Quick answer: once 10 days have passed and personal property is at or under the $88,000 2026 limit, complete Form JDF 999 and present it directly to each bank, employer, or institution holding the decedent's personal property. Check whether an estate qualifies with the Colorado small estate checker.
Step by step
- Wait 10 days from the date of death.
- Total the personal property, net of liens and encumbrances, excluding jointly held property, assets with designated beneficiaries, and life insurance proceeds.
- Confirm no personal representative application is pending or has been granted.
- Complete Form JDF 999, listing the property and confirming your status as a lawful successor.
- Present it directly to each bank, employer, or institution holding the property, along with proof of death.
No attorney required, but personal liability applies
You aren't legally required to have a lawyer to complete this process — it's designed to be simple enough for individuals. But the affiant becomes personally liable for any claims or debts of the estate up to the value of the property received, which is what gives institutions the confidence to release assets on a properly completed affidavit.
The threshold follows the year of death, not the filing date
The dollar limit that applies is the one in effect for the year the decedent died — the Colorado Judicial Branch publishes the current figure through its JDF 998 guide, so an estate from an earlier year uses that year's threshold, even if the affidavit itself is filed later.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Form JDF 999 works identically whether the decedent lived in Denver, El Paso, Arapahoe, or any other Colorado county — the form and threshold are set statewide.