Centennial Divorce Decree Records

Centennial divorce decree records are filed at the Arapahoe County Combined Court since Centennial sits entirely in Arapahoe County. The 18th Judicial District Court handles all dissolution of marriage cases for Centennial and the rest of the county. Centennial residents file at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in the city itself at 7325 S. Potomac St. This is the main courthouse for the county and the easiest place for most Centennial residents to reach. All family law matters, including contested and uncontested divorces, go through this court. You can search Centennial divorce decree records online or visit the Justice Center to get copies in person during regular business hours.

Arapahoe County Court Serves Centennial

Centennial residents file for divorce at the Arapahoe County Justice Center. This building sits in Centennial at 7325 S. Potomac St. It is the newer of the two county courthouses. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The court is closed on all state holidays. Call (303) 649-6355 to reach the clerk with questions about Centennial divorce cases.

The Justice Center has free parking for visitors. Enter from Potomac Street. Security checks all visitors at the entrance, so bring a valid photo ID. Do not carry large bags, weapons, or prohibited items. The clerk office is on the first floor once you clear security. Signs inside the building guide you. Centennial residents find this courthouse easier to reach than the older one in Littleton.

Arapahoe County also runs a courthouse in Littleton at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd. You can file or get records at either location. Both serve the same 18th Judicial District. Most Centennial residents use the Justice Center because it is in the city, but the Littleton courthouse has the same clerk staff and records access. Choose the one that is closest or most convenient for you when dealing with Centennial divorce decree records.

Search Centennial Divorce Decrees

CoCourts.com provides online access to Centennial divorce decree records. This database covers all Colorado District Courts, including Arapahoe County. You search by name or case number. Results show the register of action, which lists every filing, motion, hearing, and order in the case. You do not get the full text of documents from CoCourts. For that, you ask the clerk for copies.

Visit www.cocourts.com/cocourts/ and select Arapahoe County from the menu. Enter the name of one or both spouses. If you know the case number, use that for a faster search. A name search costs $10 or less. LexisNexis runs the site for Colorado, and data updates in real time from the court system. New Centennial filings appear soon after the clerk enters them.

For full copies of Centennial divorce decree records, use the official records request form at www.coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form. Fill in the case details and choose Arapahoe 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. If you are a party to the case, your max fee is $15 for your own records in Centennial.

Walk-in searches are also an option at the Justice Center in Centennial. Go to the clerk counter and ask to search by name or case number. Clerks 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 archived, you may need to return later or have copies mailed after the clerk retrieves the file from storage. For Centennial divorces filed between 1992 and 2008, some records sit at the Colorado State Archives. Call (303) 645-6814 for help with those older cases before you visit the courthouse.

File for Divorce in Centennial

Centennial residents follow Colorado dissolution law when filing for divorce. One spouse must live in Colorado for 90 days before filing under C.R.S. § 14-10-106. The court also requires a 91-day wait after it gets control over the other spouse before it can sign the final decree. Even uncontested Centennial divorces take at least three months from filing to finalization.

File your petition at the Arapahoe County Justice Center clerk office in Centennial. The filing fee is $230. This covers the petition and the displaced homemaker fund fee required by Colorado under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.5. Pay when you file, or request a fee waiver if you have low income. The clerk gives you a case number and stamped copies of your petition for service on the other spouse in Centennial.

Serve the other spouse after filing. You may use the sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail in some cases. Proof of service goes to the court. The case cannot move forward without it. Arapahoe County Sheriff charges about $75 for service in Centennial. Private servers vary. Once served, the other spouse has time to file a response. If they do not, you can ask the court for a default judgment in your Centennial divorce case.

Colorado uses no-fault divorce rules under C.R.S. § 14-10-110. This means Centennial residents only need to state that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." No proof of wrongdoing is required. You do not have to show adultery, abuse, or other fault. The court grants the divorce if you meet the residency and waiting period requirements. This keeps Centennial divorces simpler and less confrontational than in fault-based states.

If both sides agree on all terms, you submit a separation agreement to the court. This covers property division, debt allocation, child custody if applicable, and support. The judge reviews the agreement and signs the final decree if the terms are fair and follow Colorado law. Most Centennial divorces with full agreements finish within 90 to 120 days. Contested cases take longer and may go to trial if settlement talks fail.

File Without a Lawyer in Centennial

Some Centennial residents file for divorce without a lawyer. This works best when both spouses agree on all terms and there are no complex issues with property, businesses, or children. The court does not give legal advice, but several resources can help you handle your own dissolution case in Centennial.

All divorce forms are at www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms. Look for the JDF 1000 series for family law. Download and print what you need. There is no charge. The main forms for Centennial include JDF 1011 for the petition, JDF 1015 for a response, JDF 1018 for a decree without court appearance, and JDF 1019 for the final decree. Each form has instructions.

If you have children, add child support forms. Colorado uses worksheets based on income and parenting time to calculate support. You need these filled out before the judge signs your decree in Centennial. Get them from the same court website under the family law section. Missing forms delay the case and may require extra trips to the courthouse.

Arapahoe County offers self-represented e-filing. This lets you submit forms online instead of mailing or bringing them to the courthouse. Not all forms qualify for e-filing. Check the court page for the current 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 waiting for mail in Centennial.

The Self-Help Center at the Justice Center in Centennial can assist with paperwork. Staff answer basic questions, provide forms, and show you how to fill them out. They do not give legal advice or represent you in court. Walk in during court hours for help with your Centennial divorce case if you are filing without a lawyer.

Legal Help for Centennial Residents

Centennial residents who need legal help with divorce can find free or low-cost services through several groups. Colorado Legal Services is the main group for people with low income. 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 Arapahoe County, including Centennial.

The Colorado Bar Association runs a referral service at 1-800-392-5660. They match you with a family law attorney near Centennial. The first meeting is often free or at a reduced rate. This helps you decide if you want to hire that lawyer for your case. Most attorneys who take referrals know the 18th Judicial District procedures used in Centennial.

For online guidance, visit www.courts.state.co.us/Self_Help/divorce/ where you find step-by-step instructions for filing without a lawyer. The site explains each phase of a Centennial divorce case and helps you fill out forms correctly. It is free and covers the procedures used in Arapahoe County.

Divorce Costs in Centennial

The filing fee for a divorce in Centennial is $230. This is the same across Colorado and covers the petition and displaced homemaker fund. If the other spouse files a response, that costs $116. Motions and other filings during the case may have additional fees. Call the clerk at (303) 649-6355 to get the current fee schedule before you file in Centennial.

Service costs are separate from court fees. The Arapahoe County Sheriff charges about $75 to serve the other spouse in Centennial. Private process 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 for a second attempt. Budget for service on top of the $230 filing fee.

Copies of divorce decree records in Centennial cost $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $20 per document regardless of length. Name searches by the clerk cost $5. Research or redaction fees run $30 per hour after the first hour, billed in 15-minute increments. Most people spend less than $50 to get a certified copy of their final Centennial divorce decree.

If you cannot afford the fees, file form JDF 205 to request a fee waiver. The court reviews your income and assets. Many low-income Centennial 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 Centennial divorce cases.

Divorce Verification in Centennial

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment keeps a statewide record of all divorces. This is separate from the court file. It is a vital record that shows the divorce occurred. You order it from the state health office, not the court. Some people use this for proof when they remarry or need to show their divorce in Centennial is final.

Order a divorce verification at cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords. You need names, date, and county where the divorce was filed. Centennial cases show under Arapahoe 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 the details, get that from the Arapahoe County Combined Court instead.

You can also use VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com to order online. This adds a service fee but delivers faster. Call VitalChek at 866-632-2604 or 866-300-8540 to order by phone. Centennial residents who need quick proof of divorce for a new marriage or similar purpose often use this service when the basic certificate is all they need.

Arapahoe County Divorce Resources

Centennial is in Arapahoe County, and all divorce filings for the city go through the Arapahoe County Combined Court. For more on filing fees, local rules, clerk contact, and other resources for the 18th Judicial District, visit the Arapahoe County divorce decree records page.

View Arapahoe County Divorce Decree Records