El Paso County Public Records /El Paso County Divorce Records

El Paso County Divorce Records

What Are El Paso County Divorce Records?

El Paso County divorce records are official legal documents generated by the Colorado court system that formally document the dissolution of a marriage within the county's jurisdiction. These records are created and maintained by the El Paso County District Court, which handles all domestic relations matters pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-106, the governing statute for the dissolution of marriage in Colorado.

Divorce records in El Paso County typically encompass the full case file, including the petition for dissolution, court orders, decrees, and any related filings. Members of the public and parties to a proceeding may rely on these documents for a variety of legal and administrative purposes, including:

Providing legal proof of a change in marital status
Establishing eligibility for remarriage
Supporting a legal name change following dissolution
Applying for Social Security survivor or spousal benefits
Completing loan or mortgage applications requiring marital status verification
Satisfying immigration and naturalization documentation requirements
Updating beneficiary designations on insurance policies or retirement accounts

El Paso County District Court 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 452-5000 El Paso County | Colorado Judicial Branch

Are El Paso County Divorce Records Public?

Access to El Paso County divorce records involves a nuanced distinction between court case files and certified divorce certificates. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-72-203, public records maintained by government agencies are generally open to inspection by any member of the public. Court divorce case files — including the petition, decree of dissolution, and most filed documents — are ordinarily accessible to the public through the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office, subject to certain statutory exceptions.

Certified copies of the divorce decree, however, carry additional procedural requirements. While the decree itself is a public document, certified copies may require payment of a fee and, in some circumstances, identification from the requesting party. Certain portions of a divorce file may be restricted from public view, including:

Financial affidavits and supporting financial disclosures
Records involving minor children, including parenting plans and child support worksheets, which may be sealed or partially restricted
Any documents sealed by court order pursuant to judicial discretion
Sensitive personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers, which courts are required to redact under court rules

The Colorado Judicial Branch's Access Guide to Public Records provides a comprehensive overview of which court records are available to the public and which categories are subject to restricted access under current law.

How To Find a Divorce Record In El Paso County in 2026

Members of the public seeking a divorce record in El Paso County may obtain it through several official channels. The primary repository for these records is the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office, located at the El Paso County Judicial Building.

Steps to obtain a divorce record in person:

Visit the Clerk's Office at 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Room S101, during public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Provide the full legal names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was finalized.
Complete the official Record/Document Request Form available at the clerk's counter or online through the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
Pay any applicable copy or certification fees at the time of the request.
Receive the record in person or, if the file must be retrieved from storage, arrange for mail delivery.

Steps to submit a written or mailed request:

Download and complete the Record/Document Request Form from the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
Include the case number (if known), full names of both parties, and the year of the divorce decree.
Enclose a check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court for applicable fees.
Mail the completed form to: El Paso County District Court Clerk, 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

How To Look Up Divorce Records in El Paso County Online?

Members of the public may search for El Paso County divorce case information through the Colorado Judicial Branch's online case management system. The Colorado Courts E-Filing and case search portal, known as the Integrated Colorado Courts E-Filing System (ICCES), allows registered users to search for civil and domestic relations case records by party name or case number.

Access the ICCES public portal at courts.state.co.us to search available case index information.
Search results will display case numbers, filing dates, party names, and case status for domestic relations matters filed in El Paso County District Court.
Full document-level access through ICCES may require registration and, for certain document types, payment of per-page fees.
The Colorado Judicial Branch's Access Guide to Public Records outlines which documents are available electronically and which must be requested directly from the clerk.

Note that not all historical records are available online. Cases filed prior to the implementation of electronic filing systems may only be accessible by submitting a written request to the clerk's office.

How To Find Divorce Records for Free In El Paso County?

Certain divorce record information in El Paso County is accessible at no cost through official channels. Members of the public may inspect — without charge — the public index of court cases at the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office during regular business hours.

In-person inspection: Any member of the public may visit the clerk's office at 270 S. Tejon St., Room S101, and request to view a divorce case file. Inspection of the physical file is generally provided at no cost; fees apply only when copies are requested.
Online case index search: The Colorado Courts public case search tool provides free access to basic case index information, including party names, case numbers, and filing dates, without requiring account registration.
Self-Help Center: The El Paso County Judicial Building's Self-Help Center, located in Room S101, offers free assistance to members of the public navigating court records and domestic relations filings. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fees are assessed when certified copies or printed documents are requested. Per-page copy fees and certification fees are established by the Colorado Judicial Branch and are subject to periodic revision.

What's Included in a Divorce Record In El Paso County

A divorce record in El Paso County constitutes the complete case file maintained by the District Court Clerk and may include a range of documents generated throughout the dissolution proceeding. The specific contents vary depending on the complexity of the case and whether the parties reached a settlement or proceeded to trial.

Common documents found within an El Paso County divorce record include:

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — the initiating document filed by the petitioner
Summons — the formal notice served upon the respondent
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage — the final court order legally ending the marriage
Separation Agreement or Stipulation — a negotiated agreement addressing property division, debt allocation, and spousal maintenance
Parenting Plan — if minor children are involved, detailing custody and parenting time arrangements
Child Support Worksheet — calculations establishing child support obligations
Permanent Orders — court orders addressing all final issues in the case
Motions and Responses — any interim filings made during the proceeding
Financial Disclosures — sworn statements of income, assets, and liabilities (portions may be restricted)
Certificates of Service — documentation confirming proper legal notice to all parties

How To Get Proof of Divorce In El Paso County?

Proof of divorce in El Paso County is most commonly obtained in the form of a certified copy of the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage issued by the El Paso County District Court. A certified copy bears the official court seal and the clerk's certification, making it legally recognized for purposes such as remarriage, name change, and government benefit applications.

To obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree:

Complete the Record/Document Request Form available through the Colorado Judicial Branch.
Submit the form in person at the Clerk's Office, Room S101, 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, or by mail to the same address.
Provide the case number, full names of both parties, and the year the decree was entered.
Pay the applicable certification fee. As of the current fee schedule, the clerk charges a per-page copy fee plus a certification fee; requestors should confirm current amounts directly with the clerk's office at (719) 452-5000.
Receive the certified copy in person or by mail, depending on the submission method.

Colorado does not issue a separate "divorce certificate" through the state vital records office in the same manner as birth or death certificates. The certified court decree serves as the official proof of divorce recognized under Colorado law.

Can a Divorce Be Confidential In El Paso County?

Certain components of an El Paso County divorce proceeding may be designated as confidential or sealed, though complete confidentiality of an entire divorce case is uncommon under Colorado law. Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-72-204, specific categories of public records may be withheld from public inspection when disclosure would be contrary to the public interest or when a court has entered a sealing order.

Circumstances under which divorce records or portions thereof may be treated as confidential include:

Court-ordered sealing: A party may petition the court to seal specific documents or the entire case file. The court evaluates such requests on a case-by-case basis, balancing the public's right of access against the privacy interests of the parties.
Records involving minor children: Certain documents related to child custody evaluations, guardian ad litem reports, and mental health assessments may be restricted from public access by statute or court rule.
Domestic violence cases: Cases involving allegations of domestic violence may have specific identifying information, such as the protected party's address, withheld from public records.
Financial records: Detailed financial affidavits and exhibits may be subject to restricted access to protect sensitive personal financial information.

Members of the public who encounter a sealed case or restricted document will be informed by the clerk's office that the record is not available for public inspection.

How Long Does a Divorce Take In El Paso County?

The duration of a divorce proceeding in El Paso County varies considerably depending on the nature of the case, the level of agreement between the parties, and current court caseload. Colorado law imposes a mandatory minimum waiting period of 91 days from the date the respondent is served with the petition before a decree of dissolution may be entered, as established under Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-106.

Approximate timeframes by case type are as follows:

Uncontested divorce (full agreement): Typically resolved within 3 to 6 months from the date of filing, assuming all required documents are properly submitted and the 91-day waiting period has elapsed.
Contested divorce (disputed issues): Cases involving disputes over property division, spousal maintenance, or parenting arrangements may take 12 to 24 months or longer, depending on the complexity of the issues and the court's scheduling availability.
Default divorce (respondent does not respond): May be finalized within 4 to 6 months after the respondent's deadline to respond has passed and all required filings are complete.

Factors that may extend the timeline include:

Disputes requiring mediation or a formal hearing
Complex asset division, including business valuations or retirement account division
Child custody evaluations ordered by the court
High volume of pending cases in the El Paso County District Court docket
Incomplete or improperly filed documentation

How Long Does El Paso County Keep Divorce Records?

El Paso County District Court maintains divorce records in accordance with the Colorado Judicial Branch's official records retention schedule. Under current Colorado court records retention policies, dissolution of marriage case files are classified as permanent records and are retained indefinitely by the court.

Decree of Dissolution and final orders: Retained permanently as part of the official court record.
Complete case files: Maintained for a minimum period established by the Colorado Judicial Department's records retention schedule; older files may be transferred to archival storage but remain retrievable upon request.
Electronic records: Cases filed through the ICCES e-filing system are maintained in the court's electronic records management system and are accessible through the clerk's office.

Members of the public seeking records from older cases should contact the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office directly at (719) 452-5000 to confirm availability and any retrieval procedures for archived files.

How To Get a Divorce In El Paso County

Initiating a divorce in El Paso County requires filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the El Paso County District Court. At least one spouse must have been a resident of Colorado for a minimum of 91 days prior to filing, as required under Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-106.

Steps to file for divorce in El Paso County:

Determine residency eligibility: Confirm that at least one spouse meets the 91-day Colorado residency requirement.
Obtain the required forms: Dissolution of marriage forms are available through the Colorado Judicial Branch's JDF (Judicial Department Form) series. Forms may be obtained at the Self-Help Center, Room S101, El Paso County Judicial Building, or downloaded from the Colorado Courts website.
Complete and file the petition: Submit the completed Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (JDF 1101) and all required accompanying forms to the Clerk's Office, Room S101, 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Pay the filing fee: The current filing fee for a dissolution of marriage in Colorado District Court is subject to periodic adjustment; the clerk's office at (719) 452-5000 can confirm the current amount. Fee waiver applications are available for qualifying individuals.
Serve the respondent: The petitioner must arrange for proper legal service of the petition and summons upon the other spouse in accordance with Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
Attend required hearings: The court will schedule an initial status conference and, if necessary, permanent orders hearings. Uncontested cases may be resolved by affidavit without a hearing.
Receive the decree: Upon resolution of all issues and expiration of the 91-day waiting period, the court will enter the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.

El Paso County District Court — Self-Help Center 270 S. Tejon St., Room S101, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 452-5000 El Paso County | Colorado Judicial Branch

How To Get Divorce Papers In El Paso County

Divorce papers — including both blank forms for initiating a proceeding and copies of documents from an existing case — are obtainable through the El Paso County District Court and the Colorado Judicial Branch's official resources.

To obtain blank divorce forms:

Visit the Self-Help Center at the El Paso County Judicial Building, Room S101, 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Download the complete JDF dissolution of marriage packet directly from the Colorado Courts website at courts.state.co.us, which provides all required forms for an uncontested or contested dissolution.

To obtain copies of documents from an existing divorce case:

Submit a completed Record/Document Request Form to the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office, either in person or by mail.
Provide the case number, names of both parties, and the specific documents requested.
Pay applicable per-page copy fees and, if a certified copy is required, the certification fee.
The clerk's office processes requests during regular business hours; turnaround time varies based on whether the file is in active storage or archived.

El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office 270 S. Tejon St., Room S101, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (719) 452-5000 El Paso County | Colorado Judicial Branch