Colorado divorce at a glance
Official source: Colorado court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Colorado: step by step
Colorado is pure no-fault with a mandatory 91-day waiting period and uniform statewide forms. Here is the path to a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.
- Confirm you can file in Colorado
One spouse must have been a Colorado resident for 91 days. Colorado is pure no-fault (irretrievable breakdown), with a mandatory 91-day waiting period.Source: C.R.S. § 14-10-106 - Generate your forms
Use the statewide JDF forms: the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Case Information Sheet, and Summons (or file jointly as co-petitioners).Source: Colorado JDF forms - File with the District Court
File with the District Court and pay about $230, or file a fee-waiver motion (JDF 205).Source: JDF 205 (fee waiver) - Serve your spouse (or co-petition)
Serve your spouse, or file jointly as co-petitioners so no service is needed.Source: C.R.C.P. 4 - Complete disclosures and support (if children)
Both spouses file a Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111); if you have children, complete the child-support worksheet (JDF 1820M/1821M).Source: C.R.S. § 14-10-115 - Finalize after the 91-day wait
After the 91-day waiting period, submit your decree; the court enters the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.Source: Decree of Dissolution of Marriage
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Colorado?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Colorado you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Colorado pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Colorado
Income-shares model. (C.R.S. § 14-10-115)
Because Colorado uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Colorado divorce take?
A mandatory 91-day waiting period from filing (or from service) before the decree can enter — it cannot be waived. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Colorado divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Low. The statewide JDF forms are uniform; some districts add case-management orders but not substitute forms.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Colorado document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Colorado. In the meantime, the official Colorado court forms are linked below.
Official Colorado forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Colorado divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Colorado?
No. Colorado allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Colorado divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Colorado to file for divorce?
Check Colorado’s residency requirement with the official court source before filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Colorado?
$230 petitioner + $116 co-petitioner/respondent. Fee waiver: JDF 205 motion + JDF 206 finding/order. With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.