Find Colorado Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Colorado are kept by District Courts in each of the 64 counties. You can search these files at the court where the case was filed. Some records may also be held at the Colorado State Archives for older cases. Online search tools let you look up case information from home. Many people need these records for legal proof, name changes, or to get copies of court orders about child support and property division.
Colorado Dissolution Of Marriage Quick Facts
Where to Find Dissolution Of Marriage Records
District Courts in Colorado handle all dissolution of marriage cases. Each county has a District Court that keeps files for every case filed there. These files have the petition, any response from the other party, settlement papers, and the final decree. The clerk of court in each county can make copies of these records for you. Most clerks charge $0.25 per page for regular copies. A certified copy costs $20 per document.
You can look up case info on your own or ask the clerk for help. Some courts let you search online. Others need you to call or visit in person. The Colorado Judicial Branch website at coloradojudicial.gov/access-guide-public-records has a guide that shows how to request court records in any county. Once you send in a request, the court will get back to you with next steps.
Third-party vendors also give access to court data. These sites have real-time case info but not the full file. CoCourts.com is one option run by LexisNexis. You pay per search. Results show a list of actions taken in a case. To get actual court papers, you still need to contact the clerk where the case was filed.
The Colorado State Archives keeps some old dissolution of marriage records. Most of these are from before 1975. If your case is recent, you will not find it at the archives. Go to the District Court in the county where the case was filed instead. The archives website at archives.colorado.gov/collections/legal-records/divorce-records lists which counties and years they have on file.
Search Dissolution Of Marriage Cases Online
Colorado offers an online form to request court records. Visit coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form to fill out the form. You pick the case type, county, and what you need. The form asks for names of both parties and the case number if you have it. Staff at the court will review your request and send you the cost and how to pay.
Most requests get a response in three business days. If the case has sealed parts or involves kids, you may need to show ID. The clerk can limit access to some files based on rules in the Colorado Revised Statutes or orders from the Chief Justice. Suppressed cases or records with protected info may not be open to everyone.
CoCourts.com at cocourts.com/cocourts is a paid search portal that covers all 64 counties plus Denver County Court as an add-on. You search by name or case number. A name search costs money and shows a register of actions. This is a quick way to see if a case exists and what steps have been taken. The site does not give you copies of documents. For those, contact the clerk directly.
You can also check with each county court on its own. Some counties have local websites with docket search tools. Check the trial courts page at coloradojudicial.gov/trial-courts-county to find the court in your county and see what online tools they offer.
Colorado Dissolution Of Marriage Laws
Colorado is a no-fault state. The only ground you need is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This means the court does not ask who did what wrong. You just have to show the marriage cannot be fixed. This rule is in C.R.S. § 14-10-106, which sets out how a court can grant a dissolution.
At least one spouse must live in Colorado for 91 days before filing. This is the residency rule. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives now. The petition must state you meet this rule. The court needs proof you lived here long enough before it can move forward with the case.
There is also a 91-day wait after the court gets control over both parties. The final decree cannot be signed until 91 days pass from the date the other spouse was served or filed a response. This wait gives both sides time to work out terms for kids, support, and property. Some cases finish faster if both spouses agree on everything, but the 91-day rule still applies under Colorado law.
C.R.S. § 14-10-107 governs how you start a case. You file a petition for dissolution of marriage. The other party gets a copy and has time to respond. When a petition is filed, an automatic temporary injunction takes effect right away. This stops both spouses from hiding assets, changing insurance, or taking the kids out of state without permission. The injunction stays in place until the case ends or a judge changes it.
Property Division and Spousal Maintenance
Colorado uses equitable distribution for property. Equitable means fair, not equal. The court divides marital property based on what seems just. Factors include how long you were married, what each spouse earned, and who brought what into the marriage. Separate property stays with the person who owned it before the marriage. C.R.S. § 14-10-113 lists all the factors a judge looks at when splitting assets.
Spousal maintenance is what other states call alimony. Colorado has guidelines for how much to pay and for how long. The rules depend on combined income and how many years you were married. Courts use these as advisory guidelines, not strict rules. A judge can adjust the amount based on your situation. C.R.S. § 14-10-114 sets out the framework for maintenance awards. These guidelines apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 2014.
The decree will spell out who gets what property and if anyone pays support. This becomes part of the court record. You can request a copy of your decree from the clerk if you need proof of these terms later. Some people need it to split retirement accounts or change the title on a home.
Types of Dissolution Of Marriage Documents
The petition is the first paper filed. It starts the case. The petition names both spouses, states the marriage is broken, and asks the court to dissolve it. It also lists what the filing spouse wants for child custody, support, and property. The other spouse can file a response that agrees or disagrees with these requests.
A decree of dissolution of marriage is the final order. A judge signs it after the case is done. This decree ends the marriage legally. It covers parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, and how property is split. The decree is the most important document in the case file. Many people need a certified copy of it to prove the marriage is over or to enforce support orders.
Case files may also hold motions, affidavits, financial disclosures, parenting plans, and separation agreements. All of these papers show the history of the case from start to finish. You can ask the clerk for copies of any document in the file. Some items may be sealed or restricted if they involve sensitive information about children or finances.
Note: Colorado does not issue a separate vital record certificate for dissolution of marriage like some states do for death or birth.
Self-Help Resources For Dissolution Of Marriage
The Colorado Judicial Branch has a self-help page just for dissolution of marriage and legal separation. Visit coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/divorce-and-separation for forms and step-by-step guides. The site has everything you need to file on your own if you choose not to hire a lawyer.
Key forms include JDF 1011 for the petition and JDF 1015 for the response. You can also find JDF 1018, which lets you ask for a decree without going to a hearing if both sides agree. If you want to restore your prior name, you can request that in the petition or response. There is no filing fee for a name change if you do it within 60 days after the decree is signed.
Each court also has forms for things like child support, parenting plans, and division of retirement accounts. Some forms are required by law. Others are optional but can make your case easier. Check the self-help forms page at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms to see what you need for your situation. Many courts have a self-help center at the courthouse where staff can show you how to fill out forms, though they cannot give legal advice.
Fees For Dissolution Of Marriage Cases
Filing a petition for dissolution of marriage costs $260 in most Colorado counties. This fee went up on January 1, 2025 after the state legislature passed HB 2024-1286. If your case involves custody or other related issues, the fee might be different. A response to a petition costs $146. These fees are set by state law under C.R.S. § 13-32-101.
You can get a fee waiver if you have low income. File an affidavit that shows your finances. The judge will decide if you qualify. Fee waivers are allowed under Chief Justice Directive 06-01 or Colorado statute. If you get a waiver, you do not have to pay the filing fee or other court costs.
Copy fees are much lower than filing fees. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page. A certified copy of any record costs $20 per document. If you are a party to the case, the max fee for copies is $15 no matter how many pages. Non-parties pay per page with no cap. These copy fees are listed at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/list-fees along with all other court charges.
Some courts charge extra for things like retrieving files from off-site storage or doing research. If your request takes more than one hour, staff may charge $30 per hour in 15-minute blocks for the extra work. Ask the clerk ahead of time what the total cost will be so you know what to expect.
Who Can Access Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Most court records in Colorado are public. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 at coloradojudicial.gov/node/4038 sets the rules for who can see what. Anyone can request copies of case files as long as they are not sealed. You do not have to be part of the case. You do not need to give a reason why you want the records.
Some records are restricted. Files that involve juveniles or certain sensitive matters may be sealed by court order. Parts of a file with financial account numbers or Social Security numbers may be redacted to protect privacy. If you ask for a record that has restricted info, the clerk will black out those parts before giving you a copy.
The Colorado State Archives has a 100-year restriction on full case files for dissolution of marriage. If a case is under 100 years old, only the decree itself is open to the public. Even then, the decree may be restricted if it has parenting agreements or financial details. To see other parts of a case under 100 years old, you must be a party to the case or have legal representation in it. You also need to show a government-issued photo ID to prove who you are.
For records still held by the District Court, the clerk will tell you if anything is sealed or restricted. If a whole case is suppressed, you may not be able to get any info without a court order. Ask the clerk what steps to take if you run into access limits.
How To Get Copies Of Records
The easiest way to get a copy is to use the online request form. Go to coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form and fill it out. Pick dissolution of marriage as the case type. Enter the names of both parties and the case number if you know it. The clerk will review your request and let you know the cost. Most requests are handled within three business days.
You can also visit the courthouse in person. Go to the clerk of court office in the county where the case was filed. Ask to see the file or request copies. Some clerks can make copies while you wait. Others may need a day or two if the file is stored off-site. Bring cash or a card since most courts accept both for payment.
Mail requests work too. Write to the clerk at the courthouse address for that county. Include the names of both parties, the case number, and what documents you want. Send a check or money order to cover the copy fees. Add extra for certified copies if you need them. The clerk will mail the copies back to you once your payment clears.
If you need a certified copy, ask for that when you make your request. A certified copy has a seal and signature from the clerk. This type of copy is required for legal proceedings or to prove something official. Regular copies work fine for personal records or research. Make sure you know which kind you need before you pay.
Find Your County Court
Each county has its own District Court with a clerk of court who handles dissolution of marriage cases. Denver is unique because it has four separate courts instead of a combined court. For dissolution cases in Denver, go to the District Court at the City and County Building, not the County Court.
To find the court in your county, visit coloradojudicial.gov/trial-courts-county and pick your county from the list. Each court page has the address, phone number, hours, and contact info for the clerk. Some courts also list their email for records requests. Use this page to get the most up-to-date contact details before you make a trip or send a request.
Courthouse hours vary by county. Most are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. Some close early on certain days of the month. Call ahead if you plan to visit so you do not waste a trip. Staff can also tell you if the file you need is on-site or stored somewhere else, which may affect how fast you can get copies.
Historical Dissolution Of Marriage Records
The Colorado State Archives has a small collection of old dissolution of marriage case files. These are mostly from the early 1900s to the mid-1970s. Not all counties are included. The archives website at archives.colorado.gov/collections/legal-records/divorce-records lists which counties and years are available in their search database.
Counties with searchable records include Adams, Bent, Boulder, Conejos, El Paso, Garfield, Park, and Pitkin. The years vary by county. El Paso has the most years on file, from 1903 to 1941. Most other counties have much shorter date ranges. If your case falls outside these years or is in a different county, the archives will not have it. Contact the District Court in the county where the case was filed instead.
To request records from the archives, you need the case number in most cases. If you do not have it, try using the archives search tool first. You can search by name to see if a case shows up. Once you find the case, write down the number and use it to request copies. The archives charges fees for copies just like the courts do. Contact them at 303-866-2358 or visit their office at 1313 Sherman St., Room 1B-20, Denver, CO 80203.
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Dissolution Records In Major Cities
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