Find Pueblo County Dissolution Of Marriage Cases
Dissolution of marriage records in Pueblo County are kept at the District Court in the 10th Judicial District. The court is in the Pueblo County Judicial Building at 501 N. Elizabeth Street in Pueblo. Anyone looking for case files, final decrees, or other dissolution documents needs to contact this courthouse. You can request records online, by mail, or in person during business hours. Staff can help find your case if you know the names of both parties or the case number.
Pueblo County Quick Facts
Pueblo County District Court Overview
Pueblo County is part of the 10th Judicial District. The District Court handles dissolution of marriage cases along with other domestic relations matters. The court is housed in the Pueblo County Judicial Building at 501 N. Elizabeth Street in Pueblo, CO 81003. This building serves as the main hub for all court services in Pueblo County, including filing new cases and requesting copies of existing records.
The clerk's office staff can answer basic questions about filing requirements, fees, and how to get copies of court documents. If you are trying to find an old case or need a certified copy of a decree, they can check the court's system and tell you what records are available. Visit the court's page at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/pueblo-county for contact info and hours of operation. The page also lists any closures or special notices that might affect when you can visit in person.
Most dissolution cases filed in Pueblo County go through a similar process. One spouse files a petition that includes basic info about the marriage, property, and children if any. The other spouse gets served with a copy and can file a response. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, the court must find that the marriage is irretrievably broken before it can grant a dissolution. There is also a mandatory 91-day waiting period from when the respondent is served or files a response. This gives both parties time to work out property division, support, and parenting issues.
How To File For Dissolution
To start a dissolution case in Pueblo County, at least one spouse must have been a Colorado resident for 91 days. You file the petition at the Pueblo County Judicial Building. The filing fee is $260, which covers the initial petition for divorce, separation, or annulment. This fee is standard across all Colorado counties under C.R.S. § 13-32-101. If you cannot pay the fee, you can file for a fee waiver. You need to submit financial documents showing your income and expenses so the judge can decide if you qualify.
Once you file, an automatic injunction takes effect. This is part of Colorado law under C.R.S. § 14-10-107. The injunction stops both spouses from hiding assets, selling property, or moving children out of state while the case is pending. It protects both parties during the proceedings. The injunction stays in place until the judge lifts it or the case is finalized.
After filing, you must serve the petition on the other spouse. They have time to respond. The court cannot enter a final decree until at least 91 days have passed from the date of service or the date the respondent filed a response. This waiting period is required by statute and cannot be waived. During this time, spouses often work on settlement agreements covering property, support, and custody if there are children. If both parties agree on all terms, they may be able to get a decree without a hearing using an affidavit process.
Access Dissolution Records In Pueblo County
You can request dissolution of marriage records from Pueblo County in several ways. The online records request form is at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Fill in the case type, names of both parties, and the case number if you know it. The clerk will review your request and let you know the cost and how to pay.
For mail requests, send a letter to the Pueblo County Clerk at 501 N. Elizabeth Street, Pueblo, CO 81003. Include the names of both spouses, the case number, and what documents you need. Add a check or money order to cover copy fees. The clerk will send the documents back to you once payment is received and the request is processed. Most requests are completed within a few business days unless the file needs to be retrieved from off-site storage.
You can also visit the courthouse in person. The clerk's office is open during regular business hours. Bring the case details with you. Staff can look up the case in the system and tell you what records are available. If the file is on paper and stored elsewhere, they can put in a request to have it brought in. This may add a few days to the process, so plan ahead if you need the records by a certain date.
Third-party services like CoCourts.com provide access to the register of actions for Pueblo County cases. This shows a summary of what has been filed and any court hearings, but it does not include the actual documents. For copies of decrees, petitions, or agreements, you still need to contact the court directly. The register of actions can be helpful for confirming a case number or checking the status of a pending case before you request full documents.
Cost Of Records And Copies
Copy fees for Pueblo County dissolution records are set by state law. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page for single-sided pages and $0.50 per page for double-sided pages. If you are a party to the case, the maximum you will pay is $15 no matter how many pages the file has. Non-parties pay the per-page fee with no cap.
Certified copies cost $20 per document. A certified copy includes a clerk's seal and signature. You need a certified copy if you are using the document for legal purposes, like filing for benefits, proving marital status, or submitting to another court. Regular copies work fine if you just need the info for your own records or to review what was filed.
If your file is stored off-site or requires more than an hour of staff time to locate, redact, or prepare, the court can charge extra. Off-site retrieval fees are the actual cost to bring the file back to the courthouse. Research and redaction fees are $30 per hour, billed in 15-minute increments. Ask the clerk about total costs before you pay so you know what to expect.
Property Division And Spousal Support
Pueblo County courts follow Colorado law when dividing property in a dissolution case. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-113, the court sets apart each spouse's separate property first. Then it divides marital property equitably, which does not always mean equally. The judge looks at several factors. These include how much each spouse contributed to the marriage, the value of separate property each has, and the economic situation each spouse will face after the dissolution. The goal is a fair division based on the circumstances of the case.
Separate property includes anything owned before the marriage, gifts or inheritances received by one spouse, and property excluded by a valid prenuptial agreement. Marital property is everything acquired during the marriage, including income, real estate, retirement accounts, and personal items. Even if an asset is in only one spouse's name, it may still be marital property subject to division if it was acquired during the marriage.
Spousal maintenance may be awarded if one spouse needs financial support after the dissolution. The court uses advisory guidelines under C.R.S. § 14-10-114 to calculate the amount and duration. The guidelines are based on the length of the marriage and the combined adjusted gross income of both spouses. Maintenance is not automatic. The court considers whether the spouse seeking support can meet reasonable needs through other means and whether the paying spouse has the ability to pay. Spouses can also agree to a different amount or duration if they both consent.
Help With Dissolution Cases
The Colorado Judicial Branch offers self-help resources for people handling their own dissolution cases. The divorce and separation page at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/divorce-and-separation has forms and instructions for filing a petition, responding to one, and requesting a decree without a hearing. Many Pueblo County residents use these resources to file without hiring a lawyer, especially in cases with no children or contested property.
If you need legal advice or representation, contact a family law attorney in Pueblo County. They can explain your options and help you prepare documents. Some attorneys offer free or low-cost consultations. Legal aid organizations may also assist if you meet income guidelines. Check with local bar associations for referral services.
You can view the full list of court fees at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/list-fees. This page includes filing fees for petitions, responses, motions to modify, and other family law matters. Knowing the fees in advance helps you budget for the case and understand what you will pay at each step of the process.
Cities In Pueblo County
The city of Pueblo is the largest city in Pueblo County and the county seat. It has over 112,000 residents. Dissolution of marriage cases for Pueblo residents are filed at the Pueblo County Judicial Building, which is located right in the city. Other smaller communities in Pueblo County also use the same courthouse for all domestic relations matters.
Nearby Counties
If you are looking for dissolution records in counties near Pueblo, check these pages:
Each county has its own District Court and maintains its own dissolution of marriage records. You need to contact the county where the case was filed to get records.
Note: Colorado's 100-year restriction on full divorce files applies to historical records at the State Archives. For modern cases, only the final decree is publicly accessible unless you are a party to the case.