Colorado Divorce Filing Fees Guide
Understand the basic court filing fees for divorce in Colorado, what they cover, and how they fit into the total cost of a case.
Court Costs
What filing fees usually include
Colorado divorce cases generally begin with a court filing fee paid to the clerk when the petition is submitted. Additional costs may apply later depending on service, motions, copies, or other case activity. Colorado filing fees increased in 2025 under HB 2024-1286, so parties should confirm current amounts before filing.
Petitioner fee
The petitioner usually pays the case-opening filing fee when submitting the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. This is the main fee required to start the divorce and is separate from attorney fees, mediation, and other professional expenses.
Response fee
If the other spouse files a formal Response, the responding party may also need to pay a court filing fee. Whether a response fee applies can depend on the filing made and current court schedules, so checking the official Colorado fee list is important.
Service and certification costs
Parties may also face costs for serving papers through a sheriff, private process server, or other approved method. Additional charges can apply for certified copies, certification of court records, or other clerk-issued documents needed for financial, name-change, or enforcement purposes.
Fee waiver eligibility
Some filers may qualify for a fee waiver if they cannot afford court costs. Eligibility is generally based on income, public benefits, or financial hardship, and the court reviews the request before granting relief from some filing-related fees.
County court references
Divorce cases are generally filed in the Colorado district court for the county where one of the spouses lives. County court websites and local clerk offices may provide filing instructions, self-help information, and local administrative details, but statewide fee schedules and waiver forms should still be confirmed through the Colorado Judicial Branch.
Official resources: Colorado Court Filing Fees and Colorado Fee Waiver Information.
Planning
Budget beyond the filing fee
Many people focus only on the amount paid to start the case, but total divorce costs often grow from several smaller expenses over time.
If the other party must be formally served, if documents need to be refiled, or if additional hearings are required, the overall budget can increase.
A practical approach is to plan for the filing fee first, then leave room for related court and process costs so there are fewer surprises later.