Search Adams County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Adams County handles dissolution of marriage cases through the Combined Court in the 17th Judicial District located at the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton. The court oversees domestic relations matters including divorce, legal separation, and allocation of parental responsibilities. You can find case records by filing a request with the clerk's office, using online record request systems, or searching through third-party vendors authorized by the Colorado Judicial Branch to access real-time court data.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Court Resources
The Adams County Justice Center serves as the main courthouse for all court matters in Adams County. Located at 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton, this facility handles district and county court cases. District Court takes care of dissolution of marriage cases, felony criminal cases, and civil matters over a set dollar amount. County Court deals with smaller civil claims, traffic violations, and misdemeanors.
When you file for dissolution in Adams County, you work with the District Court clerk. The filing fee is $260 for a petition, as set forth in C.R.S. § 13-32-101. A response to that petition costs $146 if your spouse files one. Fees increased in January 2025 due to legislation passed by the Colorado General Assembly. These fees apply statewide and are not specific to Adams County alone.
The main phone number for the court is (303) 659-1161. You can call to ask questions about filing procedures, case status, or records requests. Office hours and other details are available on the state website at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/adams-county, which provides forms, directions, and contact information for court services.
Staff at the Justice Center can guide you through the process. If you need help filling out forms or understanding court rules, ask at the clerk's office. Many courts have self-help resources and some offer assistance for people who do not have lawyers.
File For Dissolution In Adams County
To file a petition for dissolution of marriage in Adams County, one spouse must meet the 91-day residency rule. This means at least one person lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing. The rule is in C.R.S. § 14-10-106, which covers requirements for dissolution cases.
Colorado is a no-fault state. You do not need to prove that one spouse did something wrong. The only ground you need is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This makes the process simpler than it used to be. Both spouses can agree on the terms or the court will decide if they cannot reach an agreement. Either way, the standard for granting the dissolution is the same.
Filing also triggers an automatic temporary injunction under C.R.S. § 14-10-107. This injunction stops both parties from selling property, moving children out of state, or changing insurance policies without permission from the court. It stays in effect until the case ends. The purpose is to keep things stable while the case moves forward.
You file your petition with the clerk at the Justice Center. Bring your completed forms and the filing fee. If you cannot pay, request a fee waiver by submitting an affidavit that explains your financial situation. The court reviews your request and decides if you qualify. Many people who have low income or receive public benefits can get the fees waived. Fee waivers are governed by CJD 06-01, a directive from the Colorado Supreme Court that sets rules for when fees can be reduced or eliminated.
Access Dissolution Records
Adams County dissolution of marriage records are public in most cases. You can request records by using the online form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. The form asks for case type, party names, and case number if known. Once you submit it, the clerk's office will contact you about fees and how to get the records.
Email requests work too. Send your request to the records email for the court. Provide the full names of both parties, approximate date of filing or decree, and any case number you have. Staff will respond with cost and payment instructions. Most requests are processed within three business days under normal circumstances. If a case file is stored off-site or needs special handling, it may take longer.
You can visit the clerk's office in person to request records. Staff can search for case files by name or case number. In-person visits let you ask questions and get immediate feedback about what records are available. Bring a government-issued photo ID if you are a party to the case and want to access restricted documents.
Third-party vendors also provide access to Colorado court records. Sites like CoCourts.com offer searches of the register of actions for cases statewide. These vendors show case activity but do not provide actual copies of documents. You still need to contact the court to get certified copies or full case files. The vendors charge a fee for access to their databases, separate from any fees the court charges for copies.
Copy Fees And Costs
Adams County follows the statewide fee schedule for copies. Regular copies are $0.25 per page for single-sided 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. This cap does not apply to people who are not parties. Non-parties pay per page without a limit.
Certified copies cost $20 per document. A certified copy includes a stamp and signature from the clerk that verifies the document is a true copy of the court record. Banks, government agencies, and other institutions often require certified copies. Regular copies are fine if you only need the documents for your own reference and do not have to prove authenticity.
Additional fees may apply if your file is not easily accessible. Off-site retrieval costs the actual expense to get the file. Research or redaction that takes more than one hour costs $30 per hour, charged in 15-minute increments. Ask the clerk for an estimate if you think your request will involve extra work. This helps you plan for the total cost ahead of time.
Property Division And Spousal Support
Adams County courts follow state law when dividing property in a dissolution case. Colorado uses an equitable division model described in C.R.S. § 14-10-113. Equitable does not always mean equal. The court looks at several factors like how long the marriage lasted, each spouse's income, and who contributed what to the marital assets.
Separate property stays with the person who owned it before the marriage or received it as a gift or inheritance during the marriage. Marital property includes things acquired during the marriage. The court divides marital property based on what seems fair given the circumstances. If one spouse stayed home to raise children while the other worked, the court considers that when splitting assets.
Spousal maintenance, also called alimony, may be awarded if one spouse needs financial help after the dissolution. The rules for maintenance are in C.R.S. § 14-10-114. The statute includes advisory guidelines that help judges decide the amount and duration of support payments. These guidelines are not mandatory but courts use them as a starting point. The final decision depends on each spouse's financial situation and the facts of the case.
Cities In Adams County
Adams County includes several cities with significant populations. For residents in these cities, dissolution of marriage cases are filed with the Adams County District Court in Brighton. The following cities in Adams County have their own pages with more local information:
Other cities partially in Adams County include Aurora, Arvada, and Westminster, which span multiple counties. Residents of those cities should file in the county where they live or where the marriage occurred.
Nearby Counties
Adams County shares borders with several other counties. If you are not sure which county to file in, you must file where you or your spouse lives or where the marriage took place. Adjacent counties include: