GC Counsel PLLC represents Colorado landlords through the full Forcible Entry and Detainer process. We draft and serve the Demand for Compliance, file the FED action, appear at the return date, and obtain the writ of restitution. Two-tier flat fee: a base fee for the demand work, and a published add-on if the tenant ignores the demand and we have to go to court. Plain pricing, no surprises.
Most Colorado eviction firms quote a starting rate and bill the rest as the matter unfolds. We price every stage in advance. The fee is staged so you only pay for the work your tenant forces you to do: a base fee for the Demand for Compliance, an add-on if we have to file the case, and a final add-on if we have to go to the hearing and obtain the writ. See Fees below for the published numbers. If your tenant files an Answer and contests the action, the matter converts to hourly, with full credit for the flat fees already paid.
In every uncontested flat-fee engagement
Full credit for the flat fee already paid
A Colorado eviction has three pressure points: the 10-day Demand for Compliance, the FED filing, and the return-date hearing through writ. We publish a flat fee for each. Most cases resolve at the first stage. You only pay for the work you actually need.
Triggered when you hire us. Covers our work through the 10-day Demand for Compliance. If your tenant pays the rent or moves out within the 10 days, the matter ends here and nothing else is due.
Triggered when the 10-day Demand expires and your tenant has not paid, cured, or moved out. We file the FED case with the county court and arrange service on the tenant.
Triggered when the return date is reached. We appear at the hearing, move for default judgment if your tenant fails to show, and handle the in-court work to convert the case to a judgment of possession.
Triggered when judgment is entered and your tenant has not voluntarily moved out. We file the Writ of Restitution, coordinate the sheriff lockout, and close the matter.
What "uncontested, not cured" means in plain English: Your tenant did not pay, did not move out, but also did not file paperwork to fight the eviction in court. That is the most common path when a tenant has no real defense. Stages 1 through 4 cover that scenario end-to-end — demand through sheriff lockout — for a maximum of $4,500. You pay each stage only if your tenant forces it.
If your tenant fights: If your tenant files a written Answer, demands a jury trial, asserts a counterclaim, or files bankruptcy, the matter is no longer a flat-fee engagement. It converts to hourly billing with full credit for any flat fees already paid. We review the situation with you and confirm before any hourly clock starts.
These are situations that come up occasionally and that we price in advance so there are no surprises. Charged only if triggered.
| Add-On | Fee | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Alias summons | $150 | Service fails on the first attempt and a new summons must be issued. |
| Amended complaint | $175 | Facts change after filing (new arrearage, defendant correction, scope expansion). |
| Substituted or posted service motion | $125 | Personal service fails. A court order is required to authorize alternative service. |
| Additional non-waiver letters | $95 each | You keep accepting partial payments. We track and document each one. |
| After-hours / weekend filing rush | $150 | You need a filing same-day outside normal business hours. |
| Set-off or counterclaim response (uncomplicated) | $250 | Tenant raises a simple set-off or counterclaim that does not escalate to a contested trial. |
| Post-judgment garnishment setup | $350 | Money judgment enforcement after possession is secured. |
These are not legal fees. They are amounts paid to the court, the sheriff, the process server, or other third parties. We bill them at exact cost and do not mark them up.
| Pass-Through | Typical Cost | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| FED filing fee | $110 | Colorado County Court (claim under $15,000) |
| E-filing access fee | $12 per event | Colorado Courts E-Filing |
| Process server | $75–$150 | Independent process server (multiple attempts may apply) |
| Sheriff writ execution | $50–$150 | County Sheriff (varies by county) |
| Postage and certified mail | $5–$20 | USPS |
| Notary (if mobile required) | $0–$25 | Notary public |
Fees published 2026-05-18 and current at the date you engage. Fees are confirmed in your engagement letter before any work begins. Pass-through costs are advanced by the client or reimbursed within 15 days of invoice. Contact us if you are a property manager or repeat-landlord referral source — volume terms are available under a separate engagement.
Most uncontested Colorado FED matters reach a writ of restitution within two to four weeks of filing. Here is the path.
You send us the lease, ledger, and any prior notices. We review notice posture and identify any waiver risk.
Day 0If not already served, we draft and serve the 10-day Demand and confirm method of service.
Days 1–11Complaint, summons, lease, ledger, and notice exhibit are filed with the County Court. Court sets a return date 7–14 days out.
Day 12Process server serves the summons. We appear at the return date — typically by remote video under C.R.S. § 13-40-113 — and seek default if the tenant fails to answer.
Days 13–22Default judgment is entered. We file the writ. Sheriff executes the lockout per county schedule.
Days 22–28Most Colorado landlord firms gate their pricing behind a "Become a Client" form and run uncontested filings through paralegal templates with the attorney appearing at the return date. We do the work ourselves — from notice through writ — and publish the scope before you engage.
That means three things in practice. You know what is included before you pay. You hear from the attorney handling your matter, not a case manager. And if the matter becomes contested, you get the early read on the merits before any hourly clock starts.
Start a MatterJoe Whitehead is licensed in Colorado (#50458) and Arizona. Eviction matters in Arizona Justice Court are planned for a future expansion; out-of-state evictions are referred to local counsel.
We publish what we know because informed clients run better matters. The timeline calculator is live; additional resources roll out as we build them.
Enter the date your tenant breached the lease. Get every statutory and procedural deadline from demand through sheriff lockout, instantly.
Open the calculator →Colorado-specific notice templates, ledger formats, and non-waiver acknowledgment forms. Free to download. Updated when the law changes.
Request early access →Practical guides on common Colorado landlord issues: partial payments, substantial violations, security deposits, habitability defenses, and more.
Get notified →Single-form intake to start a Demand for Compliance. We prepare the demand within one business day and walk you through service.
Email us in the meantime →Colorado landlord-tenant legislation watchlist with practical impact summaries. Updated every session.
Get notified →One-page visual of the Colorado FED process. Demand, cure, filing, return date, judgment, writ, lockout. Every branch covered.
View the 5-step view →Send us your lease, ledger, and any prior notices. We respond same business day with the published Stage 1 engagement at $950 ready to sign.
Email Joe Directly Call (720) 663-7636