Colorado Probate Form JDF 848 SC

Order Appointing Guardian For Adult

Everything you need to know about Colorado Form JDF 848 SC, including helpful tips, fast facts & deadlines, how to fill it out, where to submit it and other related CO probate forms.

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About Order Appointing Guardian For Adult

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Order Appointing Guardian For Adult is a commonly used form within Colorado. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Order Appointing Guardian For Adult

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Order Appointing Guardian For Adult:

  • This form pertains to the State of Colorado

  • The current version of this form was last revised on September 1, 2018

  • The official Colorado source for this form is here.

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Colorado’s Form JDF 848 SC - Order Appointing Guardian For Adult up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

How to file Form JDF 848 SC

Step 1 - Download the correct Colorado form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Colorado probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form JDF 848 SC, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in CO are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form JDF 848 SC online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form JDF 848 SC witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Order Appointing Guardian For Adult to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

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When Order Appointing Guardian For Adult is due

Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Colorado.

5 reasons you should submit JDF 848 SC as quickly as possible:

  1. The sooner you begin, the faster Colorado can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.

    Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

  2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

  3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

  4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Colorado. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

  5. If a house in the State of Colorado is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Colorado probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Colorado probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form JDF 848 SC, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

How to Download, Open, and Edit Form JDF 848 SC Online

Order Appointing Guardian For Adult is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Colorado probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Colorado.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form JDF 848 SC - Order Appointing Guardian For Adult f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Colorado probate court office.

Order Appointing Guardian For Adult is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Colorado-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

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Did you know?

  • Form JDF 848 SC - Order Appointing Guardian For Adult is a probate form in Colorado.

  • Colorado has multiple types of probate and the necessary forms depend on the unique aspects of each estate, such as type and value of assets, whether there was a valid will, who is serving as the personal representative or executor, and even whether or not they also live in Colorado.

  • During probate, all personal representatives and executives in are required to submit a detailed inventory of assets that must separate non-probate assets from probate assets.

  • Probate in Colorado, especially without guidance, can take years to finish and cost upwards of $14,000.

Frequently Asked Questions about Order Appointing Guardian For Adult

Probate is the government’s way of making sure that when a person dies, the right stuff goes to the right people (including the taxes the government wants).

All of that stuff is collectively known as someone’s “estate”, and it’s the job of the executor or personal representative to fill out all the forms and complete all the required steps to formally dissolve the estate. 

To get instant clarity on the entire probate process and get an idea of the steps, timeline, and best practices, read the Atticus Beginner’s Guide to Probate

The best place? Create an account in Atticus to start getting estate-specific advice. 

You may need a lawyer, you may not, and paying for one when you didn’t need it really hurts. Atticus makes sure you make  the best decisions (plus you can write it off as an executor expense).

We’ve also created a list of other probate services. Be sure to check it out!

An executor is named in someone’s will, and if the deceased didn’t have a will, then the spouse or other close family relative usually steps up to fulfill the role. If no one wants to do it, then a judge will appoint someone. 

The executor is responsible for the complete management of the probate process, including major responsibilities such as:

  • Creating an inventory of all probate assets.

  • Filling out all necessary forms

  • Paying off all estate debts and taxes

  • Submitting reports to the court and beneficiaries as requested

And much more. This process often stretches longer than a year. 

For an idea of what separates executors who succeed from those who make this way harder than it should be, visit our article, Executors of an Estate:
What they do & secrets to succeeding
.

The Exact Text on Form JDF 848 SC

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Colorado Form JDF 848 SC - Order Appointing Guardian For Adult. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

JDF 848SC R9/18 ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN FOR ADULT Page 1 of 3 District Court Denver Probate Court __________________ County, Colorado Court Address: In the Interest of: Respondent/Ward COURT USE ONLY Case Number: Division Courtroom ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN FOR ADULT Upon consideration of the Petition for Appointment of Guardian for the above respondent and hearing on ________________________ (date), The court has considered any express wishes of the respondent concerning the selection of the guardian. The court has considered the powers and duties of the guardian, the scope of the guardianship, and the priority and qualifications of the nominee. The court finds, determines and orders: 1. Venue is proper and required notices have been given or waived. 2. The evidence is clear and convincing that the respondent is an incapacitated person and the respondent’s needs cannot be met by less restrictive means, including the use of appropriate and reasonably available technological assistance. 3. The nature and extent of the respondent’s incapacity is as follows: 4. The court appoints the following person as guardian for the ward: Name: Street address: City: State: Zip code: Mailing address, if different: City: ____________ State: ________________ Zip code: ____________ Primary phone: _____________________________ Alternate phone: _________________________ Email address: 5. The guardian must promptly notify the court if the guardian’s street address, email address, or phone number changes or of any change of address for the ward. 6. The guardian may not establish or move the ward’s custodial dwelling outside the State of Colorado without a court order. JDF 848SC R9/18 ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN FOR ADULT Page 2 of 3 7. Within 30 days of appointment, the guardian must provide a copy of this Order Appointing Guardian for Adult to the ward and persons given notice of the petition and must advise those persons using Notice of Appointment of Guardian and/or Conservator (JDF 812) that they have the right to request termination or modification of the guardianship. 8. The guardian must file the initial Guardian’s Report - Adult (JDF 850) by ____________________ (date 60 days from appointment) and must file annual Guardian’s Report - Adult (JDF 850) by each ________________________ (date) beginning in _____ (year), for the duration of the guardianship. 9. The guardian must manage the day-to-day finances for the support, care, education, health and welfare of the ward. The guardian is required to maintain supporting documentation for all receipts and all disbursements during the duration of this appointment. The court further orders the following: 10. Medical powers of attorney, whether executed prior to or following the entry of this order, are terminated, except as follows: 11. Copies of all future court filings must be provided to the following interested persons: Name Relationship to the Ward Ward Guardian Spouse or Partner in a civil union Parent Adult Child 12. The guardian is authorized to access the ward’s medical records and information. The guardian is deemed to be ward’s personal representative for all purposes relating to ward’s protected health information, as provided in HIPAA, Section 45 CFR 164.502(g)(2). 13. The guardian does not have the authority to obtain hospital or institutional care and treatment for mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or substance abuse against the will of the ward. 14. If the ward is an “at risk elder” or “at risk adult with an intellectual and developmental disability,” and if the guardian has reasonable cause to believe that the ward has been abused or exploited or is at imminent risk of abuse or exploitation, the guardian is required to make a report to law enforcement within 24 hours after the observation or discovery pursuant to C.R.S. § 18-6.5-108(1)(b)(XII). 15. Letters of Guardianship will be issued. The powers and duties of the guardian are unrestricted. The powers and duties of the guardian are limited by the following restrictions: JDF 848SC R9/18 ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN FOR ADULT Page 3 of 3 16. The court further orders: Date: __________________________ ______________________________________ Judge Magistrate

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