Fountain Divorce Decrees
Fountain divorce decree records are maintained by El Paso County Combined Court in the 4th Judicial District. Residents of Fountain who need to file for divorce or get copies of existing decrees handle that through the El Paso County clerk's office in Colorado Springs. All divorce cases from Fountain go through the county court system and the records are public under Colorado law.
Fountain Quick Facts
El Paso County Court Serves Fountain
Fountain is in El Paso County. All divorce filings for Fountain residents go to El Paso County Combined Court in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is the county seat and about 10 miles north of Fountain. The courthouse is at 270 S. Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs. This is the only place to file divorce cases for Fountain residents.
The court is part of the 4th Judicial District. This district includes El Paso and Teller counties. Each county has its own courthouse. El Paso County handles all domestic relations cases including divorce for Fountain and other parts of the county. The clerk's office handles new filings and records requests.
| Court | El Paso County Combined Court (4th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 270 S Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
| Phone | (719) 452-5000 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Records Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/el-paso-county |
Staff at the clerk's office can help with 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 plan extra time when you visit. Metered parking and paid lots are available downtown near the courthouse.
How to Get Divorce Decree Records
You have several ways to get a copy of a divorce decree for Fountain cases. The fastest is to visit the clerk's office in Colorado Springs. 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 El Paso 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. You can also email a records request to 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us.
CoCourts.com is another option. This third-party database run by LexisNexis has records from El Paso 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 El Paso County clerk after you find the case.
When you request divorce decree records for Fountain, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
Note: The records department at El Paso County is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., which is an hour later than the general clerk's office.
Filing for Divorce in Fountain
To file for divorce in Fountain, 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 Fountain specifically. As long as you are an El Paso County resident when you file, you use the courthouse in Colorado Springs.
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 El Paso County clerk.
Fees for Divorce Records
Fees for copies of divorce decree records in Fountain follow the state schedule with some local variations. Plain copies cost $0.75 per page in El Paso County, which is higher than the standard $0.25 per page in most counties. 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.
Call the El Paso County clerk at (719) 452-5000 to confirm current fees before you request divorce records for Fountain.
Legal Help for Fountain Residents
Several organizations provide legal help to Fountain residents going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income individuals. They have an office in Colorado Springs that serves El Paso County. Call (719) 475-1183 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 Fountain and El Paso 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. El Paso County offers e-filing for non-attorneys in divorce, legal separation, and custody cases. The self-help center is in Room S116 at the courthouse. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice but can tell you which forms you need.
Note: El Paso County offers free Court Care childcare for parents who need to do court business and have young children with them.
El Paso County Divorce Records
Fountain is in El Paso County. All divorce cases for Fountain and other parts of the county are handled by El Paso County Combined Court in Colorado Springs. For more information on filing, fees, and related services, visit the El Paso County divorce records page.