Colorado lawyer costs and court fees
Short answer
Colorado has small claims cases up to $7,500, a 2-year personal injury filing deadline, a divorce filing fee of $230. Clio does not publish a Colorado rate; the national average is $349 an hour. Below are the verified court fees, deadlines, fee-cap rules and free-help options, each linked to its official source.
Colorado legal costs at a glance
| Small claims limit | $7,500 (not including interest or costs)[1] |
|---|---|
| Small claims filing fee | $31 for claims of $1–$500; $55 for claims of $501–$7,500[1] |
| District Court civil filing fee | $235 per plaintiff (C.R.S. §13-32-101(1)(d)), plus a $30 equal justice fee on district court civil actions from Jan 1, 2025 (§13-32-101(9))[2] |
| Divorce filing fee | $230 (petitioner, dissolution/legal separation/invalidity, C.R.S. §13-32-101(1)(a))[2] |
| Personal injury deadline | 2 years (C.R.S. §13-80-102(1)(a)); motor-vehicle torts are excepted and governed by §13-80-101(1)(n)[3] |
| Attorney fee caps | Workers' compensation: a contingent fee over 25% of contested benefits is presumed unreasonable (C.R.S. §8-43-403).[4] |
| Average lawyer rate | No Colorado figure published; national average $349/hour[5] |
What lawyers charge in Colorado
Clio publishes state-level averages for only some states, and Colorado is not one of them. The national average billed rate in Clio's 2025 data is $349 per hour[5]. We do not publish an invented Colorado figure: ask two or three local lawyers for their hourly rate and compare it with the national number.
Illustrative budget at $349/hour (not a quote): a 1-hour consultation ≈ $349; a 5-hour document review ≈ $1,745; a 20-hour contested matter ≈ $6,980, before court fees and expenses. Many lawyers quote flat fees for routine work instead; see hourly vs flat fees.
Small claims court in Colorado
Small claims cases are heard in the County Court – Small Claims. You can ask for up to $7,500 (not including interest or costs)[1]. You may file for more but can collect only $7,500, and a claim cannot be split.
- Filing fee: $31 for claims of $1–$500; $55 for claims of $501–$7,500
- Serving the other side: Service must be completed at least 15 days before trial (JDF 250 for each defendant). A fee waiver is available via JDF 205/206.
- Court self-help: Colorado court self-help resources
See how Colorado compares with other states in our 50-state small claims table.
Court filing fees
District Court: $235 per plaintiff (C.R.S. §13-32-101(1)(d)), plus a $30 equal justice fee on district court civil actions from Jan 1, 2025 (§13-32-101(9))[2]
Divorce: $230 (petitioner, dissolution/legal separation/invalidity, C.R.S. §13-32-101(1)(a))[2] It is unclear whether the $30 equal justice fee also applies to dissolution.
If you cannot afford a filing fee, every state lets you ask the court to waive it; the form is usually called a fee waiver or an application to proceed without paying fees. Our divorce cost guide compares filing fees across states.
Deadlines and attorney fee rules
Personal injury filing deadline: 2 years (C.R.S. §13-80-102(1)(a)); motor-vehicle torts are excepted and governed by §13-80-101(1)(n)[3]. Exceptions exist (for example for minors, government defendants and medical claims), so check with a lawyer before the deadline gets close.
Contingency and fee caps: Workers' compensation: a contingent fee over 25% of contested benefits is presumed unreasonable (C.R.S. §8-43-403).[4]
If you disagree with a lawyer's bill: we did not find a statewide fee-dispute program for Colorado; ask your local county bar association whether it runs one.
Free and low-cost legal help in Colorado
- Legal aid: Colorado Legal Services. Programs funded by the Legal Services Corporation generally serve households at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines; in 2026 that is $19,950 a year for one person and $41,250 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states[6].
- Before you hire: read what consultations cost and options if you can't afford a lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the small claims limit in Colorado?
$7,500 (not including interest or costs), in the County Court – Small Claims. You may file for more but can collect only $7,500, and a claim cannot be split.
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Colorado?
$31 for claims of $1–$500; $55 for claims of $501–$7,500 Service of the papers usually costs extra.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Colorado?
Generally 2 years (C.R.S. §13-80-102(1)(a)); motor-vehicle torts are excepted and governed by §13-80-101(1)(n). Exceptions apply, so talk to a lawyer well before the deadline.
How much is the divorce filing fee in Colorado?
$230 (petitioner, dissolution/legal separation/invalidity, C.R.S. §13-32-101(1)(a)). It is unclear whether the $30 equal justice fee also applies to dissolution. You can ask the court to waive fees if you cannot afford them.
Sources
- Colorado Judicial Branch, Opening a Case (checked October 11, 2026)
- C.R.S. §13-32-101 (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- C.R.S. §13-80-102 (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- C.R.S. §8-43-403 (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- Clio, Compare Lawyer Rates (2025 Legal Trends data) (checked October 11, 2026)
- Federal Register: LSC income guidelines (2026) (checked October 11, 2026)