Property Description Department

The Property Description Department identifies property, maintains and updates the Assessor parcel maps, updates the ownership records for the tax roll per recorded documents and assigns new schedule numbers and parcel numbers for new divisions of land.

We are happy to help you with general questions pertaining to ownership or our parcel maps, but we can not give any legal advice. Our number is 303-271-8646.

Property Description Process
Frequently asked questions
Definitions of commonly used terms

Property Description Process:

Recorded documents that affect title to real property are transferred to the department on a regular basis from the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office. Once received, the department verifies that the deed matches the county public records before changes are made. The Assessor's Office can only use documents that are recorded with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office to change the Assessor ownership records.

Jefferson County does not provide any type of deed forms. You can purchase a blank deed or document at a stationary store, office supply store or at Bradford Publishing at www.bradfordpublishing.com. There may also be other websites that offer legal forms for sale. The Assessor's Office can not advise on which deed type should be used for any given situation.

Frequently asked questions:

How do I change my name if I become married?

We will accept a Marriage Certificate that is recorded with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office in the real property records. We will only change the last name and not add any hyphenated names. You can also record a deed from yourself as your former name, to yourself as your current name.

How can I remove the name of a deceased person from the records?

If the decedent owned the property with someone else as a joint tenant, then the only thing required is that the death certificate be recorded with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office. A Supplemental Affidavit may also be required if the name on the Death Certificate is different than it is in the document by which the person acquired title.

If the person owned the property by themselves or owned the property together with someone else as a tenant in common, then the deceased person's estate must go through probate court. The Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration and a Personal Representatives Deed will need to be recorded with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office. Even though these documents are on file with the courts, they will still need to be recorded for public information with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office.

How do I correct my name for the records if it is spelled wrong?

We spell the names of the owners exactly as it is on the deed by which they acquired the property. If we have made a clerical error, we will correct it upon notification after verifying it with the deed. However, if it is spelled wrong on the deed, then a new deed will need to be recorded to correct the spelling.

How do I remove or add someone's name or change the title on my property?

A new deed or other legal document that affects ownership needs to be recorded with the Jefferson County's Clerk and Recorder's Office for public information.

What is a Statement of Authority and why do you want us to record one?

A Statement of Authority is a document that states the name of a Trust and who the trustee(s) of the Trust are. If you have put title to your property into the name of a Trust, then it is required that this document be recorded so that we know who may be able to act on behalf of the trust. (State Statute 38-30-108.5). This is important so that we know who to send the tax notices to, who can sign a deed for the Trust and who can protest the value of the property. This document may also be purchased at Bradford Publishing.

How is the acreage of my property determined and how can I have it corrected if I disagree with what you have?

The acreage of a property is based on the legal description in the deed or by a certified survey that matches the deed or a by a recorded subdivision map. If you feel we have the acreage incorrect on your property, please contact us at 303-271-8673. We will look at the information again. It is helpful if you can provide us with a survey. (An ILC or Improvement Location Certificate is not a survey)

We are having a dispute with our neighbors over a boundary line. Can you help us with this?

No. The Assessor's Office does not resolve boundary disputes. You may wish to seek legal counsel to help you with this matter.

Definitions of commonly used terms:

Deed:
A written instrument that conveys an estate or interest in real property.

Grantor:
Party selling or conveying the property.

Grantee:
Party buying or receiving the conveyed property.

Joint Tenant or Joint Tenancy:
Means two or more people own the property with right of survivorship. If one of the owners dies, the remaining owner(s) automatically get title to the property. The deed or document creating the joint tenancy must state this fact. If it does not, As per Colorado State Statute the property is owned as "tenants in common" (see below).

Tenants in common:
Means two or more people own the property together, but without right of survivorship. Owners each have a separate owned interest in the property and that interest does not pass at death to the other owners, but rather it goes to the heirs of the decedent owner. In this type of ownership, each person or party may own different amounts of undivided interest in the property.

Legal Description:
Is a description of the property that identifies it from all other property in the world. It may be a description of a Lot, parcel or Tract within a platted subdivision. It may also be described by a "metes and bounds" description. Metes and Bounds description is a way of describing a property that is not in a subdivision by using bearings and distances and may also use known attributes such as a road, creek, other recorded documents and monuments in or on the ground. These descriptions are written by a surveyor. An address does not qualify as a legal description.

Subdivision or Plat:
This is a survey that has gone through City or County Planning processes and approvals for land to be divided into one or more parcels. The parcels are assigned numbers or letters for block, lot or tracts to identify them on the map. The plat is given a unique name and is recorded with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office.

Last Modified: Mar 28, 2009 10:16 PM
Send questions or comments about this Web site to assessor@jeffco.us.