For Completing Colorado Divorce and Family Law Forms

Christopher L. Griffith, J.D., M.S., Attorney-Mediator

Colorado allows separated couples to divorce or seek family law orders, without

representation by an attorney. Some couples complete their divorce without any

professional help. Other couples choose to resolve their divorce or family law

related issues with the assistance of a mediator, often submitting their mediated

agreement (called a “Memorandum of Understanding” and usually drafted by the

mediator) and completing the divorce process on their own. In both instances,

specific, official family law forms must be completed.

Based upon our experience as professional mediators in working with many such couples, we offer our

“Ten Golden Rules For Completing Family Law Forms.”

1. Obtain and use the current, official Colorado divorce forms.

A comprehensive list of official Colorado divorce and family law forms and instructions can be

obtained on-line at the Colorado Judicial Branch’s Self-Help Center, and an abbreviated list (along

with other plain language resource materials) adequate for many cases may be downloaded to your

computer for completion and printout, on our website, at:

http://www.coloradodivorcemediation.com/tools/.

2. Carefully follow the checklists provided by Court staff in choosing and completing the

forms required for your case.

The Order issued at the time of your case’s filing or status conference lists (by checkmark Uor

circle ") the documents required for your case. Carefully review it and be certain to assemble and

complete all documents required by that Order before the court hearing.

3. Complete forms by legible writing in black ink or type.

Clerks and court staff greatly appreciate your using a typewriter, or completing forms on-line

(using Microsoft’s Word® or Adobe’s Acrobat®). If these are not available, choose someone to print

legibly all required information in black ink.

4. Provide contact information in the “Caption Box” for the party filing that form.

Most court divorce forms require contact information for the person responsible for filing that

particular form, in the box labeled “Attorney(s) or party without attorney”. Even if you have consulted

with another professional (attorney, mediator, divorce planner), provide your own personal address,

phone, fax and e-mail contact information. (Of course, if you are formally represented by a lawyer,

they will file all forms on your behalf.)

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10 Golden Rules for Completing Colorado Divorce and Family Law Forms.

Please note that only one party ordinarily files certain divorce forms (for example, the Decree

and the Support Order). Others such as the Sworn Financial Statement, and the Certificate of

Compliance (stating you have sent the other party mandatory financial documents and disclosures)

must be filed by each party. Each party must provide their own contact information for the forms they

complete.

5. Have documents notarized (when required).

Colorado law requires a notary to witness your signature on many divorce forms. You may

choose to sign documents before the Court Clerk staff, or use private notary services such as banks and

many mailing/copying stores. Remember, you must provide the notary with valid identification, and

the notary must observe you sign to “notarize” the document. Separate notaries can be used when

parties sign at different times.

6. Carefully complete separately and fully your Sworn Financial Statements.

Perhaps the most important divorce form is the Sworn Financial Statement and where

appropriate, its Supporting Schedules (if investments, retirement or separate property assets). Each

party must separately complete his or her form in most divorce and family law type cases.

Pay special attention to your income, support and expenses planning on Pages One to Four (and

its Summary). For couples with children, each party’s gross income from all sources should match the

income shown on your child support worksheet and attached supporting documentation (such as your

recent pay-stub, W-2 or last year tax return).

It also helps the Court a great deal to learn you both have created an approach to support and to

your own budget that will allow you to meet your reasonable expenses. Mediation (in conjunction with

standardized software projections of anticipated post divorce cash flow) is one process that many

couples utilize to create a plan for presentation to the court.

Finally, each of you must disclose all property and debts acquired during your marriage on the

remaining pages of your Financial Statement and its Supporting Schedules.

7. Carefully complete a Child Support Worksheet.

If you have children, you must complete a Child Support Worksheet, calculating the

Guidelines’ recommended child support and any suggested deviation. It is helpful to complete this task

using on-line tools (which use a spreadsheet to accurately make all calculations), at the websites listed

above (in Rule 1).

8. Organize all completed documents in preparation for your court hearing.

At your informal status conference, you ordinarily will need to have disclosed required

information to the other party, and file a completed Sworn Financial Statement and Child Support

Worksheet. At your final Permanent Orders hearing, you must have other documents as check-marked

on the Order given you at the time of its scheduling. Before filing with the Court, make yourself and

the other party a copy of all documents.

9. Be considerate of Court staff and Clerks.

Divorce is stressful for you, but also for Court staff! The old adage “Honey catches more flies

than does vinegar” holds true. Courtesy and respect to court personnel will help you in the process.

10. Request professional assistance when needed.

Like all legal processes, divorce is challenging. Consider professional help (legal assistance,

mediation services or other professional aid) if needed; it may cost less than you think.

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10 Golden Rules for Completing Colorado Divorce and Family Law Forms.

About the author:

Christopher L. Griffith, J.D., M.S. is a full-time Colorado divorce and family law

attorney-mediator, at Divorce Resolutions

, Colorado Center for Divorce Mediation

™

For more information, see the “Forms and Tools (

Colorado divorce, paternity and

family law forms)” section of the author’s website at:

http://www.coloradodivorcemediation.com.