Colorado estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Colorado
Colorado sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Colorado will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Colorado law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Colorado estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | two witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | No (self-proving affidavit optional) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Recognized |
| Electronic wills | Permitted by statute |
| State estate tax | None |
| State inheritance tax | None |
| Community property | No (separate / common-law property) |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Colorado courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Colorado
A Colorado will must be in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses (or, as an alternative, acknowledged before a notary). Notarization is not required for the will to be valid, but a self-proving affidavit — which is notarized — makes probate easier by removing the need for your witnesses to testify later. Colorado recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, but a properly witnessed will is far stronger and easier to probate. Colorado permits electronic wills under its own statute.
Spousal protection. Up to 50% of marital-property portion of augmented estate, sliding scale by marriage length (C.R.S. § 15-11-202/203). A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Colorado
A will still has to pass through Colorado probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Colorado situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Colorado
A financial power of attorney in Colorado must be acknowledged before a notary to be effective. (C.R.S. § 15-14-705)
A Colorado healthcare directive can be signed before either two witnesses or a notary. (C.R.S. § 15-18-106)
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Colorado's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Colorado estate & inheritance tax
Colorado has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, and it affects very few estates.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Colorado department of revenue.
Colorado statutes referenced
- C.R.S. § 15-11-502
- C.R.S. § 15-14-705
- C.R.S. § 15-18-106
Colorado estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Colorado?
- Yes. Colorado does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Colorado's execution rules. A will is valid in Colorado when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people (C.R.S. § 15-11-502). Estateur builds each Colorado will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Colorado?
- Colorado requires two witnesses to sign your will. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Colorado also recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, though a witnessed will is stronger.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Colorado?
- No. Colorado law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Colorado documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Colorado attorney is wise.
- Does Colorado have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Colorado has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, and it affects very few estates.
- How much does an online will cost in Colorado?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Colorado as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Colorado estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Colorado, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Colorado law in general terms and may change.
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