Divorce records in Arapahoe County, Colorado, can be accessed through several channels depending on what you need and how far back the record dates. ArapahoeCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information. You can also obtain records directly from the district court that issued the decree, the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), which serves as the state vital records office.
Arapahoe County Divorce Records Search
In Arapahoe County, divorce case files are maintained by the Arapahoe County District Court, which operates under the Colorado Judicial Branch. The Arapahoe County government itself does not provide or archive divorce records — those are handled exclusively through the court system. The CDPHE maintains divorce certificates (a summary document confirming that a divorce occurred) for dissolutions granted statewide.
The court's divorce records collection typically includes:
- Divorce decrees and dissolution of marriage orders
- Separation agreements and property settlement documents
- Custody and parenting plan orders
- Motions, responses, and other case filings
The primary courthouse for Arapahoe County divorce matters is the Arapahoe County Justice Center. A second location, the Littleton County Courthouse, also handles certain court functions.
Arapahoe County Justice Center
For older or historical Arapahoe County divorce records, the Colorado State Archives holds records at an off-site repository. The Archives requires in-person requests and visits the repository approximately twice a week.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Arapahoe County
Colorado handles divorce (called "dissolution of marriage") through the district courts. In Arapahoe County, the Arapahoe County District Court is the court of record for all divorce cases. After a decree of dissolution is entered by a judge, the signed decree and related orders remain on file with the Clerk of Court at the district court.
The state vital records office — CDPHE — also maintains a divorce certificate for dissolutions finalized in Colorado. A divorce certificate is not the same as the full decree; it is a shorter document that confirms the divorce occurred, lists the parties, and shows the date and county of the decree.
Which office to contact
- For the full divorce decree, settlement agreement, custody orders, or other case documents: Contact the Arapahoe County District Court Clerk of Court. You can search for case docket information using the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search, or submit a Record/Document Request Form online.
- For a divorce certificate (verification that a divorce occurred): Contact the CDPHE Vital Records Section.
- For historical Arapahoe County divorce records: Contact the Colorado State Archives.
Arapahoe County District Court — Clerk of Court
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment — Vital Records
Note that the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's office references divorce records among its listed services, but the office directs requesters to the court system for actual divorce documents and filings.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Arapahoe County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Court record copy (standard, per page) | $0.25 | Same day to several business days |
| Certified copy of court document | $20.00 per document | Several business days |
| Online docket search (Colorado Judicial Branch) | Free | Immediate |
| Record/Document Request Form (Colorado Judicial Branch) | Varies by document type | 5–10 business days |
| Divorce certificate (CDPHE Vital Records) | $17.75 | 2–6 weeks (standard mail) |
| Colorado State Archives in-person request | Varies | Dependent on off-site retrieval schedule |