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EVICTION HELP

Eviction papers in Colorado: free help

Free, and based on the court's and the legislature's own sources. No account, no payment.

Your deadline

File a written Eviction Answer (JDF 103) with the court on or before the Return Date and time printed on your Eviction Summons. Section 2a of the summons says whether the Return Date is also a meeting or hearing at court. If it is, be there at that date and time, in person or by phone or video on the platform the court names. Filing the answer is free. Put every defense in the answer, including any problem with the landlord's notice: a notice defense that was not in the answer or in a motion filed before the hearing cannot be raised for the first time at the hearing.

the Return Date and time printed in section 2a of your Eviction Summons (JDF 102)

If you do not answer or appear

If you do not file a written answer by the date and time on your summons, and do not appear in court at that date and time, the judge may enter a default judgment for possession. You would have to move out, and you may have to pay the landlord money.

Source: C.R.S. 13-40-111(1); JDF 102 section 3

Cost to answer

No court fee. A tenant pays nothing to file an answer in an eviction case, even with a counterclaim.

Source: C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(c)(V); Colorado Judicial Branch List of Fees; JDF 102 section 2c

What your papers are called

Eviction Summons (JDF 102), served with the Eviction Complaint (JDF 101), a blank Eviction Answer (JDF 103) and a blank Request for Documents (JDF 108). County court, in the county where the rental property is (an eviction is called Forcible Entry and Detainer, or FED). District courts also have jurisdiction.

Free help

Are you the landlord?

Whether a company landlord needs a lawyer depends on the court and the case.

A company landlord (LLC, corporation, partnership) generally needs a Colorado lawyer to file or appear. There is one exception. A closely held company, meaning one with no more than three owners, may be represented by an officer if two things are true. First, the amount at issue is $15,000 or less, not counting costs, interest or statutory penalties. Second, the officer gives the court proof of authority at or before the trial or hearing. For an LLC, a person in whom management of the LLC is vested is presumed to have authority. Small claims does not help, because evictions cannot be filed there. A property manager or agent may be asked to prove its authority, and this file does not decide whether a non-lawyer manager can file for an owner company.

Source: C.R.S. 13-1-127(1)(a), (2), (2.3); official annotation to 13-1-127 (Weston v. T&T, LLC, 271 P.3d 552 (Colo. App. 2011); Bertoia v. Galaxy Mgmt. Co., LLC, 2025 COA 55); C.R.S. 13-6-403(2)(c)

The court's landlord form: Eviction Complaint (residential) (JDF 101)

Hello Court never helps with a lockout, removing a tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities. Only a court order and the officer it names can remove a tenant.

If you want more, Hello Court can help you organize your case and prepare your court forms for a one-time fee. Everything above stays free.

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Sources read on 2026-10-05.