 for testate estates. This template provides the substantive legal content to
help you prepare — but you must transfer your content to the official form before filing.
The official forms are available at
https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/open-estate.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

PETITION FOR LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION

DISTRICT COURT, [COUNTY] COUNTY, COLORADO
PROBATE DIVISION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption and Case Information
2. Applicant Information
3. Decedent Information
4. Basis for Jurisdiction
5. Heirs at Law
6. Grounds for Administration
7. Prayer for Relief
8. Verification
9. Certificate of Service

1. CAPTION AND CASE INFORMATION

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF:

[DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME], Deceased.

Case No.: [____________________________________]

2. APPLICANT INFORMATION

Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], Colorado [ZIP CODE]
Relationship to Decedent: [RELATIONSHIP]
Age: [____] years

3. DECEDENT INFORMATION

4. BASIS FOR JURISDICTION

a. The Decedent was domiciled in [COUNTY] County, Colorado at the time of death per C.R.S. § 15-10-301.

b. The Decedent died on [__/__/____].

c. The Decedent died intestate (without a valid Last Will and Testament).

d. ☐ After reasonable diligence, Applicant is unaware of any unrevoked will relating to property in Colorado (C.R.S. § 15-12-301(1)(d)).

e. ☐ The time limit for informal appointment has not expired (three years or less since death per C.R.S. § 15-12-108).

f. ☐ Applicant has not received any demand for notice under C.R.S. § 15-12-204.

g. ☐ No prior petition or application for appointment has been granted in Colorado or elsewhere.

5. HEIRS AT LAW

The heirs at law under Colorado intestate succession (C.R.S. § 15-11-101 et seq.):

6. GROUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATION

a. The Decedent died possessed of property in Colorado requiring administration.

b. Estimated value of the estate:

c. Applicant has priority under C.R.S. § 15-12-203 as [STATE PRIORITY BASIS].

d. Applicant is not disqualified under C.R.S. § 15-12-204.

e. Type of proceeding:
☐ Informal appointment (C.R.S. § 15-12-301)
☐ Formal appointment (C.R.S. § 15-12-402)

f. Type of administration:
☐ Unsupervised administration (C.R.S. § 15-12-501)
☐ Supervised administration (C.R.S. § 15-12-502)

g. Bond:
☐ Applicant will furnish bond per C.R.S. § 15-12-603
☐ Applicant requests waiver of bond

7. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Applicant respectfully requests:

a. The Registrar/Court determine that the Decedent died intestate;

b. Applicant be appointed Personal Representative;

c. Letters of Administration be issued upon qualification;

d. Bond be fixed or waived as appropriate;

e. Such other relief as deemed just.

8. VERIFICATION

STATE OF COLORADO
COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

I, [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME], under penalty of perjury, verify that the statements in this Petition are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-12-301.

Applicant Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [__/__/____], a true copy of this Petition was served on all interested persons:

☐ Personal Service
☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
☐ First Class U.S. Mail

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PETITIONER / ATTORNEY NAME]
Colorado Attorney Registration No.: [________________] (if applicable)
Address: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST:

☐ Certified copy of Death Certificate
☐ Bond or request for waiver (C.R.S. § 15-12-603)
☐ JDF 911 (Informal Appointment) or JDF 921 (Formal Petition) as applicable
☐ Acceptance of Appointment
☐ Written consents / waivers (if applicable)
☐ Filing fee payment