Search free Summit County divorce records today to reveal information about annulled marriages. These records often tell when and where the divorce took place and explain why the couple broke up.
Divorce documents also offer insightful facts about each person involved and give details on child custody or support and how assets get divided among them. This resource guides citizens on how to find these divorce records for free in Summit County, Colorado.
How Do I Look Up Summit County Divorce Records?
Divorce records in Summit County can be searched through the Colorado Judicial Branch website.1 Here, you will find a section devoted to Summit County.
On this page, you will find two choices for making a public records request for accessing divorce records: an Electronic Request or a PDF Request Form you can fill out instead.2, 3
Nevertheless, opting for either of the options, you will need to provide the following details:
- First Name (Self)
- Last Name (Self)
- State
- County
- City
- Address
- Phone Number
- Case Number
- Case Type
You will also be required to provide as much information as possible for the record you are seeking, such as the names of the parties involved, when the case was filed, and so on. Make sure to also check the option of ‘Divorce Decree’ under the table that lists the options of the type of records you are looking for.
If you are going for the online form, you will just have to click on the submit button. However, if going for the physical form, you will have to mail it to the following address.
Summit Combined Courts
Attn: Records Division
Post Office Box 269
Breckenridge, Colorado 80424
Phone: 970-453-2241
You will also need to send in the required fees. Payments have to be mailed as checks or money order and payable in favor of the Summit County Clerk of Court’s Office.4
Copies of pages are $0.25 per piece while photographic copies cost $0.75 per copy. A written record of judgment has its own fee which stands at $25.00.
If you want a certified copy, then that costs $20.00 per document. A name search service is also available at a fee of $5.00. After submitting your request, you can expect the court’s response within five days.
If you are having any difficulty in filling out the form or in any other matter, you can always contact the Summit County Justice Center at the following:5
Summit County Justice Center
501 North Park Ave.,
Breckenridge, Colorado, 80424
Phone: 970-453-2272
Fax: 970-423-2150
Email: [email protected]
How To Search the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for Divorce Records Throughout the State
When you are looking for divorce papers in Summit County, sometimes your search can hit a dead end. This happens if the divorce took place somewhere else in Colorado. In such cases, Summit County record custodians would not have those records.
In such cases, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment can help.6 They keep a record of divorces all over the state. Here’s how you can find divorce records for any county within the state of Colorado:
- Firstly, find out which county clerk’s office registered the divorce. You can find this by using the Court Docket Search Tool on their website.7
- Once done, either go there in person or send them your request through mail.
- Then give some general details about the case which will speed up their search process like names involved, location and date of divorce etc.
- Lastly, bear in mind there could be a standard fee associated with the search, which can vary from county to county.
If you are looking for archived divorce records, then you will need to contact the Colorado State Archives.9 However, the data of all counties is not present in their divorce index database, just some. If you are searching for a county record that exists on the site, and it’s from the listed time, you can ask the State Archives for it.
You can make a records request by using their online submission form, sending an email, or mailing your request.10 The more details you give about the record you provide, the sooner it will be located. When you want to ask for a record through email or post, remember to provide the following details:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your telephone number
- Your email address, if you have one
- What kind of record you are in need of
- Case number that can help identify your requested record better
- Names of the parties involved
- Your best guess around the date of the record
- For divorce records exclusively, list what documents specifically you wish to acquire
- State clearly whether you require a certified copy or not
If the State Archives need more information from your side to find these documents then they will get in contact with you. However, if no response is received within 30 days after submitting the request, know that your request has been dismissed.
If you prefer using email, then send email requests to [email protected].
Mail requests have to be sent to the following address:
Colorado State Archives
Request Desk
1313 Sherman Street, Room – 120,
Denver, Colorado, 80203-2274
Phone: (303)866-2358
Requesting doesn’t cost any money. Neither does viewing records in person or when the officials cannot find the records you requested.
However, there are costs associated with making hard copies or digital versions of documents. For instance, decree packages cost $32.50 and include one printed copy of the decree.
If you request a complete divorce packet, then that costs $43.50 and includes one certified copy of the decree with all attachments. Apart from this, if you want a certified copy of the document, then that costs an extra $16.00 per record.
If the county record you are searching for isn’t listed, then in such cases, it can be in district court’s possession. If that is the case, then simply get in touch with the District Court that issued the divorce certificate originally to find the record.11 You can also find common law divorce records at district courts, as Colorado is among the few states that recognize common law marriages, as highlighted in C.R.S. § 14-2-109.5.12
Does Summit County Provide Divorces & Dissolutions of Marriage Information to the Public?
Divorce records serve as proof that a marriage has been annulled. They are usually available for the public to view. Decrees, on the other hand, provide more details. Yet, getting them can be hard in some states or areas.
The Colorado Open Records Act states that people can access government and court records, but they need to have a reason for seeing the documents.13 However, the act has some limits. Certain details, especially in public divorce records, can be hidden or partly removed because they may contain sensitive information.
This could cover things like:
- Details about young children
- Adoption or child custody facts
- Personal details of abused persons
- Professional reports on mental health issues
- Private financial details
Apart from the sensitive details highlighted above, divorce records are generally open for viewing. These records can be accessed through the Summit County, Colorado Judicial Branch at county level and they also provide certified copies upon request.1
When a person wishes to divorce, they have to submit certain papers to the court. These papers begin the process of divorce and state why one wants a breakup.
A separate document known as a decree officially ends the marriage. The court’s decisions on property distribution and childcare are included in this paper.
Non-government websites may also aid you in finding divorce records by using government resources. If these websites do not have approval from state or county governments, be cautious when relying on their information for official purposes.
Ultimately, seeking Summit County divorce records is best done through official government websites; however, if these sites are inaccessible, then it would be advisable to contact the official authorities responsible for maintaining custody of divorce records.
References
1Colorado Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Summit County. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/County/Index.cfm?County_ID=11>
2Colorado Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Record/Document Request Form. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/Self_Help/Research/index.cfm>
3Colorado Judicial Branch. (2021, March 1). Summit County Combined Courts – Record/Document Request Form. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/5th_Judicial_District/Summit/Fillable%20SUMM%20Record%20Research%20Request%20Form%20030121.pdf>
4Colorado Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Heidi Hershberger – Clerk of Court, Summit County. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/Bio.cfm?Employee_ID=196>
5Colorado Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Summit County Justice Center. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/County/Location.cfm?Location_ID=15>
6Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. (n.d.). Birth, death, and other vital records. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords>
7Colorado Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Court Docket Search. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/dockets/>
8Colorado Judicial Branch. (2024). Court Docket Search. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/dockets/index.cfm#results>
9Colorado State Archives. (n.d.). Divorce Records. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://archives.colorado.gov/collections/legal-records/divorce-records>
10Colorado State Archives. (n.d.). Submit a request. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://coloradostatearchives.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=11369464800788>
11Colorado Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Courts By District. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/District/Choose.cfm>
12Colorado General Assembly. (2023). C.R.S. 2023 Title 14. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-14.pdf>
13Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. (n.d.). DORA Public Information and Records. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://dora.colorado.gov/public-information>