Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in Colorado
Colorado divorce and custody cases go through district court. A party who needs support, parenting time, or property decisions settled before the case ends can file a motion for temporary orders. This motion asks the court to set an interim arrangement while the rest of the case, including the permanent orders hearing, is still pending. Colorado's district courts rely heavily on magistrates, not just district judges, to hear domestic relations motions. This includes many temporary orders hearings. Whether a magistrate or a judge hears a given motion depends on the parties' consent and the local court's assignment practice. Colorado also runs a statewide virtual courtroom program covering all 64 counties. Many family law hearings, including temporary orders hearings, can often be attended remotely. Availability is organized county by county through the Colorado Judicial Branch's own directory. Colorado's 22 judicial districts each set their own local practice standards, so procedures can differ between metro-area courts and rural districts.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings 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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Requesting temporary orders
In a Colorado divorce or allocation of parental responsibilities case, either party can file a motion for temporary orders. It asks the district court to decide issues such as temporary child support, spousal maintenance, parenting time, decision-making responsibility, or who stays in the family home. Colorado's Family Cases self-help resources list this step as part of the case process for divorce and separation, and for parental responsibility cases. The temporary order holds the household together during the litigation, but it does not decide the final outcome of the case. Parties typically must file a sworn financial statement alongside any motion touching on support, since the court needs current income information to rule.
Magistrates and district judges
Colorado district courts use magistrates extensively in domestic relations cases. Many temporary orders motions go to a magistrate first, rather than an elected district judge. Depending on the type of hearing, a party may need to consent before a magistrate can decide the matter. A party who withholds consent can generally have the case heard by a district judge instead. Which judicial officer gets assigned depends on the district and the type of motion. Parties should check the notice of hearing they receive after filing to see who was assigned. In busier metro districts, magistrates often handle the bulk of the family law motions docket to keep cases moving.
How a temporary orders hearing gets scheduled
After a motion for temporary orders is filed and served, the district court sets the matter for hearing according to that district's docket. Colorado's judicial districts each manage their own calendars, so scheduling speed varies from district to district. In cases involving disputes over parenting time or decision-making responsibility, the court may also bring in a Child and Family Investigator or Parental Responsibility Evaluator. That step can happen before or around the temporary orders hearing, which can affect timing. In more contested cases, a status or scheduling conference sometimes comes first.
Statewide virtual courtroom access
The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains a Virtual Courtrooms directory covering all 64 counties. It lets parties look up how to attend a hearing remotely in the county handling their case. This means many family law hearings, including temporary orders hearings, can be attended by video, depending on the courtroom and judicial officer assigned. Virtual access is organized county by county and courtroom by courtroom, not under one blanket statewide rule. Parties should confirm through the Judicial Branch's virtual courtroom directory, or the notice of hearing, whether their hearing will be remote, in person, or either. Access details, including the video platform link for a given courtroom, are typically posted well before the hearing date.
What happens at a temporary orders hearing
A temporary orders hearing addresses what should happen on an interim basis, not the final outcome of the case. Depending on the district and whether the request is contested, it may be a focused hearing with limited testimony and financial documentation. Some magistrates or judges decide largely on the written motion, response, and any sworn financial statements the parties file. Common subjects include interim parenting time and decision-making responsibility, temporary child support or spousal maintenance, and possession of the marital home or vehicles. The temporary order stays in effect until the court modifies it or the case concludes with permanent orders. Either parent can later ask the court to revisit temporary parenting time if circumstances genuinely change.
Sources: Colorado Judicial Branch, Family Cases self-help resources, Colorado Judicial Branch, Virtual Courtrooms Directory (statewide, all 64 counties), Colorado Judicial Branch, homepage
Not independently confirmed
- The specific statute governing temporary orders in Colorado domestic relations cases (commonly cited as C.R.S. section 14-10-108) was not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the statute for this page.
- The exact rules for when a party's consent is required before a magistrate can hear a domestic relations matter, versus when a magistrate can act without consent, were not independently confirmed for this page and can vary by judicial district.
- Whether temporary orders hearings specifically are presumed virtual, in person, or either in a given district was not confirmed; this depends on the courtroom and case per the Judicial Branch's own directory.
Court Hearings in Colorado: frequently asked questions
What is a motion for temporary orders in a Colorado divorce?+
It is a request asking the district court to decide interim issues, such as parenting time, decision-making responsibility, support, or possession of the home, while the case is pending. It is part of the standard case process listed in Colorado's Family Cases self-help resources. It does not decide the final outcome.
Does a magistrate or a judge hear temporary orders motions in Colorado?+
It can be either. Colorado district courts use magistrates extensively for domestic relations matters, including many temporary orders hearings. The parties' consent and local assignment practice affect whether a magistrate or a district judge handles a specific hearing. The notice of hearing identifies who is assigned.
Can I attend my Colorado family court hearing remotely?+
Often, yes. The Colorado Judicial Branch runs a statewide Virtual Courtrooms directory covering all 64 counties. Many hearings, including temporary orders hearings, can be attended by video. Availability depends on the specific courtroom and case, so check the Judicial Branch's directory or the hearing notice.
How long does a Colorado temporary order last?+
It stays in effect only while the case is pending, unless the court changes it earlier. Once the district court enters permanent orders at the end of the case, those replace the temporary arrangement. Either party can ask the court to modify a temporary order sooner if circumstances change significantly.
Is a hearing always required for temporary orders in Colorado?+
Not necessarily. Depending on the district and whether the request is contested, the court may decide the motion largely on the written filings and sworn financial statements. Or it may set a hearing with limited testimony. Local practice varies, so confirm scheduling with the district handling the case.
What can a Colorado temporary order cover?+
It can set interim parenting time and decision-making responsibility, temporary child support or spousal maintenance, and who has use of the home or vehicles. It is an interim arrangement, not the final resolution, and is replaced once the court enters permanent orders.
This page is general information about court hearings 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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