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JDF 1030

Guide to Parental Responsibility (custody)

Colorado · Colorado Judicial Branch · Effective April 1, 2026

This guide explains the process for filing paperwork related to parental responsibility, which covers setting child support amounts, deciding on major life choices for children, and creating a parenting time schedule. It tells parents who are not married or in a civil union how to start this type of case.

Open the official PDFfrom Colorado Judicial Branch

Where this fits in a case

General & info

Information / general use — not tied to one step of a case

This guide is used by parents who are not married or in a civil union and need to file paperwork to set child support, decision-making rules, and a parenting time schedule for their children.

Either party may file.

Common questions

Who can start this case?
Either parent can start the case. The children must have lived in Colorado for the last 182 days to file. Great help is available from the State Office of Dispute Resolution.
Do I need a lawyer?
You do not have to have a lawyer, but you must follow the same rules and procedures that lawyers follow. You can contact a lawyer at any time.
What forms do I need to file?
If you and the other parent sign the petition together, you need to fill out the JDF 1000 Case Information Sheet and the JDF 1031 Petition. You must also file a Sworn Financial Statement and a Certificate of Compliance within 42 days of filing.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect April 1, 2026.

Related forms

  • JDF1000

    Case Information Sheet

    This form is a Case Information Sheet used to collect basic details about the people involved in a case, including names, addresses, and information about any children under 19. It requires signatures from the parties involved to confirm the information is true.

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  • JDF 1031

    Petition for Parental Responsibilities (Custody)

    This form is a request to the court about who should have the main responsibility for the children. It asks for details about the people involved, the children, and the history of the children's living situations.

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  • JDF 1032

    Summons (Custody)

    This form is a Summons used in a family court case to officially notify a person (the Respondent) that they are involved in a legal matter. It informs the person that they must file a written response to a Petition and lists immediate orders they must follow.

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  • JDF 1035

    Response to the Petition (Custody)

    This form is used by a person responding to a custody petition. It asks the court if the person agrees with the requests made in the original petition and allows the person to state their own requests regarding parenting plans and child support.

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  • JDF1039

    Order for Parental Responsibilities (Custody)

    This form is an official court document used to write down the judge's final decisions about parental responsibilities. It records findings from a hearing and issues permanent orders regarding the case.

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  • JDF1104

    Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Financial Disclosures

    This form is a certificate used to show that a person has given required financial papers to the other party in a case. It asks the filer to list which financial documents were sent and filed with the court.

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  • JDF1113

    Parenting Plan

    This form is used to create a written agreement about parenting decisions and schedules for children. It asks the parties to decide who is responsible for things like school, medical care, and when the children will be with each parent during different times of the year.

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  • JDF1117

    Support Order

    This form is a Support Order used by the court to officially set out rules for payments related to child support and spousal support. It records details about the people involved, the children, and the specific amounts and ways payments must be made.

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