Family Law (Divorce & Custody) in Colorado
Family law covers divorce, parenting, and support. Colorado is a no-fault state that calls divorce a 'dissolution of marriage,' replaces the word 'custody' with the 'allocation of parental responsibilities,' and sets child support with statewide guidelines. This hub explains each, plus where cases are filed and how to find local help.
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 24, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
Colorado family law is governed by the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act (C.R.S. Title 14, Article 10). A few things surprise people: Colorado is no-fault — you never have to prove wrongdoing, only that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” — and there’s a 91-day waiting period before a divorce can be final. Colorado also dropped the word “custody” entirely, using the allocation of parental responsibilities (parenting time plus decision-making) instead. Child support follows statewide guidelines based on both parents’ incomes and overnights. The guides below walk through divorce, parenting, and support, and how to find local help.
Guides
- Child Support in Colorado
Colorado calculates child support with statewide guidelines built on an income-shares model — both parents' combined incomes and the number of overnights with each parent factor in to produce a presumptive amount. The guideline result is a rebuttable presumption, parties file a child support worksheet, and orders can be modified when there's a substantial and continuing change in circumstances.
- Colorado Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)
Colorado is a no-fault state and calls divorce a 'dissolution of marriage' — the only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. At least one spouse must have lived in Colorado for 91 days, and a decree can't enter until 91 days after the court gets jurisdiction over the other spouse. Marital property is divided equitably (not necessarily equally), and spousal maintenance follows an advisory statutory guideline.
- Child Custody in Colorado (Allocation of Parental Responsibilities)
Colorado no longer uses the word 'custody.' Instead it allocates parental responsibilities (APR), which splits into parenting time (when the child is with each parent) and decision-making responsibility (major decisions about education, health, and religion). Courts decide based on the best interests of the child, with paramount consideration to the child's safety, and there's no presumption favoring either parent.
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