Form JDF 1000 is the Case Information Sheet that Colorado district courts require with every new domestic relations filing, and you submit it to the clerk of court along with your initial petition so the court can open your case file and assign a case number. One form covers divorces, legal separations, annulments, custody petitions, and registrations of out-of-state orders. It is not a standalone filing. Without it, the clerk cannot process your petition.
When JDF 1000 Is Required
You need JDF 1000 any time you open a new domestic relations case in Colorado. That includes a petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation under C.R.S. § 14-10-105, a petition for allocation of parental responsibilities, a petition to prevent removal of a child, and registration of a foreign custody or support order.1Colorado Judicial Branch. Divorce or Legal Separation The form is identical whether you file alone as the petitioner or jointly with a co-petitioner.
What to Have in Front of You
Gather the following for both the petitioner and the respondent before you start:
- Full legal name as it appears on a government-issued ID
- Date of birth
- Current residential address and mailing address, if different
- Social Security number
- Employer name and contact information
If children are part of the case, write down each minor child’s full legal name and date of birth. The court uses this list to check for existing custody or support orders and to track parenting time and support obligations in your case going forward.
Federal law requires courts to record the Social Security number of anyone subject to a divorce decree, support order, or paternity determination.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 666 – Requirement of Statutorily Prescribed Procedures to Improve Effectiveness of Child Support Enforcement Colorado’s Chief Justice Directive 05-01 requires the clerk’s office to redact SSNs (full or partial) before anyone outside the case can see the filing, so the number stays in the court’s internal records but does not appear in the public file.3Colorado Judicial Department. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 – Concerning Access to Court Records
Filling Out the Form
Download the current version of JDF 1000 from the Colorado Judicial Branch website, under the domestic relations self-help forms.1Colorado Judicial Branch. Divorce or Legal Separation The form does not have to be notarized, but both parties (or the petitioner alone, if filing solo) must sign it.
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At the top, enter the county where you are filing. That selection determines which judicial district handles your case, so confirm you are filing in a county that has jurisdiction — generally where at least one party lives, or where the marriage took place for a dissolution. Write the full legal names of the petitioner and respondent exactly as they should appear on every future court document.
Party Details
The body of the form has separate blocks for the petitioner and the respondent. Fill in each person’s legal name, date of birth, residential and mailing addresses, SSN, and employer information in the designated fields. If you are filing jointly, both parties complete their own sides. Print or type clearly; illegible handwriting is one of the most common reasons a clerk flags a form during data entry.
Children
If the case involves minor children, list each child’s full legal name and date of birth in the children section. For more than a couple of children, or for additional parties beyond the two named at the top, attach JDF 7 (Additional Party Information) with the same details for each extra person.
Case Type
Check the box that matches the action you are filing: dissolution, legal separation, allocation of parental responsibilities, or whichever other category applies. The wrong box can delay processing because the clerk may return the form before assigning a case number.
Where to File
JDF 1000 is submitted to the clerk of the district court along with your initial petition. For a standard divorce filed by one spouse, the package usually includes JDF 1000 (Case Information Sheet), JDF 1101 (Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation), and JDF 1102 (Summons).4Judicial Legal Help Center. Step 2 – File Joint filers generally do not need the summons because both parties are already in the case.
You have three ways to file:
- E-filing. Colorado’s e-filing system accepts domestic relations filings from self-represented parties as well as attorneys. Non-attorneys can e-file in domestic relations and eviction cases, but only into their own case; someone else cannot file on your behalf through the system. Attorneys use the same platform across a broader range of case types.5Colorado Judicial Branch. E-Filing for Non-Attorneys6Colorado Judicial Branch. E-Filing
- In person. Bring the completed forms to the clerk of court’s office in the county where you are filing. Filing in person lets you catch any missing fields on the spot.
- By mail. Mail physical copies to the same clerk’s office. You lose the chance to fix problems immediately, so review your forms carefully before sending.
Filing Fees
Your case is not opened until the filing fee is paid or waived. The amount depends on the action:7Colorado Judicial Branch. List of Fees
- Divorce, legal separation, or annulment: $260
- Allocation of parental responsibilities (custody): $252
- Prevent removal of a child: $265
- Register a foreign decree or judgment: $201
- Register a custody, expedited custody, or support order: $166
- Response to any of the above: $146
Fee Waivers
If the fee is beyond your means, file JDF 205 (Motion to Waive Fees) with JDF 206 (Order Re: Court Fees). You qualify if your household income is below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you receive certain public benefits.8Colorado Judicial Branch. Fee Waivers The 2026 income thresholds, updated January 13, 2026, are:
- 1 person: $24,938 per year ($2,078 per month)
- 2 people: $33,813 per year ($2,818 per month)
- 3 people: $42,688 per year ($3,557 per month)
- 4 people: $51,563 per year ($4,297 per month)
- 5 people: $60,438 per year ($5,036 per month)
Enrollment in Aid to the Blind, Aid to the Needy and Disabled, Old Age Pension, SSI, TANF, or SNAP also qualifies you. Check the appropriate box on JDF 205.8Colorado Judicial Branch. Fee Waivers
If You Need to Keep Your Address Private
Survivors of domestic violence, stalking, or related crimes can use Colorado’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) to put a substitute mailing address on court filings. Present your valid ACP authorization card and the court must accept the substitute address and update its records so your residential location does not appear in the case file. ACP participation cannot be used against you in custody or parenting-time decisions. If you are not yet enrolled, contact the Colorado Secretary of State’s office before filing so the substitute address is in place when the case opens.
After You File
Once the clerk accepts your JDF 1000 and petition, the court assigns a case number with a “DR” designation (for example, 2026DR001). The information you entered on JDF 1000 becomes the court’s official contact list for mailing notices, hearing schedules, and orders.
If you filed solo, your next step is serving the respondent with the petition and summons. The respondent then has a set number of days to file a response and pay the $146 response fee. If you filed jointly, both parties are already in the case and no service is required.