How to Get a Death Certificate in Colorado & the Colorado Small Estate Limit
Almost every bank, insurer and government office will ask for a certified death certificate, and many families then want to know if a simpler small estate procedure can replace full probate. Here is how both work in Colorado, written in plain English and checked against official Colorado government and court sources.
How to get a death certificate in Colorado
Certified copies in Colorado come from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Vital Records, and county vital records offices.
Under the statewide fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, the first certified death certificate costs $25 and each additional copy of the same record ordered together costs $20.
Card payments online carry a surcharge. Many county public health offices (Denver, Arapahoe, Mesa and others) also issue Colorado death certificates.
A useful rule: one certified copy for each financial institution, insurer, retirement plan and government agency that holds an asset in the person's name, plus two spares. Some institutions return the copy, but many keep it. Our death certificate count guide has a checklist.
Colorado small estate procedure: Collection of personal property by affidavit (form JDF 999)
For deaths in 2026 the affidavit can be used if the decedent's personal property, net of liens and encumbrances, is $88,000 or less. The limit is indexed and changes each year, so check the current JDF 999.
Only 10 days need to pass after the death, one of the shortest waits in the country, and no personal representative may be appointed or pending.
The affidavit covers personal property only, not real estate. You sign JDF 999 in front of a notary, attach a death certificate and give it straight to the bank or holder. It is not filed with the court.
What counts toward the limit
Before you compare the estate to the Colorado limit, take out everything that passes outside probate. Life insurance and retirement accounts with a named beneficiary, payable-on-death and transfer-on-death accounts, jointly owned property with survivorship rights, and assets held in a living trust usually go straight to the named person and are not part of the probate estate. That is why many estates that look large on paper still qualify for the small estate route. Our article on why beneficiary designations override a will explains how this works.
Step by step in Colorado
- Get several certified copies of the death certificate first; nothing else moves without them.
- Make an inventory: bank accounts, vehicles, investments, real estate, and anything with a named beneficiary.
- Separate out non-probate assets, then total what is left and compare it with the Colorado threshold.
- Wait out any required waiting period and complete the Collection of personal property by affidavit (form JDF 999).
- Collect the assets, pay legitimate debts and final bills, and distribute the rest to the people entitled to it, keeping a written record.
When the small estate route doesn't fit
If the estate is over the limit, includes property the Colorado procedure cannot transfer, or the family disagrees about who gets what, plan on regular probate. The same applies when there is a business, significant debt or a disputed will. Many probate courts run free self-help centers, and a short consultation with a Colorado estate attorney can save expensive mistakes. The executor checklist lays out what a full probate involves.
Quick answers
How much does a death certificate cost in Colorado?
Under the statewide fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, the first certified death certificate costs $25 and each additional copy of the same record ordered together costs $20. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
What is the small estate limit in Colorado?
For deaths in 2026 the affidavit can be used if the decedent's personal property, net of liens and encumbrances, is $88,000 or less. The limit is indexed and changes each year, so check the current JDF 999. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
After that
The next steps are the same in every state: notify agencies, close or transfer accounts and keep records. These guides help: who to call when someone dies, closing accounts and Apple, Google and Facebook accounts after a death.
Keep it all in one place
The After-Loss Admin Kit is a calm, printable executor workbook: the first 48 hours through closing the estate, a who-to-notify list, 12 letter templates (including bank and agency letters) and an estate tracker spreadsheet for every asset and debt. It works with the Colorado steps above.
See the After-Loss Admin Kit — $19Loss & planning bundle (4 kits) — $34