Quick answer: Colorado's probate filing fee is a flat $229 — a $199 docket fee plus a $30 equal justice fee — under C.R.S. § 13-32-102. It is the same in every county and does not scale with the estate's value. The small estate affidavit has no filing fee at all, because it isn't filed with a court.
How the Colorado filing fee works
Colorado probate is filed with the District Court of the county where the person lived, or the dedicated Denver Probate Court for Denver residents. The docket fee to open a decedent's estate is set statewide by C.R.S. § 13-32-102: a $199 docket fee, plus a $30 equal justice fee collected on that filing since January 1, 2025, for $229 total. This is the same for informal and formal probate, and the same in all 64 counties — it does not rise with estate value.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Docket fee (open estate) | $199 |
| Equal justice fee | $30 |
| Total filing fee | $229 |
| Certified Letters (certification) | $20 + $0.75/copy |
| Small estate affidavit (JDF 999) | $0 (no court filing) |
Flat statewide under C.R.S. § 13-32-102; counties may differ on copies, certification and e-filing. Confirm with the District Court or Denver Probate Court before filing.
Other court-related costs
- Notice to creditors — publication in a local newspaper; roughly $50–$120. All Colorado estates stay open at least 6 months for the creditor claim period.
- Certified Letters Testamentary (JDF 915SC) — $20 to certify plus $0.75 per copy; third parties may require Letters certified within the past 60 days.
- Surety bond — often waived by the will; premium ~0.5% of the estate per year if required.
- Small estate affidavit — costs nothing in court (presented directly to banks and asset holders).
Where the fee sits in the total
At $229, the filing fee is a tiny part of Colorado probate — the PR and attorney fees dominate. See the whole picture in the Colorado probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the Colorado probate cost calculator.