Aurora sits across three counties, and the courthouse you use depends on which one you live in. This page covers the Adams County portion of Aurora, which includes neighborhoods north of roughly Colfax Avenue near Del Mar, North Aurora, and the area around Stapleton/Central Park's eastern edge. If you reside in the Arapahoe County or Douglas County sections of Aurora, your cases route to Centennial or Castle Rock instead. Adams County residents file in Brighton, and the rules below apply specifically to that 17th Judicial District court.
Key Facts: Divorce in Aurora (Adams County)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County (17th Judicial District) |
| Filing court | Adams County Justice Center (Combined Courts) |
| Court address | 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601 |
| Filing fee | $230 + $12 e-filing fee (Jan 2026); $116 response fee |
| Residency requirement | 91 consecutive days domiciled in Colorado |
| Waiting period | 91 days after service before a decree can enter |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (not community property) |
How do I file for divorce in Aurora, Colorado?
To file for divorce in the Adams County part of Aurora, you submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (form JDF 1101) to the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton, pay the $230 filing fee plus a $12 e-filing fee as of January 2026, and serve your spouse. Colorado is a pure no-fault state under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, so the only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove wrongdoing or live apart first. All required JDF forms are free from the Colorado Judicial Branch website. Adams County uses e-filing for most parties, though the $12 e-filing fee is the one charge that cannot be waived even with an approved fee waiver.
The practical sequence for an Aurora resident is straightforward. First, confirm you meet the 91-day residency rule. Second, complete the petition, the case information sheet (JDF 1000), and a summons. Third, e-file with the Adams County clerk and pay $230. Fourth, serve your spouse personally (process service in the Denver metro typically runs $50 to $70) or have them sign a waiver of service. The 91-day clock that gates your decree starts on the date of service or the date a joint petition is filed.
Where do I file for divorce in Aurora? (which courthouse)
Adams County residents of Aurora file at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601, the combined district and county courthouse for the 17th Judicial District. The clerk's office phone is 303-654-3202, and clerk hours are generally Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This single facility handles dissolution filings for Aurora, Thornton, Westminster, Commerce City, Brighton, Northglenn, and Federal Heights residents alike.
Do not confuse this with the historic 1906 Adams County Courthouse at 22 S 4th Ave. in Brighton, which became the Brighton City Hall in the 1970s and handles no court filings. From Aurora's Adams County neighborhoods, Brighton is roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive north on I-225 to E-470 or via Tower Road. If you live south of Colfax in the Arapahoe County portion of Aurora, you file at the Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial instead, not Brighton.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Aurora?
An Aurora divorce lawyer typically charges $250 to $400 per hour, with most contested Colorado divorces costing $7,000 to $15,000 in total attorney fees, and high-conflict cases involving custody or business valuations running $20,000 or more. Uncontested cases handled with limited-scope (unbundled) representation often cost $1,500 to $3,500. Many Aurora family law attorneys require a retainer of $3,000 to $5,000 up front, billed against hourly time.
Cost is driven by conflict, not geography. A fully agreed dissolution where both spouses sign a separation agreement and parenting plan can finalize for the $230 court filing fee plus a few hours of attorney review. The expensive cases involve disputed parenting time, hidden assets, retirement account division (QDROs), or spousal maintenance fights. Before hiring, ask any Aurora lawyer for a written fee agreement, the hourly rate of paralegals versus attorneys, and whether they offer flat-fee uncontested packages. You can estimate your own range with our divorce cost estimator.
How long does a divorce take in Aurora?
The minimum divorce timeline in Aurora is 91 days, set by the mandatory waiting period under C.R.S. § 14-10-106, which bars a court from entering a Decree of Dissolution until 91 days have passed from service or the joint filing date. In practice, an uncontested Adams County divorce finalizes in about 3 to 6 months, while contested cases with disputed custody or property commonly take 9 to 18 months.
Several procedural milestones structure that timeline. An Initial Status Conference is set roughly 42 days after filing. Both spouses must exchange Sworn Financial Statements (JDF 1111) within 42 days of service. If you and your spouse agree on everything before the 91 days expire, the court can still only sign the decree once the waiting period ends. Contested cases add time for discovery, mediation (which Adams County frequently orders), and a final orders hearing that can be months out on the court's calendar.
What are the residency requirements to file in Adams County?
To file for divorce in Adams County, at least one spouse must have been domiciled in Colorado for a minimum of 91 consecutive days immediately before filing, under C.R.S. § 14-10-106(1)(a)(I). Colorado treats residence as synonymous with domicile, meaning you must have a present intent to keep Colorado as your permanent home. This is one of the shortest residency requirements in the nation.
Note the dual 91-day structure that trips up many Aurora filers: the 91-day residency requirement is separate from the 91-day waiting period. You must live in Colorado for 91 days before you can file, and then a different 91-day clock runs after service before the court can finalize. If children are involved, Colorado also applies a 182-day rule under the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act before a Colorado court can make initial custody (parental responsibility) orders.
How is property divided in an Aurora divorce?
Colorado is an equitable distribution state under C.R.S. § 14-10-113, so an Adams County judge divides marital property in proportions the court deems just, which is often near 50/50 but not required to be exactly equal. Marital misconduct like adultery cannot affect the division. As of 2025, courts may also weigh whether a mandatory protection order was entered against a spouse within the prior 5 years, a change added by HB25-1116.
Marital property is generally everything either spouse acquired during the marriage, with exceptions for gifts, inheritances, and assets owned before the marriage or excluded by a valid prenuptial agreement. Separate property can lose protection through commingling. Property is valued as of the date of the decree or the disposition hearing. For child support, Colorado overhauled its formula effective March 1, 2026 under HB25-1159, eliminating the old 93-overnight cliff in favor of a smooth curve and raising the combined-income cap to $40,000 per month. Estimate obligations with our child support calculator and alimony estimator.
FAQs
The following answers address the most common questions Aurora residents in Adams County ask before filing.