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Colorado's program, the Great Colorado Payback, is run by the State Treasurer. Owners search and start claims on the Treasury's unclaimed property site, and there is no time limit to file a claim.
Colorado's statute has no separate dormancy period for mineral proceeds. Mineral proceeds are a defined term in the Act but are not listed among the specific property types, so the general 'all other property' period of three years applies.
Dormancy period: 3 years
Statute: C.R.S. § 38-13-201(1)(m) (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, 'all other property')
Mineral-specific rule: No (general period)
Source: C.R.S. § 38-13-201(1)(m) (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, 'all other property')
Colorado holder reports are due before November 1 each year and cover the twelve months before July 1; insurance companies file before May 1. No separate oil-and-gas deadline was found.
Report due: Before November 1 (insurance companies: before May 1)
Covers property held as of: Covers the twelve months preceding July 1
Source: Official source
Owners search the Treasury's site; on a match, the office sends a claim form listing the documents required. The Treasury requires proof of ownership or heirship, proof of identification and a notarized signature from the owner or heir.
How to file: Search online and begin a claim; if the search matches, the office sends a claim form that lists the documents required.
Proof required: Proof of ownership or heirship, proof of identification, and a notarized signature from the owner or heir; documents vary by claim type.
Source: Official claim instructions
The Treasury requires heirs to document heirship along with proof of identification and a notarized signature.
Documents: Documentation of ownership or heirship, proof of identification and a notarized signature.
Whether an estate must be opened is a legal question for a qualified attorney in that state.
Source: Official source
Claiming directly through the State Treasurer is free. Finder fees are capped at 10%, finder agreements are unenforceable for the first 24 months after the property reaches the Treasury, and a finder fee paid in a share of underlying minerals or not-yet-abandoned mineral proceeds is void.
State claim fee: None
Finder-fee limit: 10% of the property; locator agreements unenforceable within 24 months after the property is delivered to the Treasurer; agreement must state the owner can claim directly from the Treasurer without a fee; any fee taken from mineral proceeds or underlying minerals not yet presumed abandoned is void
Finder-fee statute: C.R.S. §§ 38-13-1301, 38-13-1302; 8 CCR 1508-1, Rule 1.5.11
Source: Official source
Colorado's program, the Great Colorado Payback, is run by the State Treasurer. Owners search and start claims on the Treasury's unclaimed property site, and there is no time limit to file a claim. Search under every name the royalties may have been paid to, including maiden names and deceased relatives.
Colorado's statute has no separate dormancy period for mineral proceeds. Mineral proceeds are a defined term in the Act but are not listed among the specific property types, so the general 'all other property' period of three years applies.
Owners search the Treasury's site; on a match, the office sends a claim form listing the documents required. The Treasury requires proof of ownership or heirship, proof of identification and a notarized signature from the owner or heir.
The Treasury requires heirs to document heirship along with proof of identification and a notarized signature. This is general information, not legal advice.
Claiming directly through the State Treasurer is free. Finder fees are capped at 10%, finder agreements are unenforceable for the first 24 months after the property reaches the Treasury, and a finder fee paid in a share of underlying minerals or not-yet-abandoned mineral proceeds is void.
Educational information only, not legal or tax advice; consult a qualified attorney about your situation. Facts are from the state's unclaimed-property office and the state code, checked Nov 2, 2026. Related: unclaimed royalties in every state · suspended royalties · find your payor
