Summit County, CO Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Summit County, CO Consumers

Colorado Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Colorado PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Summit County: Key information about your local probate court (District Court in Colorado) for Summit County.
• How Probate Works in Colorado: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Summit County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Colorado probate forms from the Colorado probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Colorado: Learn how to use Colorado's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Colorado, there's an Affidavit procedure for estates that are less than $70,000. This limit only applies to assets that would otherwise pass through probate, so excludes all joint tenancy property and all assets that pass by beneficiary designation, like life insurance and payable on death accounts. There is a ten-day waiting period.

    You can get the forms required here.

    Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. 15-12-1201

    There's also a summary probate procedure for estates whose value is less than the value of personal property held by the decedent as trustee (so living trust assets don't count), exempt property allowance, family allowance, costs of administration, funeral expenses, and medical expenses for last illness.

    Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. 15-12-1203

• Colorado Estate Taxes:

  • Colorado, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in Colorado. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Colorado Wage & Hour Law

• Colorado Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Colorado is $14.42 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Colorado must be paid at least $14.42 an hour. 

  • Visit https://cdle.colorado.gov/wage-and-hour-law/minimum-wage to find out more about Colorado’s minimum wage.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Colorado and whether they apply to you.

  • If you work more than 40 hours in a workweek, more than twelve hours in a workday, or twelve or more consecutive hours regardless of normal workday start/stop time (whichever calculation results in the greater wage payment), your employer must pay you 1-1/2 times your regular hourly wage for each overtime hour you work, unless you are exempt. Find out more about Colorado's overtime rules and exemptions at the Overtime page of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment website. 

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Colorado. 

  • You can find information and forms to file a wage claim with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment at its website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Colorado.

  • In Colorado, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $11.40 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14.42 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference. 

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Colorado law from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. 303-318-8441

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Colorado Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Colorado: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Colorado, unemployment benefits range from $25 per week to $781 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Colorado, your weekly benefit will be the higher of:

    • 60% of 1/26th of your wages in the two quarters of the base period in which you earned the most, up to a cap of $710 per week, or
    • 50% of 1/52nd of your wages in the entire base period, up to a cap of $781.
  • Duration:

    In Colorado, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Colorado.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Colorado MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Summit County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Colorado BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Colorado law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Colorado BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in Colorado 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Colorado Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Summit County: Summit County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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Colorado Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Colorado!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Colorado? Learn about whether Colorado imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Summit County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In Colorado, Summit County, Breckenridge 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Summit County, CO.
• Gerrymandering in Colorado: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

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Find a Lawyer in Summit County, CO

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration

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