Colorado Divorce Laws

Colorado divorce laws for people considering a Colorado divorce or filing a Colorado divorce with issues to be resolved about child custody, child support, visitation and alimony.  Colorado Statutes can be viewed at  http://198.187.128.12/colorado/. Statutes cover but are not limited to the following subjects:

•Divorce Definitions

•Divorce Residency Requirements

•Grounds for Divorce

•Uncontested Divorce

•Simplified Divorce Process

•Military Divorce Laws

•Child Custody

•Child Support Considerations

•Child Support Definitions

•Child Support Guidelines

•Spousal Support, Maintenance, and Alimony guidelines

•Property Division Considerations

•Grandparents’ Rights

Colorado Divorce Definitions

These definitions will help you understand some unique characteristics to the Colorado Divorce laws, process and paperwork which is filed with the court.

Filing Party Title: Petitioner- The spouse who will initiate the Divorce by filing the required paperwork with the court.

Non-Filing Party Title: Respondent-The spouse who does not initiate the Divorce with the court.

Court Name: In the District Court in and for the County of __________ and State of Colorado - The proper name of the court in which a Divorce is filed in the state of Colorado. Each jurisdictional court typically has a domestic relations or a family law department or division.

Child Support Enforcement Website:
http://www.childsupport.state.co.us - The state run office devoted to enforcing existing child support orders and collecting any past due child support.

Document Introduction: In Re the Marriage of: The lead-in verbiage used in the legal caption or header of the documents filed with the court. The introduction typically prefaces both spouse’s names.

Initial Divorce Document: Petition for Dissolution of Marriage-The title and name of the legal document that will initiate the Colorado Divorce process. The filing spouse is also required to provide the non-filing spouse a copy of this document.

Final Divorce Document: Decree of Dissolution of Marriage-The title and name of the legal document that will finalize the Colorado Divorce process. This document will be signed by the judge, master, or referee of the court to declare your marriage officially terminated.

Clerk’s Office Name: District Clerk’s Office -The office of the clerk that will facilitate the Divorce process. This is the title you would address letters to or ask for when contacting the courthouse.

Legal Separation: If there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, the spouses may file for a legal separation. One spouse must have been a resident of Colorado for 90 days prior to filing for legal separation. [Colorado Revised Statutes; Article 10, Section 14-10-106].

Property Distribution: Equitable Distribution- The applicable Colorado law that will dictate how property and debt is to be divided upon Divorce.

Colorado Divorce Resources -

Colorado Specific Divorce Overview

Colorado Specific Divorce Articles -

Colorado Specific Divorce Documents -

Colorado Specific Divorce Professionals -