The papers, the deadlines, the fear of losing time with your kids or your share of the house — in Colorado it moves on its own clock, and the child-support math just changed for 2026. Before you sign a separation agreement, before the 91-day waiting period runs against you, or before you agree to a support number off an outdated calculator, talk it through. Call 1-844-690-0555 for a free, 24/7 conversation with an AI assistant trained on Colorado's Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act and the federal law that overlaps it. No income test, no web form, no judgment — in plain English or Spanish. It's legal information, not legal advice, and creates no attorney-client relationship.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Colorado.
Right now, do three things. First, do not sign any separation agreement or parenting plan until you understand what you're giving up — in Colorado, once a district court approves these they are hard to undo. Second, if you fear for your safety, you can ask any district or county court for an emergency (ex parte) temporary civil protection order today under C.R.S. § 13-14-104.5, and the court must set the hearing on a permanent order within 14 days. Third, write down the date you (or your spouse) became domiciled in Colorado, and whether your kids have lived here 182 days — those dates control whether you can file and whether a Colorado court can decide custody yet. Then call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, and we'll walk you through your specific next step.
Colorado is one of only a handful of states that still fully recognizes common-law marriage. There's no license, no ceremony, no paperwork — under In re Marriage of Hogsett & Neale (Colo. 2021), if you and your partner mutually agreed to be married and then acted like it, a court can find you legally married for every purpose. The shock lands at the end: you can only separate through a formal divorce in district court under C.R.S. Title 14, with the same equitable-distribution and maintenance rules as any marriage — and the appreciation on what you brought in may be on the table. People discover this during a breakup, a death, or a benefits fight, at the worst possible moment. If you're not sure where you stand, call 1-844-690-0555 first — free, and it's legal information, not legal advice.
If money is tight, Colorado has real, free help for family-law matters — divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence. These are independent organizations, not Legal Hotline, and many have income limits. Start here, and call us anytime to figure out where you fit.
How long does it take to get divorced in Colorado?
There's a hard floor: a Colorado divorce decree cannot enter until at least 91 days after the court has jurisdiction over your spouse — counted from service, a signed waiver of service, or the filing of a joint petition. That 91-day waiting period can't be waived or shortened, and contested cases over property or kids take much longer. To map your specific timeline and the steps in between, call 1-844-690-0555 — it's free and available 24/7.
Is Colorado a 50/50 divorce state?
No. Colorado is an equitable-distribution state under C.R.S. § 14-10-113, meaning the court divides marital property 'as it deems just' — often near 50/50, but not automatically. And the increase in value of property you owned before the marriage can itself be marital and divisible. If you brought a house or business in, this matters a lot; call 1-844-690-0555 free and we'll explain how it could apply to you.
Do I have to live in Colorado before I can file for divorce?
Yes. At least one spouse must be domiciled in Colorado for 91 days before filing under C.R.S. § 14-10-106 — and 'domiciled' means more than just living here; it means intent to make Colorado home, shown by things like a Colorado driver's license, voter registration, or state tax return. If kids are involved, they generally need to have lived here 182 days for a Colorado court to take custody jurisdiction. Not sure your dates qualify? Call 1-844-690-0555, free, 24/7, before you file.
Does it matter who cheated when we divide our property?
Legally, no. Colorado divides property and sets maintenance 'without regard to marital misconduct,' so an affair doesn't earn your spouse a smaller share or you a larger one. It can feel deeply unfair, but the financial outcome turns on income, contributions, and need — not blame. To understand what will actually move your numbers, call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information, not legal advice.
How is child support calculated in Colorado in 2026?
Colorado uses the Income Shares Model under C.R.S. § 14-10-115, and HB25-1159 changed the math statewide as of March 1, 2026 — the schedule now reaches $40,000 combined monthly adjusted gross income, there's a self-support reserve protecting a low-earning parent, and the parenting-time credit now counts from the first overnight (the old 93-overnight cliff is gone). Older online calculators are out of date. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to get the current picture.
Colorado doesn't say 'custody' anymore — what do I actually ask for?
Right. Since 1998 Colorado calls it the 'allocation of parental responsibilities' (APR) under § 14-10-124 — that's decision-making authority plus parenting time, decided on best-interest factors, with a policy favoring continuing contact with both parents unless there's a safety concern. The vocabulary trips people up on the forms. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, and we'll translate it into plain English for your situation.
How do I get an emergency protection order in Colorado?
You can go to any district or county court and request an ex parte temporary civil protection order under C.R.S. § 13-14-104.5 — the court can issue it the same day if it finds an imminent danger. It must then set the hearing on a permanent order within 14 days, and an order based on domestic violence involving force or its threat requires the other person to relinquish firearms and ammunition. For help understanding the process and the hearing, call 1-844-690-0555, free, any hour.
We never had a wedding — are we married under common law in Colorado?
Possibly. Colorado still recognizes common-law marriage; under In re Marriage of Hogsett & Neale (Colo. 2021), if you mutually agreed to be married and then held yourselves out that way, a court can find you legally married with no license or ceremony — and you'd need a formal district-court divorce to separate and divide property. It's one of Colorado's biggest surprises. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to talk through where you stand; it's legal information, not legal advice.
My ex won't pay child support — what can I do in Colorado?
Colorado has real teeth. Through Colorado Child Support Services and the Family Support Registry, support is collected by income withholding — once an order is served, the employer withholds and remits within 7 business days, and an employer that fails to withhold is liable for the missed amounts. Unpaid support can lead to driver's-license suspension, tax-refund intercept, passport denial, liens, and a contempt citation (JDF 1141, $47 fee) carrying up to 180 days jail per violation. To find the fastest route for your case, call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7.
Can I get spousal maintenance, and how much?
Maybe. For marriages of three or more years where combined annual adjusted gross income is $240,000 or less, Colorado's advisory guideline under § 14-10-114 is 40% of the higher earner's monthly adjusted gross income minus 50% of the lower earner's, with duration scaling from about 11 months up toward open-ended for long marriages. It's advisory, so a judge can deviate with written findings, and a domestic-violence factor added in 2025 (SB25-116) now applies. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for a clear read on your situation.
Is the appreciation on my house or business at risk in a Colorado divorce?
It can be. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-113, property you owned before the marriage stays your separate property — but the increase in its value during the marriage is treated as marital property and can be divided. So the home or business you 'brought in' may be safe as to its original value while its growth is on the table. This single rule catches more Coloradans off guard than any other; call 1-844-690-0555 free and we'll explain how it could hit your situation.
Does Colorado handle immigration issues in my family law case?
No — immigration is federal, decided by USCIS and the immigration courts (EOIR), not by a Colorado state court. A Colorado divorce, custody, or protection-order case can still affect an immigration matter (for example, a protection order or a marriage-based petition), but a state judge can't grant or change immigration status. We can give you free legal information on how the two interact and where to turn for the federal side. Call 1-844-690-0555, free, 24/7.
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General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
The 91-day clock, the 2026 HB25-1159 child-support rules, equitable distribution of separate-property appreciation, a 14-day protection-order hearing — in Colorado a single missed deadline or a number off an old calculator can cost you your home, your money, or time with your kids. Before any of that, get free, clear answers. Call 1-844-690-0555 now — 24/7, no income test, no web form, in plain English or Spanish. It's legal information, not legal advice, and creates no attorney-client relationship, but it's the fastest way to know your next move and reach a Colorado attorney if you need one.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.