Jefferson County Dissolution Of Marriage

Jefferson County is part of the 1st Judicial District in Colorado. The combined court handles both county and district matters from one location in Golden. Dissolution of marriage cases are filed with the District Court clerk at 100 Jefferson County Parkway. You can request records online, by mail, or in person during business hours. The court also has a resource center that helps people who do not have lawyers with forms and filing procedures.

1st Judicial District Court

Jefferson County operates a combined court. This means county and district cases are handled at the same location by the same clerk. The courthouse is at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80419. All dissolution of marriage cases for Jefferson County are filed here.

The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on court holidays. Check the court's website before visiting to confirm hours and any closures. The main phone number is 720-772-2570. You can call to ask questions about filing or records.

For general questions, you can also contact the State Court Administrator's Office at 720-625-5000. They can help direct you to the right department if you are not sure who to talk to. Visit the court's page at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/jefferson-county for more details about services and procedures.

Jefferson County has a Court Resource Center. Staff there help individuals who do not have attorneys. They can show you what forms to use and how to fill them out. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain what each form does and where to file it. This is a free service for anyone who needs help with court forms.

File For Dissolution In Jefferson County

To file in Jefferson County, one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days. This residency rule is in C.R.S. § 14-10-106. You file the petition for dissolution at the clerk's office in Golden. The petition states that the marriage is irretrievably broken, which is the only ground needed in Colorado.

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

When you file, an automatic injunction takes effect. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-107, this injunction stops both parties from hiding assets, changing insurance, or taking children out of state without permission. It protects both spouses during the case. The injunction stays in place until the decree is final or a judge changes it.

The other spouse gets served with the petition and has time to file a response. A response costs $146 if they want to contest the petition. After the response or the deadline passes, the case moves forward. The court cannot finalize the dissolution until 91 days after the other party was served or filed a response. This wait is required by Colorado law to give both sides time to work out terms.

Request Records From Jefferson County

You can request dissolution of marriage records from Jefferson County using the online form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Select Jefferson County, fill in the case type and details, and submit the form. The clerk will review it and contact you about fees and how to pay.

In-person requests work at the clerk's office in Golden. Visit during business hours with the case number or the names of both parties. Staff can search for the file and make copies if it is on-site. If the file is stored off-site, they will tell you how long it takes to retrieve it. Bring a way to pay for the copies.

Mail requests are accepted. Write to Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80419. Include the case details, what documents you need, and a check for the copy fees. The clerk will mail the records back to you once payment clears.

For most requests, the clerk responds within three business days unless there are issues with the case. If the record is sealed or has restricted info, the clerk will let you know what steps to take to get access.

Copy Fees In Jefferson County

Copy fees follow the state schedule. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page. If you are a party to the case, the max you pay is $15 total no matter how many pages. 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 purposes like filing with another court or proving the dissolution to a government office. Regular copies are fine for personal use or research.

Some requests may have extra fees. If your file is stored off-site, there may be a retrieval cost. If the request takes more than one hour of staff time for research or redaction, the court charges $30 per hour in 15-minute increments. Ask the clerk ahead of time about the total cost.

Colorado 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 looks at how long you were married, what each spouse contributed, and each person's finances. 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 hard rules. A judge can adjust them for your case. The guidelines apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 2014.

The decree spells out property division and support terms. This becomes part of the court record. You can get a copy of the decree from the clerk if you need proof of these terms later.

Self-Help Resources

Jefferson County has a Court Resource Center where staff help people without lawyers. They provide court forms and show you how to fill them out. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain procedures and what each form does. This is a free service at the courthouse.

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 step-by-step guides for handling your own case.

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

Public Access To Jefferson County Records

Dissolution records in Jefferson County are public unless sealed. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 at coloradojudicial.gov/node/4038 governs access to court records in Colorado. Anyone can request copies of case files that are not sealed. You do not need 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 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 thing. Sealed records are not open to the public 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. The clerk can explain what steps to take if you need access to sealed documents.

Search Jefferson County Cases Online

Jefferson County is included in the CoCourts.com database. Visit cocourts.com/cocourts to search for case info. You pay per search. Results show a register of actions, which lists the steps taken in a case. The site does not provide copies of actual documents. For those, contact the clerk.

You can also use the Colorado Judicial Branch online records request form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Fill it out and submit. The clerk will review and contact you about fees and next steps.

Cities In Jefferson County

Residents of these cities file dissolution cases at the Jefferson County court in Golden. Links below provide local info.

Nearby Colorado Counties

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