Update Colorado Probate Code

Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws. The bill makes changes to the "Colorado Probate Code" (code). Specifically, the bill describes how property passes when a decedent dies without a will (intestate) and the estate or any part of the estate does not pass to a surviving spouse or designated beneficiary pursuant to existing law. In that situation, the portion of the estate passing through intestate succession is distributed as follows:

• If the decedent is survived by one or more descendants, the portion of the estate passes to the decedent's surviving descendants per capita at each generation;
• If the decedent is not survived by a descendant but is survived by one or more parents, the portion of the estate is divided into as many equal shares as there are surviving parents and deceased parents with one or more descendants. One share passes to each surviving parent, and the balance passes per capita at each generation to the surviving descendants of the decedent's deceased parents.
• If the decedent is not survived by a descendant or parent but is survived by one or more descendants of a parent, the portion of the estate passes per capita at each generation to the surviving descendants of the decedent's deceased parents; or
• If a decedent is not survived by a descendant, parent, or descendant of a parent but is survived by one or more grandparents, the portion of the estate is divided into as many equal shares as there are surviving grandparents and deceased grandparents with one or more surviving descendants. One share passes to each surviving grandparent, and the balance passes per capita at each generation to the surviving descendants of the decedent's deceased grandparents.

The bill clarifies how the estate passes to surviving descendants of a deceased parent or grandparent.

The bill replaces outdated terminology in the code with modern language, including replacing gender-specific language.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)