Divorce Guide No. 4 — Before You File · Before Divorce
Your Colorado Divorce, Step by Step: How It Works, Start to Finish
By Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr., Colorado court-appointed Child and Family Investigator. How long until you're divorced in Colorado — and every step in between. The 91-day clock, the disclosures, and the finish line, in plain English.
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On the Legal Front Lines · Former Government Investigator, Denver Human Services · Licensed Colorado Attorney · 20+ Years in Private Practice · Former Colorado Deputy District Attorney · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator
The honest answers up front
Every divorce is its own animal, but the framework is fixed: two 91-day rules, court fees in the hundreds, and attorney costs that you control more than you think.
1
The two 91-day rules
One spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing, and no decree can enter until at least 91 days after the court gets jurisdiction over the responding spouse, by service, by joining as co-petitioner, or by entering an appearance (C.R.S. § 14-10-106(1)(a)(III)). That's the legal floor: about three months, minimum.
Where The Longmont Law Firm comes in: We use the mandatory waiting period productively — disclosures, valuations, and agreement drafts — so day 91 is a finish line, not a starting gun.
Where The Longmont Law Firm comes in: We keep the incidentals lean — waivers where you qualify, service by waiver instead of process server when the other side will sign.
3
Attorney fees: the part you control
Cost tracks conflict. Full agreement on everything is one price; fighting over every pan in the kitchen is another. Discovery disputes, expert valuations, and contested hearings are the multipliers.
Where The Longmont Law Firm comes in: Clear fee agreements, flexible payment plans through Affirm, and honest advice about which fights are worth funding — that's how we work.
4
Uncontested? You may never see a courtroom
With full agreement, complete disclosures, and a signed separation agreement and parenting plan, many Colorado divorces finish on paper via an Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance (JDF 1018).
Where The Longmont Law Firm comes in: We paper uncontested divorces properly the first time — the cheap divorce that skips required disclosures is the one you pay for twice.
5
Common-law married? You still need a real divorce
Colorado recognizes common-law marriage — and there is no common-law divorce. If you held yourselves out as married, dividing up may legally require the full dissolution process.
Where The Longmont Law Firm comes in: We assess common-law status honestly before anyone locks into a position — it changes property, maintenance, everything.
Ready when you are — talk it through with Attorney Liken.
Start here: a no-charge 20-minute phone call directly with Attorney Liken.
Written & reviewed by Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq.Colorado Attorney · Former Deputy District Attorney · 700+ investigations · Reviewed for accuracy as of July 2026
Quick answers
How long does a divorce take in Colorado?
The legal minimum is 91 days from service on the respondent, the respondent joining as co-petitioner, or the respondent otherwise appearing (C.R.S. § 14-10-106(1)(a)(III)). Fully agreed cases commonly finish in three to six months; contested cases with custody evaluations or business valuations often run nine to eighteen months.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Colorado?
The petitioner's court filing fee is currently about $260 and a response about $146 (amounts are set by statute and change periodically; confirm on the court's fee page before filing). Fee waivers are available with JDF 205 for those who qualify. Attorney fees depend almost entirely on how much is contested.
Do we have to go to court?
Not necessarily. With complete disclosures and a full written agreement, many Colorado divorces are finalized without a hearing through an Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance.
Is Colorado a no-fault divorce state?
Yes. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken — proving misconduct is neither required nor rewarded.
The Road Map
A Colorado divorce, start to finish
Contested or not, every case follows the same skeleton — what varies is how much fighting happens at each stop. Most cases that settle fully finish in 3–6 months; heavily contested cases with experts and custody evaluations run 9–18 months.
The single biggest schedule-killer is incomplete financial disclosure. Courts won't move — and shouldn't — until both sides have honestly shown their cards (JDF 1104 certificate, JDF 1111 sworn financial statement).
Step by step
1 · File & serve (day 0) — Petition (JDF 1011), summons, and service — or a joint co-petition that skips service entirely.
2 · Disclose (day ~42) — Mandatory financial disclosures from both spouses; initial status conference gets scheduled.
3 · Resolve (days 42–91+) — Temporary orders if needed, mediation (required in most districts), settlement drafting.
4 · Decree (day 91 at the earliest) — Full agreement → decree on paper or a brief hearing. No agreement → permanent orders hearing and the judge decides.
A single attorney representing both spouses is a conflict of interest — it's not allowed. What we can do is represent one of you efficiently in an amicable case, or serve as mediator helping you both reach terms your own lawyers review.
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