Have You Been Contacted About an Asset or
Inheritance in Colorado?

Learn how Colorado probate may affect your ability to claim or address an inheritance, property, or other estate asset.

An Unexpected Asset May Still Require Probate

You may have been contacted about unclaimed funds, real estate, mineral interests, or another asset belonging to someone who passed away. In other cases, you or your family may have discovered an asset that was never addressed when the person died.


Even when an heir or beneficiary appears to have a right to the asset, transferring or claiming it may require additional legal steps.


Depending on the circumstances, a Colorado probate proceeding may need to be opened, an earlier estate may need to be reviewed, or additional action may be necessary to establish who has the legal authority to address the asset.



You do not have to live in Colorado to begin understanding your options. Okunade LLP works with heirs and beneficiaries in Colorado and elsewhere to evaluate these situations and determine what steps may be appropriate.

Common Reasons Heirs and Beneficiaries May Need Probate Help

Probate questions do not always arise immediately after someone passes away. In some cases, an asset is discovered months or years later. In others, an heir may be contacted about property or funds they did not know existed.


Some common situations include:


  • An asset was discovered after the estate was closed
    Property, funds, mineral interests, or other assets may surface after the original probate matter has ended.


  • A probate estate was never opened
    If an estate was never administered, legal steps may be necessary before certain assets can be transferred or claimed.


  • You were contacted about an unclaimed asset or inheritance
    An asset recovery company, researcher, attorney, or other professional may contact you about an asset connected to a deceased relative.


  • You live outside Colorado
    You may be an heir or beneficiary of a Colorado estate even if you live in another state or outside the United States.


  • There are multiple heirs or beneficiaries
    Additional questions can arise when several people may have an interest in the same estate or asset.


  • It is unclear who has authority to address the asset
    Depending on the circumstances, someone may need to be appointed to act on behalf of the estate before the asset can be addressed.

What May Need to Happen Next?

Discovering an asset does not necessarily mean that it can be immediately claimed or transferred. The first step is understanding what happened with the estate and what legal authority may be required to address the asset.


If no probate estate was opened, a proceeding may need to be started. If an estate was previously administered and later closed, additional probate steps may be necessary to address a newly discovered asset.



The appropriate path will depend on the circumstances of the estate, the type of asset involved, and who has authority to act. Okunade LLP can help evaluate the situation, determine what probate steps may be necessary, and guide heirs and beneficiaries through the Colorado probate process.

Handling a Colorado Estate From Out of State

It is common for heirs and beneficiaries to live in another state or even outside the United States. If the estate or asset is connected to Colorado, you may still need to navigate Colorado probate even though you live elsewhere.


Living outside the state does not necessarily mean you will need to handle every step in person. Depending on the circumstances, Okunade LLP can help evaluate the estate, address the required Colorado probate proceedings, and guide you through the process from where you live.



Whether you recently learned about an inheritance or were contacted about an asset belonging to a deceased relative, the first step is determining what legal action, if any, is needed in Colorado.

Questions Heirs and Beneficiaries Often Have

  • Do I always need probate to claim an inheritance?

    Not necessarily. 


    Whether probate is required depends on how the asset is titled, how it was intended to transfer, whether an estate was previously opened, and other circumstances. 


    An attorney can review the situation to determine whether a Colorado probate proceeding may be necessary.

  • What happens if an asset is discovered years after someone dies?

    The passage of time does not necessarily mean the asset cannot be addressed. 


    The appropriate next step may depend on whether an estate was previously opened, whether it was closed, and what type of asset has been discovered.

  • What if no probate estate was ever opened?

    If probate was never opened, it may be necessary to begin a Colorado probate proceeding before someone has the legal authority to address certain estate assets.

  • What if the estate was already closed?

    A previously administered estate may require additional probate action when property or another asset is discovered later. 


    What is required will depend on the circumstances of the original estate and the newly discovered asset.

  • What happens if there is no will?

    The absence of a will does not necessarily prevent an estate from being administered. 


    Colorado law provides rules for determining who may inherit when someone dies without a valid will.

  • What if there are several heirs?

    When multiple people have an interest in an estate, the probate process may need to establish the appropriate representative and address how the estate asset should be handled or distributed.