Source: L. 94: Entire part R&RE, p. 995, § 3, effective July 1, 1995. L. 96: Entire section amended, p. 657, § 6, effective July 1. L. 2002: Entire section amended, p. 652, § 5, effective July 1. L. 2009: Entire section amended, (HB 09-1287), ch. 310, p. 1682, § 10, effective July 1, 2010. L. 2011: Entire section amended, (SB 11-016), ch. 77, p. 211, § 1, effective August 10. L. 2021: (1)(b) amended, (SB 21-006), ch. 123, p. 492, § 12, effective September 7.
Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 15-11-402 as it existed prior to 1995.
(2) Section 31(2) of chapter 123 (SB 21-006), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to final dispositions of human remains or human fetuses made on or after September 7, 2021.
Cross references: For provisions relating to the time of taking effect or the provisions for transition of this code, see § 15-17-101.
COMMENT
As originally adopted in 1969, the dollar amount exempted was set at $3,500. To adjust for inflation, the amount was increased to $10,000 in 1990 and to $15,000 in 2008. The dollar amount in this section is subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments under Section 1-109.
Unlike the exempt amount described in Sections 2-402 and 2-404, the exempt amount described in this section is available in a case in which the decedent left no spouse but left only adult children. The provision in this section that establishes priorities is required because of possible difference between beneficiaries of the exemptions described in this section and those described in Sections 2-402 and 2-404.
Section 2-204 covers waiver of exempt property rights. This section indicates that a decedent's will may put a spouse to an election with reference to exemptions, but that no election is presumed to be required.
Historical Note. This Comment was revised in 2008.