Find Divorce Decrees in Cheyenne County

Cheyenne County divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Cheyenne County Combined Court, which operates as part of the 15th Judicial District in southeastern Colorado. The court in Cheyenne Wells handles all dissolution of marriage cases for county residents. If you need to access a divorce decree or search for case information, the Combined Court Clerk's office provides record retrieval services and can help locate divorce files from past and current cases.

Cheyenne County District Court

The Cheyenne County Combined Court in Cheyenne Wells serves as the custodian for all divorce decree records filed in the county. As part of Colorado's 15th Judicial District, this court shares jurisdiction with Baca, Kiowa, and Prowers counties. District judges handle dissolution cases for the entire district, with hearings held at each county courthouse as needed.

The Clerk's office maintains divorce files and provides copies to authorized requesters. Staff can search by party names or case numbers. Most searches can be completed on the same day if the file is readily available. Older cases may require additional time if files are in storage.

Contact the Cheyenne County Combined Court for information about obtaining divorce decrees. The courthouse is located in Cheyenne Wells, the county seat. You can also submit records requests through the Colorado Judicial Branch online form, which routes to the appropriate county clerk.

Cheyenne County is one of the least populated counties in Colorado. The small size means the court handles fewer divorce cases than urban counties, but the process follows the same state laws. All dissolution petitions must meet Colorado requirements regardless of where they are filed.

Requesting Divorce Decree Records

Cheyenne County accepts divorce decree requests in person, by mail, and through the online system. In-person visits to the courthouse work best when you need records immediately. Bring photo ID and be prepared to pay copy fees. The clerk can pull most files and make copies during your visit.

The online records request form from the Colorado Judicial Branch allows remote requests. Select Cheyenne County and indicate you need divorce records. Provide the names of both parties and an approximate date for the divorce. The court will contact you about fees and processing time. Most requests are handled within three business days under normal circumstances.

Mail requests should include as much information as possible about the case. Send your request to the Cheyenne County Combined Court in Cheyenne Wells with your contact information and return address. The court will notify you of fees before making copies. Allow extra time for mail requests compared to in-person visits.

Fees for Cheyenne County divorce decree copies follow the standard Colorado court fee schedule. Regular copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20.00 per document. Parties to their own divorce pay no more than $15.00 for copies regardless of the number of pages. Non-parties pay the full per-page rate. If you need a name search because you lack the case number, the fee is $5.00.

Research fees may apply for complex requests that require extensive staff time. The rate is $30.00 per hour assessed in 15-minute increments after the first hour. Off-site file retrieval fees may apply if the case file is stored at a remote location.

Online Divorce Case Search

CoCourts.com provides online access to Cheyenne County divorce decree case information. The database covers all 15th Judicial District cases, including those from Cheyenne County. You can search by party name or case number. Searches cost $10.00 or less and return the Register of Action for each case found.

The Register of Action shows case activity like filing dates, hearings, and when the decree was entered. It does not provide copies of the actual decree document. After finding a case on CoCourts, contact the Cheyenne County Combined Court to request the decree. The database helps you confirm case numbers and basic information before making a formal records request.

Visit cocourts.com to search Cheyenne County divorce records. The site provides real-time data from the Colorado court database. Other services like Background Information Services also offer Colorado court record searches.

Cheyenne County Dissolution Process

Filing for dissolution in Cheyenne County requires meeting Colorado's residency requirement. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, at least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing the petition. File the petition at the Clerk's office in Cheyenne Wells. The filing fee is $230.00, which includes the displaced homemaker fee.

A mandatory 91-day waiting period applies to all Cheyenne County dissolution cases. The court cannot enter a final decree until 91 days after obtaining jurisdiction over both parties. This wait gives couples time to work out agreements on property, debts, and children. Temporary orders can be requested during the waiting period if needed.

Cheyenne County allows uncontested divorce procedures when both parties agree on all terms. Form JDF 1018 permits the court to enter a decree without a hearing. The decree must address all required elements under C.R.S. § 14-10-120. The clerk notifies the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment when a decree is entered, creating a verification record.

Colorado provides self-help resources for people filing without an attorney. The Judicial Branch website offers JDF forms for dissolution petitions, responses, and final decrees. Cheyenne County residents can download these forms and bring them to the courthouse for filing. The clerk can answer procedural questions but cannot provide legal advice.

Historical Records Access

The Colorado State Archives does not currently list Cheyenne County divorce records in its holdings. For historical Cheyenne County divorce cases, contact the Combined Court in Cheyenne Wells directly. The court maintains older case files and can search for records from past decades.

Some older Cheyenne County records may eventually be transferred to the State Archives. Check the Archives website at archives.colorado.gov for updates on county holdings. The Archives adds new collections periodically as counties transfer historical records.

For now, all Cheyenne County divorce decree requests go through the Combined Court. The clerk's office can search files going back many years. Allow extra time for requests involving very old cases, as these files may be in off-site storage.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cheyenne County. Each has its own District Court that maintains divorce records for county residents.