Find Grand Junction Divorce Decrees
Grand Junction divorce decree records are filed and kept at Mesa County District Court in the 21st Judicial District. Residents who need to search for a divorce decree or get a copy of one file their request through the court clerk's office. All divorce cases in Grand Junction go through Mesa County courts no matter which part of the city you live in. The records are public and you can access them online or in person at the courthouse.
Grand Junction Quick Facts
Mesa County District Court
Grand Junction residents file for divorce at Mesa County District Court. The court is part of the 21st Judicial District and sits in the Mesa County Justice Center downtown. This is the only place to file a divorce case if you live in Grand Junction. The clerk's office handles all new filings and records requests for divorce decrees.
You can reach the court at the address below. The clerk staff can help with general questions about the filing process and how to get copies of old divorce decrees. They cannot give you legal advice but they can point you to the right forms and tell you what fees apply.
| Court | Mesa County District Court (21st Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 125 N Spruce St Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Phone | (970) 257-3640 |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/mesa-county |
The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Plan to arrive early if you need help from staff. Security screening happens at the entrance so leave extra time. Street parking is available downtown but it fills up fast. There are paid lots nearby if you need to park for a few hours while you search for divorce records or file papers.
How to Search for Divorce Decrees
You have three ways to search for divorce decree records in Grand Junction. The first is to use the Colorado Judicial Branch online records request form. This works well if you know some basic info like the names of the people involved and the year of the divorce. The form is at coloradojudicial.gov and you can submit it online. The clerk's office will respond within three business days with details on how to get the records you need.
Another option is to search through CoCourts.com, which is run by LexisNexis. This database has Colorado court records including domestic cases from Mesa County. Searches cost $10.00 or less and you can look up cases by name or case number. The site gives you the Register of Action, which is a list of all the filings and events in a case. It does not include the actual documents. To get a copy of the divorce decree itself, you still need to contact the clerk in Grand Junction after you find the case.
You can also visit the courthouse in person to search divorce records. The clerk's office has public terminals where you can look up cases by party name or case number. Staff can help you find what you need and make copies on the spot. This is the best way if you want to see the full file and get certified copies the same day.
When you search for a divorce decree in Grand Junction, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
Note: Some divorce records may be sealed by court order and not available to the public.
Filing for Divorce in Grand Junction
To file for divorce in Grand Junction, one spouse must meet the Colorado residency requirement. Under Colorado law found at C.R.S. § 14-10-106, at least one party must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing. You do not need to live in Grand Junction specifically. As long as you are a Colorado resident, you can file in Mesa County if that is where you live now.
The filing fee for a divorce petition in Grand Junction is $230. This fee includes the displaced homemaker fee under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.5. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a waiver by filing a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. The judge reviews your income and assets to decide if you qualify. Response filings from the other spouse cost $116.
Colorado is a no-fault divorce state. You do not need to prove wrongdoing by your spouse. The only ground for divorce is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This makes the process simpler than in states where you must show cause. Both parties can agree the marriage is over and move forward without placing blame.
After you file, there is a 91-day waiting period before the court can issue a final decree. This is set by statute and applies to all divorces in Colorado, including those filed in Grand Junction. The waiting period starts when the court gets jurisdiction over the other spouse, which usually means after they are served with the papers. Even if you and your spouse agree on everything, the judge cannot sign the final decree until 91 days pass.
Under C.R.S. § 14-10-120, the divorce decree is final when entered by the court. The clerk then notifies the state registrar of vital statistics, who keeps a record of the divorce. 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 request it from the Mesa County clerk in Grand Junction.
Fees and Costs
Mesa County sets fees for court services in Grand Junction. The basic divorce filing fee is $230 as noted above. Other fees apply if you need extra services from the court.
Record copy fees are set by Chief Justice Directive 06-01. A plain copy costs $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 need. Non-parties pay the full cost.
A name search costs $5.00 if you need the clerk to look up a case for you. Transcript of judgment costs $25. If the clerk needs to retrieve a file from off-site storage, you pay the actual cost of retrieval. Research and redaction fees apply after the first hour of clerk time. The rate is $30 per hour, billed in 15-minute blocks.
Call the Mesa County clerk at (970) 257-3640 to confirm current fees before you visit or mail a request for divorce records in Grand Junction.
Legal Help in Grand Junction
Several organizations offer legal help to Grand Junction residents going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income individuals. They have an office in Grand Junction that serves Mesa County. You can reach them at (970) 241-6173 or visit coloradolegalservices.org to see if you qualify for help.
The Colorado Bar Association runs a statewide lawyer referral service. Call 303-860-1115 to get connected with a family law attorney in Grand Junction. The first consultation is usually low-cost. You can also check the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help center online at coloradojudicial.gov. The site has forms, instructions, and FAQs about divorce in Colorado.
For people who want to file without a lawyer, Colorado E-Forms at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms has all the divorce forms you need. This includes the petition, response, and final decree forms. All forms are free to download. The clerk's office in Grand Junction cannot give legal advice but they can tell you what forms to use and where to file them.
Related Divorce Records
In addition to the divorce decree, other records may be part of a divorce case in Grand Junction. Parenting plans and custody orders are filed with the court if the couple has kids. Child support orders are also part of the file and you can get copies from the clerk. Separation agreements that the spouses sign may be attached to the decree or filed as a separate document.
Property division records and asset lists are sometimes filed with the court, especially in complex cases. If one spouse seeks spousal support, the motion and any related orders become part of the record. All of these documents are public unless sealed by the judge. You can request any part of the file when you search for divorce decree records in Grand Junction.
The Colorado State Archives holds some historical divorce records from Mesa County, but most current and recent cases are still kept by the district court. To find out if older records have been transferred to the archives, visit archives.colorado.gov or call the clerk in Grand Junction.
Mesa County Divorce Records
Grand Junction is the largest city in Mesa County and the county seat. All divorce cases for Grand Junction and the rest of the county are handled by the Mesa County District Court. For more details on the court system, fees, and other resources, visit the Mesa County divorce records page.