Boulder Divorce Decrees
Boulder divorce decree records get filed at the Boulder County Combined Court, which serves the 20th Judicial District. The courthouse sits in downtown Boulder at 1777 6th Street near the Pearl Street Mall. All dissolution of marriage cases for Boulder and the rest of the county go through this one location. The court handles both contested and uncontested divorces for Boulder residents. You can search for divorce decree records online through CoCourts or visit the courthouse in person to get certified copies. Most Boulder divorce cases are public records once the final decree is signed, though some documents may be sealed or restricted based on the nature of the case or if domestic violence protective orders are involved.
Boulder Quick Facts
Boulder County Court for Divorce Cases
Boulder residents file at the Boulder County Combined Court in downtown Boulder. The courthouse is at 1777 6th Street, within walking distance of the Pearl Street Mall and many city offices. Court hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The court is closed on state holidays. Call (303) 441-3750 to reach the clerk if you have questions about filing or getting Boulder divorce decree records.
| Court Name | Boulder County Combined Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1777 6th Street Boulder, CO 80302 |
| Phone | (303) 441-3750 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Website | www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/boulder-county |
Parking near the courthouse is mostly metered street parking or paid lots. The courthouse sits on RTD bus routes for easy access without a car. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID and leave large bags, weapons, and prohibited items at home when you visit to file or search Boulder divorce decree records.
The clerk office is on the first floor. Look for signs once you clear security. Staff help you file new cases, search for old cases, and get copies. If the file you need is archived, they pull it from storage, but this may take a day or two. Most recent Boulder divorce cases are on-site and ready for same-day service at the courthouse.
How to Search Boulder Divorce Records
You can search Boulder divorce decree records online at CoCourts.com. This site covers all Colorado District Courts, including Boulder County. It shows the register of action for each case. That is a list of filings, motions, hearings, and orders. You do not get full document text from CoCourts. For actual copies of the divorce decree or other papers, you contact the clerk.
Visit www.cocourts.com/cocourts/ and choose Boulder County. Search by name or case number. A name search costs $10 or less. Results show all cases with that name. Click on the case to see the register. LexisNexis runs the site for Colorado, and data updates in real time. New Boulder filings show up fast after the clerk enters them into the system.
For full copies of Boulder divorce decree records, use the online records request form at www.coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Fill in case details and select Boulder County. The clerk reviews your request and responds within three business days. Copies cost $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $20 per document no matter how many pages. If you are a party to the case, the max fee is $15 for your own records in Boulder.
Walk-in searches are also available at the courthouse. Tell the clerk the names and case number if you have it. They search for free. If you want copies, they print them while you wait in most cases. Bring a debit or credit card to pay. If the case is old and archived, you may need to return later or have copies mailed after retrieval from storage. Boulder cases from 1867 to 1995 may be at the Colorado State Archives. Check archives.colorado.gov for info on those older records.
File for Divorce in Boulder
Boulder residents follow Colorado dissolution of marriage law. One spouse must live in Colorado for 90 days before filing under C.R.S. § 14-10-106. The court must also wait 91 days after it gets control over the other spouse before it can grant the divorce. Even fast cases in Boulder take about three months from filing to final decree.
File the petition at the Boulder County courthouse clerk office. The filing fee is $230, which includes the displaced homemaker fund fee under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.5. Pay when you file, or ask for a fee waiver if you have low income. The clerk gives you a case number and stamped copies to use for service on the other spouse in Boulder.
Serve the other spouse next. You can use the sheriff, a private server, or certified mail in some cases. Proof of service goes to the court. Without it, the case cannot proceed. Boulder County Sheriff charges about $75 for service in the city. Private servers vary. Once served, the other spouse has time to file a response. If they do not, you may get a default judgment in your Boulder divorce case.
Colorado is a no-fault state under C.R.S. § 14-10-110. Boulder residents only need to say the marriage is "irretrievably broken." No proof of fault is required. You do not have to show adultery, cruelty, or other wrongdoing. The court grants the divorce if you meet the residency and waiting period rules. This makes Boulder divorces simpler than in fault-based states.
If both sides agree on all terms, file a separation agreement with the court. This covers property, debts, children, and support. The judge reviews it and signs the final decree if the terms are fair. Most Boulder divorces with full agreements finish in 90 to 120 days. Contested cases take longer and may go to trial if no settlement is reached.
Forms for Boulder Divorce Cases
All Boulder divorce forms come from the Colorado court system. There are no Boulder-specific forms. Download them free at www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms. Look for the JDF 1000 series, which covers family law and dissolution of marriage. Each form has instructions on how to complete it.
Key forms for Boulder residents:
- JDF 1010 - How to File for Divorce
- JDF 1011 - Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
- JDF 1015 - Response to Petition
- JDF 1018 - Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance
- JDF 1019 - Final Decree
- JDF 1102 - Summons for Dissolution of Marriage
- JDF 1099 - Instructions for Service
If you have kids, add child support forms. Colorado uses worksheets based on income and parenting time to figure support. Get these from the court website under family law. You need them filled out before the judge signs your Boulder divorce decree. Missing forms delay the case.
Boulder County offers e-filing for some family law forms. Not all forms can be e-filed. Check the court page for the list. There is a small tech fee on top of regular court fees when you e-file. You get email confirmation when the clerk accepts your filing, which is faster than mailing papers to the Boulder courthouse.
Legal Help in Boulder
Boulder residents can find free or low-cost legal help through several groups. Colorado Legal Services is the main one for low-income people. They focus on cases with domestic violence, child safety, or similar urgent issues. Call (303) 837-1313 for the Denver metro office or visit www.coloradolegalservices.org to see if you qualify. They serve all of Boulder County.
The Colorado Bar Association runs a referral service at 1-800-392-5660. They match you with a family law attorney in Boulder. The first meeting is often free or low cost. This helps you decide if you want to hire that lawyer. Most attorneys who take referrals know the 20th Judicial District procedures used in Boulder.
Boulder County has a self-help center at the courthouse. Staff provide forms, answer basic questions, and show you how to fill out papers for your Boulder divorce. They do not give legal advice or represent you in court. Walk in during court hours for help if you are filing without a lawyer.
For online help, visit www.courts.state.co.us/Self_Help/divorce/ for step-by-step guides on filing without a lawyer. The site explains each phase of a Boulder divorce case and helps you fill out forms correctly. It is free and covers the procedures used in Boulder County.
Boulder Divorce Costs
The filing fee for a Boulder divorce is $230. This is the same across Colorado and covers the petition and displaced homemaker fund. If the other side files a response, that costs $116. Motions and other filings during the case may have extra fees. Call the clerk at (303) 441-3750 to get the current fee schedule before you file in Boulder.
Service costs are separate. The Boulder County Sheriff charges about $75 to serve the other spouse in the city. Private servers may cost more or less. Certified mail is cheaper but only works if the other person signs for it. Failed service means you pay again. Budget for service on top of the $230 filing fee.
Copies of divorce decree records in Boulder cost $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $20 per document. Name searches by the clerk cost $5. Research or redaction fees run $30 per hour after the first hour, billed in 15-minute chunks. Most people spend less than $50 to get a certified copy of their final Boulder divorce decree.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, file form JDF 205 to request a fee waiver. The court reviews your income and assets. Many low-income Boulder residents get approved. This waives the $230 filing fee and other court costs, but it does not cover lawyer fees or service costs. You still must serve the other spouse even with a fee waiver in Boulder divorce cases.
Note: Fee waivers do not apply to e-filing technology fees, which are charged separately by the e-filing system in Boulder.
Divorce Verification in Boulder
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment keeps a record of all divorces statewide. This is not the same as the court decree. It is a vital record that shows the divorce happened. You get it from the state health office, not the court. Some people use this for proof when they remarry or need to show their Boulder divorce is final.
Order a divorce verification at cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords. You need names, date, and county where the divorce was filed. Boulder cases show under Boulder County. The state sends a certificate that the divorce is on file. It does not include custody, property, or support terms. For the full decree with all details, get that from the Boulder County Combined Court instead.
You can also order through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. This adds a service fee but delivers faster. Call VitalChek at 866-632-2604 or 866-300-8540 to order by phone. Boulder residents who need quick proof of divorce for a new marriage or similar purpose often use this service when the basic certificate is enough.
Boulder County Divorce Resources
Boulder is the county seat and the largest city in Boulder County. All divorce cases for the county go through the same courthouse in Boulder. For more on filing fees, local rules, clerk contact, and other resources for the 20th Judicial District, visit the Boulder County divorce decree records page.