Custer County Divorce Records Search

Custer County divorce decree records are maintained by the Custer County Combined Court in Westcliffe, part of Colorado's 11th Judicial District. All dissolution of marriage cases for Custer County residents are filed and processed through this court. The 11th District also includes Chaffee, Fremont, and Park counties, with district judges traveling between courthouses to hear cases. If you need to obtain a divorce decree or search for case information, the Clerk's office in Westcliffe provides record retrieval services and can help locate divorce files from past and current cases.

Custer County Combined Court

The Custer County Combined Court in Westcliffe serves as the official repository for all divorce decree records filed in the county. This court operates within the 11th Judicial District, which covers four counties in central Colorado. Each county maintains its own case files and clerk's office, though district judges rotate between locations.

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

Custer County is a small mountain county with stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Range. 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 throughout Colorado.

Getting Your Divorce Decree

Custer County provides several methods to obtain divorce decree records. In-person visits to the courthouse in Westcliffe 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 Custer 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 Westcliffe or need records sent to another location.

Mail requests are accepted at the Custer 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 Custer 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 Custer Divorce Cases Online

CoCourts.com provides online access to Custer County divorce decree case information. The database covers all 11th Judicial District cases, including those filed in Custer 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 Custer 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 Custer 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.

Custer County Dissolution Process

Filing for dissolution in Custer 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 Westcliffe. The filing fee is $230.00, which includes the displaced homemaker fee.

A mandatory 91-day waiting period applies to all Custer 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.

Custer 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. Custer 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 Custer County divorce records dating from 1879 to 1977. Both District Court and County Court records are available at the Archives for this time period. Custer County records date back to the early days of settlement in the Wet Mountain Valley.

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 Custer 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 Custer County divorce cases from 1977 to present, contact the Combined Court in Westcliffe 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 1977.

Note: Historical records may show information about early Colorado settlers and ranching families. The Archives staff can assist with genealogical research requests that include divorce records as part of family history projects.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Custer County in central Colorado. Each maintains its own divorce records through the local District Court.