What is Jurisdiction?
The court’s power to hear your case. It determines whether a court has the legal authority to hear your case at all. There are two crucial types of jurisdiction:
Subject matter jurisdiction: This ensures the court handles the right type of case. In Colorado, family courts handle divorce, child custody, and other domestic relations matters. For example, a juvenile court would not have jurisdiction to enter orders conferring a divorce.
Personal jurisdiction: This guarantees the court has authority over the parties involved. To establish personal jurisdiction, typically one party must have been a Colorado resident for at least 91 days before filing.
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