Key Steps in the 2026 Colorado Divorce Process

If you’re starting a Colorado divorce, it begins with filing a petition for dissolution of marriage, which requires you or your spouse to have lived in Colorado for 91 days beforehand.

Once your spouse is served, or you both file jointly, a mandatory 91-day waiting period begins before the court can finalize anything, no matter how quickly you agree on the details. Along the way, you will both complete mandatory financial disclosures, and if you have children, you will need to work out a parenting plan covering decision-making and parenting time. If you and your spouse agree on everything, your case can sometimes finalize without a court hearing at all; if you disagree on real issues, your case moves through negotiation, and if needed, a hearing before a judge. Your timeline depends almost entirely on how much you and your spouse already agree on going in.