Costilla County Divorce Decree Records

Costilla County divorce decree records are maintained by the Costilla County Combined Court in San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado. As part of the 12th Judicial District, this court handles all dissolution of marriage cases for Costilla County residents. San Luis serves as the county seat, and the courthouse there maintains divorce files dating back to the 1800s. If you need to obtain a divorce decree or search for case information, the Clerk's office provides record retrieval services for both recent and historical cases.

Costilla County Combined Court

The Costilla County Combined Court in San Luis serves as the official repository for all divorce decree records filed in the county. This court operates within the 12th Judicial District, which covers six counties in the San Luis Valley region of southern Colorado. District judges travel between counties to hear cases, but each county maintains its own case files and clerk's office.

The Clerk's office can search for divorce cases using party names or case numbers. Staff can access files from both recent years and historical periods. Most files are stored on-site, though very old cases may require retrieval from off-site storage. When visiting in person, bring valid photo identification.

Contact the Costilla County Combined Court for information about obtaining divorce decrees. The courthouse is located in San Luis, Colorado's oldest town. You can visit during business hours, call for information, or submit a records request through the Colorado Judicial Branch online portal.

Costilla County has one of the smallest populations in Colorado. Despite the low population, the court follows all state procedures for divorce cases. The same forms, fees, and waiting periods apply as in larger counties.

Obtaining Divorce Decree Copies

Costilla County provides several methods to obtain divorce decree records. In-person requests at the San Luis courthouse work best when you need certified copies quickly. The clerk's staff can search for cases and make copies while you wait for most files. Standard copy fees apply based on the number of pages and whether you need certification.

The online records request system through the Colorado Judicial Branch is convenient for remote requests. Fill out the form and select Costilla County. Include both parties' names and an approximate date range for the divorce. The court will contact you about fees and processing time. This method works for people who cannot travel to San Luis or need records sent to another location.

Mail requests are accepted at the Costilla County Combined Court. Send your request with as much case information as possible. Include names, dates, case numbers if known, and your contact information. The court will notify you of copy fees before processing. Allow extra time for mail requests compared to in-person visits.

Fees for Costilla County divorce decree copies follow the standard Colorado court fee schedule. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $20.00 per document regardless of length. If you are a party to your own divorce case, the maximum fee is $15.00 for copies no matter how many pages. Non-parties pay the full per-page rate. A name search fee of $5.00 applies if the court must locate a case without a case number. Research fees of $30.00 per hour apply for complex requests requiring extensive staff time.

Search Costilla Divorce Cases

CoCourts.com provides online access to Costilla County divorce decree case information. The database covers all 12th Judicial District cases, including those filed in Costilla County. You can search by party name or case number to find dissolution of marriage cases. Searches cost $10.00 or less and return the Register of Action.

The Register of Action displays case activity such as filing dates, hearing schedules, and decree entry dates. It does not include copies of the actual divorce decree document. After locating a case on CoCourts, contact the Costilla County Combined Court to request the decree itself. The database helps confirm case numbers and filing dates before making a formal records request.

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

Costilla County Dissolution Process

Filing for dissolution in Costilla 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 San Luis. The filing fee is $230.00, which includes the displaced homemaker fee.

A mandatory 91-day waiting period applies to all Costilla 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 parenting matters. Temporary orders can be requested during the waiting period if needed.

Costilla 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. Costilla 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 Divorce Records Access

The Colorado State Archives holds historical Costilla County divorce records dating from 1877 to 1970. Both District Court and County Court records are available at the Archives for this time period. Costilla County records date back to the earliest days of Colorado statehood, with some cases from the late 1800s.

Cases over 100 years old are fully public at the Archives. Newer records remain restricted until reaching the 100-year mark from the filing date. To access historical Costilla County divorce decrees, search the Archives database at archives.colorado.gov. You need the case number and approximate year. Submit a formal request through the Archives portal at archives.colorado.gov/request.

For Costilla County divorce cases from 1970 to present, contact the Combined Court in San Luis directly. These records remain at the courthouse and have not been transferred to the State Archives. The court maintains all modern case files and can provide copies of decrees from any year after 1970.

Note: Historical records may be in Spanish or contain Spanish-language documents. San Luis and the surrounding area have deep Hispanic heritage, and many court records from the 1800s and early 1900s reflect this history. The Archives staff can assist with translation questions.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Costilla County in the San Luis Valley region. Each maintains its own divorce records through the local District Court.