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

Served with Colorado divorce papers: your response is due within 21 days

The Colorado divorce summons (JDF 1012) says your response is due within 21 days of receiving it, and 35 days if you were served outside Colorado or notified by publication. The court's response form is JDF 1015.

What the court’s own documents say

The summons says the response is due within 21 days of receiving it.
“Your response is due within 21 days of receiving this summons.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1012, Summons, divorce or legal separation (R: August 27, 2025)
The deadline is 35 days if you were served outside Colorado or notified of the case by publication.
“Note! That deadline extends to 35 days when served outside of Colorado or if notified of the case by publication.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1012, Summons, divorce or legal separation (R: August 27, 2025)
A written response is required, and the court points respondents to form JDF 1015.
“You must file a written response to that Petition.”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1012, Summons, divorce or legal separation (R: August 27, 2025)
The court's current Response to the Petition (divorce and legal separation) is JDF 1015, revised January 5, 2026.
“R: January 5, 2026”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1015, Response to the Petition (R: January 5, 2026)
Even if both spouses agree on everything, there is a waiting period before a divorce can be final.
“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)
Within 42 days after filing or receiving the Petition, each spouse must file the JDF 1111 Sworn Financial Statement and the JDF 1104 Certificate of Compliance.
“Within 42 days after filing or receiving the Petition, each spouse must file:”
— Colorado Judicial Branch - JDF 1010, How to File for Divorce or Legal Separation (R: July 24, 2025)

Which paper is which

With the summons you receive a Petition. The Petition tells you what the Petitioner is asking the court to do. The summons (JDF 1012) tells you what you must do: file a written response. The court says you may use form JDF 1015, Response to the Petition, and that you can file it online through Colorado Courts E-Filing or by mail or at the courthouse, and that the summons states the filing fee and offers a fee-waiver request.

What the response form asks

JDF 1015 asks whether the Petitioner's request should be granted, whether the facts in the Petition are accurate and, if not, what the correct information is. It then lets you ask the court for orders on the marriage, property and debts, and, where there are children, a parenting plan and child support. It also asks whether the children are Native American Indian. You supply every answer. CourtDocs does not choose them.

What comes after the response

The court's divorce guide (JDF 1010) says you will be scheduled for an Initial Status Conference within 42 days of the filing, that each spouse files a sworn financial statement within 42 days, and that there will be a court hearing if the spouses do not reach agreements. The response is the first deadline. It is not the last one.

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