Douglas County Divorce Decree Lookup

Douglas County divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Douglas County Combined Court in Castle Rock. As part of Colorado's 18th Judicial District, this court handles all dissolution of marriage cases for Douglas County residents. The 18th District serves a large area south of Denver, including Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. If you need to obtain a divorce decree or search for case information, the Combined Court Clerk's office in Castle Rock provides record retrieval and copy services for both recent and historical divorce cases.

Douglas County Combined Court

The Douglas County Combined Court in Castle Rock serves as the official custodian for all divorce decree records filed in the county. This court operates within the 18th Judicial District, which covers four counties in the southern Denver metro area and eastern plains. Douglas County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Colorado, with a substantial caseload of dissolution matters.

The Clerk's office maintains divorce files and can search by party names or case numbers. Staff handle a high volume of record requests each day. Most files are available on-site, though older cases may require retrieval from storage. When requesting records in person, bring valid photo identification and be prepared for possible wait times during peak hours.

Contact the Douglas County Combined Court for information about obtaining divorce decrees. The courthouse is located in Castle Rock, 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. The courthouse serves residents from throughout Douglas County, including Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and other communities.

Douglas County has grown substantially over the past few decades. The court handles a large number of divorce cases each year compared to rural counties. Despite the high volume, all cases must meet the same Colorado state requirements and follow identical procedures.

Requesting Divorce Decree Records

Douglas County offers several ways to request divorce decree records. In-person visits to the courthouse in Castle Rock 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 based on the number of pages and whether you need certification. Parking is available at the courthouse, though it can fill up during busy times.

The online records request system through the Colorado Judicial Branch allows remote requests. Fill out the form and select Douglas 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. This method is popular with Douglas County residents who work during courthouse hours.

Mail requests are accepted at the Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County divorce decree case information. The database covers all 18th Judicial District cases, including those filed in Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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. These third-party databases are helpful for initial case searches but do not replace official court records.

Douglas County Dissolution Process

Filing for dissolution in Douglas 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 Castle Rock. The filing fee is $230.00, which includes the displaced homemaker fee.

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

Douglas 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. Douglas 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. The 18th Judicial District also offers self-represented litigant resources.

Historical Divorce Records Access

The Colorado State Archives holds historical Douglas County divorce records dating from 1867 to 1961 for District Court and 1871 to 1962 for County Court. These historical records cover nearly a century of Douglas County divorce cases from the territorial period through the mid-20th century.

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 Douglas 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. Processing can take up to 10 business days.

For Douglas County divorce cases from 1962 to present, contact the Combined Court in Castle Rock 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 1962.

Note: Historical Douglas County records include cases from when the county was primarily rural. The Archives staff can assist with genealogical research requests that include divorce records as part of family history projects.

Douglas County Cities

Douglas County includes several major cities. All divorce cases for county residents are handled by the Douglas County Combined Court in Castle Rock, regardless of which city the parties live in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Douglas County in the Denver metro area. Each maintains its own divorce records through the local District Court.