Owenses can file in any county
Ex-guv, wife also can seek to seal divorce records
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 21, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Former Gov. Bill Owens and his wife, Frances, who announced last week they are splitting after 33 years of marriage, live in Arapahoe County but can file their divorce in any county.
"It's typical for a divorce to be heard in a jurisdiction where one or both parties live, but it can be moved to another county if both parties agree," said Rob McCallum, spokesman for the State Court Administrator's Office.
The couple has said they are not commenting on their divorce as they are now private citizens.
Owens, a Republican, served as governor from January 1999 to January 2007. He and his wife were separated for nearly two years during that time.
The couple have never commented on what led to their separation.
Divorce records are public in Colorado, but the parties can ask for them to be sealed.
"There has to be a finding that the harm to the privacy of a person outweighs the public interest," said attorney Mike Feeley.
"It's a tough burden to meet. It's a fairly high standard, and there are lots of First Amendment considerations that suggest the public has a right to know what is happening in their courts."
The couple has three children. Two are adults, one in college, and the third is in high school.
bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
January 21, 2008
9:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dhakala writes:
The Rocky is really straining to make a story out of this divorce. It's not news that one can file in any county. Court papers do not have to explain why a divorce is happening. Let's leave the couple alone.