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.