Englewood Divorce Decree Records
Englewood divorce decree records are maintained by Arapahoe County District Court in the 18th Judicial District. Residents of Englewood who need to file for divorce or get copies of existing decrees handle that through the Arapahoe County clerk's office. There are two Arapahoe County courthouses and Englewood residents can use either one. All divorce cases from Englewood go through Arapahoe County courts and the records are public.
Englewood Quick Facts
Arapahoe County Court for Englewood
Englewood is in Arapahoe County. All divorce filings for Englewood residents go to Arapahoe County District Court. The county has two courthouses. One is in Littleton at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd. The other is in Centennial at the Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac St. Both handle district court matters including divorce.
Arapahoe County is part of the 18th Judicial District. The district also includes Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. Each county has its own courthouse but they all follow the same district court rules. The clerk's office at either Arapahoe courthouse can help with filing and records requests for divorce decrees.
| Court | Arapahoe County District Court (18th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Littleton Address | 1790 W Littleton Blvd Littleton, CO 80120 |
| Centennial Address | 7325 S Potomac St Centennial, CO 80112 |
| Phone | (303) 649-6355 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/arapahoe-county |
Staff at the clerk's office can answer 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. Both courthouses have parking available.
How to Get Divorce Decree Copies
You have several ways to get a copy of a divorce decree for Englewood cases. The fastest is to visit one of the clerk's offices 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 Arapahoe 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 are not near either courthouse.
CoCourts.com is another option. This third-party database run by LexisNexis has records from Arapahoe 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 Arapahoe County clerk after you find the case.
When you request divorce decree records for Englewood, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
Note: Arapahoe County has some divorce records from 1992-2008 stored at the Colorado State Archives.
Filing for Divorce in Englewood
To file for divorce in Englewood, 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 Englewood specifically. As long as you are an Arapahoe County resident when you file, you can use either courthouse.
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 Arapahoe County clerk.
Fees for Divorce Records
Fees for copies of divorce decree records in Englewood 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.
For records from 1992-2008, contact the Colorado State Archives. Visit archives.colorado.gov for more info on how to request Arapahoe County divorce records from that period.
Legal Help for Englewood Residents
Several organizations provide legal help to Englewood residents going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income individuals. They serve Arapahoe 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 Englewood and Arapahoe 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. Arapahoe 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.
Arapahoe County Divorce Records
Englewood is in Arapahoe County. All divorce cases for Englewood and other parts of the county are handled by Arapahoe County District Court. For more information on filing, fees, and related services, visit the Arapahoe County divorce records page.