Mesa County Divorce Decree Records

Mesa County maintains divorce decree records through the 21st Judicial District Court, which handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed in the county. The court is located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and serves the largest population in western Colorado. If you need a divorce decree from Mesa County, you should contact the District Court clerk's office directly. The 21st Judicial District covers only Mesa County, making it one of the single-county districts in the state. You can search for case information through online databases like CoCourts or submit a formal request through the Colorado Judicial Branch records request system. The clerk's office can help you locate files, whether they are recent or from years past. Fees apply for all copies under state fee schedules established by the Chief Justice. Parties to a divorce case pay less than non-parties, with a $15 cap on total fees for people requesting their own records.

Mesa County Court Location

The 21st Judicial District Court serves Mesa County from its courthouse in Grand Junction. This court handles all family law matters including divorce decrees, legal separations, and related domestic relations cases. Mesa County is one of the most populous counties in western Colorado. The court sits in downtown Grand Junction and serves residents throughout the county. Court staff can help you find case files or request certified copies. Hours run Monday through Friday during standard business hours. You may need to show ID if the case involves sealed or confidential information.

If you need help with your search, the clerk's office staff can guide you through the process. Call ahead to confirm what documents you need to bring. In-person visits often work best for complex requests. The courthouse also offers self-help resources for people handling their own cases. Parking is available near the courthouse for visitors.

Visit the Mesa County Court website for current contact information and office hours. The court's main page provides links to forms, FAQs, and instructions for requesting divorce decrees and other court records.

Getting Your Mesa County Divorce Decree

Request a divorce decree from Mesa County by filling out the online records request form through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. You will need the names of both parties and the case number if you have it. The court searches by name but this takes more time. Fees apply for copies. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $20 per document under state fee schedules established by Chief Justice Directive 06-01. Regular photocopies cost $0.25 per page. If you were a party to the divorce, your maximum fee is $15 no matter how many pages you request.

The fastest way to locate your case is through CoCourts.com, a database maintained by LexisNexis. Searches cost $10 or less and provide the register of actions. This shows the case timeline but not the actual documents. Once you have the case number from CoCourts, submit your formal request to the Mesa County clerk.

Mail requests to the courthouse in Grand Junction. Include your contact information, the case details, and payment. You can also email your request to the records department. Check the court's website for the current email address.

Two other vendors also provide court record searches. Background Information Services and Tessera Data both pull data from Colorado court systems. Tessera only works with businesses, not individuals. BISI serves both.

Mesa County Divorce Process

Colorado requires one party to live in the state for 91 days before filing for divorce. This is set out in C.R.S. § 14-10-106. The case gets filed in the county where either spouse lives. Many Mesa County residents file in Grand Junction, which is the largest city in western Colorado. The petition starts the case and triggers automatic temporary orders that prevent both parties from hiding assets or removing children from the state.

These rules come from C.R.S. § 14-10-107. After filing, the court waits 91 days before entering a final decree. No divorce in Colorado can be finalized faster than this. The mandatory waiting period gives both parties time to work out issues like property division and parenting plans. Some couples resolve everything through mediation. Others go to trial if they can't agree.

When both parties reach an agreement and there are no minor children, Colorado law allows the divorce to be granted without a court appearance. You file an affidavit under C.R.S. § 14-10-120.3 instead of attending a hearing. The judge reviews the paperwork and signs the decree if everything is in order. This saves time for straightforward cases.

Note: Filing a divorce case in Mesa County costs $230, which includes the displaced homemaker fee required under state law.

What's in a Mesa County Divorce Decree

A divorce decree lists the basic facts of the case. It shows the names of both parties, the date of marriage, and the date the marriage was dissolved. The decree states whether there are minor children. If so, it includes parenting time schedules and child support orders. The document also divides property and debts. Real estate, bank accounts, retirement funds, and other assets get allocated between the spouses. Each party's share is spelled out clearly.

Spousal maintenance may be awarded in some cases. The decree will state the amount and how long it lasts. Tax issues and insurance coverage often appear as well. Both parties receive a certified copy when the judge signs the final order. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-120, the decree is final when entered, though either party can appeal within the allowed time.

The clerk of court notifies the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment about every divorce. This helps the state keep vital statistics records current. However, CDPHE only provides verification that a divorce occurred. They do not have copies of actual decrees.

Online Access for Mesa County Cases

Most Mesa County divorce cases appear in online databases within a few days of filing. CoCourts.com shows the register of actions for both past and current cases. The register lists each filing, hearing date, and order entered by the court. You can see when motions were filed and when the final decree was signed. But you cannot view the actual documents through CoCourts.

For the documents themselves, you must contact the court. The state's online records request form lets you submit a request that gets routed to the right courthouse. Mesa County staff will then respond with instructions on how to get copies and pay fees.

Fees for Mesa County Divorce Records

Copying fees in Colorado courts are set by the Chief Justice. Regular paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20 per document. A transcript of judgment costs $25. Name searches cost $5. If you need the court to pull files from off-site storage, you pay the actual cost of retrieval. Research and redaction fees may apply for complex requests at a rate of $30 per hour after the first hour.

If you were a party to the case, state rules cap your total fees at $15 regardless of how many pages you request. This does not apply to non-parties. If you are requesting your own divorce decree from a case where you were the petitioner or respondent, you should not pay more than $15 total.

Historical Records and Archives

Mesa County divorce cases from many past decades may be held at the Colorado State Archives rather than the courthouse. The Archives does not have most recent divorce records. If the person divorced in the last 30 or 40 years, the record is still at the District Court. Archives holdings vary by county and time period. You should check with the court first before contacting the Archives.

When records are old enough to be archived, you may need to submit a formal request to the Archives. Cases over 100 years old are fully open to the public. More recent cases have restricted access. You will need to provide proof of identity and relationship to the parties in some cases. The Archives staff can explain what they have and how to request copies.

Self-Help Resources in Mesa County

The Colorado Judicial Branch offers self-help forms and instructions for people handling their own divorces. Form JDF 1011 is the petition for dissolution of marriage. Form JDF 1015 is the response. Form JDF 1019 is the final decree. These forms are available for free download. The court website also provides step-by-step guides.

Mesa County residents can access the court's self-help center at the Grand Junction courthouse. Staff cannot give legal advice but can explain court procedures and point you to the right forms. If you need legal representation and cannot afford an attorney, contact Colorado Legal Services or a local pro bono program. Several organizations serve Mesa County residents.

Privacy and Access Restrictions

Most divorce decrees are public records in Colorado. Anyone can request a copy by following the court's procedures and paying the required fees. However, some information may be sealed or redacted. Cases involving domestic violence or child abuse often have protective orders that limit public access. Financial records with account numbers may be redacted before release to non-parties.

Under C.R.S. § 25-2-117, vital statistics records including divorce verifications are confidential. Only people with a direct and tangible interest can get certified copies. This means the parties themselves, their attorneys, or people with a court order. The law tries to balance public access with personal privacy.

If you think your case should be sealed or information should be protected, you must file a motion with the court. The judge will decide based on the specific facts. Most routine divorce cases remain fully public unless there is a compelling reason to restrict access.

Cities in Mesa County

Mesa County includes Grand Junction, which is the largest city in western Colorado. Residents of Grand Junction file their divorce cases in the Mesa County District Court. The courthouse in downtown Grand Junction serves the entire county.

All divorce matters are handled at the county level in Colorado. Cities do not maintain family court records. If you lived in Grand Junction when you filed for divorce, your case is filed and stored at the District Court in Mesa County.

Nearby Counties

Mesa County borders several other counties. Delta County is to the southeast. Montrose County sits to the south. Garfield County lies to the east. Moffat County is to the north. If your divorce was filed in one of these counties instead of Mesa, you need to contact that county's District Court for records.

The 21st Judicial District covers only Mesa County. Other counties have their own districts and clerks. Make sure you know which county handled your case before requesting records.