A Colorado last will and testament is a written document that lets a testator name an executor and direct how their property is distributed after death. Colorado recognizes it as valid once it meets the state’s writing, signing, and witness or notarization rules.
A printable and fillable Colorado last will and testament template is available in PDF and DOC format on this page, together with instructions for writing it correctly. You can also use our online document builder for a more personalized approach.
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Colorado law sets specific rules for a valid last will under the Colorado Probate Code. The document must be in writing and signed by the testator, or by another person in the testator's conscious presence and at their direction.[1] It becomes valid once witnessed by at least two people or acknowledged by the testator before a notary public. The table below summarizes these requirements alongside the state's other formalities.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Colorado law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
| Requirements | State laws | |
| Statutes | Title 15 – Probate, Trusts and Fiduciaries, Article 11 – Intestate Succession and Wills | |
| Definitions | 15-10-201. General definitions | |
| Signing requirement | Two witnesses OR a notary public | 15-11-502. Execution – witnessed or notarized wills – holographic wills |
| Age of testator | 18 and older | 15-11-501. Who may make a will |
| Age of witnesses | 15-11-505. Who may witness | |
| Self-proving wills | Allowed | 15-11-504. Self-proved will |
| Handwritten wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | 15-11-502. Execution – witnessed or notarized wills – holographic wills |
| Oral wills | Not recognized | |
| Holographic wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | |
| Depositing a will | Possible with a Colorado district court | 15-11-515. Deposit of will with court in testator’s lifetime |
Colorado also recognizes a handwritten (holographic) will as valid without any witnesses, as long as the signature and the material portions of the document are in the testator's own handwriting.[1] A typed template like this one still needs the standard witness or notary steps above.
Follow the steps below to fill out a Colorado last will and testament, from choosing between an attorney and a DIY template to signing the finished document in front of witnesses or a notary. Each step maps to a section of the template you will find further down this page.
Consider your possible choices. Decide whether or not you prefer to seek the services of attorneys or write your will by yourself (either by handwriting it or using a free last will and testament form).
Specify your information. Establish the testator and their details: full name and residence (city, county, and state). Go over the remaining part of the passage, including the information you have written along with the “Expenses and Taxes” subsection.
Establish the executor. Decide on the executor of your last will, the person responsible for carrying out the instructions in this document. Enter the executor’s full legal name and their city, county, and state of residence.
Choose an executor who lives in your state. Other states set special rules for out-of-state executors that add delay and paperwork. It is not required, but naming a backup executor is a good idea in case the first one is unwilling or incapable of executing your will.
Determine the guardian (optional). You can choose a trusted person as a guardian in the event that you’ve got minor or dependent children that need to be taken care of. In case there are no directions pertaining to exactly who should look after your children, the guardian will be assigned by the court.
Specify your beneficiaries. This is where you indicate people who are going to receive your property. For every named beneficiary, enter the next particulars: full name, address, and how they are related to you.
Allocate property. In the event that you have an asset distribution on your mind that is not proportional, you’ll be able to explain it within this part. Assets could include money for unresolved arrears, realty, stocks, company control, cash, and any physical items of commercial worth that count among your possessions. But, joint and living will property and assets, along with your life insurance, cannot go in your will.
Ask witnesses to sign the document, or use a notary. Colorado Revised Statutes require at least two witnesses to sign a last will and testament for it to be legally binding, or the testator can acknowledge the will before a notary public instead.[1] You can appoint another person as a witness only when they are over the age of 18 years and are uninvolved in your bequest.
It also helps to choose a witness younger than you, so they are more likely to still be around if your will is ever contested. After you review every section of your last will and testament, all parties involved, you and the two witnesses, or you and the notary, must print their full names and addresses and sign the document.
Colorado law does not require every will to be notarized, but it accepts notarization as an alternative to witnesses. A will becomes valid once it is signed by at least two witnesses, or once it is acknowledged by the testator before a notary public or other individual authorized by law to take acknowledgments instead.[1]
Colorado does not require notarization if your will is signed by two witnesses instead. Beyond that execution choice, many testators also add a notarized self-proving affidavit to a witnessed will. A self-proving last will can make probate quicker since the court can recognize it without getting in touch with the witnesses who signed it.
No, it is only you (as the testator) who is permitted to modify your last will and testament. There is only one special situation when a third party is allowed to get involved. If you are physically incapable of signing your last will and testament, another person can do so in your stead yet only with your content and in your presence.
Yes, you can modify your last will at any time.
As outlined by Colorado Law, you are allowed to adjust or annul a last will if you’re not obligated by a lawful agreement indicating the opposite.
You should also consider amending it after a major life event.
In line with Colorado law, the will’s absence can be assumed as its cancellation. This means the executor must prove the last will’s legality, which in turn may become very complicated. Here’s an example of a case where the court didn’t accept a will’s copy – Estate of Perry, 33 P.3d 1235.
| Related documents | When to make it |
| Codicil | Your will needs one or a number of small adjustments. |
| Self-proving affidavit | You would like to save time and legal fees for your witnesses. |
| Living will | You would like to establish precisely what health care you want if you’re unable to communicate that yourself. |
| Living trust | You would like to avoid probate by putting your assets in a trust. |
Need a last will and testament template for a different state? Browse the state-specific forms below. Each one is built to match that state's own witness, notarization, and signing rules, so you are not stuck reusing Colorado's requirements somewhere else.
This page is general information about Colorado last wills, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a Colorado attorney.
