How to Get a Certified Copy of Your Colorado Divorce Decree

Almost every post-divorce task in Colorado — changing your name at the SSA, updating your driver's license, dividing retirement accounts, transferring a property title — requires an original certified copy of your Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (JDF 1116). Photocopies and scanned PDFs will be rejected by federal and state agencies.

Here is how to get certified copies and how many you actually need.

Where to Request Certified Copies

Your divorce decree is held by the district court clerk's office in the county where your divorce was filed. This is not the Colorado Department of Public Health — CDPHE maintains vital records (birth, death), but divorce records stay with the issuing court.

Contact the clerk's office directly. Most Colorado district courts allow you to request copies:

• In person at the clerk's counter — fastest option, often same-day
• By mail with a written request, a check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope
• Online through the Colorado Judicial Branch eFiling system (not available in all counties)

You will need to provide your full name, your ex-spouse's full name, the case number, and the approximate date the decree was entered.

How Much Does a Certified Copy Cost?

Certified copy fees vary by county but typically run about $20 per copy. Some counties charge a per-page fee for longer documents. Call the clerk's office to confirm the exact amount before mailing a check.

How Many Copies Do You Need?

Order at least three certified copies upfront — possibly more depending on your situation. Each of these agencies requires its own original:

• Social Security Administration — for name change processing (Form SS-5)
• Colorado DMV — for driver's license name update
• Mortgage lender — for refinancing into your sole name
• Retirement plan administrator — for QDRO or PERA DRO processing
• County clerk and recorder — for recording a quitclaim deed
• U.S. Department of State — for passport name change (Form DS-82 or DS-5504)

Some agencies return the original after verification, but not all. Having extras avoids the delay of ordering more mid-process.

What If You Cannot Find Your Case Number?

If you have lost your case number, the clerk's office can search by the names of both parties and the approximate year of filing. Colorado court records are public unless sealed by court order, so you do not need your ex-spouse's permission to request copies.

For divorces finalized before electronic filing was standard, the clerk may need additional time to locate physical files. Call ahead to check availability.

Certified vs. Regular Copies

A certified copy bears the court's official raised seal and the clerk's signature — this is what makes it legally valid for government agencies. A regular copy (unmarked photocopy) is useful for your personal records but will be rejected by the SSA, DMV, passport office, and plan administrators.

The Colorado After-Divorce Checklist maps every agency that needs a certified decree copy and the exact sequence to follow so you are not waiting on one agency before starting with the next.

See more Colorado guides →