Estate Planning Attorney for Durango & Southwest Colorado
Attorney Ryan Lane is licensed in both Colorado and New Mexico and prepares wills, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney for families in Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Cortez, Pagosa Springs, and throughout La Plata, Montezuma, and Archuleta Counties. Our office in Aztec, New Mexico is about 45 minutes from downtown Durango, and we also meet with clients by phone or video.
Estate Planning Services for Colorado Families
- Revocable living trusts, including help transferring your home and accounts into the trust so it actually works
- Wills, including pour-over wills that work alongside a trust
- Financial powers of attorney so someone you trust can handle bills, banking, and property if you cannot
- Medical durable powers of attorney and living wills (Colorado calls a living will a Declaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment)
- Beneficiary deeds for Colorado real estate
- Guardian nominations for minor children
- Plan reviews and updates after a move, marriage, divorce, birth, or death in the family
Why Work With a Lawyer Licensed in Both Colorado and New Mexico?
Many Southwest Colorado families have ties on both sides of the state line: a home in Durango and land near Aztec, a cabin in the San Juans and a ranch in San Juan County, or parents in Farmington and children in Bayfield. Real estate generally goes through probate in the state where it sits, so a family that owns property in both states can end up with two probate cases. A plan built with both states in mind, often using a revocable living trust, can keep that from happening.
If you recently moved to Colorado from New Mexico or another state, it is also a good time to review your documents. A plan written for another state may still be valid, but it may not use Colorado terms or the forms that Colorado banks, title companies, and hospitals expect.
Colorado Estate Planning Basics
Does Colorado have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
No. Colorado has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Only very large estates are subject to the federal estate tax. For most families, estate planning is about avoiding probate, protecting children, and planning for incapacity, not about taxes.
Can my family skip probate in Colorado?
Sometimes. Colorado has a simplified affidavit process for small estates, but it applies only to personal property under an annual limit ($88,000 for deaths in 2026) and cannot be used to transfer real estate. If you own a home, your family will usually need probate unless the home is held in a trust, owned jointly with survivorship, or covered by a beneficiary deed.
What is a Colorado beneficiary deed?
A beneficiary deed lets you name who will receive your Colorado real estate at your death without probate. You keep full ownership and can change your mind during your lifetime, but the deed must be recorded with the county clerk and recorder before your death to work. A beneficiary deed can be a good fit for some families; for others, a trust provides more control. We will help you decide.
Do I need a will or a trust?
It depends on your property, your family, and your goals. A revocable living trust is often worth considering if you own real estate, own property in more than one state, have a blended family, or want to keep your affairs private. A will may be enough for others. We will explain the options in plain English and recommend what fits.
Schedule a Consultation
To talk with Ryan about your Colorado estate plan, call 505-333-4494, text us, or visit our Contact page. Meetings are available at our Aztec office, by phone, or by video.
Ryan Lane is licensed to practice law in Colorado and New Mexico. For Colorado clients, our practice is limited to estate planning. This page provides general information, not legal advice. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.