Search El Paso County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

El Paso County handles dissolution of marriage cases through the 4th Judicial District Court. The courthouse is in Colorado Springs at 270 S Tejon St. You file cases with the clerk's office in Room S101. The court also has a self-help center in Room S116 that provides forms and guidance for people filing on their own. Records can be requested online, by mail, or in person during business hours Monday through Friday.

El Paso County District Court

The 4th Judicial District Court sits in Colorado Springs. It serves El Paso County and handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed here. The courthouse is at 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. This is where you go to file a new case or request records from an existing case.

The clerk's office in Room S101 is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On the third Wednesday of each month, the office closes early at 3:30 p.m. Plan your visit around this schedule to avoid wasted trips. You can call (719) 452-5490 if you have questions about hours or what to bring.

El Paso County offers e-filing for non-attorneys. If you are filing on your own for dissolution, legal separation, or custody cases, you can submit documents online instead of coming to the courthouse. This saves time and lets you file from home any day of the week. Check the court's website at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/el-paso-county for details on how to use the e-filing system.

One unique service in El Paso County is Court Care. This is free childcare for parents who have court business. It runs from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you need to visit the courthouse and have young children, you can use this service while you take care of your legal matters. This makes it easier for parents to handle their cases without worrying about childcare costs.

File For Dissolution In El Paso County

To file in El Paso County, you start by getting the forms. You can download them from the court's forms page at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/el-paso-county/forms-el-paso-county or pick them up at the self-help center in Room S116. The main form is JDF 1011, the petition for dissolution of marriage. You fill this out with details about your marriage, any kids, and what you want for property and support.

The filing fee is $260. This is set by state law under C.R.S. § 13-32-101. If you cannot pay, file an affidavit for a fee waiver. The judge will look at your income and decide if you qualify. If approved, you do not have to pay the filing fee or other court costs.

When you file, make sure you meet the residency rule. At least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing. You state this in the petition. The court may ask for proof if there is any question about it. Once the petition is filed, an automatic injunction goes into effect under C.R.S. § 14-10-107. This stops both parties from selling property, hiding money, or taking kids out of state without permission.

The other party gets served with the petition and has time to file a response. The response costs $146 to file if they want to contest anything. After the response is filed or the time to respond runs out, the case moves forward. The court cannot finalize the dissolution until 91 days pass from the date the other party was served. This wait is required by Colorado law.

Request Records From El Paso County

You can request dissolution of marriage records from El Paso County in several ways. The easiest method is to use the online records request form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Select El Paso County and fill in the case details. The clerk will review your request and contact you about the cost and how to pay.

For email requests, send your info to 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us. Include the names of both parties, the case number if you know it, and what documents you need. Staff will get back to you about fees and processing time. Most requests are handled within a few business days.

You can also visit Room S101 at the courthouse in person. Bring the case number or the names of the parties. Staff can search the records and make copies while you wait if the file is on-site. If the file is stored somewhere else, they will tell you how long it will take to retrieve it. Bring a way to pay since copy fees are due when you pick up the records.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter to El Paso County Judicial Building, 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Include the case info and a check for the copy fees. Add extra if you need certified copies. The clerk will mail the records back to you once the payment clears.

Copy Fees In El Paso County

El Paso County follows the state fee schedule for copies. Regular copies are $0.25 per page. If you are a party to the case, the max you pay for copies is $15 no matter how many pages. Non-parties pay per page with no limit.

Certified copies cost $20 per document. You need a certified copy for official use like filing with another court or proving the dissolution to a government agency. Regular copies are fine for personal records or research. Make sure you tell the clerk which type you need when you request copies.

Some requests may cost more if they take extra work. If your file is stored off-site, you may have to pay the retrieval cost. If staff need more than one hour to research or redact info, they charge $30 per hour in 15-minute blocks. Ask about the total cost before you submit your request so you know what to expect.

El Paso Clerk And Recorder

The El Paso Clerk and Recorder's office is separate from the court clerk. The Clerk and Recorder handles property records, marriage licenses, and recording of documents like deeds. They do not have dissolution of marriage case files. Those are at the court.

If you need to record a document after your dissolution is final, such as a deed transferring property, you go to the Clerk and Recorder. Their website is at clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/recording. This is where you file property-related papers that come out of the dissolution decree, but the actual court case files stay with the District Court clerk.

Make sure you contact the right office for what you need. Court case files and decrees come from the District Court clerk in Room S101. Property recordings and marriage licenses go through the Clerk and Recorder's office. If you are not sure which office has what you need, call the court clerk first and they can direct you.

Colorado Dissolution Laws

Colorado is a no-fault state. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, the only ground needed is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. The court does not ask who is at fault. You just show the marriage cannot be saved.

Property division follows equitable distribution rules. The law at C.R.S. § 14-10-113 says the court divides marital property fairly, not always equally. The judge looks at how long you were married, what each spouse contributed, and each person's finances. Separate property you owned before the marriage stays with you.

Spousal maintenance uses advisory guidelines. C.R.S. § 14-10-114 sets out how much and for how long based on income and years married. These are guidelines, not hard rules. A judge can change them based on your situation. The guidelines apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 2014.

Self-Help Center In El Paso County

El Paso County has a self-help center in Room S116 of the courthouse. Staff there can help you find the right forms and show you how to fill them out. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain what each form does and where to file it. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on the third Wednesday when they close at 3:30 p.m.

You can also use the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help resources online. Visit coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/divorce-and-separation for forms and instructions on filing for dissolution or legal separation. The site has guides that walk you through each step of the process if you are doing it on your own.

If you need a lawyer, the Colorado State Bar has a referral service. Call 1-800-392-5660 to get connected with a family law attorney in El Paso County. The first meeting costs up to $50 for 30 minutes. You can use this to get advice on your case and decide if you want to hire the lawyer.

Public Access To El Paso Records

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

Some info may be redacted. Parts of files with Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or details about minor children are often blacked out to protect privacy. If a case has sensitive matters, a judge may seal parts of the file or the whole case. Sealed records are not open to the public without a court order.

If you request a record and it has restricted info, the clerk will redact those parts before giving you a copy. If you are a party to the case and need the full file, bring a government-issued photo ID to prove who you are. The clerk can tell you what steps to take if you need access to sealed documents.

Note: Audio recordings of hearings are not available per CJD 05-03.

Cities In El Paso County

Residents of cities in El Paso County file dissolution cases at the District Court in Colorado Springs. Links below go to city pages with local info.

Nearby Colorado Counties

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