Eagle County Divorce Decree

Divorce decree records in Eagle County are managed through the 5th Judicial District Court. This court serves Eagle County along with Clear Creek, Lake, and Summit counties. The District Court Clerk maintains all dissolution of marriage files and provides access to divorce decrees for Eagle County residents. People who need copies of their decree or want to search for case records contact the court in Eagle. The clerk's staff can search files, provide certified copies, and help locate cases from past years.

5th Judicial District Court

The Eagle County courthouse is in the town of Eagle. All divorce filings for Eagle County go through this location. The clerk's office keeps original decrees and case files. You can visit in person to request copies or search for case info.

Staff at the Eagle County courthouse handle requests for dissolution records during regular business hours. They provide both regular and certified copies of divorce decrees. If you know your case number, the search goes faster. Without a case number, staff can do a name search for a small fee. Most people need the case number or at least the names of both parties and the year the case was filed.

Eagle County has some older divorce cases stored at the Colorado State Archives. Records from 1883 to 1952 are at the Archives in Denver. For cases from 1979, there's also a collection available. If your divorce is from those years, you may need to contact the State Archives instead of the court. All other Eagle County divorce decrees remain at the district court clerk's office in Eagle.

Visit the 5th Judicial District Court page for current contact info. The court's site lists phone numbers, office hours, and directions to the courthouse. You can also find local forms and fee schedules specific to Eagle County on their website.

Getting Your Divorce Decree

There are a few ways to get an Eagle County divorce decree. Walk in to the courthouse in Eagle during business hours. Bring ID and the case number if you have it. The clerk can pull the file and make copies while you wait in many cases. This works best for recent divorces where the file is easy to access.

Colorado courts now accept online records requests through the state records request form. Fill out the form with your case info and what documents you need. Select Eagle County from the list. The court will contact you about fees and how long it will take. Most requests get answered within three business days unless the file is archived or complex.

You can also mail a written request to the Eagle County courthouse. Include both parties' names, the year of the divorce if you know it, and your contact info. Send a check for copy fees if you want. Otherwise the court will bill you. For a certified copy of the decree, expect to pay $20.00 per document. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page. If you're a party to the case, there's a $15.00 maximum no matter how many pages.

Phone requests work for simple questions. Call the clerk's office to check if a file exists or get basic case info. They can't read the whole decree over the phone, but they can confirm dates and tell you how to order copies. Some people call first to make sure they have the right case before requesting copies.

Search Eagle County Records

CoCourts is the main online database for Eagle County divorce cases. This service covers all Colorado district courts including the 5th Judicial District. You can search by name or case number. Results show a Register of Action with case dates and events. Each search costs up to $10.00.

The Register of Action lists when the petition was filed, court dates, and when the decree was entered. It doesn't include the actual decree document. You see the case history but not the text of orders or decrees. To get the full decree, use the case number from CoCourts and contact Eagle County District Court directly.

Visit cocourts.com to search now. The site works for any Eagle County dissolution case. Other services like Background Information Services also provide Colorado court searches. These databases pull from the same court records but may charge different fees.

Filing for Dissolution in Eagle County

Colorado law requires one spouse to live in the state for 91 days before filing. This is set out in C.R.S. § 14-10-106. You file the petition at the Eagle County courthouse. The petition starts the case and tells the court what you want.

After filing, there's a 91-day wait before the court can enter a final decree. This gives both parties time to work out terms or prepare for trial. Most Eagle County dissolution cases settle without trial. When both people agree, they can submit a stipulated decree for the judge to sign.

Form JDF 1018 lets parties get a decree without a court appearance in some cases. Both sides sign an affidavit saying they agree on everything. The judge reviews the paperwork and signs the decree if it meets legal requirements. This saves a trip to court and speeds up the process. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.3, uncontested cases can be finalized this way if there are no minor children or both parties have lawyers.

The filing fee for a divorce petition in Eagle County is $230.00. This includes the displaced homemaker fee required by state law. The respondent pays $116.00 to file an answer. Fee waivers are available for people who can't afford court costs. Ask the clerk for a fee waiver application if you qualify based on income.

Once the judge signs the decree, it becomes final immediately. The decree can be appealed, but it's effective right away. The clerk sends notice to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This creates a verification record that the divorce happened. Years later, you can get this verification from CDPHE, though the full decree only comes from the court.

Nearby Counties

Eagle County shares the 5th Judicial District with three other counties. Clear Creek, Lake, and Summit counties all use the same district but maintain separate clerk offices. For divorces filed in those counties, contact the courthouse in that county directly.