Court Rules
Judge

Judge Sarah Zane

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Fourth Judicial District Court, Colorado

Communication

Phone

Clerk

719-452-5444
Scheduling
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantSettlement

Document Filing Requirements2 rules

Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

If parties fail to call the Court on the day of the setting, a new Notice to Set must be filed.

Summary: If parties fail to call the court on the setting date, they must file a new Notice to Set.

Document Type

Notice Of Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Co Elpaso D04:f5a42947ac62c34b95b6c1b2|SecDomestic Cases
Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?

Mediation must be scheduled prior to a setting on all matters whether they are pre or post decree. The only exception is in emergency matters, which must be deemed an emergency by the Court not by the parties.

Summary: Mediation must be scheduled before every pre- or post-decree setting unless the court itself deems the matter an emergency.

Document Type

Notice Of Mediation

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Co Elpaso D04:f5a42947ac62c34b95b6c1b2|SecDomestic Cases

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Mediation must be scheduled before all pre- and post-decree settings, and the notice of mediation must be filed and received by the court at least 24 hours before the setting or the setting will be vacated.

Mediation must be scheduled prior to a setting on all matters whether they are pre or post decree. A notice of mediation must be filed and received by the Court 24 hours prior to setting, or it will be vacated.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

A Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days before the setting.

A Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days prior to the setting.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

Domestic settings occur on Thursdays at 8:15 a.m., and the Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days beforehand.

Domestic settings are held on Thursdays at 8:15 am. A Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days prior to the setting.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Parties must confer meaningfully before filing a disputed motion, and the motion will be denied if the conferral is not evident; an unreturned voicemail or email does not qualify.

As required by rule, meaningful conferral between parties is required before a disputed motion may be filed with the Court. An unreturned voicemail or email is not meaningful conferral. If it is not evident from a motion filed with the Court that meaningful conferral occurred prior to the motion being filed, the motion will be denied for that reason.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

Chambers Communication Rules

Parties must call the division's main line at 719-452-5444 and leave a voicemail, after which the clerk will conference both parties when able.

Parties are to contact the division’s main line 719-452-5444 and leave a voicemail. The clerk will conference call both parties as soon as they are able.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

When only one party is represented, the attorney's office should call the clerk, the clerk will conference the unrepresented party and provide dates, and the attorney must file the hearing notice; failure to answer forfeits date and time selection.

If only one party is represented: the attorney’s office should call the Court Clerk, the Court Clerk will conference the unrepresented party, give dates, and the attorney will file notice of hearings. If either party fails to answer the phone, they forfeit the opportunity to choose the dates and times for hearings.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

When both parties are represented, each should contact the clerk and leave a message; the clerk will conference them, and the party filing the Notice to Set must also file the Notice of Hearings.

If both parties are represented: both parties should contact the Court Clerk and leave a message. The Court Clerk will then conference both parties. The party that filed the Notice to Set will file the Notice of Hearings

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

When both parties are unrepresented, the clerk will conference them, provide dates, and file the hearing notice; a party that fails to answer forfeits the opportunity to choose hearing dates and times.

If both parties are unrepresented: the Court Clerk will conference both parties, give dates, and file the notice of the hearing. If either fails to answer the phone, they forfeit the opportunity to choose the dates and times for hearings.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Domestic Cases

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 128 rules apply across Fourth Judicial District Court, Colorado. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

E-Filing

All 43
  • Applies to
    Fingerprint identification card

    A fingerprint identification card may never be filed electronically in any case.

  • Applies to
    Exhibits

    Attorneys must upload documentary exhibits to CCE in their original format, preferably in grayscale, before or within 21 days after a hearing or trial.

  • Applies to
    Exhibits

    Court staff must scan and upload pro se party exhibits into the jPOD system.

Filing Requirements

All 35
  • Applies to
    Jury instructions

    Nonstandard proposed instructions must omit supporting authority on the instruction itself, while counsel must provide a copy of the supporting authority for the Court and opposing counsel to review.

  • Applies to
    Affidavit re mediation requirements

    For a landlord or agent owning five or fewer single-family rental homes and no more than five total rental units, the affidavit must attest familiarity with the statute and state that mandatory mediation is not required.

  • Applies to
    Affidavit re mediation requirements

    For a landlord or agent owning more than five single-family rental homes or more than five total rental units, the affidavit must state that the residential tenant's household does not receive specified public benefits, did not disclose receiving them after written inquiry, or both, and that mandatory mediation is not required.

Filing Timing

All 21

  • Parties must file all motions, including motions in limine, within 35 days after the jury trial is scheduled.

  • A motion hearing must occur at least 30 days before trial, and the moving party must initiate scheduling the hearing.

  • The defendant must provide and file the specified defense disclosures no later than 20 days before trial.

Formatting

All 12

  • A party appearing for trial in person must bring three copies of its exhibits.

  • Plaintiffs must number their trial exhibits beginning with 1, and defendants must label their trial exhibits beginning with A.

  • Format
    PAPER

    The court accepts only original paper copies of the fingerprint card, photographs, and signed compliance with the Fingerprint Order.

More categories

View all Fourth Judicial District Court, Colorado rules
About Judge Sarah Zane

District Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District, Division 18, El Paso County.

- Courtroom: Division 18 Room S380 - Courthouse: El Paso County Judicial Building, 270 S Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO 80903 United States - Phone: 719-452-5444 - Email: D04_Courts_Div18@judicial.state.co.us

Common questions about Judge Sarah Zane's rules

Does Judge Sarah Zane require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Sarah Zane's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Parties must confer meaningfully before filing a disputed motion, and the motion will be denied if the conferral is not evident; an unreturned voicemail or email does not qualify.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Domestic Cases

What must be included with notice of motion filings before Judge Sarah Zane?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. If parties fail to call the court on the setting date, they must file a new Notice to Set.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Domestic Cases

What must be included with notice of mediation filings before Judge Sarah Zane?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Mediation must be scheduled before every pre- or post-decree setting unless the court itself deems the matter an emergency.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Domestic Cases

How may parties contact Judge Sarah Zane's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications with Judge Sarah Zane's clerk. The rule lists phone 719-452-5444. Parties must call the division's main line at 719-452-5444 and leave a voicemail, after which the clerk will conference both parties when able.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Domestic Cases

What filing deadlines apply to notice of motion filings before Judge Sarah Zane?

A Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days before the setting.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Domestic Cases
Complete rules summary for Judge Sarah Zane

Parties must confer meaningfully before filing a disputed motion, and the motion will be denied if the conferral is not evident; an unreturned voicemail or email does not qualify.

A Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days before the setting.

Mediation must be scheduled before every pre- or post-decree setting unless the court itself deems the matter an emergency.

Domestic settings occur on Thursdays at 8:15 a.m., and the Notice to Set must be filed at least 10 days beforehand.

Parties must call the division's main line at 719-452-5444 and leave a voicemail, after which the clerk will conference both parties when able.

If parties fail to call the court on the setting date, they must file a new Notice to Set.

Mediation must be scheduled before all pre- and post-decree settings, and the notice of mediation must be filed and received by the court at least 24 hours before the setting or the setting will be vacated.

When both parties are unrepresented, the clerk will conference them, provide dates, and file the hearing notice; a party that fails to answer forfeits the opportunity to choose hearing dates and times.

When only one party is represented, the attorney's office should call the clerk, the clerk will conference the unrepresented party and provide dates, and the attorney must file the hearing notice; failure to answer forfeits date and time selection.

When both parties are represented, each should contact the clerk and leave a message; the clerk will conference them, and the party filing the Notice to Set must also file the Notice of Hearings.

More Judges in Fourth Judicial District Court, Colorado

Amanda Philipps
Judge
Amy Cullen Cano
Judge
Catherine Mitchell Helton
Judge
Chad Miller
Judge
David Prince
Judge
Dennis McGuire
Judge
Diana May
Judge
Eric Bentley
Judge