Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Colorado
A Colorado divorce is uncontested when both spouses agree on every issue: property, debt, and, if there are children, parenting time and support. Colorado's official petition form now uses the plain word divorce. But the law that governs the process still calls it dissolution of marriage. The case proceeds under that name in court. Colorado offers a real no-hearing path for the simplest agreed cases. Spouses with no minor children who agree on everything can file JDF 1018, an Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance. This lets the court enter the decree without either spouse showing up. Cases with children cannot use this form. They need a signed parenting plan instead.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist 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 together versus filing and serving
Both spouses can sign the Petition, JDF 1011, together as co-petitioners. This skips the summons and service steps entirely. It also starts Colorado's 91-day waiting period on the filing date itself.
If one spouse files alone, the other spouse still has to be served, sign a waiver of service, or otherwise appear in the case. The 91-day clock then starts from that later event, not the filing date. A jointly filed petition usually reaches its earliest possible decree date sooner than a one-files-and-serves case, even when both are filed the same day.
The affidavit decree without appearance
Colorado has no separate simplified-dissolution statute with a marriage-length or asset cap. Instead, it has JDF 1018, the Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance. Spouses can use it only if they have no minor children of the marriage and agree on every issue.
Filing JDF 1018 lets the court sign the final decree without a hearing and without either spouse appearing in court. Couples with minor children cannot use this form. They need a signed Parenting Plan, JDF 1113, and typically still need to address parenting time and support before the court will finalize the case.
Document checklist
Start with the Petition for Divorce or Legal Separation, JDF 1011. Add a written separation agreement covering property and debt. Couples with minor children add a Parenting Plan, JDF 1113, and a child support worksheet.
Couples without children who agree on everything add the Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance, JDF 1018, to finish without a hearing. A spouse who cannot afford the filing fee can file JDF 205, Motion to Waive Fees, with the court clerk, along with JDF 206, the matching proposed order.
Waiting period and residency
Colorado law sets a 91-day minimum. It runs from the date the court gets jurisdiction over the respondent to the date it can enter a decree, under C.R.S. section 14-10-106. That start date is either the joint filing date or the date the other spouse is served or waives service, whichever applies. It is 91 days, not 90.
At least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before filing. If the case involves minor children, they generally need to have lived in Colorado for 182 days, or since birth if younger than six months, before the court can decide parenting time.
Sources: C.R.S. Title 14, Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce (official guide), JDF 1011, Petition for Divorce or Legal Separation, JDF 205, Motion to Waive Fees, Colorado Judicial Branch, self-help resources, Colorado Judicial Branch, divorce with children topic guide
Not independently confirmed
- A direct link to JDF 1018, Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance, and JDF 1113, the Parenting Plan form, was not independently loaded; both are described in the JDF 1010 guide and the Judicial Branch's forms catalog. Confirm the current form version on coloradojudicial.gov before filing.
- Whether a case with minor children can ever avoid a final hearing entirely, beyond needing a signed parenting plan, was not fully confirmed and may depend on the judicial district. Confirm with the filing district court.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Colorado: frequently asked questions
Do we have to go to court for an uncontested Colorado divorce?+
Not necessarily. Spouses with no minor children who agree on everything can file JDF 1018, the Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance. This lets the court sign the final decree without a hearing. Cases with minor children cannot use this form. They generally need a signed parenting plan addressed before the court will finalize the case. Even then, a hearing is not always required.
What is the waiting period for a Colorado divorce?+
At least 91 days, under C.R.S. section 14-10-106. The clock starts differently depending on how the case was filed. If both spouses file together as co-petitioners, it starts on the filing date. If one spouse files and later serves the other, it starts on the date of service or the date the other spouse signs a waiver, not the filing date.
Can both spouses file a Colorado divorce petition together?+
Yes. Both spouses can sign the Petition, JDF 1011, together as co-petitioners. This skips the summons and service steps, since neither spouse needs to formally serve the other. It also starts the 91-day waiting period immediately at filing, rather than waiting for a later service or appearance date.
What forms do we need for an uncontested Colorado divorce?+
Start with JDF 1011, the Petition for Divorce or Legal Separation, plus a written separation agreement. Couples with minor children add JDF 1113, the Parenting Plan, and a child support worksheet. Couples without children who agree on everything can add JDF 1018, the Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance, to avoid a hearing.
Can I get the Colorado filing fee waived?+
Yes, if your household income is at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or you receive certain public benefits. File JDF 205, Motion to Waive Fees, along with JDF 206, the matching proposed order. For a divorce case, file these in person or by mail with the court clerk. Online fee-waiver filing is limited to eviction cases.
What is the residency requirement for a Colorado divorce?+
At least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days immediately before filing. If the case involves minor children, the children generally need 182 days of Colorado residence, or since birth if under six months old, before the court can decide parenting time and responsibilities for them.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist 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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