Arapahoe County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Arapahoe County is part of the 18th Judicial District, which was created in 1962. The county has two main court locations where dissolution of marriage cases are handled: the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial and the courthouse in Littleton. You file new cases and request records from the clerk's office at either location. Arapahoe also has a unique archive setup for older dissolution records from 1992 to 2009, which are held at the Colorado State Archives instead of the courthouse.

Arapahoe County Court Locations

Arapahoe County has two court facilities. The Arapahoe County Justice Center is at 7325 S. Potomac St. in Centennial, CO 80112. The other courthouse is at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd. in Littleton, CO 80120. Both handle dissolution of marriage cases, but check which location your case is assigned to before visiting.

The 18th Judicial District currently has 33 judicial officers serving both Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Court staff work at both locations. If you need to file a small claims petition, those must be filed at the Littleton County Court specifically, not at the Justice Center.

For more details about the court system, visit coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/arapahoe-county where you can find contact info, hours, and local procedures for Arapahoe County. The page has links to forms and resources for people filing without a lawyer.

One important note: Arapahoe County does not accept faxed documents. You must file in person, by mail, or use the e-filing system. E-filing became available for self-represented parties on October 1, 2019. This lets you submit documents online from home without having to visit the courthouse.

Arapahoe Divorce Records At State Archives

Arapahoe County has a special arrangement for dissolution records from 1992 to 2009. These records are not at the courthouse. They were transferred to the Colorado State Archives. If you need a record from those years, you must contact the archives, not the court.

The archives website for Arapahoe divorce records is at colorado.gov/archives/arapahoedivorce. This page explains how to request records from the 1992-2009 period. You will need the case number and names of both parties to make a request. The archives charge fees for copies just like the court does.

For records before 1992 or after 2009, contact the Arapahoe County court directly. Call 303-649-6355 or write to Arapahoe Combined Courts, 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial CO 80112. Staff can tell you if the record you need is at the court or if it was sent to the archives.

This setup is unique to Arapahoe County. Most counties keep all their records at the courthouse unless they are very old. Make sure you check the year of your case before you request it so you know where to look.

File A Dissolution Case In Arapahoe

To file in Arapahoe County, at least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days. This is required by C.R.S. § 14-10-106, which sets the rules for getting a dissolution. You file the petition at one of the two court locations in the county.

The filing fee is $260. This covers the petition for dissolution of marriage. The fee is set by state law under C.R.S. § 13-32-101 and went up on January 1, 2025 when the legislature passed HB 2024-1286. If you cannot pay, you can file for a fee waiver. The judge reviews your finances and decides if you qualify.

When the petition is filed, an automatic injunction takes effect. This is required by C.R.S. § 14-10-107. The injunction stops both parties from selling assets, changing insurance, or taking kids out of state. It protects both spouses while the case is pending. The injunction stays in place until the case ends or a judge modifies it.

The other party gets served with the petition and can file a response. A response costs $146. After the response or the time to respond runs out, the case moves forward. The court cannot finalize the dissolution until 91 days pass from when the other party was served. This wait is mandatory under Colorado law.

Request Records From Arapahoe County

To get copies of dissolution records in Arapahoe County, you can use several methods. The easiest way is the online form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Select Arapahoe County and fill in the case details. The clerk will review it and contact you about fees and how to pay.

For email requests, send your info to 18records@judicial.state.co.us. Include the names of both parties, the case number if you know it, and what documents you want. Staff will get back to you about the cost and processing time. Most requests are handled within a few business days.

In-person requests work too. Visit either courthouse location during business hours. Bring the case number or names of the parties. Staff can search the records and make copies if the file is on-site. If the file is stored elsewhere, they will tell you how long it takes to retrieve it.

Mail requests are accepted. Send a letter to Arapahoe Combined Courts at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. Include the case info, what you need, and a check for the copy fees. The clerk will mail the records back to you once payment clears.

Remember: If your case is from 1992 to 2009, contact the State Archives instead of the court.

Copy Fees In Arapahoe County

Arapahoe County follows the state fee schedule. Copies cost $0.25 per page for single-sided and $0.50 for double-sided pages. If you are a party to the case, the max fee for copies is $15 total. Non-parties pay per page with no cap.

Certified copies are $20 per document. These have a seal and signature from the clerk. You need certified copies for official use like filing with another court or proving the dissolution to a government office. Regular copies work fine for personal records.

If your request takes extra work, additional fees may apply. Retrieving files from off-site storage may cost the actual retrieval fee. Research or redaction that takes more than one hour is billed at $30 per hour in 15-minute blocks. Ask the clerk about the total cost before you submit your request.

E-Filing For Self-Represented Parties

Arapahoe County lets people file documents online without a lawyer. This has been available since October 1, 2019. You can submit your petition, response, and other forms from home. This saves trips to the courthouse and lets you file any time of day.

To use e-filing, check the court's website for instructions and links to the filing portal. You will need to create an account and upload your documents as PDFs. The system will prompt you for payment of filing fees. Once submitted, the clerk reviews your documents and accepts or rejects them. If there is a problem, you get notified by email and can fix it.

E-filing is optional. You can still file in person or by mail if you prefer. But e-filing is faster and more convenient for many people. It also gives you an electronic receipt right away so you know your filing was received.

Property And Support Laws

Colorado divides property using equitable distribution. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-113, the court splits marital property fairly, not always equally. The judge considers how long you were married, what each spouse contributed, and each person's financial situation. Separate property you owned before marriage stays with you.

Spousal maintenance follows advisory guidelines. C.R.S. § 14-10-114 sets the framework based on combined income and years married. These are guidelines, not strict rules. A judge can adjust them for your situation. The 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 the decree from the clerk if you need proof of these terms later.

Public Access To Arapahoe Records

Dissolution records in Arapahoe County are public unless sealed. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 at coloradojudicial.gov/node/4038 sets the rules for access. Anyone can request copies of case files that are not sealed. You do not have to be a party or give a reason.

Some info may be redacted. Parts of files with Social Security numbers, account numbers, or details about kids are often blacked out. If a case has sensitive matters, a judge may seal parts or all of it. Sealed records are not open without a court order.

If you request a record with restricted info, the clerk will redact those parts before giving you a copy. If you are a party and need the full file, bring a government-issued photo ID to prove who you are.

Contact Arapahoe County Court

For records requests, email 18records@judicial.state.co.us. For interpreter services, call 303-645-6857 or email 18interpreter@judicial.state.co.us. For collections issues, email 18thcollections@judicial.state.co.us. For probation matters, call (720) 213-7800.

If you are not sure who to contact, start with the clerk's office at the Justice Center. Call and explain what you need. Staff can direct you to the right department or person. They can also tell you if the record you want is at the court or at the State Archives.

Cities In Arapahoe County

Residents of these cities file dissolution cases at the Arapahoe County courts. Links below provide local info for each city.

Nearby Colorado Counties

If your case was filed in a nearby county, use these links to find that court's info.