To get divorced in Colorado Springs, you file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the El Paso County District Court, part of Colorado's 4th Judicial District. The courthouse sits at 270 S Tejon St in downtown Colorado Springs, two blocks south of Acacia Park and a short walk from the Pioneers Museum. The 2026 petitioner filing fee is $230, residents must have lived in Colorado at least 91 days before filing, and a mandatory 91-day waiting period runs after the respondent is served. A Colorado Springs divorce lawyer handles parenting plans, property division, and maintenance under Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14, Article 10.
Key Facts: Divorce in Colorado Springs
| Detail | Colorado Springs (El Paso County) |
|---|---|
| County | El Paso County |
| Filing court | El Paso County District Court, 4th Judicial District |
| Court address | 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
| Clerk's office | Room S101, Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee (2026) | $230 petitioner / $116 respondent + $12 e-file surcharge |
| Residency requirement | 91 days in Colorado |
| Waiting period | 91 days after service or joint filing |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (C.R.S. § 14-10-113) |
How do I file for divorce in Colorado Springs, Colorado?
To file for divorce in Colorado Springs, complete the Colorado JDF dissolution forms, then submit them to the El Paso County District Court clerk in Room S101 at 270 S Tejon St and pay the $230 petitioner fee. As of 2026, you can file in person or use Colorado's e-filing system, which adds a non-waivable $12 surcharge.
Colorado requires a minimum of four to six Judicial Department Forms. The core packet includes JDF 1000 (Case Information Sheet), JDF 1011 (Petition for Dissolution of Marriage), JDF 1102 (Summons), and JDF 1104 (Sworn Financial Statement). Cases with minor children require additional forms, including a proposed parenting plan. All forms are free at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms, the same statewide forms used in every Colorado county.
If you and your spouse agree on every term, you can finalize without a court appearance by filing JDF 1018 (Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance) along with the proposed JDF 1116 (Decree of Dissolution of Marriage). The El Paso County clerk processes both paper and electronic filings, and the court confirms service before the 91-day clock begins.
Where do I file for divorce in Colorado Springs? (which courthouse)
Colorado Springs divorce cases are filed at the El Paso County District Court, located in the El Paso County Judicial Building at 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. The clerk's office is in Room S101 and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main court line is 719-452-5000.
The Judicial Building serves the entire 4th Judicial District, which covers El Paso and Teller counties. You file in the county where either spouse lives, so Colorado Springs residents in neighborhoods such as Old Colorado City, Briargate, Broadmoor, and the Powers corridor all use this same downtown courthouse. Street parking and the nearby city parking garages on Cascade and Nevada Avenues serve the building.
El Paso County offers e-filing for self-represented parties in dissolution, legal separation, and parental-responsibility cases, so you do not have to appear at the clerk's window to start a case. Paper filing in Room S101 remains available for those who prefer it. Whichever method you choose, the court assigns a case number and routes the matter to a 4th Judicial District magistrate or judge.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Colorado Springs?
A divorce lawyer in Colorado Springs typically charges $250 to $400 per hour, with most attorneys requesting a retainer of $2,500 to $7,500. Total attorney fees for an uncontested case often run $1,500 to $3,500, while contested cases involving custody or property disputes commonly reach $8,000 to $15,000 or more in El Paso County.
Those attorney costs are separate from court costs. The 2026 filing fee is $230 for the petitioner and $116 for a responding spouse, plus the $12 e-filing surcharge. Statewide median total costs run roughly $3,000 for an uncontested dissolution to about $12,500 for a contested one, according to Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 court-cost schedules updated under House Bill 2024-1286.
Additional Colorado Springs expenses include the mandatory parenting class for cases with children ($25 to $55), private mediation ($500 to $3,000), and process-server fees ($50 to $100) if you cannot serve your spouse by waiver. You can estimate your full budget with the divorce cost estimator, and low-income filers may request a fee waiver using JDF 205 at the El Paso County clerk's office.
How long does a divorce take in Colorado Springs?
A Colorado Springs divorce takes a minimum of 91 days from the date the respondent is served or both spouses file jointly, under C.R.S. § 14-10-106. This mandatory waiting period cannot be waived or shortened for any reason, making roughly three months the absolute fastest timeline in El Paso County.
The 91-day mark is the earliest a 4th Judicial District judge may sign the decree, not a guaranteed finish date. Fully uncontested cases where spouses agree on property, debt, parenting, and support often finalize in three to five months. Cases that require a status conference, mediation, or temporary orders at the El Paso County District Court typically take six to nine months.
Contested Colorado Springs divorces involving disputed parenting time, business valuations, or significant marital property can run 12 to 24 months. The 4th Judicial District generally sets an initial status conference within 42 days of filing and often orders mediation before any contested hearing. Serving your spouse promptly and filing a complete Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1104) early are the two biggest factors in keeping your case near the 91-day floor.
What are the residency requirements to file in El Paso County?
To file for divorce in El Paso County, at least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days immediately before filing the petition, under C.R.S. § 14-10-106. Colorado's 91-day residency rule is one of the shortest in the nation, and there is no separate county-level residency requirement beyond living in Colorado.
You do not have to live in Colorado Springs specifically; you file in El Paso County when either spouse resides anywhere in the county. If you and your spouse live in different Colorado counties, you may file in either one. Military families stationed at Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, or the Air Force Academy can establish Colorado residency or file based on their spouse's residence, which makes El Paso County a common venue for service members.
Residency and the waiting period are two separate clocks. The 91-day residency requirement controls whether you can file, while the separate 91-day post-service waiting period controls when the decree can be entered. Colorado is a no-fault state, so you only need to assert the marriage is irretrievably broken under C.R.S. § 14-10-110; no proof of wrongdoing is required.
How is property and custody handled in Colorado Springs?
Colorado is an equitable distribution state, so an El Paso County judge divides marital property in proportions the court deems just rather than a strict 50/50 split, under C.R.S. § 14-10-113. The court considers each spouse's contribution, including homemaking, the value of separate property set apart, and each spouse's economic circumstances when dividing assets and debts.
For children, Colorado uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities instead of custody. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-124, the El Paso County District Court allocates parenting time and decision-making responsibility based on the best interests of the child, giving paramount consideration to the child's safety. A 2024 amendment effective August 7, 2024 strengthened safety findings, requiring judges to explain in writing why unsupervised parenting time is appropriate when there is any credible information of domestic violence or child abuse.
Child support follows Colorado's statewide income-shares formula under C.R.S. § 14-10-115, and maintenance (alimony) follows the advisory guideline in C.R.S. § 14-10-114. You can estimate both with the child support calculator and alimony estimator before your status conference.
FAQs
Review common questions about filing for divorce in Colorado Springs and El Paso County below.