Greeley Dissolution Records

Dissolution of marriage cases for Greeley residents are processed through Weld County courts in the 19th Judicial District. The city itself does not maintain dissolution records or handle court filings. All domestic relations matters including divorce, legal separation, and parental responsibility allocation go through the county District Court system. You can access case information, file documents, and request records by working with the appropriate county courthouse where your case was filed or where you plan to file.

Which County Handles Greeley Cases

Greeley is located in Weld County. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents must be filed with the District Court serving that county. Colorado law assigns domestic relations cases to the county where at least one spouse resides or where the marriage took place. Cities do not have their own court systems for dissolution matters.

If you live in Greeley, file your case with Weld County District Court. The courthouse handles all aspects of dissolution cases including initial filings, hearings, decree issuance, and record keeping. You work with the clerk's office in the county courthouse for all court-related business.

The filing fee is $260 for a petition under C.R.S. § 13-32-101. A response costs $146. These fees are set by state law and apply uniformly across all counties in Colorado. Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford to pay. Submit a financial affidavit with your request and the court will determine eligibility.

For more detailed information about filing procedures and court locations, visit the Weld County page. That page has courthouse addresses, contact information, and local resources specific to the county that serves Greeley.

Residency And Filing Rules

Before filing for dissolution in Colorado, one spouse must meet the 91-day residency requirement. At least one party needs to have lived in the state for 91 days prior to filing. This rule is in C.R.S. § 14-10-106. If you just moved to Greeley, wait until you meet the residency period before filing your petition.

Colorado uses a no-fault dissolution system. You do not need to prove fault or wrongdoing by either spouse. The only ground required is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Both parties can agree on all terms or the court will decide disputed issues. The no-fault standard keeps the process simpler and less adversarial than fault-based systems used in some other states.

When you file, an automatic temporary injunction goes into effect under C.R.S. § 14-10-107. This injunction stops both spouses from selling property, moving children out of state, or changing insurance policies without court permission. The injunction protects both parties while the case is pending. It stays in place until the court issues a final decree or modifies the order.

You also need to wait 91 days from when the court gets jurisdiction over both parties before the court can issue a final decree. This waiting period gives both spouses time to work through the details and reach agreements if possible. In some cases the court can waive the waiting period if both parties agree and meet certain criteria.

How To Get Dissolution Records

Dissolution records for Greeley residents are kept by the county District Court. Most records are public, though some information may be restricted. You can request records through the statewide online form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Fill out the form with case details, party names, and case number if known. Court staff will contact you about fees and how to obtain the documents.

Email requests work as well. Send your request to the court's records office with both parties' full names, approximate filing or decree date, and any case number you have. Staff usually respond within three business days. If the file is in off-site storage or needs special handling, processing may take longer.

You can visit the courthouse in person to request records. Bring identification if you are a party to the case and need access to restricted documents. The clerk's office can search for files by name or case number and tell you what is available. In-person visits let you ask questions and get immediate feedback about the records you need.

Third-party vendors like CoCourts.com provide online access to Colorado court records. These services show the register of actions, which lists case activity and filings. They do not provide copies of actual documents. To get certified copies or complete case files, contact the county court directly. Vendors charge subscription or search fees separate from court copy fees.

Record Copy Costs

Copy fees follow the statewide schedule. Regular copies are $0.25 per single-sided page and $0.50 for double-sided pages. If you are a party to the case, you pay a maximum of $15 for copies no matter how many pages the file contains. Non-parties pay per page with no cap.

Certified copies cost $20 per document. A certified copy includes a clerk's stamp and signature verifying it is a true copy of the official court record. You need certified copies for legal or official purposes such as name changes, financial matters, or submissions to government agencies. Regular copies suffice if you only need the information for personal reference.

Extra fees may apply if your file requires special handling. Off-site retrieval costs the actual expense to get the file. Research or redaction that takes more than one hour costs $30 per hour, billed in 15-minute increments. Ask the clerk for a cost estimate before submitting a complex request.

Property And Spousal Support

Colorado courts divide marital property using an equitable distribution model under C.R.S. § 14-10-113. Equitable does not always mean equal. The court considers factors like marriage duration, each spouse's income and assets, and contributions to marital property. Separate property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance stays with the original owner.

Marital property acquired during the marriage is divided based on what the court finds fair. If one spouse stayed home to care for children while the other worked, that contribution is factored into the division. The court aims to reach a fair outcome based on the circumstances of each case.

Spousal maintenance may be awarded to a spouse who needs financial support after dissolution. The rules for maintenance are in C.R.S. § 14-10-114. The statute provides advisory guidelines for calculating the amount and duration of payments based on combined income and marriage length. Courts use these guidelines as a starting point but can adjust based on individual circumstances.

Legal Help In Greeley

If you need legal assistance with dissolution in Greeley, several resources are available. The county courthouse has a self-help center with forms, instructions, and staff who can answer basic procedural questions. Court staff cannot give legal advice but can help you understand what forms to file and how the process works.

Colorado Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents. Check if you qualify for assistance at their website or by calling their intake line. Legal aid organizations handle family law matters including dissolution cases. They can help with forms, represent you in court, or provide advice about your rights.

The Colorado Bar Association offers lawyer referral services if you need to hire private counsel. Many attorneys offer free or low-cost initial consultations. During the consultation you can discuss your situation, learn about your options, and decide if you want to retain the lawyer. Some attorneys work on sliding scale fees based on income.