Denver Divorce Papers: Forms, Filing & Cost (2026)

Every Denver divorce starts with the same paperwork: a Colorado petition, a marital settlement agreement, required financial disclosures, and a proposed final decree. The forms are free; getting them filled out correctly is the hard part.

This guide walks through every form a Denver divorce requires, where to get it, how to fill it out, and the most common mistakes that send a packet back from the Denver District Court clerk.

Required Divorce Papers for a Denver Filing

The Colorado court system has a defined set of divorce forms. For an uncontested Denver filing, you'll need:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (JDF 1101) — this is what starts the case officially. Includes both spouses' information, Colorado residency facts, the no-fault basis, and the relief requested.

• Marital Settlement Agreement — the contract that resolves property, debts, support, and (if applicable) custody. The court turns this into the final order.

• Financial Disclosure Forms — the financial transparency layer — both spouses swear to their income, asset, and debt picture. Colorado usually uses a standardized affidavit form.

• Summons — the notice served on the responding spouse (skipped when filing jointly or with a waiver of service).

• Parenting Plan + Child Support Worksheet — required when minor children are involved. Spells out custody, parenting time, decision-making, and the calculated child support number.

• Proposed Decree of Dissolution — the order the judge will sign at the end. You draft it; the court approves it.

Many Colorado counties layer on local forms (case information sheets, child-related notices, service contact forms). Always confirm the local addenda with the Denver District Court clerk before submission.

Getting the Right Forms for Your Denver Divorce

There are three paths to the right Colorado forms — pick based on how much time and attention you want to spend:

• The Colorado courts website (free). Every required form is published as a fillable PDF. You'll need to identify the correct forms for your situation, download them, and fill them out yourself.

• The Denver District Court self-help center (free). Many Colorado courthouses staff a self-help clerk who can hand you a paper packet and answer non-legal questions about which forms apply.

• Online divorce services like Divorce.com™ (flat fee). The service prepares the entire packet from a guided questionnaire, so you never see a blank state form. Saves the most time; not free.

Skip random "free divorce forms" sites. They're often the wrong state, the wrong version, or missing the local addenda your county requires. The Denver District Court bounces these back.

Filling Out Colorado Divorce Paperwork Correctly

Colorado divorce forms are unforgiving. The Denver District Court will bounce back any packet with the wrong date format, a missing signature, or inconsistent financial figures. Some practical guidance:

• Use legal names, not nicknames. The name on the petition has to match the name on your marriage certificate and on every supporting document.

• State the Colorado residency requirement on the petition. 91 days in Colorado. The petition typically requires a sworn statement that you meet it.

• Cite the no-fault ground. Colorado is no-fault; the only ground is irretrievable breakdown. An uncontested filing should reference this language directly.

• Match dollar amounts across forms. The financial affidavit, settlement agreement, and (if applicable) child support worksheet should all reconcile — clerks check for this.

• Sign and date in front of a notary where required. Several forms — settlement agreements, financial affidavits — require notarized signatures. Don't sign in advance.

• Don't leave any field blank. Write "N/A" or "None" rather than skipping a question. Blanks are interpreted as incomplete forms.

Where to File Your Denver Divorce Paperwork

Your packet goes to Denver District Court. Colorado supports e-filing through the Colorado Courts E-Filing system, so most Denver filers submit electronically rather than walking the papers into the clerk.

Denver District Court
1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202

• Filing fee: approximately $230–$235, paid at submission. Colorado accepts fee waiver applications for filers under income limits.

• E-filing system: the Colorado Courts E-Filing system. Most Colorado counties now accept the full divorce packet electronically.

• Paper filing alternative: still available in most counties for filers who prefer to walk the packet into the clerk's office.

After You File: Service, Settlement, Decree

Filing the papers is the first step, not the last. After the court accepts your packet, three things still need to happen:

• Service on the responding spouse — accomplished by Acceptance of Service (signed by the spouse), by sheriff, or by process server. Skipped entirely for joint petitions in counties that allow them.

• Colorado waiting period — 91-day waiting period from filing or service. Used to finalize the settlement agreement and exchange any required financial disclosures.

• Submission of the signed settlement + proposed decree — after the wait expires. Most uncontested cases are decided on the documents without a hearing.

• Certified copies of the Decree of Dissolution — issued by the clerk after the judge signs. Order multiple; you'll need them for DMV, banks, retirement accounts, and beneficiary updates.

Mistakes That Send Your Denver Papers Back

If your Colorado divorce papers come back from the clerk, it's almost always one of these issues:

• Missing signature or notary block. The most common single rejection reason. Every signature line needs to be completed; notary stamps need to be present on forms that require them.

• Inconsistent financial figures. If the income on your financial affidavit doesn't match the income on the child support worksheet, the clerk will catch it.

• Using outdated form versions. State courts revise forms periodically. Always download from the official site within a few days of filing.

• Wrong court/wrong venue. Filings need to go to the correct Colorado court for your county of residence. The Denver District Court handles Denver divorce cases.

• Incomplete settlement agreement. The agreement should resolve every issue — property, debts, support, custody (if applicable). Vague language gets bounced back.

• Wrong filing fee. Fees change. Check the current schedule at the clerk's office before submitting.

What Denver Divorce Papers Actually Cost

• DIY (free forms, you fill out): $230–$335 total. Filing fees, notary, certified copies.

• Divorce.com™ (flat-fee form prep + filing): $729–$1334 total. Service fee $499–$999 plus court filing fee.

• Attorney-prepared papers (full retainer): $1,500–$3,500 for uncontested cases; $7,500+ for contested.

The Easiest Way to Handle Denver Divorce Papers

When the forms feel like too much, Divorce.com™ is the alternative — a guided questionnaire that generates the full Colorado packet, e-files it with the Denver District Court, and gives you a real Case Manager to ask when something feels off. Flat fee.