Weld County Dissolution Of Marriage Cases
Weld County handles all dissolution of marriage cases through the Combined Court in the 19th Judicial District at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley. This court processes domestic relations matters including divorce, legal separation, and allocation of parental responsibilities for residents throughout the county. You can request case records through the state's online records request system, contact the clerk's office by phone or mail, or use authorized third-party court record vendors to search public docket information for Weld County dissolution cases.
Weld County Quick Facts
Weld County Courthouse
The Weld County Courthouse at 901 9th Avenue in Greeley serves as the main location for the 19th Judicial District. This combined court handles both district and county court cases. District Court processes dissolution of marriage cases, felony criminal matters, and larger civil claims. County Court handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic cases, and small claims matters.
Filing fees in Weld County match the statewide schedule set by C.R.S. § 13-32-101. A petition for dissolution costs $260. A response filed by the other party costs $146. These fees increased in January 2025 due to legislative action. If you cannot afford the filing fees, request a fee waiver by submitting an affidavit that details your income and expenses. The court will review your financial situation and decide whether to grant the waiver.
You can find information about the court at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/weld-county. The website provides contact details, courthouse hours, and links to local forms. Call the clerk's office if you need help with filing procedures or have questions about a specific case.
Staff can answer procedural questions and provide forms. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain court rules and deadlines. Many people file without a lawyer and staff can help you understand the process.
Start Your Dissolution Case
To file in Weld County, at least one spouse must meet the 91-day residency requirement found in C.R.S. § 14-10-106. This means one person must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing the petition. The rule ensures Colorado has jurisdiction over the case.
Colorado uses a no-fault approach to dissolution. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove fault, wrongdoing, or specific reasons. If one spouse says the marriage cannot be saved, that is enough. The court focuses on practical matters like dividing property, determining support, and making parenting plans if children are involved.
When you file a petition, an automatic temporary injunction takes effect immediately under C.R.S. § 14-10-107. This injunction applies to both spouses. It prevents either party from selling assets, taking children out of state, or changing insurance beneficiaries without court approval. The injunction stays in place until the case ends or the court modifies it. The goal is to protect both parties and preserve the status quo during the case.
After filing, the other spouse must be served with the petition and summons. They have time to file a response. The court cannot enter a final decree until 91 days have passed since the respondent was served or filed their first paper in the case. This waiting period gives both sides time to negotiate and settle issues. Many cases resolve through agreement rather than trial.
Request Records From Weld County
Weld County dissolution records are generally public unless sealed by court order. You can request records using the online form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Enter the case type, names of both parties, and the case number if you have it. The clerk's office will contact you about fees and how to get the documents you need.
Email requests work too. Send your request to the court's records email with details about the case. Include full names of both parties, the case number if available, and a description of what documents you want. Staff typically respond within three business days. They will tell you what records are available and what the cost will be.
In-person requests are handled at the courthouse clerk's office. Visit during business hours and ask staff to search for a case by name or case number. If you are a party to the case, bring a government-issued photo ID to access documents that may not be available to the general public. Some records are restricted to parties and their attorneys.
Third-party vendors like CoCourts.com provide online access to the register of actions for Weld County cases. These databases show case activity and filed documents but do not provide copies of the actual documents. For full case files or certified copies, you must contact the court directly. The vendors charge their own fees separate from court copy fees.
Copy Fees And Costs
Weld County uses the statewide fee schedule for document copies. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page for single-sided and $0.50 for double-sided. If you are a party to the case, the maximum fee for copies is $15 regardless of how many pages. Non-parties pay per page with no cap.
Certified copies are $20 per document. A certified copy includes the clerk's seal and signature verifying it is a true copy of the court record. You need certified copies when submitting documents to government agencies, banks, or other institutions that require proof of authenticity. Regular copies work fine if you just need the information for your own records.
Additional fees may apply for complex requests. If the court must retrieve a file from off-site storage, you pay the actual cost of retrieval. 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 for a cost estimate before submitting a complicated request so you know what to expect.
Divide Property And Assets
Weld County courts divide property according to C.R.S. § 14-10-113. Colorado uses equitable division, which means fair but not always equal. The court considers many factors including length of marriage, contributions of each spouse, economic circumstances, and the value of separate property. If one spouse stayed home to care for children while the other worked, the court takes that into account.
Separate property is not divided. This includes property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance. Marital property includes most things acquired during the marriage. The court divides marital property based on what seems fair given the circumstances of your case. Each case is different.
Spousal maintenance may be awarded if one spouse needs financial support. The rules are in C.R.S. § 14-10-114. The statute includes advisory guidelines that help judges calculate maintenance amounts and duration. The guidelines are not mandatory but serve as a starting point. The final decision depends on income of both spouses, length of marriage, and financial needs of each party.
Cities In Weld County
Weld County includes several cities with significant populations. Residents file dissolution cases with the Weld County District Court in Greeley. The following city in Weld County has additional information:
Nearby Counties
Weld County borders several other counties. If you are not sure which county to file in, file where you or your spouse lives. Adjacent counties include: