Littleton Divorce Decree Access
Littleton divorce decree records are filed at Arapahoe County District Court in the 18th Judicial District. Residents of Littleton who need to file for divorce or get copies of existing decrees handle that through the Arapahoe County clerk's office. Littleton actually has an Arapahoe County courthouse right in town at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd. All divorce cases from Littleton go through this court and the records are public.
Littleton Quick Facts
Arapahoe County Court in Littleton
Littleton is in Arapahoe County and has one of the two Arapahoe County courthouses. The Littleton courthouse is at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd. This location handles district court matters including divorce cases for Littleton and surrounding areas. The other Arapahoe County courthouse is in Centennial at the Justice Center.
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 in Littleton 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. Parking is available in the lot next to the courthouse.
How to Search Divorce Decree Records
You can search for divorce decree records from Littleton online or in person. The online method uses the Colorado Judicial Branch records request system. Go to coloradojudicial.gov and fill out the form. You pick Arapahoe County from the list and provide case details. The clerk responds within three business days with info on what records are available and how to pay.
Another online option is CoCourts.com. This third-party site 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 gives you the Register of Action, which lists all the filings and court dates. It does not include the actual documents. To get the divorce decree itself, you still need to contact the Arapahoe County clerk after you find the case.
Walk-in service is available at the Littleton courthouse. You can go to the clerk's office and request records in person. Staff can pull the file and make copies while you wait. This is the fastest way if you need a copy right away. Certified copies take a bit longer but you can usually get them the same day.
When you request divorce decree records for Littleton, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Year the divorce was filed
- Case number if available
Note: Arapahoe County has some divorce records from 1992-2008 stored at the Colorado State Archives.
Filing for Divorce in Littleton
Littleton residents must meet Colorado's residency requirement to file for divorce. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, one spouse must have lived in the state for at least 91 days before filing the petition. You file at the Littleton courthouse since that serves Arapahoe County residents on the west side of the county.
Colorado law uses a no-fault divorce system. The only ground for divorce is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove fault by your spouse. This approach keeps the process simpler. Both spouses just need to agree the marriage cannot be saved.
The filing fee for a divorce petition is $230. This includes the displaced homemaker fee required under state law. If your spouse files a response, that costs $116. Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford the fees. 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 statewide. Even if both spouses agree on all terms, 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.
Under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.3, you may be able to get a decree without a court appearance if certain conditions are met. Both spouses must agree on all terms and there must be no minor children, or both parties must have lawyers with a signed separation agreement. This process uses form JDF 1018.
Copy Fees and Court Costs
Fees for copies of divorce decree records in Littleton 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 increments. 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. The archives charge different fees than the court.
Legal Help for Littleton Residents
Several organizations provide legal help to Littleton 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 Littleton 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
Littleton is in Arapahoe County. All divorce cases for Littleton 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.