In Colorado, in order for an eviction notice to be legal, it must contain certain information about the tenancy and violation committed. If any appropriate details are missing and the case proceeds to court, the case may be postponed or dismissed by a judge.
Step 1: List Tenants’ Full Names
All adult tenants’ names must be included. It is important to make sure each adult household member is named individually if the landlord has to move forward with the eviction process.
Step 2: List Full Address
The full address for the rental premises must be included for legal purposes. This is extremely important so there is no confusion later in the eviction process when the court returns possession of the premises to the landlord.
Step 3: Include Grounds for Eviction
Include the reason why the tenant is facing eviction.
- For nonpayment of rent, include the total balance due for the current rental period plus any past delinquencies.
- For a lease violation, the tenant must have a clear understanding of the infraction and whether or not it can be corrected.
- For an incurable breach, indicate the specific breach or illegal conduct.
In some cases, even with lease violations or an incurable breach, the tenant may owe a balance due, which shall also be provided in the notice.
Step 4: Calculate and Include Termination Date
This date must be included on all notices and is the date by which tenants must pay a rent balance due, cure a lease violation or the date the tenants must vacate the premises.
An eviction notice takes effect the day after it is served. In Colorado, all days are counted in the notice period, including weekends and legal holidays. If the last day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, then the notice period will not officially expire until the end of the next judicial day (a day when the courthouse is open).
Step 5: Include Date Notice Served
This date is very important for a couple of reasons. For purposes of counting the proper number of days in the notice period, the date the notice is served is required. In addition, it tells the court when the notice was delivered to the tenants.
Step 6: Landlord’s Signature and Printed Name
The landlord must sign and print their name on the notice to make it effective and legally compliant. Like all legal documents, the notice must be signed or it will not be enforced in court and the landlord will have to begin the eviction process over.
Step 7: Landlord’s Address and Phone Number
The landlord’s contact information gives the tenant a way to reach the landlord or drop off a payment for a balance due. In addition, the contact information provided must be a reliable method of contacting the landlord throughout the duration of the eviction process.
Colorado Eviction & Lease Termination Notice Forms
Notice Form | Grounds |
3 Day Notice to Quit | Unpaid Rent
Employer Provided Housing |
5 Day Notice to Quit | Unpaid Rent
Exempt Rental Property |
10 Day Notice to Quit | Unpaid Rent
All Other Tenancies |
3 Day Notice to Comply or Vacate | Lease Violation Employer Provided Housing |
5 Day Notice to Comply or Vacate | Lease Violation
Exempt Rental Property |
10 Day Notice to Comply or Vacate | Lease Violation
All Other Tenancies |
3 Day Notice to Vacate | Illegal Activity |
1 Day Notice to Vacate | Tenancy of less than one week |
3 Day Notice to Terminate Tenancy | Tenancy of more than one week,
but less than one month / Tenancy At Will |
21 Day Notice to Vacate | Tenancy of one month or longer,
but less than six months |
28 Day Notice to Vacate | Tenancy of six months or more,
but less than one year |
91 Day Notice to Vacate | Tenancy of one year or more |
Sources
- 1 Colorado Court Rules of Civil Procedure - Rule 6
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Computation.
In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, the day of the act, event, or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. Thereafter, every day shall be counted, including holidays, Saturdays or Sundays. The last day of the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday. The “next day” is determined by continuing to count forward when the period is measured after an event and backward when measured before an event. Source Link