Colorado Guardianship Forms

You've decided to pursue guardianship for an aging parent who can no longer make their own decisions. The Colorado Judicial Department website lists dozens of JDF forms with cryptic numbers, no clear filing order, and no explanation of which ones you actually need. Missing a single form or filing them in the wrong sequence can delay the entire case by weeks.

Here's the complete filing roadmap — every required form, in order, with the documents you need to attach.

The Initiating Forms

JDF 841 — Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Adult. This is the starting document. It identifies your parent (the respondent), states why they need a guardian, names the proposed guardian, and lists all interested persons who must receive notice. File this with the probate court in the county where your parent resides.

Filing fee: $229.00. Paid when you file JDF 841. If your parent cannot afford the fee, file JDF 205 (Motion to File Without Payment) alongside JDF 206 (Order re Fee Waiver) and let the judge decide.

JDF 805 — Acceptance of Office and Acknowledgment of Responsibilities. The proposed guardian signs this form acknowledging their legal duties. It must be filed with the petition, along with these attachments:

• CBI criminal history check — a name-based background check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, costing $6–$13. Order it online through the CBI's Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) portal.
• Credit report — a current report from any major bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Redact your Social Security number and all but the last four digits of account numbers before filing.
• Government-issued photo ID — a copy of your driver's license or passport with identification numbers redacted.
• CAPS check authorization — the Colorado Adult Protective Services check form, submitted to the court clerk who runs the search against the CDHS database. This confirms you have no substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Current processing fee is approximately $9.

The Notice and Service Forms

After the court accepts your petition and assigns a case number:

JDF 807 — Notice of Hearing to Respondent. This form must be personally served on your parent (the respondent) by a sheriff or professional process server at least 14 days before the hearing. You cannot serve it yourself.

JDF 806 — Notice of Hearing to Interested Persons. Mail or hand-deliver this to all immediate family members, current fiduciaries, healthcare providers, and anyone who housed the parent for more than six months in the prior year. Also 14 days before the hearing minimum.

After service is complete, file a Certificate of Service with the court documenting when and how each person was served.

The Court Visitor Investigation

The court will appoint a Court Visitor — a neutral investigator who interviews your parent, evaluates the proposed guardian, and submits a written report to the judge. The petitioner or the parent's estate pays the visitor's fees, which vary by county: Denver uses a flat rate of around $200, while other counties may charge up to $40/hour.

You don't file a form for this — the court assigns the visitor after accepting the petition. Cooperate fully with their investigation, as their recommendation carries significant weight with the judge.

Post-Appointment Forms

If the judge approves the guardianship, you'll receive:

JDF 848 — Order Appointing Guardian. The judge's official order granting guardianship.

JDF 849 — Letters of Guardianship. The certified letters that prove your authority to banks, hospitals, and government agencies. Purchase certified copies from the clerk for $20 each — you'll need several.

Then the compliance clock starts:

JDF 800 — Acknowledgment of Responsibilities. File immediately after appointment.

JDF 812 — Notice of Appointment. Within 30 days, mail copies of the appointment order and this notice to your parent and all interested persons. File a Certificate of Service.

JDF 850 — Guardian's Report/Care Plan. Within 60 days, file your initial care plan checking the box for "Initial Report/Care Plan." Then file annually thereafter — every year you serve as guardian, you submit a new JDF 850 reporting on your parent's living situation, health, and care.

Combined Guardianship and Conservatorship

If you also need financial authority, you'll file a parallel set of conservatorship forms:

• JDF 876 — Petition for Appointment of Conservator
• JDF 878 — Order Appointing Conservator
• JDF 880 — Letters of Conservatorship
• JDF 882/883 — Financial Plan and Inventory (due within 90 days)
• JDF 885 — Annual accounting

The two petitions can be filed simultaneously for one $229 fee if the court allows combined filing in your county.

Where to Get the Forms

All JDF forms are available free on the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The forms are standardized statewide, though local court rules may require additional filings — check with your county clerk's office before filing.

The Colorado Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit sequences every form in filing order with checklists for required attachments, redaction guidelines, and deadlines — so you don't discover a missing document the day before your hearing.

See more Colorado guides →