Quick answer: Colorado requires that one spouse has been domiciled in the state for 91 days before the case starts. The court can enter a decree only when 91 days or more have elapsed since it acquired jurisdiction over the respondent by service, a joint petition or an appearance, and when it finds the marriage irretrievably broken.
This Colorado divorce timeline calculator applies C.R.S. 14-10-106 and 14-10-110. Enter the dates you know: it shows the earliest legal dates for filing and for a decree, nothing more. How long a real case takes depends on the court and on whether the spouses agree.
Colorado divorce timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Colorado says |
|---|---|
| Domicile before filing | One party domiciled in Colorado for 91 days next preceding the commencement of the proceeding (C.R.S. 14-10-106(1)(a)(I)) |
| Waiting period | 91 days or more elapsed since the court acquired jurisdiction over the respondent by process, joinder as copetitioner or appearance (14-10-106(1)(a)(III)) |
| Ground | The marriage is irretrievably broken; presumed if both state it or one states it and the other does not deny it (14-10-110) |
| If one spouse denies it | The court makes a finding or continues the matter not less than 35 nor more than 63 days (14-10-110(2)) |
| Other issues | The court may defer parental responsibilities, support, maintenance and property until after the decree (14-10-106(1)(b)) |
| Legal separation | The court grants it instead if a party requests it and the other does not object (14-10-106(2)) |
How does the Colorado divorce timeline work?
- Residence and where to file. See Colorado divorce residency and where to file.
- Agreement or dispute. See uncontested versus contested divorce in Colorado.
- Grounds. See the grounds for divorce in Colorado.
What does this divorce timeline calculator check?
The calculator adds 91 days to the date Colorado domicile began and tells you whether your filing date is early. It adds 91 days to the date the court acquired jurisdiction over your spouse, which is the filing date for a joint petition, and treats that date as the earliest for a decree. If you leave that date blank, it assumes the filing date. It cannot say how long the court will take or whether a hearing will be continued. Support and custody questions that arise during the case are covered by the Colorado alimony calculator and the Colorado parenting time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the waiting period for divorce in Colorado?
The court can enter a decree only when 91 days or more have elapsed since it acquired jurisdiction over the respondent.
How long must I live in Colorado before filing for divorce?
One spouse must have been domiciled in Colorado for 91 days next preceding the start of the case.
Does the 91-day wait start at filing in Colorado?
It starts when the court acquires jurisdiction over the respondent: service, a joint petition or an appearance.
Does Colorado require a separation period before divorce?
No. The ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken, with no separation period.
Does the calculator tell me how long my Colorado divorce will take?
No. It shows only the legal minimums; the real timeline depends on the court and on whether the spouses agree.
Official sources
- C.R.S. 14-10-106: dissolution of marriage; legal separation
- C.R.S. 14-10-110: irretrievable breakdown
- C.R.S. 14-10-107: commencement; pleadings; automatic temporary injunction
- C.R.S. 14-10-112: separation agreement
- C.R.S. 14-13-201: initial child-custody jurisdiction
- C.R.S. 14-13-102: definitions, including home state