Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 15-11-207 (2026)

Surviving spouse's property and nonprobate transfers to others

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) Except to the extent included in the augmented estate under section 15-11-204 or 15-11-206, the value of the augmented estate includes the value of:

(a) Property that was owned by the decedent's surviving spouse at the decedent's death, including:

(I) The surviving spouse's fractional interest in real property held in joint tenancy with the right of survivorship created during the marriage to the decedent, except as provided in section 15-11-208, and the surviving spouse's fractional interest in personal property held by the surviving spouse in joint tenancy with the right of survivorship;

(II) The surviving spouse's ownership interest in property or accounts held in POD, TOD, or co-ownership registration with the right of survivorship; and

(III) Property that passed to the surviving spouse by reason of the decedent's death but not including the spouse's right to family allowance, exempt property, or payments under the federal social security system after the decedent's date of death; and

(b) Property that would have been included in the surviving spouse's nonprobate transfers to others, other than the spouse's fractional and ownership interests included under subparagraphs (I) and (II) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) had the spouse been the decedent.

(2) Property included under this section is valued at the decedent's death, taking the fact that the decedent predeceased the spouse into account, but for purposes of subparagraphs (I) and (II) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, the values of the spouse's fractional and ownership interests are determined immediately before the decedent's death if the decedent was then a joint tenant or a co-owner of the property or accounts. For purposes of this subsection (2), proceeds of insurance that would have been included in the spouse's nonprobate transfers to others under section 15-11-205 (1)(d) are not valued as if he or she were deceased.

(3) The value of property included under this section is reduced by enforceable claims against the surviving spouse.

Source: L. 2014: Entire part R&RE, (HB 14-1322), ch. 296, p. 1226, § 2, effective August 6.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 15-11-202 (2)(d) as it existed prior to 2014.

Cross references: For rights of election, see § 15-11-201; for right to exempt property and family allowance, see §§ 15-11-403 and 15-11-404.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1985–2012 · leading case: Matter of Est. of Smith, 718 P.2d 1069 (Colo. Ct. App. 1986).
Matter of Est. of Smith, 718 P.2d 1069 (Colo. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 8× “However, the court effectively double-charged Ruth’s estate by including these values both as an element of its fractional share computations, see § 15-11-207, C.R.S. (1985 Cum. Supp.) and as a post-computation setoff from the elective share for values already paid to Ruth’s…”
Beren v. Goodyear (In re Est. of Beren), 412 P.3d 487 (Colo. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 5× “Thus, the repeal of this section does not allow personal representatives to deduct estate taxes from the value of the augmented estate before calculating the elective share, which would be contrary to section 15-12-916(2).”
Grasseschi v. Smiley, 776 P.2d 1136 (Colo. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 17× “The dispute between the trustee and Grasseschi concerns the determination of Grasseschi’s elective share of decedent’s “augmented estate,” pursuant to § 15-11-207, C.R.S. (1987 Repl.Yol. 6B). Section 15-11-207(1), C.”
In Re Est. of Eakin, 708 P.2d 476 (Colo. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 3× “All such taxes shall be apportioned as provided in § 15-12-916(2).” Section 15-12-916(2), C.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 15-11-207(1) — 2 cases
Matter of Est. of Smith, 718 P.2d 1069 (Colo. Ct. App. 1986). “However, the court effectively double-charged Ruth’s estate by including these values both as an element of its fractional share computations, see § 15-11-207, C.R.S. (1985 Cum. Supp.) and as a post-computation setoff from the elective share for values already paid to Ruth’s…”
Grasseschi v. Smiley, 776 P.2d 1136 (Colo. Ct. App. 1989). “The dispute between the trustee and Grasseschi concerns the determination of Grasseschi’s elective share of decedent’s “augmented estate,” pursuant to § 15-11-207, C.R.S. (1987 Repl.Yol. 6B). Section 15-11-207(1), C.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 15-11-207(2) — 2 cases
Matter of Est. of Smith, 718 P.2d 1069 (Colo. Ct. App. 1986). “However, the court effectively double-charged Ruth’s estate by including these values both as an element of its fractional share computations, see § 15-11-207, C.R.S. (1985 Cum. Supp.) and as a post-computation setoff from the elective share for values already paid to Ruth’s…”
Grasseschi v. Smiley, 776 P.2d 1136 (Colo. Ct. App. 1989). “The dispute between the trustee and Grasseschi concerns the determination of Grasseschi’s elective share of decedent’s “augmented estate,” pursuant to § 15-11-207, C.R.S. (1987 Repl.Yol. 6B). Section 15-11-207(1), C.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 15-11-207(3)(b) — 2 cases
Beren v. Goodyear (In re Est. of Beren), 412 P.3d 487 (Colo. Ct. App. 2012). “Thus, the repeal of this section does not allow personal representatives to deduct estate taxes from the value of the augmented estate before calculating the elective share, which would be contrary to section 15-12-916(2).”
In Re Est. of Eakin, 708 P.2d 476 (Colo. Ct. App. 1985). “All such taxes shall be apportioned as provided in § 15-12-916(2).” Section 15-12-916(2), C.”
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