Colorado Springs Will Amendment Attorney
Over 20 Years Helping Southern Colorado Clients Update Their Wills
If you already have a will and your circumstances have changed, you don’t need to start over. You need an attorney who understands the specific legal steps for amending an existing document. The Gasper Law Group has been practicing estate planning law in Colorado Springs for over 20 years, serving clients throughout Southern Colorado, including Fountain and Pueblo.
There are two ways to legally change a will in Colorado: execute a codicil (a formal amendment to an existing will) or draft a new will that supersedes the old one. Which route is right for you depends on what you need to change and how many changes are involved. We can help you determine that from the start.
Ready to update your will? Call our Colorado Springs office at (719) 212-2448 to schedule a consultation.
Will Amendments Built Around Your Schedule
Updating a will is often time-sensitive. Life events don’t wait, and neither can legal documents that protect your family. We prioritize getting clients in promptly, and we approach each situation with the goal of helping people first rather than running up billable hours.
For military families near Colorado Springs, scheduling can be complicated by deployment timelines and PCS orders. We accommodate servicemembers’ circumstances directly, working around orders and military obligations so that a will amendment can be finalized before you leave, not after. That kind of flexibility isn’t a special accommodation here. It’s simply how we work.
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Committed to the Community
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Helping People First
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Offering Payment Plans
Codicil vs. New Will: Choosing the Right Path
In Colorado, you can revoke or change your will at any time while you have legal capacity to do so. A codicil is a separate, formally executed document that amends, modifies, or revokes specific terms of an existing will without replacing the entire document. It’s most appropriate for narrow changes: updating who serves as executor, adjusting a bequest, or adding a new beneficiary designation.
When several changes are needed, a new will is generally the cleaner solution. Stacking multiple codicils over time can create interpretive problems and increase the risk of disputes. Colorado attorneys commonly advise drafting a new will that incorporates all desired changes when the scope of revisions makes a codicil unwieldy. We can assess your existing document and give you a direct recommendation.
When to Review & Amend Your Will
Two broad categories of circumstances call for a will amendment: personal and financial life changes, and events specific to military service. Either can affect who inherits your estate, who serves as your personal representative, or who is designated as guardian for minor children.
Personal & Financial Life Events
Most people revisit their will after a significant life change. Common triggers include:
- Marriage or divorce: These change your legal relationships and may affect how Colorado law treats your existing document.
- Birth or adoption of a child: A new child may need to be named as a beneficiary or have a guardian designation added.
- Death of a named beneficiary or executor: If the person you designated can no longer serve, the will needs updating to name a replacement.
- Acquiring significant new assets: Property, retirement accounts, or business interests acquired after your will was signed may not be covered as intended.
- Relocating to Colorado: Colorado generally honors a will executed in another state, but confirming the document meets Colorado’s requirements after a move is worth the time.
Military-Specific Circumstances
Estate planning for military families in the Colorado Springs area carries unique considerations. Frequent relocations, deployments, and the interaction between federal benefits or pensions and Colorado state law can all affect whether an existing will still reflects your intentions.
PCS orders and upcoming deployments are the most common reasons servicemembers contact us about amending a will. A change in marital status tied to military service is another. Alongside will updates, we also help military clients keep powers of attorney and healthcare directives current. These documents allow a trusted person to make financial and medical decisions while a servicemember is away, and they’re just as important as the will itself.
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Junior League of Colorado Springs
The Junior League of Colorado Springs has served the Pikes Peak region as both an initiator of projects as well as a ready partner to other non-profit organizations to address needs in the community.
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What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Probate?
Informal and formal probate both refer to the kinds of procedures that are used to appoint a representative for an individual to handle various matters and accept a will for probate. The most commonly used of the two is informal probate, which is the least difficult to enact if assets are straightforward and the parties involved are in agreement with each other.
However, formal probate will be required under certain circumstances, such as when:
- There are issues with a will
- Heirs are missing or unknown
- Heirs are still minors
- The estate is insolvent, i.e., debts exceed assets owned
- There are disputes or there are likely to be disputes among heirs
- Problems are expected with the administration
The informal probate process will entail presenting an application to a registrar as opposed to a judge. Registrars then approve the estate and ensure completion of all paperwork, but won’t be involved once they have approved the estate.
Formal probate, on the other hand, involves a probate attorney. The formal process can be more complicated and involve many steps, which is why it’s best to consult with a probate attorney at The Gasper Law Group who can walk you through formal probate in Colorado.
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Can You Avoid Probate in Colorado?
Yes, you can avoid probate in Colorado by making a living trust, which will prevent any asset you own from going to probate courts, including bank accounts, real estate, and more. You can do so by creating a trust document that names a specific individual to serve as a successor trustee following your death. You will then need to transfer ownership of your property to yourself as the trustee identified in the trust.
You can also avoid probate in Colorado through:
- Joint ownership of property
- Payable-on-death designations for bank accounts
- Transfer-on-death real estate deeds
- Transfer-on-death registration for securities
- Simplification of probate procedures for small estates
Set up an initial consultation with our office today. Discuss your case with our Colorado Springs Lawyers at
(719) 212-2448 or complete our contact form.
Why DIY Will Edits Create Legal Problems
Crossing out clauses, writing in new language, or initialing changes directly on an original will isn’t a valid amendment in Colorado. Those markings don’t update the document. They create uncertainty about the testator’s intent and raise the likelihood of court involvement or litigation after death.
A valid codicil must be a separate document that follows the same formalities required for executing a will: in writing, properly signed, and either witnessed or, if holographic, signed with its material terms in the testator’s own handwriting. Without those steps, the amendment may not hold up. Working with our will amendment attorneys helps ensure the document is executed correctly from the start.
Schedule a Will Amendment Consultation in Colorado Springs
If your will no longer reflects your wishes or your family’s circumstances, the right time to address it is now. We offer low retainers and interest-free payment plans so that getting the legal help you need doesn’t create a financial obstacle. Our team can review your existing document, explain your options clearly, and handle the execution correctly.
Call The Gasper Law Group at (719) 212-2448 to schedule a consultation with a will amendment attorney serving Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado.
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"You can say I am a very satisfied client!!"After my traffic accident my daughter advised me that I should get legal council and she directed me to contact your law firm. As I set on a couple occasions to meeting with the people in your firm. I got the feeling that this was a right decision and that I would be taken care of. This feeling was spot on as the attorney assigned to my case (Mr. Robert F. To o l e was very good and went to great lengths to make sure that he understood all aspects of my accident and what the police did or did not do. And today at my appointed time to be in court Mr. Toole briefed me as to what was expected and showed me a statement from the city and their offer of no point or any changes to my driving privileges and with only a small fine to be paid. As I agreed to this I went into the courtroom with Mr. Toole and had a good understanding between the judge and Mr. Toole and myself. I can say that regardless of all the advertisements you see on the media by the different law firms touting all the money they get there clients. The Gasper Law firm is very much above all these others because they truly care about the people they represent. From the clerks to the staff to the lawyers this is what makes your firm so good. And lawyer Robert F. Toole is every bit what a lawyer should be and none of the BS. And I will recommend your firm and Mr. Toole to all my friends and others who need good representation in legal matters. You can say I am a very satisfied client!!- Walter N.
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"Excellent care and representation"The Gasper Law Group took great care of me throughout my legal situation and constantly kept me in the loop. Couldn't ask for better representation!- Ryan L.
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"Attentive and supportive"The Gasper Law Group was fantastic. They treated me well and were very open about my situation. The team was attentive and made sure I fully understood everything, supporting me all the way. I would recommend them to anyone for any situation.- Jason E.
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"My charges were dropped and we walked away with all parental rights/custody and a restraining order against the other party."Caryn Adams and her team are hands down the BEST. I don't think I would have made it through what I went through without her by my side. My charges were dropped and we walked away with all parental rights/custody and a restraining order against the other party.- Avarie J.
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"Don’t have much hope? Leave it to Caryn she will change that."I dug myself a deep hole and didn’t have much hope or luck with the attorney I used before. I called Gasper law group and Caryn Adams was my attorney that took charge of everything. I couldn’t have asked for anything better the outcome she made possible is everything I wanted. She is great at her job and takes cases seriously … don’t have much hope leave it to Caryn she will change that. Thanks Gasper law group you’re the best!- Mike L.
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"I highly recommend that you not waste your time hiring other attorneys and hire the Gasper Law Group."After an absolutely crazy incident that could not have been seen almost anywhere besides a movie. I received some serious charges and was in search of an attorney. They would not only represent me but need to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Not because of a paycheck. I met Caryn Adams after meeting with several other top attorneys in the Colorado Springs area. I was very impressed with her genuine care about my situation and her want to help me. Not only did I want great representation, but I needed someone that I could reasonably afford given all the other expenses I was incurring. Caryn checked every box I needed. She was the only attorney who took extra care when I initially met with her to do everything she could do to protect me even before I hired her. I highly recommend that you not waste your time hiring other attorneys and hire the Gasper Law Group. They will protect you.- Lance F.
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"I was absolutely floored with the knowledge and expertise that not only Caryn carries, but the firm as a whole."I, unfortunately, was involved with two separate situations within a few years of each other, which left me in quite a bind both times. I was lucky enough to have Caryn assist me in both cases and was absolutely floored with the knowledge and expertise that not only she carries, but the firm as a whole. One of the best, if not the best lawyers I've ever come across. Extremely nice and very honest. I was able to resolve my situations with minimal impact and continue my life without fear of being held back.- Former Client
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"Thank you so much! You helped complete our family and we are forever grateful."Christine, Kris, and Ebony are amazing and compassionate. We enjoyed every interaction. Gasper Law firm keeps appropriate communication and not in excess which keeps our cost low. We are so very grateful. Even if an unexpected turn in our guardianship hearing they remained diligent to ensure things were done in a timely manner. Thank you so much! You helped complete our family and we are forever grateful.- Misty M.
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 719-212-2448 today!
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Junior League of Colorado Springs
The Junior League of Colorado Springs has served the Pikes Peak region as both an initiator of projects as well as a ready partner to other non-profit organizations to address needs in the community.
-
What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Probate?
Informal and formal probate both refer to the kinds of procedures that are used to appoint a representative for an individual to handle various matters and accept a will for probate. The most commonly used of the two is informal probate, which is the least difficult to enact if assets are straightforward and the parties involved are in agreement with each other.
However, formal probate will be required under certain circumstances, such as when:
- There are issues with a will
- Heirs are missing or unknown
- Heirs are still minors
- The estate is insolvent, i.e., debts exceed assets owned
- There are disputes or there are likely to be disputes among heirs
- Problems are expected with the administration
The informal probate process will entail presenting an application to a registrar as opposed to a judge. Registrars then approve the estate and ensure completion of all paperwork, but won’t be involved once they have approved the estate.
Formal probate, on the other hand, involves a probate attorney. The formal process can be more complicated and involve many steps, which is why it’s best to consult with a probate attorney at The Gasper Law Group who can walk you through formal probate in Colorado.
-
Can You Avoid Probate in Colorado?
Yes, you can avoid probate in Colorado by making a living trust, which will prevent any asset you own from going to probate courts, including bank accounts, real estate, and more. You can do so by creating a trust document that names a specific individual to serve as a successor trustee following your death. You will then need to transfer ownership of your property to yourself as the trustee identified in the trust.
You can also avoid probate in Colorado through:
- Joint ownership of property
- Payable-on-death designations for bank accounts
- Transfer-on-death real estate deeds
- Transfer-on-death registration for securities
- Simplification of probate procedures for small estates
Why Choose The Gasper Law Group?
-
Committed to the Community
-
Helping People First
-
Offering Payment Plans