Why Divorce.com?
Benefits of an online divorce
Divorce.com is an excellent choice to prepare paperwork for an uncontested divorce without hiring expensive lawyers. The platform offers an alternative to DIY divorce, combining low cost with the convenience of obtaining a complete packet of legal papers online.
All forms comply with state standards and local court rules, customized to each client's circumstances, including whether minor children are involved.
With Divorce.com, you can:
Access the online questionnaire at any time and save progress for later
Change answers or correct information without limitations before submission
Download documents in PDF format ready in two business days, then print and sign before filing with the district clerk
Colorado
Divorce Forms
All the forms required
Filing for divorce starts with collecting state-specific legal forms. Some can be found on the Colorado Judicial Branch website or in libraries.
The basic forms to file for Colorado divorce are as follows:
Petition for Dissolution or Legal Separation (Marriage) - Form JDF 1101
Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit - Form JDF 205
Summons - Form JDF 1102
Case Information Sheet - Form JDF 1000
Waiver and Acceptance of Service - Form JDF 1102(a)
Return of Service - Form JDF 1102(b)
Response to the Petition - Form JDF 1103
Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Financial Disclosures - Form JDF 1104
Sworn Financial Statement - Form JDF 1111
Parenting Plan - Form JDF 1113
Separation Agreement - Form JDF 1115
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation - Form JDF 1116
Notice to Set Hearing - Form JDF 1123
Notice of Hearing - Form JDF 1124
This list may vary depending on specific circumstances. For example, if the spouses don't have minor children, they don't need to file a Parenting Plan.
Steps to consider
Filing Requirements
Residency Requirements
Couples who want to file for divorce in Colorado must ensure they meet the residency requirements, or else Colorado courts won't have jurisdiction to enter the final decree.
Under the state laws, at least one spouse must be a resident of Colorado and have lived there for 90 or more days.
The law also requires the couple's minor children to have lived within the state limits for 182 days or since birth in order to address the child-related issues.
Grounds for Divorce
Colorado is a purely no-fault state, meaning the spouses can't use fault grounds for divorce. It's called an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Both spouses must state under oath that their marriage is irretrievably broken for the court to presume it is true. Another option is for one party to state it and the other to not deny it.
However, if one spouse is against divorce, the judge may suggest the couple seek counseling and reschedule the hearing.
Initial Filing
The courts responsible for handling divorce in Colorado are District Courts. The venue for divorce should be the court in the county where the respondent resides.
The petitioner must collect and complete the necessary legal forms and file the original papers and copies with the district clerk's office. The initial documents include the Petition for Dissolution, Case Information Sheet, and Summons.
Both parties must sign the Petition if they file together. Otherwise, only a filing spouse and their attorney need to sign this form.
Filing Fees
The filing fee to start divorce proceedings in Colorado is $230. A petitioner must pay this sum when submitting the paperwork to the district court. The response papers also have a fee of $116.
If a person cannot afford to cover the fee, they can request a fee waiver by filing:
the JDF 205 form, which is a motion to proceed without payment,
the JDF 206 form (a blank Order),
financial proof of indigency, e.g., pay stubs, bank statements, etc.
Serving the Respondent
If the parties did not file as co-petitioners, the filing spouse must notify the other party about the divorce.
The service means bringing the copies of all papers to the other party and obtaining their signature as the acknowledgment of service.
The options to serve the respondent are the following:
the respondent signs the Waiver and Acceptance of Service form
a sheriff or a private process server takes the papers to the respondent
by mail or publication after the court approval
Waiting Period
When the other party has been served with the divorce papers, the couple must wait 91 days before they can get a final decree. If the spouses file for dissolution together, the waiting period begins when they file the Petition.
The parties might have to attend the Initial Status Conference, which is usually scheduled 42 days after the initial filing.
The court may also require the spouses to complete the parenting program, which can extend the time needed for divorce.
Finalizing a Divorce Case
The spouses pursuing an uncontested divorce usually need to attend a short hearing where the judge will review the submitted papers, such as the settlement agreement with provisions on assets and debts division, child custody, support, etc.
A copy of the final decree will be mailed to the petitioner after the hearing. For this reason, they should provide the court with a self-addressed stamped envelope. If the spouses filed their case using the e-filing system, the envelopes might not be required.
Filing basics
Filing for Divorce
Colorado
How to get started
Filing for divorce starts with collecting state-specific legal forms. Some can be found on the Colorado Judicial Branch website or in libraries.
The basic forms to file for Colorado divorce are as follows:
Petition for Dissolution or Legal Separation (Marriage) - Form JDF 1101
Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit - Form JDF 205
Summons - Form JDF 1102
Case Information Sheet - Form JDF 1000
Waiver and Acceptance of Service - Form JDF 1102(a)
Return of Service - Form JDF 1102(b)
Response to the Petition - Form JDF 1103
Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Financial Disclosures - Form JDF 1104
Sworn Financial Statement - Form JDF 1111
Parenting Plan - Form JDF 1113
Separation Agreement - Form JDF 1115
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation - Form JDF 1116
Notice to Set Hearing - Form JDF 1123
Notice of Hearing - Form JDF 1124
This list may vary depending on specific circumstances. For example, if the spouses don't have minor children, they don't need to file a Parenting Plan.
Custody Basics
Couples with minor children can only get a final judgment after allocating child custody rights and responsibilities. Colorado family law distinguishes several types of custody:
Sole physical custody. The child’s permanent residence is with the primary custodial parent.
Joint physical custody. The child lives with each parent according to a schedule fixed in the parenting plan.
Sole legal custody. Only one parent can make child-related decisions.
Joint legal custody. Both parents have a say in their child’s education, religion, recreation, etc.
Sole physical custody doesn’t mean the non-custodial parent can’t see their child. Instead, they will be awarded the visitation time unless the family court finds evidence of domestic violence or neglect. In this case, the judge can implement court orders to limit parenting activities, such as overnights and unsupervised visits.
Each parent can submit a parenting plan for the court’s approval. However, if the judge doesn’t approve the proposed plan, they will formulate a parenting plan independently. For this reason, the parents are usually advised to see a divorce mediator and address parenting issues before the court hearing.
A district court might order the spouses to attend parenting educational courses to understand the impact of divorce on children and learn co-parenting skills.
Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested, or amicable, divorce means both parties agree to resolve their disputes and negotiate the divorce terms outside the courthouse. This method saves money and time because the couple doesn’t go through lengthy court trials and typically needs to attend only a few hearings to get a divorce decree.
The spouses must file a settlement agreement together with the other court-required forms. This document should include the following provisions:
child custody arrangements and visitation schedule
the amount of child support and alimony
property division terms
An uncontested divorce is a popular option to end a marriage because it’s less stressful and more private than traditional litigation. If spouses seeking an uncontested divorce decide to get help with divorce paperwork, they can use Divorce.com. Our platform will prepare customized divorce papers fast and inexpensively.
Support Basics
Child support is a periodic (monthly, weekly, etc.) payment to provide for the child’s needs, including medical and education costs. The exact amount is calculated based on the Income Shares Model, where the parents pay a share of total child support in proportion to their adjusted gross income.
The judges may also consider some of the following factors:
The financial situation and resources of each party and the child;
The standard of living during the marriage;
The child’s physical and mental health;
The child’s needs, etc.
Child support payment usually ends when the dependent children turn 19. However, if the children continue their education in high school, support shall remain ongoing until they graduate, drop out, or turn 21. Support payments will also be extended if the child has disabilities.
