A divorce is the dissolution of a marital relationship. Depending on when the couple was getting divorced and when it was finalized, the dissolution records are held between the Colorado Department of Health & Environment (CDHE) and the county court where the divorce took place with some of the documents in the State Archives.

You can find the exact location of dissolution records on the Colorado State Archives website. When requesting divorce records, it is important to note that there are three forms. Make sure you know which divorce papers you need, as it will save time when requesting them.
Since divorce records are considered court records, it is possible to search for them on third-party, public record websites. But since divorce documents contain personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal details, they are often much harder to find than other public records.
Colorado Divorce Certificates
You can obtain a Colorado divorce certificate for free upon request, but they will not be certified. If you need a certified copy, you must make a formal request, and there is a fee associated. These records should be available to the public unless a judge has sealed them for some reason. A divorce certificate is a general form and contains only the parties’ names when filing for divorce, the location, and when the divorce was finalized. These documents are often requested when one party wants to change their name or needs a new marriage certificate.
Colorado Divorce Decrees
A divorce decree holds more information than the certificate. It includes the judgments and obligations of the divorced parties. Obligations can include whether it was an uncontested divorce or not, division of property, debts, child custody, living arrangements, spousal support, etc. A judge signs a divorce decree and issues a case number. It is generally only available to the parties involved in the divorce and their attorneys.
Colorado Divorce Records
Divorce records are complete documents that contain very specific details about the divorce. The public can access and view them, but certified copies are only available to the divorce parties and their attorneys. The divorced parties need to keep these records just in case they want to challenge any part of the agreement later.
The main difference between the divorce records and the divorce decree is that the divorce records include every file, document, and transcript produced during the divorce process.
Are Colorado Divorce Records Public Records?
According to Colorado’s Open Records Act (CORA), members of the public are allowed to access all records produced by government bodies and court proceedings if they provide a reason for wanting to access these records. This, however, does not apply to every single record as some records, particularly divorce records, can be sealed or partially redacted due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the information.
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 Obtain Colorado Divorce Court Records
You will find divorce records for 1900 to 1939 and then 1975 to the present day in the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. These documents are maintained by the clerk of court’s office in the District or county court, where the divorce was heard and finalized.
If you are requesting divorce documents, you should:
● Find the office of the clerk of courts in the county where the divorce occurred. Use the Court Docket Search tool on the state website to easily find it.
● Submit a query to the clerk of the court in person or via mail.
● You will need to supply basic information about the case – names of the divorced parties, location of the divorce, etc.
● There will be a standard search fee applicable by the records clerk.
● Both government and third-party, public record websites have search tools to help you find the records you need.
What Do I Need To Access Colorado Divorce Records?
When you request any of the above divorce documents, you will need the following information:
● Proof of relationship to the parties involved
● Documentation to justify legal interest in obtaining the divorce records
● Valid identification
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 6 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
Accessing Colorado Divorce Records By Mail
If you would like to request a divorce verification by mail, you need to include the above information as well as the application fee and a request form and mail it to
Vital Records – Certification
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, Colorado 80246-1530
Processing can take up to thirty business days.
Accessing Colorado Divorce Records In-Person
You can access Colorado divorce certificates in-person by visiting the main campus at the address below.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Vital Records Section
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Walk-ins will generally have their requests fulfilled on the same day.
Accessing Colorado Divorce Records Online
You can search the Colorado state government website for uncertified Colorado dissolution of marriage certificates. Searching for online divorce records can be frustrating as some websites have limited information available.
Cost of records
The cost of marriage dissolution certificates is $17.00 for every certified copy, even if no record is found. You will pay an additional $10 fee for each added certificate.