Park County Divorce Decree Search

Park County divorce decree records are kept at the Combined Court in Fairplay, which serves as the county seat. This mountain county is part of the 11th Judicial District along with Chaffee, Custer, and Fremont counties. The clerk's office at the Park County courthouse maintains all original divorce decrees and related documents for dissolution of marriage cases filed in the county. Anyone seeking a divorce decree from Park County can submit a records request through the online form, visit the courthouse in person, or send a mail request with case details. Park County follows Colorado state procedures for all domestic relations matters, which means the same filing requirements and waiting periods apply here as in every other Colorado county.

Park County Combined Court

The 11th Judicial District includes four counties in central Colorado. Park County is the smallest by population. The courthouse in Fairplay handles all civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases for Park County residents. Fairplay sits at high elevation in South Park, one of Colorado's four major mountain valleys.

Divorce decrees filed in Park County remain with the clerk at the courthouse. Staff can search for cases by party name or case number. Bring both spouse names when you request records. The filing year helps narrow the search. Park County has fewer cases than urban counties, so files are usually easy to locate.

The Park County Combined Court website provides contact information and hours. You can use the statewide online records request form to submit requests from anywhere. The court also accepts phone calls and email inquiries about case information and copy fees.

Requesting Divorce Decree Copies

Park County accepts records requests through several methods. Online requests work well for people outside the area. In-person visits allow same-day service if the file is available. Mail requests take longer but let you send payment with your request.

Use the Colorado Judicial Branch records request form for online submissions. Select Park County and choose divorce as the case type. Enter both party names and any dates you know. The court will contact you about fees and when copies will be ready. Most requests are completed within three business days.

For in-person requests, visit the courthouse in Fairplay during business hours. Bring photo ID and case information. If the file is on-site, you can get copies the same day. Pay at the counter with cash, check, or card. Staff will tell you if the file is stored off-site and how long retrieval will take.

Mail requests should include party names, approximate divorce date, and your contact information. Send to the clerk's office at the Park County courthouse in Fairplay. If you know the page count, include payment. Otherwise, the court will bill you after locating the file.

• Online: Best for remote requests
• In person: Get copies same day in Fairplay
• Mail: Include payment if page count is known
• Phone: Call for fee and processing questions

Fees follow Colorado court standards. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $20.00 per document. Parties to their own divorce pay a maximum of $15.00 regardless of page count. Non-parties pay full fees. Name searches cost $5.00 when you lack a case number.

Note: Park County processes requests quickly due to lower case volume than urban counties.

Online Divorce Case Search

CoCourts.com provides online searches for Park County divorce cases. This database covers the 11th Judicial District and costs $10.00 or less per search. You get a Register of Action showing case activity but not the decree document itself.

The Register of Action helps you find case numbers and filing dates. This information speeds up your records request at the clerk's office. The database shows when the petition was filed, hearing dates, and when the final decree was entered. It does not include the decree text or attachments.

Visit cocourts.com to search Park County records now. Background Information Services also offers Colorado court searches. Both services pull real-time data from the state court system.

Filing for Dissolution in Park County

To file for divorce in Park County, one spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days. The petition is filed at the clerk's office in Fairplay. The filing fee is $230.00, which includes the displaced homemaker fee required by state law.

Colorado is a no-fault divorce state. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, the court only needs to find the marriage is irretrievably broken. A 91-day waiting period begins when the respondent is served. The court cannot enter a final decree until this period ends. No exceptions exist.

Park County allows uncontested dissolutions. When both parties agree on all terms, you can file a separation agreement and request a decree without a hearing. Use form JDF 1018 for this procedure. The judge reviews the agreement and signs the decree if it meets legal requirements. This process saves time and court costs for couples who agree.

When the decree is signed, the clerk sends notice to the state vital records office as required by C.R.S. § 14-10-120. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment keeps a verification record but not copies of decrees. Only the court maintains the full decree document.

Divorce Forms and Help

Park County uses Colorado statewide divorce forms. Get forms from the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help forms page. The main forms are JDF 1011 for the petition and JDF 1019 for the final decree. Additional forms depend on your case details.

Self-represented parties can ask court staff procedural questions. Staff cannot give legal advice but can explain how to file forms and what fees apply. For legal advice about your situation, consult an attorney or legal aid organization.

Simple uncontested cases may not need an attorney if both parties agree and complete forms correctly. Complex cases with property disputes or child custody issues often benefit from legal representation. The decision depends on your comfort with court procedures and case complexity.

Historical Park County Decrees

The Colorado State Archives holds some Park County divorce records from 1957 to 1974. Cases from these years are available at the Archives in Denver. For cases outside this date range, contact the Park County clerk at the courthouse in Fairplay.

To access historical records at the Archives, search the Archives Search database. You need the case number and year. Submit a request through the Archives online portal at archives.colorado.gov/request. Processing takes up to 10 business days. The Archives is at 1313 Sherman St., Room 1B-20, Denver, CO 80203.

For Park County cases from 1975 to present, contact the courthouse directly. These cases remain with the clerk and have not been transferred to the Archives. Even older cases from the 1980s through 2000s are still available from the clerk's office in Fairplay.

Who Can Access Decrees

Park County divorce decrees are public records unless sealed by court order. Anyone can request copies if they provide case information and pay fees. Sealed cases require permission from the judge to access.

Parties to the case always get access to their own decree. They pay reduced fees under Colorado court rules. Third parties can also request copies but pay full per-page rates. Common third-party requesters include background check services, government agencies, and employers.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Park County. Each maintains its own divorce decree records at the local district court. File in the county where you or your spouse resides.