"Uncontested" means you agree on everything; "contested" means a judge has to decide something.

An uncontested dissolution is one where both spouses agree on every issue (e.g. dividing property and debt, parenting time and decision-making, child support, and maintenance) and sign a written separation agreement. Many cases similar to these finish in three to six months, and Colorado even allows many of them to be finalized on paperwork without a final court hearing (a "decree without appearance"), although it may be required to complete disclosures, to appear to the initial status conference, or to establish temporary orders.

A contested case is one where you can't agree on one or more issues, so the court process (disclosures, the Initial Status Conference, temporary orders, mediation, and possibly a permanent trial) is used to resolve them. Contested cases commonly run 6 to 18 months and longer in high-conflict situations. Most contested cases settle before trial, often at mediation. The goal for most people is to keep narrowing the disagreements until what's left is small enough to settle.

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Colorado

Colorado, USA