Planning your legacy shouldn’t feel stressful. We make it clear and manageable. As a Denver estate planning attorney team, we help families across Denver, Greenwood Village, Colorado Springs, and the Front Range protect what they’ve built. At Meurer & Potter, P.C., we design plans that avoid needless court time, reduce taxes where possible, and keep loved ones out of conflict. We’ve served Colorado families since 1991. And we know the Denver Probate Court and nearby Arapahoe County processes that affect real people every day. Here’s how we approach it, and how we can help you get this done with confidence.

Why Estate Planning Matters in Colorado

Colorado law is straightforward in some areas and tricky in others. Without a plan, the state decides who receives your assets and who makes decisions for you. That can delay transfers and raise costs. A solid plan keeps control in your hands.

Key Colorado Laws That Shape Your Plan

• No Colorado estate tax. But the federal estate tax may apply to larger estates. The federal exemption is high today, and current law is set to drop it in 2026. That shift may pull more Colorado families into the federal system. We watch these changes closely and adjust plans.
• Intestate succession. If you die without a will, Colorado statutes direct your assets to a spouse, children, or parents by formula. Blended families often see outcomes they didn’t expect.
• Probate. Estates with real estate or more than Colorado’s small-estate limit (currently $80,000 in personal property) usually go through probate. With planning, like a funded revocable trust or non-probate designations, you can often avoid it.

Who Needs a Plan and When

• Parents of minor or special needs children.
• Homeowners in Denver or Greenwood Village with growing equity.
• Business owners and licensed professionals.
• Anyone in a second marriage or blended family.
• Anyone with retirement savings, life insurance, or brokerage accounts.

Life changes, marriage, divorce, a new child, selling a business, or buying a home, are signals to review your plan. At Meurer & Potter, P.C., we build plans that adapt as your life shifts.

Essential Documents Your Attorney Will Recommend

Your plan isn’t one paper. It’s a coordinated set of documents and beneficiary choices that work together.

Will, Probate, and Guardianship

A will directs who gets what and who serves as personal representative. It also names guardians for minor children. In Denver County, wills are probated in the Denver Probate Court. For Greenwood Village clients, probate is typically handled in Arapahoe County District Court. We prepare clear, enforceable wills that reflect your wishes and reduce confusion.

Revocable Trusts and When They Help

A revocable living trust keeps your estate private, speeds asset transfers, and often avoids probate. It’s helpful if you own real estate, have a blended family, or want detailed distribution terms. The key is funding, retitling assets to the trust. We guide you through each account and deed so nothing gets left out.

Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives

• Durable financial power of attorney for money and property.
• Medical power of attorney for health decisions if you can’t speak.
• Advance directive (living will) for end-of-life choices.

These tools prevent court-appointed conservatorships and guardianships. They keep your voice in the room when you can’t be there. At Meurer & Potter, P.C., we tailor these to your doctors, your family, and your hospital preferences in Denver and Greenwood Village.

Denver-Specific Planning Considerations

Local context matters. Market values, court practices, and even titling norms vary across the metro.

Real Estate and Non-Probate Transfers

Denver and Greenwood Village home values can push estates into more complex territory. We often use:

• Beneficiary deeds (transfer-on-death) for homes when a trust isn’t needed.
• Payable-on-death (POD) and transfer-on-death (TOD) designations for bank and brokerage accounts.
• Trust funding for rental properties or mountain cabins.

We’ll map each asset and choose the simplest, sound path.

Blended Families and Special Needs

Second marriages raise questions: protect a spouse, but also ensure children inherit. Trusts can do both. For loved ones with disabilities, a Special Needs Trust preserves benefits and ensures lifelong care. We also plan guardianships and conservatorships when needed.

Small Business and Professional Licenses

If you own a practice or company in Denver Tech Center or Greenwood Village, you need succession terms. Who can vote the shares? Who can sign checks next week if you’re incapacitated? We design buy-sell agreements, key-person plans, and trust structures that keep operations steady.

How to Choose the Right Attorney

The right fit saves time, money, and stress.

Credentials and Local Experience

Look for a team that practices estate planning daily and works with Denver Probate Court and Arapahoe County regularly. At Meurer & Potter, P.C., attorneys Michael T. Meurer, Gary T. Potter, Matthew P. Zanotelli, and Nicole G. Andrzejewski focus on Colorado estate law, elder law, and probate. We bring practical experience from hundreds of local matters.

Fee Structures and Value

Flat fees work well for standard plans. Hourly billing fits complex tax or business issues. We explain costs up front and keep scope clear. The real value is avoiding mistakes, unfunded trusts, bad beneficiary designations, or documents that fail in court.

Communication and Ongoing Support

You should get plain language, quick responses, and a roadmap. We hold annual or periodic reviews, especially after law changes. Our clients in Denver and Greenwood Village appreciate that we pick up the phone and keep things moving.

What to Expect From the Process

No guesswork. We outline steps from day one.

Intake and Design

• Conversation about family, assets, goals, and worries.
• Inventory of accounts, real estate, insurance, and business interests.
• Choice of tools: will, revocable trust, powers of attorney, health directives, and any specialty trusts (charitable remainder trusts, ILITs, grantor retained annuity trusts, or IRA-focused trusts).

We design around taxes, privacy, and smooth transfers.

Signing and Funding

We supervise signatures and notarization. Then we retitle assets and update beneficiaries. Deeds get recorded. Accounts get aligned. This is where many DIY plans fail. At Meurer & Potter, P.C., we walk through each step until funding is complete.

Reviews and Updates

Life changes. So should your plan. We recommend check-ins every 1–3 years or after major events, marriage, divorce, a move, a home sale, or the 2026 federal exemption change. Denver-specific property changes are another trigger.

Cost, Timeline, and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Clarity on cost and timing helps you start.

Typical Ranges and Billing Models

• Foundational plan (will-based with POAs and health directives): often flat-fee.
• Revocable trust plan including deeds and funding support: higher flat-fee.
• Advanced planning (gift trusts, GRATs, ILITs, business succession): typically hourly or custom fee.

Timeline is usually a few weeks from intake to signing, longer if real estate or business transfers need coordination.

DIY Pitfalls and Probate Surprises

Common errors we see in Denver and Greenwood Village:

• Unfunded trusts, great documents, empty vessel.
• Outdated beneficiaries, old 401(k) pointing to an ex.
• Generic forms that clash with Colorado law.
• Real estate left outside the plan, forcing probate.
• No backups for agents or trustees.

A short meeting can prevent years of cleanup. Meurer & Potter, P.C. fixes these issues often, but it’s cheaper to set it up right the first time.

Conclusion

Estate planning is about people, not paperwork. A good plan protects your family, speeds transfers, and keeps decisions with those you trust. If you’re searching for a Denver estate planning attorney, or you live in Greenwood Village and want a local team that knows the courts and the market, we’re ready to help. Meurer & Potter, P.C. offers clear guidance, fair fees, and steady support long after signing day. Schedule a conversation. We’ll listen, map your options, and build a plan that fits your life.

Denver Estate Planning Attorney FAQs

What does a Denver estate planning attorney do to help avoid probate?

A Denver estate planning attorney designs strategies to keep assets out of court, such as revocable living trusts, beneficiary deeds for homes, and POD/TOD designations for accounts. They also ensure proper funding and titling, reducing delays, costs, and conflicts while navigating Denver Probate Court and Arapahoe County procedures.

What Colorado estate planning laws should I know in 2025?

Colorado has no state estate tax, but the federal estate tax may apply to larger estates, with the exemption scheduled to drop in 2026. Probate is generally required for real estate or when personal property exceeds $80,000. Intestate succession formulas can surprise blended families—planning keeps control in your hands.

Do I need a will or a revocable trust in Colorado?

A will names heirs, a personal representative, and guardians for minor children, but often goes through probate. A revocable living trust adds privacy and can avoid probate if funded correctly. Trusts help with real estate, blended families, and detailed distributions; your attorney will recommend the right mix for your goals.

How much does a Denver estate planning attorney cost, and how long does it take?

Foundational will-based plans with powers of attorney are often flat-fee. Trust-centered plans with deeds and funding support are higher flat-fee. Advanced tax or business planning is typically hourly. Most matters finish in a few weeks from intake to signing, longer when real estate or business transfers are involved.

Is a handwritten will valid in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado recognizes holographic wills if the signature and material portions are in the testator’s handwriting. However, handwritten wills can be unclear, spark disputes, or miss key provisions. A Denver estate planning attorney can formalize your wishes into a compliant will or trust that stands up in probate.