Colorado Family Court: Custody and Parenting-Time Guide
Plain-language Colorado information for a custody or parenting-time route, including filing, official forms, free help, fee waivers, and legal-cost context.
This page provides general legal information, not legal advice. State law, court rules, forms, and local procedures can change. Confirm current requirements with the court handling the case.
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Find the right family court
The custody or parenting-time route described in this guide is handled through the Colorado District Court. Other family-law matters can follow a different court or procedure.
For the custody route covered here, Colorado Judicial Branch guidance directs filing in the District Court in the county where the children live.Sources:JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases)
How Colorado courts decide custody
Colorado calls these cases allocation of parental responsibilities. The court allocates parenting time and decision-making responsibilities based on the child's best interests.Sources:Title 14 - Domestic Matters - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
The best-interests statute directs the court to consider all relevant factors, including the child's relationships, adjustment to home, school, and community, and the parties' ability to place the child's needs first.Sources:Title 14 - Domestic Matters - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
Key legal sources
C.R.S. § 14-10-124Sources:Title 14 - Domestic Matters - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
Parenting time
Colorado includes parenting time within allocation of parental responsibilities and uses the child's best interests as the standard.Sources:Title 14 - Domestic Matters - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
In a contested final-orders hearing concerning allocation of parental responsibilities, the court must make findings on the record about the factors considered and why the allocation serves the child's best interests.Sources:Title 14 - Domestic Matters - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
Key legal sources
C.R.S. § 14-10-124(1.7)Sources:Title 14 - Domestic Matters - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
How to file
This route covers an initial, separately filed Colorado parental-responsibilities case for parents who are not married or in a civil union, where the child has lived in Colorado for at least 182 days. The guide describes this case as setting child support, decision-making, and a parenting-time schedule. It excludes joint filings, parentage establishment, divorce or civil-union dissolution, modification, enforcement, emergency, nonparent, dependency-and-neglect, and interstate cases.Sources:JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases), Start or Respond to a Case
Confirm that this custody route and court location fit
The Colorado Custody Guide says this route is for parents who are not married or in a civil union, that either parent can start the case, and that the child must have lived in Colorado for the last 182 days. It directs filing in the District Court in the county where the children live.Sources:JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases)
Prepare the initial forms for a separately filed case
The Colorado Judicial Branch lists JDF 1000 Case Information Sheet, JDF 1031 Petition for Parental Responsibilities, and JDF 1032 Court Summons for a separately filed case. JDF 1031 also directs JDF 1091 when more child space is needed and JDF 1350 when a listed child has Native American Indian heritage.Sources:Start or Respond to a Case, JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases)
Follow the service and response materials when filing separately
The official route says to review JDF 1099 for formal notification. It lists JDF 1033 when the other parent accepts service, JDF 1034 after service is completed, and JDF 1035 for the responding parent.Sources:Start or Respond to a Case, JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases)
Complete the later case materials identified by the guide
The Custody Guide says each parent must file JDF 1111 Sworn Financial Statement and JDF 1104 Certificate of Compliance within 42 days after filing or receiving the petition. JDF 1111 calls for JDF 1111 SS Supporting Schedules only when its listed asset sections apply. The guide also identifies JDF 1113 Parenting Plan, a Child Support Worksheet, JDF 1117 Support Order, and JDF 1039 Final Order; follow the current case management order and court instructions for their use.Sources:JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases), Start or Respond to a Case, JDF 1111 SC - Sworn Financial Statement
Official forms
Open the official forms portal.
Colorado Judicial Branch's custody-forms category lists the current custody forms and notes that form links can change when forms are updated. The April 2026 Custody Guide identifies the forms for this route.Sources:Self-Help Forms - Child Custody without a Marriage or Civil Union, JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases)
Free court self-help
Find court self-help near you.
Colorado Self-Represented Litigant Coordinators
Every judicial district has a Self-Help or Court Resource Center. Coordinators may help people navigate the court system and find forms, but they cannot provide legal advocacy or legal advice.Sources:Self-Help Resources
Legal-aid organizations
Colorado Legal Services
Area served: Colorado statewide through its offices; the organization says offices may offer different family-law services.
Colorado Legal Services lists family-law services including divorce and custody, which may include advice, help filing a case, or full representation depending on resources.Sources:What We Do at Colorado Legal Services
Eligibility: The organization describes help for qualifying low-income Coloradans, seniors, and veterans. Apply or contact a local office to learn whether help is available.
Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center
Area served: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties.
The program lists custody among the family-law cases it takes.Sources:Family Law Program
Eligibility: The program lists survivor-or-victim status, residence in a listed county, low income, and no hearing scheduled within four weeks as eligibility requirements.
Fee waivers
Colorado Judicial Branch describes a regular fee-waiver process for households below 125% of the poverty line or enrolled in listed public-benefit programs.Sources:Fee Waivers
Who may qualify
C.R.S. section 13-16-103 permits a judge or justice, in the judge's or justice's discretion, to allow a person unable to prosecute or defend a civil action because the person cannot pay costs and expenses to proceed without paying costs.Sources:Title 13 - Courts and Court Procedure - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
What to do
Use the current regular fee-waiver forms when they apply
The Colorado Judicial Branch regular-fee-waiver page lists JDF 205 Motion to Waive Fees and JDF 206 Order Re: Court Fees, with instructions to complete only sections A through C of JDF 206.Sources:Fee Waivers, Motion to Waive Fees, Order re Fee Waiver
Official fee-waiver forms
Key statute or rule
C.R.S. § 13-16-103Sources:Title 13 - Courts and Court Procedure - Colorado Revised Statutes 2025
Attorney cost benchmark
Lawyer fees vary by county, experience, services, and the facts of a case. This state benchmark is context for planning, not a quote.
State and local details to confirm
The Colorado Custody Guide says both parents must take a parenting class and that a court may order mediation if the parents cannot agree on a parenting plan.Sources:JDF 1030 Custody Guide (Parental Responsibility Cases)
Part of Family Law in Your State.