United States · State guide
Divorce inColorado.
Family law is state law. Here is how it works in Colorado: the property rules, support, how to file, what it costs, who enforces it, and every FairWell guide and tool set up for Colorado.
Official source: www.coloradojudicial.gov
Property division
Equitable distribution state: marital property is divided fairly, which usually means roughly equally but the court can adjust based on statutory factors; separate property stays with the owner.
Residency and waiting period
Court: District Court91 days residency; 91-day waiting period after service or joint filing.
Child support
Income shares model.
Retirement accounts
Workplace retirement plans are divided by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) prepared after the decree; IRAs are divided by the decree itself. A former spouse married ten years or more may claim Social Security on the ex's record.
Enforcement
Child support is enforced by Colorado Child Support Services under the federal Title IV-D program: income withholding, tax refund intercepts, license suspension and passport denial for arrears.
Health insurance
Divorce ends a former spouse's eligibility on an employer plan. COBRA continuation is available for up to 36 months at full cost; the ACA marketplace opens a special enrollment period.
Official guidelines and tools
The government and court sources for child support, spousal support, the family law statute and self-help. Use these to check any estimate, including ours.
Common questions
How is property divided in a Colorado divorce?
Equitable distribution state: marital property is divided fairly, which usually means roughly equally but the court can adjust based on statutory factors; separate property stays with the owner.
How do I file for divorce in Colorado?
91 days residency; 91-day waiting period after service or joint filing. File in the District Court.
When does child support end in Colorado?
Child support usually ends when the child turns 19, unless the child is still in high school. In that case it continues to the end of the month after graduation, and it usually does not go beyond age 21 unless there are special circumstances. A court can continue support past 19 for a child with a physical or mental disability, and a written agreement between the parents can set a different end date.
What happens to property when unmarried couples separate in Colorado?
Colorado recognizes common-law marriage (for marriages entered on or after September 1, 2006, both partners must be at least 18), so a couple who meets the legal test is treated as married and divides property under divorce rules. Partners who do not qualify are treated as unmarried: property generally belongs to whoever holds title, subject to any written agreement between you.
How long do you need to live in Colorado to file for divorce?
You or your spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days before filing. The case is filed in the district court for the county where either spouse lives.
Official help: Colorado Judicial Branch Self-Help: Divorce and Separation. Rules change, so confirm with a family lawyer in Colorado before you rely on them.
Read next
Guides for Colorado
Filing for an uncontested divorce in the US
GuideWhat divorce costs in the US
GuideQDROs and retirement accounts
GuideDivorce and US taxes
GuideHealth insurance after divorce
GuideRelocation with children
GuideThe complete parenting plan guide
GuideYour separation date controls everything
GuideHidden assets: warning signs
GuideJoint debt at separation
GuideWhen your ex won't pay
GuideSeparating when there is abuse
Professionals
Family lawyers, mediators and coaches in Colorado
Family lawyers
Listings marked Verified have been checked against the state bar directory. Each lawyer sets their own fees.
DirectoryMediators
Family mediators for parenting and financial issues. Listings marked Verified have been checked against their association.
DirectoryDivorce coaches and counselors
Decision support, communication and co-parenting help. What a coach does.
Are you a professional in Colorado? List your practice.
Colorado
Get organized in Colorado
Guided questions for separation agreements, parenting plans and financial disclosure, linked to the official sources on this page and organized into a plain-language summary for a local family lawyer, who prepares the agreement and advises you.
Sources and further reading
This page is legal information, not legal advice. It summarizes how the process works in Colorado so you can plan; the official sources above are where current fees, forms and deadlines live, and they are the final word if anything here differs. When you're ready, the assessment and FairWell's guided questions link to the rules for Colorado; a local lawyer prepares any agreement and advises you before you sign.