UNITED STATES


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549





FORM 8-K





CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT


TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE


SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934





Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 26, 2012





COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Alabama1-1235859-7007599(State or other jurisdiction(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identificationof incorporation)Number)


COLONIAL REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware0-2070763-1098468(State or other jurisdiction of(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identificationincorporation)Number)





2101 Sixth Avenue North, Suite 750, Birmingham, Alabama 35203


(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)





(205) 250-8700


(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)





Not applicable


(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):





o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)





o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)





o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))





o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))








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Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Conditions





On April 26, 2012, Colonial Properties Trust (the "Trust") announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  A copy of the Trust's earnings press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report on Form 8-K. A copy of the Trust's Supplemental Financial Highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this current report on Form 8-K.





Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure





The disclosure contained in Item 2.02 of this current report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.





* * *





The information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 (including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2) shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Trust or Colonial Realty Limited Partnership under the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.





Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.





(d) Exhibits





Exhibit No.   Description





|     |                                                                                          
|---- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.1 | Colonial Properties Trust first quarter 2012 earnings press release dated April 26, 2012.




|     |                                                                                                  
|---- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.2 | Colonial Properties Trust Supplemental Financial Highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.










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SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.











COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUSTApril 26, 2012By:/s/ C. Reynolds Thompson, IIIC. Reynolds Thompson, IIIPresident and Chief Financial Officer














COLONIAL REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIPBy: Colonial Properties Trust, its general partnerApril 26, 2012By:/s/ C. Reynolds Thompson, IIIC. Reynolds Thompson, IIIPresident and Chief Financial Officer











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EXHIBIT INDEX





Exhibit  Description





|     |                                                                                          
|---- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.1 | Colonial Properties Trust first quarter 2012 earnings press release dated April 26, 2012.




|     |                                                                                                  
|---- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.2 | Colonial Properties Trust Supplemental Financial Highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.