Reviewed August 2026
Cost and Filing Fees in Colorado
A Petition for Divorce, Separation, Annulment, or declaratory judgment in Colorado costs $260 statewide. This fee comes from the filing fee schedule published by the Colorado Judicial Branch and set by C.R.S. 13-32-101. Responding to a divorce petition costs $146. Colorado's district courts operate under one statewide judicial branch, so this fee stays the same no matter which county you file in. If you cannot afford the fee, Colorado's Regular Fee Waiver lets you file a Motion to Waive Fees, form JDF 205. You qualify based on the income table Colorado publishes for fee waivers, which is updated annually, or by being enrolled in certain public benefits programs. Beyond the filing fee, you will also need to pay to have your spouse served with the petition. This page covers what the Colorado Judicial Branch publishes directly, and notes what depends on your judicial district.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how cost and filing fees works under Colorado law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Colorado paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Filing fee: $260 statewide, response $146
The Colorado Judicial Branch's published List of Fees sets the filing fee for a Petition for Divorce, Separation (Legal Separation), Annulment (invalidity), or a declaratory judgment at $260. This cites C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(a),(a.5),(5)(a)(I-X),(9). A Response to a divorce petition costs $146. Related domestic relations filings carry their own fees: a Petition for Custody (Allocation of Parental Responsibilities) costs $252, a Petition to Prevent Removal of a Child costs $265, and a Motion to Modify a Decree or Final Order (after 60 days) costs $105. Colorado's district courts operate under one statewide judicial branch, so these fees do not vary by county.
Fee waiver: Motion to Waive Fees (JDF 205)
Colorado's Regular Fee Waiver lets you file a Motion to Waive Fees, form JDF 205, along with an Order Re: Court Fees, form JDF 206. You qualify under the income table published in Chief Justice Directive 98-01, which is updated annually, or by being enrolled in a qualifying public benefits program such as Aid to the Blind Colorado, Aid to the Needy and Disabled, Old Age Pension, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), or SNAP. Under the January 13, 2026 income table, a household of one qualifies at or below $2,078 per month ($24,938 per year), and the threshold rises with household size. You generally must file fee waivers in person or by mail rather than through the state's e-filing system, except when responding to an eviction case.
Service of process costs
After filing, the petition and summons must be formally served on your spouse, typically by a sheriff or a private process server. Your spouse can also sign an acceptance of service to avoid the cost. The Colorado Judicial Branch does not publish one statewide dollar amount for sheriff or process server fees. Confirm the current cost with the sheriff's office or process server in the county where your spouse will be served.
Parenting classes and mediation
Colorado judicial districts commonly require parents in a case involving minor children to complete a parenting class. The Fee Waiver program separately references instructions (form JDF 211) for requesting reduced mediation fees, which implies mediation and parenting class costs exist locally. Each judicial district sets its own class requirement and cost rather than the Colorado Judicial Branch publishing one statewide figure. Check with the district court where your case is filed.
What drives the total cost up
Colorado's fee schedule itself shows that contested activity adds cost. A Motion to Modify a Decree or Final Order runs $105, and adding a new party as an intervenor costs $264. Beyond court fees, a contested divorce involving discovery, additional motions, contested hearings, or expert witnesses such as appraisers or parental responsibility evaluators adds expense well beyond the base $260 filing fee. Colorado's courts do not publish average attorney fee figures. This page does not estimate a total cost, since that depends on how contested the case becomes.
Sources: Colorado Judicial Branch: List of Fees (domestic relations filing fees), Colorado Judicial Branch: Fee Waivers (JDF 205 / JDF 206), Colorado Judicial Branch: Self-Help Resources
Not independently confirmed
- Statewide average or range for sheriff/process server service cost
- Whether a parenting class is mandatory statewide vs. by judicial district, and its cost
- Any e-filing convenience fee for divorce case documents through Colorado Courts E-filing (CCE)
Cost and Filing Fees in Colorado: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Colorado?+
The statewide filing fee for a Petition for Divorce, Separation, or Annulment in Colorado is $260. Responding to a petition costs $146. Both figures come from the Colorado Judicial Branch's published List of Fees under C.R.S. 13-32-101, and apply the same way across all Colorado district courts.
Can I get my Colorado divorce filing fee waived?+
Yes. Colorado's Regular Fee Waiver lets you file a Motion to Waive Fees, form JDF 205, if your household income falls at or below the figures in Colorado's annually updated fee-waiver income table, or if you are enrolled in a qualifying public benefit like SSI, TANF, or SNAP. You also file an Order Re: Court Fees, form JDF 206.
How much does it cost to serve divorce papers in Colorado?+
Service is typically done by a sheriff or private process server. Your spouse can also sign an acceptance of service to avoid the cost. The Colorado Judicial Branch does not publish one statewide dollar amount for this. Confirm the current cost with the sheriff's office or process server in your county.
Do I have to pay for a parenting class in a Colorado divorce with kids?+
Many Colorado judicial districts require a parenting class when a case involves minor children. Colorado's fee waiver program also references reduced mediation fee requests (form JDF 211). Each judicial district sets its own class requirement and cost rather than one statewide figure, so check with your district court.
What makes a Colorado divorce cost more than the base filing fee?+
Contested issues add cost. Colorado's own fee schedule charges $105 for a Motion to Modify a decree and $264 to add a party as an intervenor. A contested case involving discovery, hearings, or expert witnesses adds further expense beyond the $260 base filing fee.
Does Colorado publish average attorney fees for divorce?+
No. The Colorado Judicial Branch does not publish average or typical attorney fee amounts for divorce cases. Attorney fees vary by firm and by how contested the case becomes, and the courts do not track or report this figure.
This page is general information about cost and filing fees in Colorado, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Colorado's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Colorado. Virdix does not prepare or file Colorado divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Colorado.
More Colorado divorce guides
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