Uncontested Divorce in Colorado

You can get an uncontested divorce in Colorado if you meet the following requirements:

• you or your spouse has lived in Colorado for at least 91 days
• you both agree that your marriage is irretrievably broken, and
• you also agree on every issue in your case, including property, debts, spousal support, and provisions for your children.

An uncontested divorce in Colorado costs $260 in court filing fees if you and your spouse file together—more if you file separately. The court can finalize your divorce as soon as 91 days from the date you file jointly or your spouse is officially notified. If you don't have minor children, you might not even need to go to court.

Read on to find out more about the process, including the paperwork you'll need, the rules for delivering (or "serving") documents, and what to expect at each stage.

Requirements for an Uncontested Divorce in Colorado

You must meet several requirements to qualify for an uncontested Colorado divorce. These include meeting residency rules, having a legal reason to divorce, and reaching a complete agreement with your spouse about important issues such as property and parenting.

Residency Requirements

You or your spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days just before you filed your initial divorce papers. If you have minor children with your spouse and want your divorce to address child-related issues, your children generally must have lived in the state with a parent for at least 182 days before you file. For a child younger than that, the child must have lived in Colorado since birth. (Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 14-10-106, 14-13-102, 14-13-201 (2026).)

Grounds for Divorce in Colorado

You also need to have a "ground" (legal reason) for divorce. Colorado is a no-fault state, so you don't need to (and can't) claim that your spouse's misconduct caused the divorce. The only available ground for divorce in the state is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. In an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must agree that this is the case. (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-106 (2026).)

Reaching an Agreement With Your Spouse

To get an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must have a written divorce settlement agreement, known as a "separation agreement" in Colorado. If you have children, you'll also need a parenting plan. If you're having trouble reaching an agreement on your own, divorce mediation can help you resolve your disputes.

How to File for an Uncontested Divorce in Colorado

Filing for an uncontested divorce in Colorado involves several steps, from preparing and filing your forms with the court to following specific legal rules and procedures.

Preparing and Filing Divorce Papers

To start the divorce process, you'll complete a petition for dissolution of marriage and file it, along with a few other forms, with the court clerk in the county district court where either you or your spouse lives. Colorado allows both spouses to sign and file the paperwork jointly as "co-petitioners." This saves steps and money on filing fees (see below). Otherwise, you'll file the paperwork on your own, in which case you'll be the "petitioner" and your spouse will be the "respondent."

Check with the Colorado Judicial Branch for the full list of forms and instructions. You should also check with the court clerk's office in the county where you'll file to see if there are local forms or procedures. Alternatively, you can use an online divorce service, which will provide you with the proper completed forms based on your answers to a questionnaire.

You can file your divorce papers online through Colorado Courts E-Filing, even if you don't have a lawyer.

Serving Your Divorce Papers

If you file jointly with your spouse, you don't have to serve (deliver) a copy of the documents on them. If you file by yourself, you'll need to serve the documents, unless your spouse signs a waiver of service form. You can meet the service requirements by having the sheriff, a process server, or another adult not involved in the case hand-deliver the papers. You’re not allowed to do it yourself. Colorado publishes a helpful guide explaining how to serve the other party.

Exchanging Financial Information

Even in an uncontested case, you and your spouse must exchange financial information and file a financial statement within 42 days. In some simple cases, you can agree in writing to skip exchanging supporting documents like pay stubs and tax returns, but you'll still have to file the financial statement with the court. Depending on your circumstances and your county's rules, you might also have to attend a brief initial status conference. (Colo. R. Civ. P. 16.2, available through Colorado Law Help.)

Automatic Temporary Injunctions

Certain rules take effect as soon as you file the joint petition or, if you file alone, after your spouse is served or signs the waiver. Neither of you can do the following without the other spouse's written consent or a court order:

• sell, borrow against, hide, or give away marital property (except for ordinary business or living expenses)
• take your children out of Colorado, or
• cancel, change, or let lapse health, home, auto, or life insurance.

For insurance changes, you must also give the other spouse at least 14 days' notice. These rules are set out by what's called an "automatic temporary injunction," and they continue until your divorce is final. (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-107(4)(b) (2026).)

Attending a Hearing and Finalizing Your Divorce

You might be able to finalize an uncontested divorce without a hearing if you submit an Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance. You can't use this procedure if you have minor children together or a spouse is pregnant, unless you're each represented by an attorney or a licensed legal paraprofessional (LLP) and have a signed agreement covering parental responsibilities and child support. (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-120.3 (2026).)

Unless you submit this affidavit and the judge finds it sufficient to grant your divorce, you'll need to appear at a final hearing. Among other things, the judge might ask you questions to make sure the parenting and child support provisions in your agreement serve your children's best interests.

After approving your agreement and determining that you meet all divorce requirements, the judge will issue a final "decree of dissolution of marriage." The judge can't sign the decree until at least 91 days after one of the following:

• you filed a joint petition
• your spouse was served, or
• your spouse signed a waiver of service or otherwise appeared in the case.

(Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-106(1)(a)(III) (2026).)

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Colorado?

As a rule, an uncontested divorce is a lot cheaper than a traditional, contested divorce. That's because many couples can complete the uncontested divorce process without hiring lawyers, which can lead to big savings on the normal cost of divorce.

The basic cost of an uncontested divorce in Colorado is the $260 court fee to file the divorce papers. If you and your spouse file jointly, that's the only filing fee you'll pay. If you file separately and your spouse files a response, your spouse will pay an additional $146. You’ll also pay an additional fee if a sheriff or other process server serves your spouse. You can avoid that fee if your spouse signs a waiver of service. If you can't afford the court fees, you can ask the court to waive them.

Beyond these court costs, your costs will depend on whether you get a "pure" do-it-yourself divorce or need some help with the process:

• Online divorce services typically charge between $150 and $700 to provide and complete the divorce forms and settlement agreement.
• If you need help reaching a settlement agreement, the cost of divorce mediation can vary widely, depending on the number and complexity of the issues. Typical total costs range from about $3,000 to $8,000, with each spouse normally paying half. If your income is limited, you can apply for lower-cost mediation through the court.
• If you're splitting retirement accounts related to your employment (like a 401(k) or pension), you'll probably need to pay an expert to prepare the special court order known as a "qualified domestic relations order" (QDRO).

And, of course, if you hire lawyers, your costs will go up. But you can probably minimize lawyers' fees by getting help only when it's truly necessary.

Do You Need a Lawyer for an Uncontested Divorce?

You don't need to hire a lawyer to get an uncontested divorce in Colorado. You can represent yourself during the process. Spouses can handle everything themselves or use an online service that eases the process.

Even without a court battle in an uncontested divorce, one or both spouses can hire attorneys for help. It's a good idea to talk to a family law lawyer if your case seems complex, especially if you have complicated assets to divide, like retirement accounts. An attorney can advise you on your proposed settlement and make sure you complete the paperwork correctly.

If a lawyer isn't in your budget, Colorado also licenses legal paraprofessionals (LLPs) to make legal help more affordable. LLPs can advise you, prepare and file your paperwork, and might be able to represent you in court if needed.

Where to Find More Information and Legal Help in Colorado

You can find Colorado's official state code on LexisNexis. Once you reach the Colorado page, either enter a specific code section in the search bar or scroll down to find Title 14: Domestic Matters. Then toggle through the menu to find the sections you want to read.

You can get the court forms mentioned in this article, along with step-by-step instructions, on the Colorado Judicial Branch's Divorce and Separation page. If you don't see a form listed there, you can search for it by name on the court's Self-Help Forms page.

Colorado Legal Services offers free help to people who qualify. The state's Colorado Law Help website provides legal information and can help connect you with LLPs or low-cost lawyers near you.