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Colorado law

Family Laws in Colorado.

Colorado is a no-fault divorce state — the sole ground is "irretrievably broken." Colorado requires only 91 days of residency before filing. Property is divided by equitable distribution. Colorado uses the term "allocation of parental responsibilities" rather than "custody," encompassing both parenting time and decision-making authority. The state uses an income shares model for child support and advisory (not presumptive) guidelines for spousal maintenance.

Last verified: 2026-02-25

State law

Statute of Limitations

91-day residency; 91-day cooling-off periodC.R.S. § 14-10-106

At least one spouse must be a Colorado resident for 91 days before filing. The court cannot enter a decree until 91 days after service of process or filing (whichever is later). For child custody jurisdiction, the child must have lived in Colorado for 182 consecutive days.

State law

Key Colorado Statutes

Grounds for DissolutionC.R.S. § 14-10-106

Marriage is "irretrievably broken" is the sole ground for divorce in Colorado. No fault-based grounds exist.

Property Division (Equitable Distribution)C.R.S. § 14-10-113

Marital property is divided equitably (fairly, but not necessarily equally). Separate property — owned before marriage, gifts, and inheritances — generally stays with the original owner.

Allocation of Parental ResponsibilitiesC.R.S. § 14-10-124

Colorado uses "allocation of parental responsibilities" rather than "custody." The court allocates parenting time and decision-making responsibilities based on the best interests of the child. Courts cannot consider bias regarding gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, or disability.

Child Support (Income Shares)C.R.S. § 14-10-115

Colorado uses the income shares model, considering both parents' gross incomes with adjustments for health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary expenses. Overnight parenting time also factors into the calculation.

Spousal Maintenance (Advisory Guidelines)C.R.S. § 14-10-114

Colorado provides advisory (not presumptive) maintenance guidelines for marriages of 3+ years with combined gross annual income of $240,000 or less. The formula is 40% of combined monthly adjusted gross income minus the lower earner's income. Duration is a percentage of the marriage length. Courts retain full discretion.

State law

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.

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