Colorado · Sources read 2026-10-27 · Re-check due 2026-11-27

Colorado divorce: when the court lets you skip the hearing (JDF 1018) and when there will be one

Colorado's divorce guide says there will be a court hearing if the spouses do not reach agreements. Form JDF 1018, the Affidavit for Decree without Appearance, is for spouses who have reached a full agreement and do not need a hearing, and a 91-day waiting period applies either way.

What the court’s own documents say

A hearing is held if the spouses do not reach agreements.
“There will be a court hearing if agreements are not reached.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce or Legal Separation (R: July 24, 2025)
JDF 1018 is the court's route to a decree without a hearing, and it states that the spouses have reached a full agreement.
“This document states that you have reached a full agreement, and a hearing is not needed.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce or Legal Separation (R: July 24, 2025)
The court's divorce guide lists JDF 1018 under spouses who have no children.
“If you don't have children, you may be able to file:”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce or Legal Separation (R: July 24, 2025)
Even with full agreement there is a waiting period of 91 days after filing and serving.
“You must still wait 91 days after filing the Petition and serving the other spouse.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce or Legal Separation (R: July 24, 2025)
JDF 1018 (R: March 1, 2024) offers two choices on children. The first is no minor children and no expected child.
“There are no minor children and neither party is expecting a child.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1018, Affidavit for Decree without Appearance (R: March 1, 2024)
The second choice on JDF 1018 is minor children with each party represented by counsel.
“There are minor children, and each party is represented by counsel.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1018, Affidavit for Decree without Appearance (R: March 1, 2024)
Skipping a written property and financial agreement requires the court's permission.
“No written agreement is needed. Note: This requires Court permission.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1018, Affidavit for Decree without Appearance (R: March 1, 2024)
An Initial Status Conference is scheduled within 42 days of filing.
“You will be scheduled for an Initial Status Conference within 42 days of your filing.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce or Legal Separation (R: July 24, 2025)
In fiscal year 2025, two out of three Colorado domestic relations cases had no attorney on any side.
“67% of the domestic relations cases filed in fiscal year 2025 had no attorney on the case, meaning that every party involved was pro se.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - Cases and Parties without Attorney Representation in Civil Cases, FY2025 (report date July 8, 2025)

Two roads: agreement or hearing

The court's guide describes the fork. If the spouses have reached a full agreement and meet the form's conditions, they can ask the court for a decree without a hearing using JDF 1018, signed together. If they have not reached agreements, there will be a court hearing. This page shows the fork. Which road applies to your case is a question for the court's forms and staff.

What JDF 1018 says you are certifying

JDF 1018 asks the spouses to check one option on children, one option on property and finances, and then to certify, among other things, that they have reviewed the spousal support guidelines in C.R.S. 14-10-114, that there are no genuine issues of material fact, and that the marriage is irretrievably broken. As printed, the children question offers two options: no minor children and none expected, or minor children with each party represented by counsel. If neither describes your situation, ask the clerk or the court's self-help staff how your court handles it before you file.

If there is a hearing

If the spouses have not reached agreements, the court's guide says there will be a hearing. The free Nine Boxes walkthrough on this site covers what happens at an evidentiary hearing, box by box, and the Court Day System is the fuller method for running that day. Neither one decides what you should ask the court for.

The forms are free. The hearing day is the part nobody explains.

Everything linked above is free from the Colorado Judicial Branch, and it gets your paperwork filed. If your case goes to a hearing, the court’s forms do not tell you how that day runs. That is what we sell.

What The Court Day System is

  • A method for the hearing day, in the order the day happens: ten fill-in sheets, a six-step ritual for getting an exhibit in, and evidence-rule elements you can read out loud.
  • An admission tracker, drills, and a protocol for checking anything an AI tool gave you.
  • Every sheet as PDF and editable DOCX. Instant download. 7-day money-back guarantee.

What it is not

  • Not the court’s forms, and not a summary of Colorado law. Use the free forms linked on this page.
  • Not legal advice and not a lawyer. We do not file for you, appear for you, choose what you argue, or predict what a judge will do.
  • No promise about your result. It is a method for preparing, not an outcome.
  • Not a fit for every hearing. It is built for hearings where you present evidence.
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General information about Colorado court procedure, not legal advice, and not about your specific case. Court rules and forms change — open the linked source and confirm it still says this before you rely on it. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed Colorado attorney. CourtDocs is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page.