ESCHEATED ESTATES - THE DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED ASSETS

General Information:
  • There are times—as outlined in Colorado Revised Statutes §15-12-914— when an estate’s funds are required to be transferred to the State Treasurer’s Office.
  • The State Treasurer will hold the funds until 1) an heir comes forward, or 2) until twenty-one (21) years has passed.
  • After twenty-one years has passed, the funds cannot be claimed and are deposited into the State School Fund.
  • If you think you might be an heir or devisee of someone’s estate, please contact the State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division by e-mail or phone.

Instructions for People Turning Over Escheated Estates:

Please use the following instructions if you need to turn over any escheated property to the Colorado Unclaimed Property Division:

  1. In cases of informal and formal probate, as the personal representative, you must send a copy of the court order ordering you to pay any balances remaining in your possession to the State Treasurer to hold the funds as an escheated estate, along with any other supporting documents.
  2. In small estates, you must send a copy of all documents related to the estate, any search for heirs, and any additional information that may identify potential heirs.
  3. Along with the above mentioned copies, you must also include:
    • A Cover Letter outlining the documents enclosed and instructions that clearly indicates: “The enclosed funds are intended for the inclusion on the: Estates of Deceased Owners List.”;
    • A check made payable to the Colorado State Treasurer; and
    • You must mail all of the above to the Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division at the below address.
  4. A written report of such payment, along with copies of the above documents must be mailed to the Office of the Attorney General at the below address.

Mailing Address

Colorado Department of the Treasury
Unclaimed Property Division
200 E. Colfax Ave. Room 141
Denver CO 80203-1722

Office of the Attorney General
Public Officials Unit
1300 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203