{"id":371954,"date":"2019-07-19T11:29:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-19T16:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-divorce-process.html"},"modified":"2024-12-20T20:59:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T01:59:21","slug":"colorado-divorce-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-divorce-process.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Divorce Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Colorado Divorce Process<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Ending a relationship can be an emotional and challenging time for both parties. If you are considering a divorce, take time to understand Colorado’s divorce laws, or \u201cdissolution of marriage" laws, as well as the general process for getting a divorce in Colorado.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado is a no-fault state. This means the courts do not need either party to have done something wrong to grant a divorce and they will not assign responsibility to you or your ex-spouse. To get a divorce, only one spouse needs to say the marriage is \u201cirretrievably broken.\u201d From that point, the divorce petition process will begin with the local courts.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado Divorce Process Overview<\/h2>\r\n

The table below outlines the general process you can expect and the requirements you will need to fulfill to get a divorce in Colorado.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Domestic Matters:<\/b><\/p>\r\n

Filling Out the Divorce Petition<\/b><\/p>\r\n

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The divorce petition<\/a> and overall process will ask for some specific items that you must complete or answer, including:<\/b><\/p>\r\n

Divorce Proceedings<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

The following steps are common during Colorado divorce processes:<\/b><\/p>\r\n

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  1. One spouse says the marriage is irretrievably broken;<\/li>\r\n
  2. Your attorney creates the divorce petition;<\/li>\r\n
  3. A court official hands your spouse the petition and a summons to appear in court, which is known as \u201cserving\u201d them;<\/li>\r\n
  4. Your spouse has 35 days to respond to the petition;<\/li>\r\n
  5. You must provide written acknowledgment that you understand the divorce petition;<\/li>\r\n
  6. The judge will likely create temporary orders (Section 14-10-108<\/a>) for custody, child support, property division, or other legal issues;<\/li>\r\n
  7. You and your spouse either agree to the terms of the divorce or go to a court hearing;<\/li>\r\n
  8. The divorce terms change until you agree to them, or a judge makes the final ruling;<\/li>\r\n
  9. Both parties sign the document and the divorce is final.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    If a spouse is missing, the courts will try to find and notify them to the best of their ability. The missing spouse has 35 days to respond or the divorce will proceed.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Where to File for Divorce<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Colorado requires you to file at the District Court level<\/a>. These 22 different courts are divided by city or county, so you need to find the closest one to where you live. An attorney can explain the process and help you file all paperwork correctly, or you can research how to start the process yourself<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

You can expect the cost to be around $230 to file the petition (Section 13-32-101(1)(a)<\/a>). You may have to pay other court, filing, or attorney fees.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Factors That May Affect the Divorce Process<\/h2>\r\n

If you have children, you can expect a longer divorce process that may involve extra steps such as interviewing your child (Section 14-10-126<\/a>) or assigning an arbitrator (Section 14-10-1285<\/a>) to serve as a neutral court official to help resolve disputes regarding your children.<\/p>\r\n

Overall, the divorce process cannot take less than 91 days; but, often takes longer. Knowing your terms for a divorce (Section 14-10-112<\/a>) and what you are willing to compromise on can help the process proceed smoothly.<\/p>\r\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\r\n