Broomfield Divorce Decree Search
Broomfield divorce decree records are kept at the Broomfield County Combined Court. Broomfield is both a city and a county, which makes it unique in Colorado. All divorce cases filed by Broomfield residents go through the combined court in the 17th Judicial District. You can search for divorce decrees online through the state system or visit the courthouse in person to request copies. The court clerk manages all records and provides access to the public.
Broomfield Quick Facts
Broomfield Combined Court Divorce Cases
Broomfield has a combined court system that handles both district and county court matters. The district court side deals with divorce and family cases. This includes dissolution of marriage filings, parenting plans, and child support orders. If you live in Broomfield, you file at the Broomfield County Combined Court no matter where else you might have lived in Colorado before.
The court is at 17 DesCombes Drive in Broomfield. This is the only courthouse in Broomfield County. Staff at the clerk's office can help you file new cases or get copies of old divorce decrees. They handle walk-in traffic during business hours.
| Court | Broomfield County Combined Court (17th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 17 DesCombes Dr Broomfield, CO 80020 |
| Phone | (303) 464-5880 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/broomfield-county |
Broomfield County became its own county in 2001. Before that, parts of the city were in Boulder, Adams, Jefferson, and Weld counties. If you need divorce records from before 2001, you may need to check with one of those counties depending on where the person lived at the time of filing. The Broomfield clerk can help you figure out where to look.
How to Get Copies of Divorce Decrees
To get a copy of a divorce decree in Broomfield, you start by finding the case. If you know the case number, that makes it easy. If not, you need the full names of both spouses and the year the divorce was filed. The clerk can search by name but it helps to narrow it down with a date range.
You can submit a records request online through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The form is at coloradojudicial.gov and you pick Broomfield County from the list. Once you submit the form, the clerk will respond within three business days. They will tell you what records are available and how much it costs to get copies.
Another way to search is through CoCourts.com. This third-party site has access to Colorado court records including Broomfield. You pay $10 or less per search and you get a Register of Action for the case. This shows all the filings and court dates but it does not include the actual documents. To get the decree itself, you still need to contact the clerk in Broomfield after you find the case on CoCourts.
Walk-in service is available at the courthouse. You can go to the clerk's office and ask for a case by name or number. The staff can pull the file and make copies while you wait. This is the fastest way if you need the decree right away. Certified copies take a bit longer but you can still get them the same day in most cases.
When you request a divorce decree in Broomfield, be ready to provide:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate date the divorce was finalized
- Case number if available
- Photo ID if you are requesting your own records
Filing for Divorce in Broomfield
Broomfield residents must meet Colorado's residency requirement to file for divorce. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, one spouse must have lived in the state for at least 91 days before filing the petition. You file the petition at the Broomfield County Combined Court since Broomfield is its own county.
Colorado uses a no-fault divorce system. The only legal ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove fault or wrongdoing by your spouse. Both parties simply need to agree that the marriage cannot be saved. This approach keeps the process simpler and less contentious than in fault-based states.
The filing fee for a divorce petition is $230. This includes the displaced homemaker fee required under state law. If your spouse files a response, that costs $116. Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford to pay. You file a motion and affidavit showing your income and assets. The judge decides if you qualify for a waiver.
After you file, Colorado law requires a 91-day waiting period before the judge can sign the final decree. This is set in statute and applies to all divorces statewide. Even if you and your spouse agree on every issue, 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 the papers.
Under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.3, you may be able to get a decree without a court appearance if certain conditions are met. Both spouses must agree on all terms and there must be no minor children, or both parties must be represented by attorneys with a signed separation agreement. This process uses an affidavit instead of a hearing. The clerk in Broomfield can give you form JDF 1018 for this purpose.
Copy Fees for Divorce Decrees
The cost to get copies of divorce decree records in Broomfield is set by Chief Justice Directive 06-01. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. If you need a certified copy, the fee is $20 per document regardless of how many pages it has. Certification adds an official seal and signature from the clerk.
If you are a party to the case, the maximum fee for copies is $15 no matter how many pages you need. This cap does not apply to non-parties. A name search costs $5 if you need the clerk to look up a case for you. A transcript of judgment costs $25.
Research and redaction fees apply if the clerk needs to spend more than one hour on your request. The rate is $30 per hour and it is billed in 15-minute increments. If the file is stored off-site, you pay the actual cost of retrieval. Call the Broomfield clerk at (303) 464-5880 to confirm current fees before you submit a request for divorce records.
Legal Resources in Broomfield
Several organizations provide legal help to Broomfield residents who are going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services offers free legal aid to low-income people. They have offices around the state and serve Broomfield County. You can call (303) 837-1313 or visit coloradolegalservices.org to see if you qualify for assistance.
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 Broomfield. The first consultation is typically offered at a reduced rate. You can also use the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help website at coloradojudicial.gov to find forms and instructions for people filing without a lawyer.
All Colorado court forms are available for free download at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms. This includes the petition for dissolution, response, parenting plan, child support worksheets, and final decree. The clerk's office in Broomfield can tell you which forms you need but they cannot give legal advice about how to fill them out.
Note: If you need an interpreter for court hearings in Broomfield, call the court at least two weeks in advance to request language services.
Online Access to Divorce Records
Broomfield County participates in the statewide online records request system. You can submit your request through the Colorado Judicial Branch website without visiting the courthouse. The online form asks for case details and what documents you need. The clerk reviews your request and emails you back with instructions on how to pay and receive the records.
CoCourts.com is a third-party database that has records from Broomfield County and most other Colorado counties. Searches cost $10 or less. You can look up cases by party name or case number. The site shows the Register of Action, which lists all filings and court events. You cannot download the actual divorce decree from CoCourts. You still need to get that from the clerk.
The Colorado State Archives holds some historical divorce records but most Broomfield cases are still with the district court. To find out if an old case has been transferred to the archives, visit archives.colorado.gov or contact the clerk in Broomfield.
Broomfield County Divorce Records
Broomfield is a consolidated city-county. All divorce cases for the city and county are handled by the Broomfield County Combined Court. For more information on filing procedures, fees, and related services, visit the Broomfield County divorce records page.