Registering Out-of-State Family Court Orders

Step 1: Get certified copies of your court orders

You need to get certified copies of: 

• Your final divorce order (also called a decree); and 
• Any other court decisions about property or money. 
   

Ask for these from the court that issued them.

A certified copy means it has an official seal or stamp from the court that issued it. If the documents are not in English, you also need a certified English translation. 

Step 2: Fill out the court forms

Next, fill out the court forms. Required Forms:

• JDF 1000: Case Information Sheet
• JDF 1221: Petition to Register Foreign Decree
• JDF 1223: Order to Confirm Foreign Decree

If your ex did not sign the petition, you should also fill out:

• JDF 1222: Summons for Registration of Foreign Decree
  • This form tells the other person that you are asking a Colorado court to register your order.

When you fill out the forms, you will have to list yourself as either ‘petitioner’ or ‘respondent.’ Use the same role you had in your original case. 

• For example, if your name was listed as ‘respondent’ on your divorce papers, list yourself as ‘respondent’ again. 

Step 3: File Your Forms with the Court

Take the forms and your certified copies of the divorce papers to the district court in your county. Bring the forms to the court clerk and tell them you want to register a foreign order. 

There is a filing fee.

If you can’t pay the fee, you can fill out and bring these two forms:

• JDF 205: Motion to File Without Payment
• JDF 206: Order Regarding Payment
  • Leave this form blank for the court to fill out. 

If the court approves these forms, you can file for free.

Step 4: Notify your ex (service of process)

If your ex did not sign the petition, you must deliver the papers to them. You should give them copies of all the forms you filed with the court. This delivery shows the court that your ex knows you are asking to register your order. This is called service of process’and can be done in one of two ways:

• Option 1: They agree to accept the papers.
  • Have them sign JDF 1222(a): Waiver and Acceptance of Service Form in front of a court clerk or a notary public.
  • Then, file the form with the court.
• Option 2: They disagree or won’t sign a waiver. 
  • Use personal service. Personal service means someone delivers the court forms to your ex..  
    • The person making the delivery can be a county sheriff, a person privately hired to serve papers, or any adult (18+) that is not legally involved in your case.
  • The person who delivers the papers must fill out:
    • JDF 1222(b): Return of Service. Then, you should file this form with the court. 
       

Step 5: Wait for a response or hearing

If your ex disagrees with the registration, the court may hold a hearing to decide whether to register the order in Colorado. 

If your ex agrees with the registration, the court may register the order without a hearing. 

If your order is registered by the court, the judge can enforce or change it in Colorado as necessary. 

Step 1: Get certified copies of your support order

You need to get certified copies of all final court decisions about your child support arrangement from the court that issued it..

A certified copy means it has an official seal or stamp from the court that issued it. If the documents are not in English, you also need a certified English translation. 

Step 2: Fill out the court forms

Next, you will need to file some Colorado court forms. Required Forms:

• JDF 1000: Case Information Sheet
• JDF 1081: Petition to Register a Support Order
• JDF 1082: Notice of Registration of a Support Order

If the other parent involved in the child support order did not sign the petition with you, you should also fill out:

• JDF 1222: Summons for Registration
  • This form tells the other parent you are trying to register your child support order in Colorado.

When you fill out the forms, you will have to list yourself as either petitioner or respondent. Use the same role you had in your original case. For example, if your name was listed as ‘respondent’ on your divorce papers, list yourself as ‘respondent’ again.

Step 3: File the documents with the court

File everything with the Colorado district court where the other party lives or where you live. There will be a filing fee. 

If you cannot pay the fee, fill out and bring these forms to the court:

• JDF 205: Motion to File Without Payment 
• JDF 206: Order Regarding Payment
  • This form is left blank so that the court can fill it out later.

If the court approves these forms, you can file for free.

To file your documents, you will take all the forms and certified copies of your child support arrangement to the district court clerk. 

Step 4: Court sends documents to the other party

Once the documents are filed, the court will mail copies of the paperwork to the other parent. 

Step 5: Wait for the Court to Finish Registration

The other parent has 20 days from the day you serve the papers to tell the court they disagree with registration in Colorado. If they disagree, the court may hold a hearing to determine whether the order should be registered.
 
If the other party agrees or does not respond in 20 days, and you followed all the required rules to register the orders, the court will automatically register your child support order. 

When your order is registered in Colorado, a Colorado court has the power to enforce it. However, this does not always mean that the Colorado court can change your child support.  

Step 1: Get Certified Copies of the Custody Order

You need to get a certified copy of the custody order from the court that issued it.

A certified copy means it has an official seal or stamp from the court that issued it. If the documents are not in English, you also need a certified English translation. 

Step 2: Fill out the court forms 

Required forms:

• JDF 1224: Petition to Register a Foreign Child Custody Order

When you fill out the form, you will have to list yourself as either “petitioner” or “respondent.” Use the same role you had in your original case. For example, if your name was listed as ‘respondent’ in your initial divorce case, list yourself as ‘respondent’ again. 

• JDF 1000: Case Information Sheet
• JDF 1225: Proposed Order for Registration of Foreign Child Custody Determination (just fill out the heading)
• JDF 1226: Notice of Request to Register Foreign Child-Custody Determination

Step 3: File the paperwork in district court

File the certified copy of your custody order, the second copy, and the required forms with the district court in the county where your child or the other parent lives. 

There will be a filing fee. If you cannot pay a filing fee, fill out and bring these forms to the court:

• JDF 205: Motion to File Without Payment 
• JDF 206: Order Regarding Payment 
  • This form is left blank so that the court can fill it out later.

If the court approves, then you can file for free.

Step 4: The court notifies the other parent

Once your documents are filed, the court will send a copy of JDF 1224 to the other parent or anyone else who has custody rights.

Step 5: Wait for a response or hearing

The other parent has 21 days to respond after the court sends them notice. If they disagree with the registration, the court will hold a hearing to decide whether to register the order in Colorado. 

If the other parent does not respond or if they agree with you, and you completed all the necessary steps to register the order, then the court will register your order without a hearing. 

If your order is registered in Colorado, then a Colorado Court has the power to enforce it or change it. 

If there is an emergency situation and you need a court to enforce a custody order right away, follow the instructions below for a process called “expedited enforcement.”

Step 1: Get certified copies of the custody order

You need to get a certified copy of your custody order from the court that issued it.

A certified copy means it has an official seal or stamp from the court that issued it. If the documents are not in English, you also need a certified English translation. 

Step 2: Fill out the court forms 

Required forms:

• JDF 1241: Petition to Register a Foreign Child Custody Order (Expedited Enforcement)

When you fill out the form, you will have to list yourself as either “petitioner” or “respondent.” Use the same role you had in your original case. For example, if your name was listed as ‘respondent’ in your initial divorce case, list yourself as ‘respondent’ again. 

• JDF 1000: Case Information Sheet
• JDF 1242: Order to Attend a Hearing (case caption only) 
• JDF 1244: Order re Custody Determination (case caption only)

Step 3: File the paperwork in district court

File the certified copy of your custody order and the required forms with the district court in the county where your child or the other parent lives. 

There will be a filing fee. If you cannot pay a filing fee, fill out and bring these forms to the court:

• JDF 205: Motion to File Without Payment 
• JDF 206: Order Regarding Payment 
  • This form is left blank so that the court can fill it out later.

If the court approves, then you can file for free.

Step 4: Notify your ex (service of process)

If your ex did not sign the petition, you must deliver the papers to them. You should give them copies of all the forms you filed with the court. This delivery shows the court that your ex knows you are asking to register your order. This is called ‘service of process’ and can be done in one of two ways:

• Option 1: They agree to accept the papers.
  • Have them sign a “Waiver and Acceptance of Service Form” (JDF 1222(a)) in front of a court clerk or a notary public.
  • Then, file the form with the court.
• Option 2: They disagree or won’t sign a waiver. 
  • Use personal service. Personal service means someone delivers the court forms to your ex in person.  
    • The person making the delivery can be a county sheriff, a person privately hired to serve papers, or any adult (18+) that is not legally involved in your case.
  • The person who delivers the papers must fill out:
    • JDF 1222(b): Return of Service. Then, you should file this form with the court.

Step 5: Wait for a response or hearing

The other parent has 21 days to respond after the court sends them notice. If they disagree with the registration, the court will hold a hearing to decide whether to register the order in Colorado. 

If the other parent does not respond or agrees with you, and you completed all the necessary steps to register the order, then the court will register your order without a hearing. 

If your order is registered in Colorado, then a Colorado Court has the power to enforce it or change it.