Are Colorado Divorce Records Public Records?
According to Colorado’s Open Records Act (CORA), members of the public should be allowed to access any and all records produced by government bodies and court proceedings as long as they provide justification for accessing these records and the necessary documents. However, this act is not all-encompassing. Some records, specifically many divorce records, may be sealed or partly redacted due to sensitive or confidential information within them. Some examples of this information include:
- Personal information of minor children or juveniles
- Information pertaining to adoption and child custody agreements
- Personal information of victims of abuse or violence
- Documents regarding any mental and psychological evaluations made by medical professionals
- Sensitive financial information and property information
How to Find a Divorce Record in Colorado
Divorce is the formal legal dissolution of a marital relationship. The Colorado Department of Health & Environment (CDHE) holds marriage dissolution records between the years 1900 and 1939 and also from 1975 to the present day. Records finalized between 1939 and 1975 will often be held in the county court where the divorce was finalized. Anyone seeking records accessible to the public can visit the divorce court where the divorce was filed in person to go through records. The State Archives also hold a limited amount of records not maintained by the county clerk. These exceptions can be found on the Colorado State Archives website.
Divorce records are filed in three forms, and knowing the differences between them can save the requesting party time in the process of obtaining the sought-after records. Divorce records are considered court records. They may, therefore, be searched on court terminals or some third-party public record websites. Divorce records can offer personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal information like domestic abuse. Because of this, divorce records, certificates, and decree availability is usually much lower than other types of public records because of the personal nature of divorces. Simply put, divorce records are significantly harder to obtain and search for than other types of public records. In the dissolution of marriage records, the divorce decree and details of the divorce papers remain confidential.
Understanding Colorado Divorce Certificates
Colorado divorce certificates are available to the public upon request for free, but they are not certified copies. To obtain a certified copy, it is necessary to make a formal request and pay the associated fee. Unless sealed by a judge, these records should be available to the public. This certificate is the most general form of a divorce record, as it holds only the names of the divorced parties, along with the location of the divorce and the time it was finalized. The divorce papers and divorce agreement remain confidential. Most often, the divorced parties will request these documents to apply for a name change or a marriage certificate.
Understanding Colorado Divorce Decrees
Divorce decrees are slightly more informational, as they contain the judgments and obligations of the divorced parties. These obligations include division of property and debts, child custody, living arrangements, scheduling, child and spousal support, and insurance agreements. This document is signed by a judge and given a case number. Typically, this document is only available to the two people who were involved in the divorce and their attorneys. Other documents are also accessible only by the parties involved in the divorce, and their lawyers include the divorce petition and divorce paper. There are no divorce decrees online.
Understanding Colorado Divorce Records
Divorce records hold the most specific details. These records can be accessed and viewed by members of the public, but only certified copies can be obtained by the divorced parties and their attorneys. The persons involved in the divorce are advised to keep these records for the future in case they want to challenge any agreements made between them. The difference between a divorce record and a divorce decree is that a divorce record includes every file, document, and transcript that was produced during the proceedings. These documents include divorce papers in Colorado, dissolution of marriage records, and the divorce document.
How to Find Out if Someone is Divorced in Colorado for Free
Members of the public seeking to access or obtain a divorce record accessible to them online could visit any of the online databases maintained by the state Divorce Records. One can also access records online through any computer within the courthouse where the divorce took place in Colorado. Some private sites, including third-party sites, also provide public access to divorce records online.
How to Obtain Colorado Divorce Court Records
The Colorado Department of Health and Environment maintains divorce records for the years between 1900 to 1939 and then 1975 to the present day. Most divorce records in Colorado are maintained by the office of the clerk of courts in the District or county court where the divorce was heard and finalized. Requesting parties should:
- First, locate the office of the clerk of courts in the county where the divorce occurred. This can be found fairly easily using the Court Docket Search tool provided by the state website.
- After finding the specific court, the requesting party must submit an in-person or mail-in query to the clerk of court.
- The requesting party is required to provide general information pertaining to the case in order to help the search. This information includes the names of the divorced parties, the location of the divorce, and the date it took place.
- The requesting parties should be prepared to be charged a standard search fee by the records clerk.
What Do I Need to Access Colorado Divorce Records?
There are certain requirements a requesting party needs when attempting to access records. These include but are not limited to:
- Proof of their relationship to the parties involved
- Documentation to justify their legal interest in obtaining these divorce records
- Valid identification
Government public record search portals and third-party public record websites both may provide court records search tools, which can help find divorce records, though record availability usually varies widely. Divorce records, in particular, may simply not be available through either source.
Examples of valid identification include:
- Alien Registration Receipt/Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship Birth certificate of Applicant (U.S. only)
- Jail Temporary Inmate ID: Denver or Pueblo County Court order for Adoption or Name Change
- Colorado Department of Corrections ID card Craft or Trade License (Colorado only)
- Colorado Department of Human Services Youth
- Corrections ID
- Colorado Temporary Driver’s License/State ID (must be current)
- Divorce Decree (U.S. only)
- Employment Authorization Card (I-766) Colorado Gaming License
- Foreign Passport Hospital Birth Worksheet (within six months of birth)
- Government Work ID Colorado Hunting or Fishing License (must be current)
- Job Corps ID Card Foreign or International Driving License (with photo)
- US Merchant Mariner Card/Book IRS-ITIN Card/Letter
- Driver’s License/ID Card (DMV – U.S. only) Marriage License/Certificate (U.S. only)
- School, University, or College ID Card (must be current) Medicare Card
- Temporary Resident Card Mexican Voter Registration Card
- U.S. B1/B2 Card with I-94 Motor Vehicle Registration or Title
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization Pilot License
- U.S. Citizenship ID Card (I-197) State, Territorial, or Federal Prison or Corrections ID Card
- U.S. Military ID Card Social Security Card
- U.S. Passport Book or Card
How to Obtain Colorado Divorce Records by Mail
To order a divorce verification by mail, include the above-listed information, along with any application fees and a request form. Mail this to:
Vital Records - Certification
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
The time it takes to process mail-in requests is thirty business days.
How Do I Access Colorado Divorce Records In-Person
To order Colorado divorce certificates in person, visit the main campus at:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Vital Records Section
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
This office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Walk-ins usually have their requests fulfilled on the same day.
How Do I Access Colorado Divorce Records Online
The Colorado state government website provides uncertified Colorado dissolution of marriage certificates online through the Official Web Portal. If finding a record proves difficult, it is recommended to use one of the other methods above or to attempt a search through a third-party public record website.
What is the Cost of Obtaining Colorado Records
The cost of marriage dissolution certificates is $17.00 for every certified copy, even in the unfortunate case that no record is found. There is an additional $10 fee for each added certificate. If the search for the record takes a lot of time, there is a $1 fee for each year.
Does Colorado Recognize Common-Law Marriages?
Colorado common-law marriages are recognized as legally binding. Common law marriages in Colorado have existed since 1877. Parties to a common-law marriage are entitled to all rights, benefits, and duties of a legitimate union. There are only two prerequisites for common law marriages in Colorado State. The first is that the parties are free to enter into a marriage. Neither is married to another individual. Secondly, both parties are of legal age (18). There is no time limitation for establishing a common-law marriage in Colorado.
How to Get a Divorce in Colorado
In order to be able to get a marriage dissolution in the state of Colorado, at least one of the partners filing for divorce has to have been a resident of Colorado for at least ninety-one days. One or both spouses can petition for a divorce. They would be required to fill out, sign, and review all documents to be used to process the divorce. These divorce documents include the original divorce papers and divorce agreements.
To get a divorce in Colorado, in a case where couples are filing separately, personal service and proof that all documents in regards to filing for divorce have been provided are required to be submitted to the court. Some of the forms to be completed include divorce papers in Colorado, divorce agreements, certificates of compliance, financial statements, support orders, etc. Next, the couples would need to show up in court for their first appearance. The financial statement and certificate of compliance are usually submitted.
In the case of a contested issue, the court may require mediation. It costs less to have an uncontested divorce. An uncontested divorce is when both parties reach a consensus. In the case of a contested issue, the court would decide on the best course of action. Then, marriage dissolution is granted, and a divorce decree is filed.
One can search divorce records in Colorado by visiting the courthouse where the divorce was granted or searching available online state or privately owned platforms.
