TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WILLS AND TRUSTS IN COLORADO

My clients often tell me that they intended to get their estate plan done sooner, but . . .

• . . . they thought they were too busy
• . . . they thought they did not have enough assets
• . . . they could not decide who should get their assets
• . . . they did not know what to do or where to get help
• . . . they did not want to think about their mortality or possible incapacity
• . . . they did not realize that paying for a properly prepared estate plan now will likely save their successors money later
Please don't wait to complete your estate plan.

A. Your estate plan consists of all the tools by which you communicate your directions and wishes if you become incapacitated or die.

B. The core elements are:

• Will and personal property memorandum
• Financial power of attorney
• Medical power of attorney
• Advance medical directive (also called "declaration regarding medical treatment" or “living will”)

• Beneficiary and payable-on-death designations on accounts and life insurance
• Deeds showing joint ownership of property
• Appointment of guardian for minor children
• Marital or domestic partnership agreement
• Business and real estate agreements
• Revocable trust (sometimes called a "living trust" or "family trust")
• Irrevocable trust (such as a "life insurance trust" or "ILIT"

A. Your will is a written document in which you direct:

• Who is to gather and distribute the assets that can be handled by the will
• Who should receive specific gifts of money or other property
• Which charities you wish to benefit
• How you want the rest of your probate assets to be distributed
• In other words, the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” of your estate

• Appointing the personal representative and alternates
• Giving specific directions to the personal representative
• Reducing potential disagreements among beneficiaries
• Focusing attention on what matters to you

• Your will can and should be amended as your circumstances or wishes change
• You must have legal capacity to sign a will or an amendment ("codicil")
• Your will does not become effective until you die
• If you die without a will, a probate proceeding and court hearing are usually required, and your assets will be distributed only to your nearest living relatives as determined by state law

• Maybe, but . . . 
• . . . you may find that this is trickier than it sounds
• If your document is ambiguous, vague, or incomplete, your successors may need expensive court hearings to resolve the issues
• Handwritten wills (“holographic wills”) are recognized in Colorado but not in some other states

• Maybe, but . . . 
• . . . legal forms are merely templates - they are not magic
• Does the form use understandable, modern language?
• Does the form actually suit your circumstances?
• Does the form give adequate instructions to your personal representative?
• Is the form or information of high quality and accurate?
• Does the form or information conform to current Colorado law?
• If you are not sure, please seek personalized advice from an experienced estate planning attorney

A. “Nonprobate” assets are controlled not by your will but instead by your beneficiary designation, deed, or other contractual arrangement.

B. Be sure you review these items with your estate planning attorney:

• Beneficiary designations on investment accounts, retirement accounts, insurance policies, annuity contracts
• Payable-on-death designations on bank accounts
• Property owned jointly with another or for which a beneficiary deed has been recorded
• Property controlled by a marital agreement or domestic partnership agreement
• Property owned by your trust or your business

A. Small estate:

• Only for estates having no real property and valued at less than $68,000 (in 2019)
• No court involvement, except that successor files the will with the court clerk
• Successor completes small estate affidavit to obtain the decedent's assets

• Over 90% of probate proceedings in Colorado are informal
• Documents filed with the court are monitored by the probate registrar
• Usually no court hearings or supervision

• For resolving disputes or supervising the personal representative’s actions
• Court hearings scheduled as needed by the parties or as ordered by the judge

• Usually no court hearings
• No inheritance tax in Colorado
• Attorneys are not paid a percentage of the estate
• Most probate cases can be finished in less than a year

• Take legal responsibility for the estate or trust
• File required documents with court
• Communicate with beneficiaries
• Pay the decedent's final expenses and expenses of administering the estate or trust
• Hire accountant, attorney, auctioneer, and other professionals as needed
• Locate, gather, and inventory the assets 
• Keep an accounting of income and expenses
• Settle, pay, contest, or otherwise deal with claims and debts
• Transfer title to real property
• Distribute assets as directed in the will or trust
• Prepare and file tax returns