How to Get a No-Fault Divorce in Colorado – State Requirements and Documents

Seeking professional counsel on how to apply for divorce in Colorado?

What you will discover

Requirements for Residency
Complete your Forms
Couples with Children Forms:
Additional Forms (If Required):
Make duplicates of your forms.
Bring your completed forms to your local court clerk’s office and pay the filing fee.

The state of Colorado refers to divorce as a “dissolution of marriage,” and it is a completely no-fault divorce state, which means that the judge will not attribute blame for the divorce to either side. Colorado only cares about whether the union is “irreparably broken.” (the two parties no longer get along). In this instance, problems like infidelity or abuse are irrelevant for the goals of the divorce, but they may be taken into account when determining child possession.

Requirements for Residency

You or your partner must have resided in Colorado for a minimum of 90 days before applying for divorce. You must also apply for divorce in the municipality where you live.

Complete your Forms

Please keep in mind that papers for no-fault divorce must be written on bound, acid-free paper. All individuals applying for no fault divorce in Colorado must fill out the following forms:

Case Specifics (JDF 1000)
Petition for Marriage Dissolution or Legal Separation (JDF 1101)
Summons for Marriage Dissolution or Legal Separation (JDF 1102): If you are not seeking a mutual divorce, only submit this document.)

Couples with Children Forms:

Parenting Plan (1113): This document must be signed in front of a registrar by both parties.

Additional Forms (If Required):

Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111): Both participants must fill and execute this document in front of a registrar.
Certificate of Compliance (JDF 1104): This document must be completed independently by both participants.
Divorce Settlement understanding: If the parties have achieved an understanding and do not wish to continue with a long lawsuit, they can finish a Marital Settlement Agreement
Affidavit for Decree without Appearance (1201): This document must be signed in front of a registrar by both parties.
Decree (JDF 1116)
Pretrial Statement (JDF 1129): This document is only required if you and your partner differ on one or more topics listed on your Separation Agreement document.

Make duplicates of your forms.

Make at least two duplicates of each document after you have completed it. One set will be submitted with the court clerk’s office, while the other should be retained for your documents. You must also produce a verified duplicate of your marriage license, which can be obtained from the city or municipality where you were married.

Bring your completed forms to your local court clerk’s office and pay the filing fee.

Bring the originals and duplicates of your papers to the court clerk’s office. If everything is in order, the assistant will use the original papers and charge a filing fee.