List of Divorce and Legal Separation Forms.

1. You or your spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days before you can file a divorce case in Colorado.
2. Children must have lived in Colorado for at least 182 days (or since birth).

1. If you are ending a Civil Union, then neither party has to live in Colorado if you got your Civil Union License in Colorado.

Filing Jointly

It's easier and cheaper to file the case with your spouse.  File:

1. JDF 1011 - Petition, and
2. JDF 1000 - Case Information Sheet.

Filing Separately

Use Forms:

1. JDF 1011 - Petition,
2. JDF 1012 - Summons (caption only), and
3. JDF 1000 - Case Information Sheet.

File Online

1. Create an account and submit your completed forms at: https://www.jbits.courts.state.co.us/efiling/web/login.htm
2. Or, file in-person at your local District Court.

Pay Filing Fee

1. Or, see information on fee waivers.

Skip this step if you filed jointly.

Personal Service

Review the instructions for formally notifying your spouse of the case.  File the appropriate form:

1. JDF 1013 - Waiver of Service (if your spouse agrees)
2. JDF 1014 - Return of Service (after service is completed.

Skip this step if you filed jointly.

Response

1. Use form: JDF 1015 - Response
2. Create an account and file the completed form online: www.jbits.courts.state.co.us/efiling/web/login.htm
3. Or, mail it to the Court's Address at the top of the Summons and mail a copy to your spouse.

Pay Filing Fee

1. Or, see information on fee waivers.

1. Read the Case Management Order and follow those orders. 
2. Review the steps and forms needed for the Initial Status Conference. 
3. At that conference you will be informed of the next steps in the process.

NOTE:  Before trying to enforce a child support order on your own, you may want to first contact your local child support enforcement office for help.

STEP 1- Decide which enforcement option you want to use. If your former spouse/other person is not paying the child support or maintenance (alimony) that he/she was ordered to pay, there are three options:

Option 1: Income Assignment - An "income assignment" allows your former spouse's/other person's employer to take the money owed to you out of his/her paycheck, and pay it to you directly or through the Family Support Registry. See STEP 1A.

STEP 1A (Income Assignment) - See §14-14-111.5, C.R.S. for more information.

Option 2: Garnish your former spouse/other person's wages or put a lien on their property - If you are owed child support and/or maintenance and your former spouse/other person does not pay when a payment is due,  a money Judgment is automatically entered against them and you can take steps to enforce the judgment through a garnishment or lien. See STEP 1B.

STEP 1B (Garnish your former spouse/other person's wages or put a lien on their property)

You will first need to fill out and file JDF 1813 Verified Entry of Support Judgment with the court.  There is no filing fee to file this form.

Review JDF 82 Instructions for Collecting a Judgment and Completing a Writ of Garnishment for information on how to file a Form 31 Writ of Garnishment for Support and how to put a lien on someone's property.

Option 3: Contempt of Court - You can ask the court to find (determine) that your former spouse/other person is in contempt of court for not obeying the court order. Your former spouse/other person can be punished with fines or even jail for continuing to disobey the order to pay. See STEP 1C.

STEP 1C Contempt of Court - fill out JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause.

Refer to JDF 1800 Instructions for Filing Motions to Enforce Orders for detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms. Here are some helpful tips for filing out these forms:

(a) You will use the original divorce or custody case number as the case number for these forms.

(b) You and your former spouse/other person will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the "Petitioner" on these forms.

(c) You may give your forms to the court in person or by mailing them.

(d) There is no filing fee.

Fill out JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and make a copy. You must sign this form in front of a notary public or court clerk.

Fill out only the top caption portion of JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause.

File the original of JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause with the court.

The court will contact you to set a date for a hearing or the court will send you JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause with a hearing date and time on the form.

You will need to arrange for personal service of JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause on your former spouse/other person.  Refer to the step-by-step instructions on how to arrange for personal service and how to return proof of service to the court.

STEP 1- Decide which enforcement option you want to use. If your former spouse/other person is not obeying the court order for parenting time, there are two options:

Option 1: File a Motion with the court to enforce the parenting time order. See STEP 1A.

STEP 1A (File a Motion with the Court) - Fill out JDF 1418 Verified Motion Concerning Parenting Time Disputes and JDF 1419 Order re: Parenting Time.

Review JDF 1418I Instructions to File a Motion Concerning Parenting Time Disputes for detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms. Here are some helpful tips for filing out the forms:

(a) You will use the case number from the original divorce or custody case as the case number for these forms.

(b) You and your former spouse/other person will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the Petitioner on these forms.

(c) You may give your forms to the court in person or by mailing them.

(d) There is no filing fee.

Fill out JDF 1418 Verified Motion Concerning Parenting Time Disputes and make a copy. You must sign this form in front of a notary public or court clerk.  Mail or hand-deliver a copy to your former spouse/other person.  After you mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1418 Verified Motion Concerning Parenting Time Disputes on your former spouse/other person, fill out the Certificate of Service part of the form and then file a copy with the court.

Fill out only the top caption portion of JDF 1419 Order re: Parenting Time. The court will fill out the rest of this form. You DO NOT need to mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1419 Order re: Parenting Time to your former spouse/other person. File JDF 1419 Order re: Parenting Time with the court along with JDF 1418 Verified Motion Concerning Parenting Time Disputes.

After you have filed JDF 1418 Verified Motion Concerning Parenting Time Disputes and JDF 1419 Order re: Parenting Time with the court, wait for a response from the court.

Option 2: Contempt of Court - You can ask the court to find (decide) that your former spouse/other person is in contempt of court for not obeying the court order on parenting time. Your former spouse/other person can be punished with fines or even jail for continuing to disobey the order. See STEP 1B.

STEP 1B (Contempt of Court) - fill out JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause.

Refer to JDF 1800 Instructions for Filing Motions to Enforce Orders for detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms. Here are some helpful tips for filing out these forms:

(a) You will use the original divorce or custody case number as the case number for these forms.

(b) You and your former spouse/other person will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the "Petitioner" on these forms.

(c) You may give your forms to the court in person or by mailing them.

(d) There is no filing fee.

Fill out JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and make a copy. You must sign this form in front of a notary public or court clerk.

Fill out only the top caption portion of JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause.

File the original of JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause with the court.

The court will contact you to set a date for a hearing or the court will send you JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause with a hearing date and time on the form.

You will need to arrange for personal service of JDF 1816 Verified Motion & Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court and JDF 1817 Order to Issue Citation & Citation to Show Cause on your former spouse/other person. Refer to the step-by-step instructions on how to arrange for personal service and how to return proof of service to the court.

STEP 1 - Fill out Form JDF 1814 Motion for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70 and JDF 1815 Order for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70  if the court ordered that you have the right to ownership of certain property (for example a house or car) but your former spouse/other person refuses to sign the property over to you.

Review JDF 1800 Instructions for Filing Motions to Enforce Orders for detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms. Here are some helpful tips for filing out the forms:

(a) Use the case number from your original divorce case as the case number for these forms.

(b) You and your former spouse/other person will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the "Petitioner" on these forms.

(c) There is no filing fee.

Fill out JDF 1814 Motion for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70 and make a copy. You must sign this form in front of a notary public or court clerk. You will need to mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1814 Motion for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70 to your former spouse/other person. After you mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1814 Motion for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70 to your former spouse/other person, fill out the Certificate of Service part of the form and then file it with the court.

Fill out only the top caption portion of JDF 1815 Order for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70.  The court will fill out the rest of this form. You DO NOT need to mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1815 Order for Clerk of Court to Transfer Title Per C.R.C.P. 70 to your former spouse/other person.

STEP 2 - File your completed forms with the court.

You will file your completed forms with the same court that gave you the original order related to the property.

NOTE:  You must file the original paper versions of your completed forms by giving them to the court in person or by mailing them to the court.

STEP 3 - Wait for the court to respond to your Motion.

This is a list of FORMS that may be needed in the process of Registering an Out of State Foreign Decree.

Instructions:

JDF 1215 - Evaluation of a Foreign Decree, a Foreign Custody Determination, and a Foreign Support Order

JDF 1220 - Instructions to File a Foreign Decree

Forms:

JDF 1000 - Case Information Sheet

JDF 1221 - Petition to Register Foreign Decree (Please file with JDF 1000)

JDF 1222 - Summons for Registration of Foreign Decree

JDF 1222 (a) - Waiver and Acceptance of Service

JDF 1222 (b) - Return of Service

Orders:

JDF 1223 - Order to Confirm Foreign Decree

If you were divorced in another state and you move to Colorado, you can register your divorce paperwork in Colorado. Once you register your divorce paperwork in Colorado, you can ask a court in Colorado to enforce any orders having to do with the divorce case from the other state.

Before you ask a Colorado court to register your out-of-state divorce case, you will need to get exemplified copies of all written paperwork from the out of state case including court orders, judgments and decrees.

NOTE:  DO NOT use this process for problems related to children such as registering an out-of-state child-custody or child-support order. Refer to the information on registering an out-of-state child-custody order.

You should file your case with the district court in the county where you live or where your former spouse lives. To find your district court, click on Courts by County.

You and your former spouse can file your case together, or you can file the case on your own.

You decide if you want to file together or file on your own. The court cannot make this decision for you.

You and your former spouse will have the same "identities" as you did in the original out-of-state case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the "Petitioner" when you file these forms.

STEP 1- Download and complete your forms.

Download and complete these forms:
JDF 1000 Case Information Sheet, and
JDF 1221 Petition to Register Foreign Decree

For detailed instructions on how to complete these forms, review JDF 1220 Instructions to File a Foreign Decree.

STEP 2- File your Forms with the Court.

Take your completed forms to the clerk at the counter in the courthouse. Give the forms to the clerk to file your case.  Either you OR your former spouse can drop off the forms at the court, and it is not necessary that you both go together.

Remember to give the exemplified copies of the paperwork from the out-of-state case to the clerk along with your completed forms.

The court will ask you to pay a filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, go to the instructions and fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and the caption box of JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee.

The clerk might ask you to complete additional forms. Please follow the clerk's instructions.

You and your former spouse will have the same "identities" as you did in the original out-of-state case. For example, if you were the "Petitioner" in the original case, you will be the "Petitioner" when you file these forms.

STEP 1- Download and Complete your Forms.

* Download and complete:
* JDF 1000 Case Information Sheet,
* JDF 1221 Petition to Register Foreign Decree, and
* JDF 1222 Summons for Registration of Foreign Decree.

For detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms, review JDF 1220 Instructions to File a Foreign Decree.

STEP 2- File your forms with the court.

* Take your completed forms to the clerk at the counter in the courthouse. Give the forms to the clerk to file your case.

* Remember to give the exemplified copies of the paperwork from the out-of-state case to the clerk along with your completed forms.

* The court will ask you to pay a filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, go to the instructions and fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and the caption box of JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee.

* The clerk might ask you to complete additional forms. Please follow the clerk's instructions.

STEP 3- Arrange to serve your former spouse.

* After you file your forms with the court, you must arrange to have JDF 1221 Petition to Register Foreign Decree and JDF 1222 Summons for Registration of Foreign Decree delivered to your former spouse. The process of having these forms delivered to your former spouse is known as personal service.

* The clerk will provide you with a signed copy of JDF 1222 Summons for Registration of Foreign Decree to be served on your former spouse.

* Refer to the step-by-step instructions on how to arrange for personal service on your spouse and how to return proof of service to the court.

You must wait at least 182 days from the date your legal separation was finalized by the court (when the Decree of Legal Separation was entered) before you can file paperwork to change the legal separation to a divorce.

You must file your paperwork with the same court that finalized your legal separation.

You and your spouse will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original legal separation case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the Petitioner when you complete these forms.

Download and complete:
JDF 1321 Motion to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage,
JDF 1322 Order to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, and
JDF 1116 Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation

For detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms, review JDF 1325 Instructions to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.

You will sign your completed JDF 1321 Motion to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. Your spouse DOES NOT need to sign the form.

Fill out only the top caption part of JDF 1322 Order to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage and the court will fill out the rest. You DO NOT need to sign this form.

Fill out the top caption portion of JDF 1116 Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation and check the "Dissolution of Marriage" (Divorce) box. The court will fill in the rest of this form. You DO NOT need to sign this form.

You will need to mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1321 Motion to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage to your spouse. After you mail or hand-deliver the Motion to your spouse, complete the Certificate of Service part of the form and then file ALL of your forms (JDF 1321 Motion to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, JDF 1322 Order to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, and JDF 1116 Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation) with the court.

Take your completed forms (JDF 1321 Motion to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, JDF 1322 Order to Convert Decree of Legal Separation to Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, and JDF 1116 Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation) to the clerk at the courthouse.

The court will ask you to pay a filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, go to the instructions and fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and the caption box of JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee. For more information go to the File Without Payment section.