Brighton Divorce Decree Information
Brighton divorce decree records are maintained at Adams County Combined Court. Brighton is the county seat of Adams County so the courthouse is right in town. All divorce cases for Brighton residents are filed and stored here. The court is part of the 17th Judicial District and handles all domestic relations matters including dissolution of marriage. You can search for divorce decree records online or visit the courthouse in person to request copies.
Brighton Quick Facts
Adams County Combined Court
Brighton is the county seat of Adams County. The Adams County Combined Court is at 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton. This courthouse handles all divorce cases for Brighton and the rest of Adams County. The court has a combined structure that includes both district and county court. District court handles divorce and family law matters.
The 17th Judicial District includes Adams County and Broomfield County. Each county has its own courthouse. Adams County residents file all divorce cases in Brighton. The clerk's office is on the first floor and handles new filings and records requests.
| Court | Adams County Combined Court (17th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1100 Judicial Center Dr Brighton, CO 80601 |
| Phone | (303) 654-3211 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/adams-county |
Staff at the clerk's office can help with general questions about filing and how to get copies of old divorce decree records. They cannot give legal advice. Security screening is required at the entrance so allow extra time when you visit. Parking is available in the lot next to the building.
How to Get Divorce Decree Records
You have several ways to get a copy of a divorce decree in Brighton. The fastest is to visit the clerk's office in person. Staff can look up the case by name or case number and make copies while you wait. If you need a certified copy, they can do that too. Certified copies have an official seal and signature from the clerk.
You can also request records online through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The form is at coloradojudicial.gov. You select Adams County and fill in the case details. The clerk will respond within three business days with info on what records are available and how to pay. This works well if you prefer to handle it remotely.
CoCourts.com is another option. This third-party database run by LexisNexis has records from Adams County and most other Colorado counties. Searches cost $10 or less. You can look up cases by name or case number. CoCourts shows the Register of Action, which lists all the filings and court dates. It does not include the actual documents. You still need to get the divorce decree from the Adams County clerk after you find the case.
When you request divorce decree records in Brighton, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
Note: Some records may be sealed by court order and not available to the public.
Filing for Divorce in Brighton
To file for divorce in Brighton, you must meet the Colorado residency requirement. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, at least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing. You do not need to live in Brighton specifically. As long as you are an Adams County resident when you file, you use the courthouse in Brighton.
Colorado uses no-fault divorce. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove wrongdoing by your spouse. This makes the process less confrontational. Both spouses just need to agree the marriage cannot continue.
The filing fee for a divorce petition is $230. This includes the displaced homemaker fee required by C.R.S. § 14-10-120.5. If your spouse files a response, that costs $116. Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford the cost. You file a motion showing your income and assets. The judge decides if you qualify for in forma pauperis status.
After you file, Colorado law requires a 91-day waiting period before the judge can sign the final decree. This rule is in the statute and applies to all divorces in the state. Even if you and your spouse agree on all issues, the court cannot finalize the divorce until 91 days pass. The waiting period starts when the court gets jurisdiction over the respondent, which usually happens after they are served with papers.
Under C.R.S. § 14-10-120, the divorce decree is final when entered by the court. The clerk then sends notice to the state registrar of vital statistics. You can get a verification of divorce from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, but for a full copy with all the terms, you get that from the Adams County clerk in Brighton.
Fees for Divorce Records
Fees for copies of divorce decree records in Brighton follow the state schedule. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20 per document no matter how many pages. If you are a party to the case, the maximum fee for copies is $15 regardless of page count. Non-parties pay the full cost.
A name search costs $5 if you need the clerk to look up a case. A transcript of judgment costs $25. Research and redaction fees apply after the first hour of clerk time. The rate is $30 per hour, billed in 15-minute blocks. If the file is stored off-site, you pay the actual cost of retrieval.
Call the Adams County clerk at (303) 654-3211 to confirm current fees before you request divorce records in Brighton.
Legal Help in Brighton
Several organizations provide legal help to Brighton residents going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income individuals. They serve Adams County from offices around the state. Call (303) 837-1313 or visit coloradolegalservices.org to see if you qualify.
The Colorado Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call 303-860-1115 and they will connect you with a family law attorney who serves Brighton and Adams County. The first consultation is usually offered at a reduced rate. You can also use the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help website at coloradojudicial.gov for forms and instructions.
All Colorado court forms are free to download at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms. This includes the petition for dissolution, response, parenting plan, child support worksheets, and final decree. Adams County offers self-represented e-filing for divorce cases. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice but can tell you which forms you need.
Adams County Divorce Records
Brighton is the county seat of Adams County. All divorce cases for Brighton and other parts of the county are handled by Adams County Combined Court. For more information on filing, fees, and related services, visit the Adams County divorce records page.