Estate Planning

​Protect Your Legacy — Colorado Estate Planning

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s about ensuring your wishes are honored, your assets are protected, and your loved ones are cared for. At Dottenwhy Financial Group, we believe a well-crafted estate plan is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family.

What We Help You Do in Colorado:

• Organize your estate with wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, conservator nominations, and healthcare directives (very important in Colorado where medical providers require HIPAA-compliant documentation).
• Simplify complex decisions about inheritance, property transfers, and guardianship for minor children.
• Minimize taxes and probate complications: Colorado has no estate tax, but assets may still go through probate unless properly titled or held in trust. We help design strategies to keep the process smooth, efficient, and private.
• Ensure assets transfer smoothly to your beneficiaries—whether that’s real estate in Denver, a mountain home in Summit County, or a family ranch on the Western Slope.
• Charitable giving and legacy planning: We help you support causes you care about, while taking advantage of tax-efficient giving strategies under Colorado and federal law.
• Multi-generational planning: From college savings for grandchildren to setting up family trusts, we help you pass wealth and values forward.

Why It Matters for Colorado Families

• Probate efficiency: Colorado’s probate system is more streamlined than in many states, but without planning, delays and legal costs can still impact your family.
• Real estate & property: Many Coloradans own property in multiple counties (or even out-of-state vacation homes). Without a trust, these assets may face multiple probate processes.
• Healthcare planning: With Colorado’s large retiree population, advanced directives and powers of attorney are critical for ensuring your wishes are honored during medical decisions.
• Blended families: Colorado has one of the highest divorce and remarriage rates, making clear beneficiary designations and trust planning especially important.

Your Colorado Legacy, Protected
Estate planning is about more than documents—it’s about family, values, and clarity. With thoughtful planning, you can minimize stress, avoid unnecessary costs, and leave a meaningful legacy for the people and causes you love.

Schedule your free consultation today and start protecting your Colorado legacy.

case study: Denver family with real estate & blended household

Sarah, a widowed business owner from Denver, remarried in her late 50s. Between her and her spouse, they had adult children from prior marriages, as well as a mountain property in Breckenridge and a home in Denver. Sarah wanted to ensure her new husband would be financially secure if she passed, but also that her children from her first marriage would eventually inherit the family cabin. 

• We helped Sarah establish a revocable living trust to hold both properties, avoiding probate in multiple counties.
• We created a QTIP trust (Qualified Terminable Interest Property) to provide lifetime income and housing rights for her spouse, while ensuring the Breckenridge property ultimately passed to her children.
• Updated powers of attorney and healthcare directives ensured both her spouse and children were clear on her wishes.
• By working with her tax advisor, we structured charitable donations to her favorite Denver nonprofit, providing immediate tax benefits and leaving a legacy of impact.

Now, Sarah has peace of mind knowing her husband will be cared for, her children will receive their rightful inheritance, and her estate plan reflects both her personal and financial wishes.

case study: weld county ranching family with multi-generational planning

The Martinez family owned a cattle ranch in Weld County that had been in the family for over 70 years. The parents, Carlos and Elena, wanted to ensure the ranch stayed in the family but faced challenges: one son was actively involved in the ranch, while their daughter lived in Denver and had no interest in agricultural operations. They were also concerned about potential disputes and the financial strain of estate taxes at the federal level.

• We created a family trust that transferred the ranch to their son, with provisions for buyout options to ensure fairness for their daughter.
• To provide liquidity for the daughter’s share, we used a life insurance strategy that gave her a direct inheritance without forcing the sale of ranch land.
• We helped the family structure a succession plan with clear roles and responsibilities, so the ranch could continue operating smoothly.
• Updated powers of attorney and healthcare directives were put in place to protect Carlos and Elena’s interests in case of incapacity.
• We coordinated with their attorney and CPA to ensure the plan complied with Colorado agricultural property rules and maximized available federal exemptions.

Today, the Martinez family has a clear plan that protects the ranch, avoids family conflict, and ensures both children receive a meaningful inheritance aligned with their life paths.