Get your certified Colorado Divorce Certificate

CDPHE charges $25 for the first certified verification of divorce and $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. If you do not know the date, CDPHE adds $1 per year searched. Ordering through VRO adds a service fee starting at $19. A certified copy of the full divorce decree comes from the clerk of the district court where the divorce was granted, and each court sets its own fee.

Yes, if they are eligible. Besides the spouses named on the record, CDPHE issues divorce verifications to parents, stepparents, siblings, children, stepchildren, other relatives with a direct and tangible interest, and legal representatives. Everyone except the spouses must include proof of relationship or interest, and a copy of their ID.

A Colorado divorce certificate is the state's certified verification of divorce. It confirms that the divorce took place, with the names of the spouses and the date and county of the divorce, and is issued by CDPHE. A divorce decree (Decree of Dissolution of Marriage) is the full court order issued by the district court, with the terms of the divorce such as property division, custody and support. CDPHE does not issue the decree: order it from the clerk of the district court where the divorce was granted. Check with the agency asking for the document before you order.

CDPHE takes online and phone orders through its own authorized online provider. VRO is an independent preparation service: we prepare your application and send it to CDPHE by mail on your behalf. For the full divorce decree, contact the clerk of the district court where the divorce was granted.

CDPHE keeps a statewide index of divorces from 1851 to 1939 and from 1968 to the present. If you do not know the date or county, CDPHE can search a range of years for $1 per year, in addition to the $25 first copy fee. Once you know the county, you can contact that district court clerk directly to request the divorce decree.

If you lose your divorce certificate:

1. Apply for a certified replacement in person, by mail, or online through VRO. Complete the application, sign it, include a copy of your ID and pay the fees set by CDPHE.
2. 1. For in-person applications: Schedule an appointment at the CDPHE Vital Records office, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver. The office does not take walk-ins.
   2. For applying by mail: Send your application, a copy of your ID and your payment to the address printed on the CDPHE application, available on the CDPHE ordering page.
   3. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
3. CDPHE mails the certified verification after processing.

To replace a lost divorce decree, contact the clerk of the district court where the divorce was granted.

CDPHE does not correct divorce records. If information on a Colorado divorce record is wrong, contact the clerk of the district court where the divorce was granted. The court corrects its record and the updated information is sent to the state.

Common Errors That May Require Correction

• Misspelled names of either party
• Incorrect divorce date
• Wrong county of divorce

Changes to the terms of the divorce itself require a court order. Ask the court clerk which documents and fees apply.

When filing a vital record with a foreign government, an apostille is often required. Apostilles for Colorado documents are issued by the Colorado Secretary of State. You can also order through Vital Records Online (VRO): our apostille service starts at $49, plus government fees.

If you request by mail, you'll need to provide the following:

1. The original document, certified by Colorado Vital Records or by a Colorado county clerk's office.
2. A completed apostilles and authentications request form (PDF).
3. Payment of $5 per apostille by check or money order payable to the Colorado Secretary of State. Credit and debit cards are not accepted.

The Secretary of State processes mailed requests in the order received and returns documents by standard mail, unless you include a prepaid FedEx or UPS label. Expedited walk-in service is $15 per apostille. Online apostilles are not available.

Mail-in and In-Person Orders:

Colorado requires proof that a previous marriage has ended before you can get a new marriage license. Bring the information about your divorce when you apply at a county clerk and recorder's office, and ask that office which document it accepts: the divorce decree from the district court or the CDPHE verification. If your divorce was finalized in another state, you may need to obtain the document from that state.

CDPHE says mail applications can take 1 to 2 weeks to process, plus mail time. Ordering through VRO does not change CDPHE processing time; expedited options at checkout speed up VRO's preparation and submission of your application. Processing times for the divorce decree are set by each district court.