Crowley County Divorce Decree Access

Crowley County divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Crowley County Combined Court in Ordway. As part of Colorado's 16th Judicial District, this court handles all dissolution of marriage cases for Crowley County residents. The 16th District serves southeastern Colorado, including Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, and Otero counties. If you need to obtain a divorce decree or search for case information, the Combined Court Clerk's office in Ordway provides record retrieval and copy services for both recent and historical cases.

Crowley County District Court

The Crowley County Combined Court in Ordway serves as the custodian for all divorce decree records filed in the county. This court operates within the 16th Judicial District, which covers four counties in southeastern Colorado. District judges rotate between counties to hear cases, but each county maintains its own case files and clerk's office.

The Clerk's office maintains divorce files and can search by party names or case numbers. Staff can assist with locating cases and providing copies. Most files are available on-site, though older cases may require retrieval from storage. Bring valid photo ID when requesting records in person.

Contact the Crowley County Combined Court for information about obtaining divorce decrees. The courthouse is located in Ordway, the county seat. You can visit in person during business hours, call for information, or submit a records request through the Colorado Judicial Branch online portal.

Crowley County is a small rural county in eastern Colorado. The court handles fewer divorce cases than urban counties, but the process follows the same state laws and procedures. All dissolution petitions must meet Colorado requirements regardless of county size.

Requesting Divorce Decree Records

Crowley County offers several ways to request divorce decree records. In-person visits to the courthouse in Ordway work best when you need certified copies quickly. The clerk's staff can search for cases and make copies while you wait if the file is readily available. Standard copy fees apply.

The online records request system through the Colorado Judicial Branch allows remote requests. Fill out the form and select Crowley County. Include both parties' names and an approximate date range for the divorce. The court will contact you about fees and processing time. Most requests are fulfilled within three business days under standard procedures.

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

Fees for Crowley 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 you need the court to locate a case without a case number. Research fees of $30.00 per hour apply for complex requests requiring extensive staff time.

Online Divorce Case Search

CoCourts.com provides online access to Crowley County divorce decree case information. The database covers all 16th Judicial District cases, including those filed in Crowley 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 for each case.

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

Visit cocourts.com to search Crowley 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.

Filing for Divorce in Crowley County

Colorado law requires at least one spouse to live in the state for 91 days before filing a divorce petition. This residency requirement applies to all Crowley County dissolution cases under C.R.S. § 14-10-106. You file the petition at the Combined Court Clerk's office in Ordway. The filing fee is $230.00, which includes the displaced homemaker fee required by Colorado law.

After filing, a mandatory 91-day waiting period begins. The court cannot finalize a divorce until 91 days after obtaining jurisdiction over both parties. This wait applies to all cases, even when both spouses agree on all terms. During the waiting period, temporary orders for child support, parenting time, or spousal maintenance can be requested if needed.

Crowley County allows uncontested divorce procedures for couples who agree on property division, debt allocation, and parenting matters. Form JDF 1018 permits the court to enter a decree without a hearing when all requirements are met. The final decree must address all issues required by C.R.S. § 14-10-120, including property division and parental responsibilities if children are involved. The clerk notifies the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment when a decree is entered, creating a verification record.

Colorado provides self-help forms through the Judicial Branch website. The JDF form series covers dissolution petitions, responses, and final decrees. Crowley 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

The Colorado State Archives holds historical Crowley County divorce records from 1979 to 1990. This limited collection covers a specific time period when records were transferred to the Archives. Cases over 100 years old are fully public, while newer records remain restricted until reaching the 100-year mark.

To access these historical Crowley County divorce decrees, search the Archives database at archives.colorado.gov. You need the case number and year. Submit a formal request through the Archives portal at archives.colorado.gov/request. Processing can take up to 10 business days depending on storage location.

For Crowley County divorce cases from other time periods, contact the Combined Court in Ordway directly. The court maintains older case files from before 1979 and all cases from 1990 to present. These records remain at the courthouse and can be requested through the normal court records process.

Note: The Archives requires government-issued photo ID for access to restricted divorce records. If requesting by mail, include a copy of your ID with the request form.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Crowley County in southeastern Colorado. Each maintains its own divorce records through the local District Court.