2021 Colorado Code
Title 15 - Probate, Trusts, and Fiduciaries
Article 12 - Probate of Wills and Administration
Part 13 - Determination of Heirs, Devisees, and Property Interests by Special Proceeding
§ 15-12-1303. Hearing - Notice - Service

1. The petitioner shall prepare a notice that identifies the petition and includes the name of each decedent; the name of each interested person; a description of the property set forth in the petition, including a legal description if the property is real property; and the time and place of the hearing on the petition. The notice must direct all interested persons to appear and object to the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified in the notice. The notice must further direct that all objections to the petition must be filed in writing with the court and be served on the petitioner, and that the filing fee must be paid on or before the hearing date and time specified in the notice. The notice must set forth that the hearing will be limited to objections timely filed and served and that, if no objections are timely filed and served, then the court may enter a decree without a hearing.
2. The notice must be served on each interested person named in the petition whose address is shown on the petition and who does not join in the petition; or who does not consent to the granting of the petition or enter a personal appearance; or who does not admit, accept, or waive service. Service may be by personal service or by mailing. If service is by personal service within the state, service must be completed at least twenty-one days prior to the hearing. If service is by personal service outside the state or by mailing a copy thereof, postage prepaid, addressed to the address shown on the petition either within or outside the state, service must be completed at least thirty-five days prior to the hearing. The petitioner shall file a return of service for each instance of personal service and shall make and file a certificate of mailing stating the name of the person to whom the copy was mailed, the address to which the copy was mailed, that it was mailed postage prepaid, and the date of mailing. A copy of the petition must be served with the notice.
3. The petitioner shall also cause the notice to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks, as defined in section 15-10-401 (4), in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the proceeding is filed, or if there is no such newspaper in the county, then in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining Colorado county. Additionally, such notice must also be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in any other county in which real property that is subject to the proceeding is located, or if there is no such newspaper in such county, then in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining Colorado county. Service by publication is complete on the last day of publication, which must occur on or before thirty-five days before the hearing. The petitioner shall file with the court the publisher's affidavit or affidavits of publication stating the dates of publication.

History. Source: L. 93: Entire part R&RE, p. 1243, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2012: (1) and (3) amended,(SB 12-175), ch. 208, p. 838, § 46, effective July 1. L. 2016: Entire section amended,(SB 16-133), ch. 145, p. 433, § 4, effective August 10.

This section is similar to former § 15-12-1302 as it existed prior to 1993.