Castle Rock Divorce Decree Records
Castle Rock divorce decree records are maintained by Douglas County District Court in the 18th Judicial District. If you live in Castle Rock and need to file for divorce or get a copy of an old decree, you handle that through the Douglas County clerk's office. Castle Rock is the county seat so the main courthouse is right in town. All divorce cases for Castle Rock residents go through this court and the records are accessible to the public.
Castle Rock Quick Facts
Douglas County District Court
Castle Rock residents file divorce cases at the Douglas County Justice Center. The court is part of the 18th Judicial District, which also includes Arapahoe, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. Douglas County has its own courthouse in Castle Rock where all local divorce filings go. The clerk's office on the second floor handles new cases and records requests.
The courthouse is easy to find in downtown Castle Rock. It sits at the corner of Third Street and Wilcox Street. Public parking is available in the lot behind the building. Staff at the clerk's office can help with general questions about filing and how to get copies of old divorce decrees.
| Court | Douglas County District Court (18th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 4000 Justice Way, Suite 2010 Castle Rock, CO 80109 |
| Phone | (303) 663-7200 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/douglas-county |
Security screening is required at the entrance. Leave large bags and prohibited items at home. Arrive early if you need to file papers or request records in person. The clerk's office gets busy during midday so mornings are usually better for walk-in visits.
Getting Divorce Decree Copies
You have several options for getting a copy of a divorce decree in Castle Rock. The fastest way is to visit the clerk's office in person. Staff can look up the case by name or 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 the clerk's signature.
You can also request records online through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The form is at coloradojudicial.gov. You select Douglas County and fill in the case details. The clerk will respond within three business days with information on what records are available and how to pay for them. This is a good option if you are not near Castle Rock or prefer to handle it remotely.
Another way to search is through CoCourts.com, a third-party database run by LexisNexis. It has records from Douglas County and most other Colorado counties. You pay $10 or less per search and you can look up cases by name or case number. CoCourts shows the Register of Action, which lists all filings and court dates. It does not give you the actual documents. You still need to get the divorce decree itself from the Douglas County clerk after you find the case.
When you request divorce decree records in Castle Rock, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
Note: Some divorce cases may be sealed by court order and not available to the public.
Filing for Divorce in Castle Rock
To file for divorce in Castle Rock, 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 Castle Rock specifically. As long as you are a Douglas County resident when you file, you can use the courthouse in Castle Rock.
Colorado uses no-fault divorce. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove fault or misconduct by your spouse. This makes the process simpler and less confrontational. Both spouses just need to agree the marriage cannot continue.
The filing fee for a divorce petition in Castle Rock 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 the petition, 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 the petition and summons.
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 of the decree with all the terms, you need to get it from the Douglas County clerk in Castle Rock.
Divorce Fees and Copy Costs
Fees for divorce in Castle Rock are set by the state and the 18th Judicial District. The basic filing fee is $230 as noted above. Other fees apply for additional services.
Record copy fees follow Chief Justice Directive 06-01. 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 no matter how many pages you request. 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 Douglas County clerk at (303) 663-7200 to confirm current fees before you submit a request for divorce decree records in Castle Rock.
Legal Help in Castle Rock
Several organizations provide legal help to Castle Rock residents going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income people. They serve Douglas County from their offices around the state. 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 practices in Castle Rock. The first consultation is usually 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 free to 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 Castle Rock can tell you which forms you need but they cannot give legal advice.
Related Divorce Records in Castle Rock
In addition to the divorce decree, other documents may be part of a divorce case in Castle Rock. Parenting plans are required if the couple has kids. Child support orders are calculated using state worksheets and filed with the court. Separation agreements may be attached to the decree if both spouses sign one.
Property division records, spousal support orders, and temporary orders during the case are also part of the file. All of these documents are public unless the judge seals them. You can request any part of the case file when you search for divorce decree records in Castle Rock. The clerk's office can tell you what documents are in a specific case.
Douglas County Divorce Records
Castle Rock is the county seat of Douglas County. All divorce cases for Castle Rock and other parts of the county are handled by the Douglas County District Court. For more details on filing, fees, and related resources, visit the Douglas County divorce records page.