Search Parker Divorce Decrees
Parker divorce decree records are maintained by Douglas County District Court in the 18th Judicial District. Residents of Parker who need to file for divorce or get copies of existing decrees handle that through the Douglas County clerk's office in Castle Rock. All divorce cases from Parker go to the county courthouse and the records are accessible to the public under Colorado law.
Parker Quick Facts
Douglas County Court Serves Parker
Parker is in Douglas County. All divorce filings for Parker residents go to Douglas County District Court in Castle Rock. Castle Rock is the county seat and about 10 miles south of Parker. The courthouse is at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock. This is the only place to file divorce cases for Parker residents.
The court is part of the 18th Judicial District. This district also includes Arapahoe, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. Each county has its own courthouse. Douglas County handles all domestic relations cases including divorce for Parker and other parts of the county. The clerk's office is on the second floor of the Justice Center.
| Court | Douglas County District Court (18th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 4000 Justice Way, Suite 2010 Castle Rock, CO 80109 |
| Phone | (303) 663-7200 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/douglas-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 when you enter the building so plan extra time for that.
How to Get Divorce Decree Copies
You have several ways to get a copy of a divorce decree for Parker cases. The fastest is to visit the clerk's office in Castle Rock. 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 Douglas 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 Castle Rock.
CoCourts.com is another option. This third-party database run by LexisNexis has records from Douglas 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 Douglas County clerk after you find the case.
When you request divorce decree records for Parker, have this info ready:
- Full names of both spouses
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
Note: Some records may be sealed by court order and not available to the public.
Filing for Divorce in Parker
To file for divorce in Parker, 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 Parker specifically. As long as you are a Douglas County resident when you file, you use the courthouse in Castle Rock.
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 Douglas County clerk.
Fees for Divorce Records
Fees for copies of divorce decree records in Parker 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.
Call the Douglas County clerk at (303) 663-7200 to confirm current fees before you request divorce records for Parker.
Legal Help for Parker Residents
Several organizations provide legal help to Parker residents going through a divorce. Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income individuals. They serve Douglas 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 practices in Douglas 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. The clerk's office can tell you which forms you need but cannot give legal advice.
Douglas County Divorce Records
Parker is in Douglas County. All divorce cases for Parker and other parts of the county are handled by Douglas County District Court in Castle Rock. For more details on filing, fees, and related resources, visit the Douglas County divorce records page.