2017 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 15 - Probate, Trusts, and Fiduciaries
Fiduciary
Article 1 - Fiduciary
Part 12 - Life Estate in Property of Surviving Spouse
§ 15-1-1201. Life estate in property - rights of surviving spouse
(1) Unless the instrument provides otherwise, any devise of a life estate in property to a surviving spouse by a decedent spouse shall entitle the surviving spouse to:
(a) All income for life from the entire interest in or specific portion of the property, payable annually or at more frequent intervals;
(b) Exclusive beneficial enjoyment of the property during his life, including such income or use of the property as is consistent with the value of the property and its preservation; except that, during the surviving spouse's lifetime, no person other than the surviving spouse may receive any distribution of the property or its income; and
(c) Make the property productive or convert it into productive property within a reasonable time after the devise; except that, the exercise of such power shall be subject to the degree of judgment and care which a prudent person would use if he were the owner of the property. The proceeds of any such conversion shall be reinvested by the surviving spouse in a form subject to the life estate and remainder rights created by the decedent.
(2) The provisions of this part 12 shall be interpreted consistently with the requirements of section 2056 (b)(7) of the federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, if the personal representative of the estate of the decedent spouse elects to treat such life estate as qualified terminable interest property under said Internal Revenue Code section.
