Colorado Parenting Class for Divorce: Requirements, Providers, and Deadlines

Every parent involved in a Colorado divorce, legal separation, or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities case with minor children must complete a court-approved parenting education class. This isn't optional — under C.R.S. § 14-10-123.7, it's mandatory, and failing to complete it on time can delay your case.

The 42-Day Deadline

Once you receive the court's initial notice and order, you have 42 days to complete the course and file your certificate of completion with the court. Both parents must complete the class — and each parent pays their own fee. The court doesn't care whether you're the petitioner or respondent; the requirement is the same.

Approved Providers and Costs

Colorado doesn't operate a single statewide program. Multiple approved providers offer the course in different formats, and which ones your specific judicial district accepts can vary. Always verify with your local court before enrolling.

Online self-paced options are the most popular and widely accepted. Providers like Online-CourtClasses.com and the Center for Divorce Education offer fully online courses for $30 to $60. You can typically complete them in a single sitting — most run about four hours.

In-person and live webinar options are required by some specific judicial districts, including Douglas, Denver, and Elbert counties. Providers like CASA of the Pikes Peak Region (CFIT) and H.E.A.R.T. Counseling Center offer these formats, typically costing $50 to $65.

Spanish-language options are available from several providers, including Dr. Barb Hughson's Court Parent Class and Able 2 Adjust.

Sliding-scale fees may be available from some providers for parents who demonstrate financial hardship. However, and this trips up many people — court filing fee waivers (JDF 205) do not cover the parenting class fee. Even if the court waived your $230 filing fee, you still need to pay for the class out of pocket.

What the Class Covers

The mandatory class focuses on the child's perspective during separation and divorce. Typical curriculum includes:

• How parental conflict affects children at different developmental stages
• Communication strategies for co-parenting
• How to help children adjust to two households
• The impact of parental alienation and loyalty conflicts
• Age-appropriate ways to discuss the divorce with your children

The class is educational, not therapeutic. You won't be asked to share personal details about your case, and your performance isn't reported to the court — only whether you completed it.

What Happens If You Don't Complete It

If you miss the 42-day deadline without completing the class, the court may:

• Refuse to schedule your next hearing until the certificate is filed
• Issue an order to show cause, requiring you to explain the delay
• In extreme cases, sanction you for non-compliance

Don't treat this as a low-priority checkbox. Some parents postpone the class and then discover it's holding up their entire case — including temporary orders and financial disclosures that they urgently need.

Can Both Parents Take the Same Class?

You don't need to coordinate with your co-parent. Each parent independently enrolls, completes, and files their own certificate. You can take the same provider's course or different ones — the court doesn't require matching. You also don't attend together (and most parents prefer not to, especially in high-conflict situations).

When to Take It

The strategic move is to complete the class as soon as you file or are served — don't wait until the 42-day deadline approaches. Getting it done early removes one item from your compliance checklist and prevents it from becoming a bottleneck if your case moves faster than expected.

For parents looking to get organized with all the procedural requirements — from parenting class to financial disclosures to the JDF 1113 parenting plan — the Colorado Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a timeline tracker that maps every deadline and compliance step from filing through final orders.

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