§ 14-10-101. Short Title
This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act”. Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 520, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 46-1-1.
§ 14-10-102. Purposes – Rules of Construction
This article 10 must be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes. The underlying purposes of this article 10 are: To promote the amicable settlement of disputes that have arisen between parties to a marriage; To mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and their children caused by the process of legal dissolution […]
§ 14-10-103. Definitions and Interpretation of Terms
As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires, the term “decree” includes the term “judgment”; and, for the purposes of the tax laws of the state of Colorado or of any other jurisdiction, the term “maintenance” includes the term “alimony”. Whenever any law of this state refers to or mentions divorce, annulment, or […]
§ 14-10-104. Uniformity of Application and Construction
This article shall be so applied and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this article among those states which enact it. The term “irretrievable breakdown” shall be construed as being similar to other terms having a like import in the law of other […]
§ 14-10-104.5. Legislative Declaration
The general assembly recognizes that it is in the best interests of the parties to a marriage in which a dissolution has been granted and in which there are children of the marriage for the parties to be able to resolve disputes that arise subsequent to the dissolution in an amicable and fair manner. The […]
§ 14-10-105. Application of Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure
The Colorado rules of civil procedure apply to all proceedings under this article, except as otherwise specifically provided in this article. A proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of marriage shall be entitled “In re the Marriage of …….. and ……….”. A proceeding for the allocation of parental responsibilities or […]
§ 14-10-106. Dissolution of Marriage – Legal Separation
The district court shall enter a decree of dissolution of marriage or a decree of legal separation when: The court finds that one of the parties has been domiciled in this state for ninety-one days next preceding the commencement of the proceeding; The court finds that the marriage is irretrievably broken; and The court finds […]
§ 14-10-106.5. Dissolution of Civil Unions – Legal Separation – Jurisdiction – Applicability of Article and Case Law
Any person who enters into a civil union in Colorado pursuant to article 15 of this title consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Colorado for the purpose of any action relating to a civil union even if one or both parties cease to reside in this state. In a matter seeking a dissolution, […]
§ 14-10-107. Commencement – Pleadings – Abolition of Existing Defenses – Automatic, Temporary Injunction – Enforcement
All proceedings under this article shall be commenced in the manner provided by the Colorado rules of civil procedure. The petition in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation shall allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken and shall set forth: The residence of each party and the length of residence in this […]
§ 14-10-107.5. Entry of Appearance and Notice of Withdrawal by Delegate Child Support Enforcement Unit
The attorney for the delegate child support enforcement unit may file an entry of appearance on behalf of the county department of human or social services in any proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation under this article 10 for purposes of establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support and medical support if any party […]
§ 14-10-107.7. Required Notice of Involvement With State Department of Human Services
When filing a petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, a petition in support or proceedings for the allocation of parental responsibilities with respect to the children of the marriage, or any other matter pursuant to this article 10 with the court, if the parties have joint legal responsibility for a child for whom […]
§ 14-10-107.8. Required Notice of Prior Restraining, Civil Protection, or Emergency Protection Orders to Prevent Domestic Abuse – Petitions for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation
When filing a petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation pursuant to this article, the filing party shall have a duty to disclose to the court the existence of any prior temporary or permanent restraining orders and civil protection orders to prevent domestic abuse issued pursuant to article 14 of title 13, C.R.S., any […]
§ 14-10-108. Temporary Orders in a Dissolution Case
In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, the allocation of parental responsibilities, or declaration of invalidity of marriage or a proceeding for disposition of property, maintenance, or support following dissolution of the marriage, either party may move for temporary payment of debts, use of property, maintenance, parental responsibilities, support of a child of […]
§ 14-10-109. Enforcement of Protection Orders
The duties of peace officers enforcing orders issued pursuant to section 14-10-107 or 14-10-108 shall be in accordance with section 18-6-803.5, C.R.S., and any rules adopted by the Colorado supreme court pursuant to said section. Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 523, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 46-1-9. L. 92: Entire section amended, p. 176, § […]
§ 14-10-110. Irretrievable Breakdown
If both of the parties by petition or otherwise have stated under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken or one of the parties has so stated and the other has not denied it, there is a presumption of such fact, and, unless controverted by evidence, the court shall, after hearing, make a […]
§ 14-10-111. Declaration of Invalidity
The district court shall enter its decree declaring the invalidity of a marriage entered into under the following circumstances: A party lacked capacity to consent to the marriage at the time the marriage was solemnized, either because of mental incapacity or infirmity or because of the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other incapacitating substances. A […]
§ 14-10-112. Separation Agreement
To promote the amicable settlement of disputes between the parties to a marriage attendant upon their separation or the dissolution of their marriage, the parties may enter into a written separation agreement containing provisions for the maintenance of either of them, the disposition of any property owned by either of them, and the allocation of […]
§ 14-10-113. Disposition of Property – Definitions
In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or in a proceeding for legal separation or in a proceeding for disposition of property following the previous dissolution of marriage by a court which at the time of the prior dissolution of the marriage lacked personal jurisdiction over the absent spouse or lacked jurisdiction to dispose of […]
§ 14-10-114. Spousal Maintenance – Advisory Guidelines – Legislative Declaration – Definitions
Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby finds that: The economic lives of spouses are frequently closely intertwined in marriage and that it is often impossible to later segregate the respective decisions and contributions of the spouses; and Consequently, awarding spousal maintenance may be appropriate if a spouse needs support and the other spouse has the […]
§ 14-10-115. Child Support Guidelines – Purpose – Determination of Income – Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations – Adjustments to Basic Child Support – Additional Guidelines – Child Support Commission – Definitions
Purpose and applicability. The child support guidelines and schedule of basic child support obligations have the following purposes: To establish as state policy an adequate standard of support for children, subject to the ability of parents to pay; To make awards more equitable by ensuring more consistent treatment of persons in similar circumstances; and To […]