Northglenn, CO estate planning & probate attorney Jeff Althaus discusses why you should hire a lawyer to help you carry out your duties as a personal representative in CO. He explains that the decision of whether or not to hire a lawyer as a personal representative in Colorado ultimately rests with you. As a lawyer who represents personal representatives, I am naturally biased and would recommend hiring an attorney. I have found that in some cases, not hiring an attorney can be more costly. If mistakes are made along the way and you seek help later, the attorney will need to rectify those errors and start from scratch. Therefore, my clear answer is yes, you should hire an attorney.

There are numerous obligations that personal representatives are legally bound to fulfill in Colorado, and an attorney experienced in probate will be well-versed in these requirements. They will ensure that you do not make any mistakes that could potentially complicate matters. The role of an attorney in probate is essentially to prevent any mishaps, which can save you considerable time, money, and prevent unnecessary scrutiny from the IRS and the court.