Colorado Springs Divorce Decree Records
Colorado Springs residents file for divorce at the El Paso County Combined Courts in the 4th Judicial District. The county court handles all dissolutions of marriage for Colorado Springs and other El Paso County cities. The main courthouse is at 270 South Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs. This is where divorce decrees are filed and stored. The clerk office in Room S101 processes all requests for divorce decree copies and other case documents. Colorado Springs is the county seat of El Paso County, which means the main courthouse is located right in the city. Anyone seeking a divorce decree from a Colorado Springs case must contact the El Paso County clerk office to get copies.
Colorado Springs Quick Facts
El Paso County Court in Colorado Springs
All divorce cases for Colorado Springs are filed at the El Paso County Judicial Building downtown. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District and serves all of El Paso County. Colorado Springs residents file their divorce petitions at this courthouse. The clerk staff maintains all divorce decrees and case files.
The courthouse is at 270 South Tejon Street. This is in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs near city offices and other county buildings. The clerk office for records is in Room S101. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The records department stays open until 5 p.m. for people picking up or requesting copies. On the third Wednesday of each month, the clerk office and self-help center close early at 3:30 p.m.
| Court | El Paso County Combined Courts (4th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 270 S. Tejon Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
| Phone | (719) 452-5000 |
| Fax | (719) 452-5006 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Records Department: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us | |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/el-paso-county |
The El Paso County clerk is Sheri King. Records requests can be emailed to 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us or faxed to the number above. You can also mail written requests to 270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. In-person visits to the records department let you request and receive copies the same day in most cases.
Search for Colorado Springs Divorce Decrees
CoCourts.com offers the easiest way to search for divorce records in Colorado Springs. This online database covers El Paso County and all other Colorado counties. You can search by name or case number. Searches cost $10 or less and return the Register of Action for a case. This shows the case history but not actual documents.
To get a copy of the divorce decree itself, you must request it from the El Paso County clerk office. Use the online records request form at coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form or email your request to 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us. Most requests are processed within three business days unless special circumstances apply.
The Colorado State Archives holds El Paso County divorce records from 1903 to 1941. These older cases can be searched at archives.colorado.gov/archives-search. For cases filed after 1941, contact the El Paso County clerk in Colorado Springs. Archived divorce records are restricted for 100 years, so you may need to show proof of direct interest to access them.
Visit cocourts.com to start searching. Select El Paso County and enter a name or case number. The database pulls real-time data from the court system and includes Colorado Springs cases going back many years. This helps you find the case number and confirm details before you request a copy of the divorce decree from the clerk in Colorado Springs.
Filing for Divorce in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs residents must meet the residency requirement under C.R.S. § 14-10-106 before filing for divorce. Either spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days before filing the petition. You do not have to live in Colorado Springs the whole time. Any Colorado residence for 91 days is enough. If one spouse lives in El Paso County, you can file in Colorado Springs.
The filing fee is $230 for a divorce petition. This includes the displaced homemaker fee required by state law. If you are responding to a petition, the fee is $116. These fees are set statewide, not by El Paso County. You pay when you file the papers at the clerk office in Room S101 in Colorado Springs.
Colorado is a no-fault divorce state. The court only needs to find that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not have to prove fault or wrongdoing. After filing, there is a mandatory 91-day waiting period before the court can enter a final decree. This waiting period is required by C.R.S. § 14-10-106 and applies to all Colorado divorces, including those in Colorado Springs.
El Paso County offers e-filing for non-attorneys in divorce, legal separation, and custody cases. You can file your papers online instead of going to the courthouse. Visit the El Paso County court page for more information on e-filing in Colorado Springs. Paper filing is still available at the clerk office for those who prefer it.
Divorce Forms and Self-Help Resources
All Colorado divorce forms are available at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms at no cost. These are the same forms used statewide, including in Colorado Springs. El Paso County also has some local forms at this page for specific county procedures.
The main forms needed to file for divorce in Colorado Springs are:
- JDF 1010: How to File for Divorce
- JDF 1011: Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
- JDF 1102: Summons for Dissolution of Marriage
- JDF 1015: Response to Petition
- JDF 1019: Final Decree
If both spouses agree on all terms, you can file for a decree without appearing in court by using JDF 1018 (Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance). This is common in uncontested cases in Colorado Springs where there are no minor children or where both parties have lawyers and a written agreement.
The Self-Help Center at the El Paso County courthouse is in Room S116. Staff can help you locate the right forms and explain filing procedures. They do not provide legal advice, but they can answer questions about court rules and what documents you need. Call (719) 452-5000 and ask for the self-help center in Colorado Springs.
Note: The Self-Help Center closes early at 3:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
Court Care and Other Services
El Paso County offers Court Care, a free childcare service for parents who need to attend court hearings or do business at the courthouse in Colorado Springs. This service helps families who do not have someone to watch their kids while they handle divorce matters. Court Care is available during courthouse hours and is free to use. Ask at the information desk in the courthouse for more details.
Copy fees for divorce decrees in Colorado Springs follow the state fee schedule. Regular copies cost $0.75 per page. Certified copies cost $20 per document. This is higher than the state minimum of $0.25 per page but is set by El Paso County. Call the records department at (719) 452-5000 to confirm current fees before you order copies in Colorado Springs.
Legal Help in Colorado Springs
Colorado Legal Services has an office in Colorado Springs and provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income. They assist with divorce, custody, and support cases for low-income residents. Call (719) 471-0380 to see if you qualify or visit coloradolegalservices.org for more information about services in Colorado Springs.
The Pikes Peak Region Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney in Colorado Springs. The referral service helps you find a lawyer who handles divorce cases. Call (719) 632-8135 for the referral line. You can also call the statewide Colorado Bar Association referral service at 1-800-392-5660.
Pro bono legal services are available through volunteer lawyer programs in El Paso County. These programs offer free help to people who cannot afford an attorney. Contact the Pikes Peak Bar Association or visit the self-help center at the courthouse to ask about free legal clinics in Colorado Springs.
Divorce Verification vs Decree Copies
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment can verify that a divorce occurred but does not provide copies of divorce decrees. A verification is not the same as a decree. Verification shows basic facts like names, date, and county. The decree shows all terms including custody, property division, and support.
If you need the full divorce decree from a Colorado Springs case, contact the El Paso County clerk at the address above. If you only need verification, you can order it from CDPHE at cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords or through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Most legal matters require the actual decree, not just verification.
Nearby Cities in Colorado
Other El Paso County cities file their divorce cases at the same courthouse in Colorado Springs. Fountain is the second largest city in El Paso County and uses the same court. Outside El Paso County, Denver is to the north in Denver County. Pueblo is to the south in Pueblo County. Each county has its own District Court for divorce cases.
Related city pages:
- Denver (Denver County)
- Aurora (Arapahoe and Adams counties)
- Fort Collins (Larimer County)
- Pueblo (Pueblo County)
El Paso County Divorce Records
Colorado Springs is in El Paso County and all divorce cases are filed with the El Paso County Combined Courts. The county court serves Colorado Springs and several other cities in the area. For more on El Paso County court procedures, historical records held by the Colorado State Archives, and additional resources, visit the El Paso County divorce records page.