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Colorado · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

District Court Clerk / County Court Clerk (county level) / Colorado Courts online portal (statewide)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: District Court (felonies, civil over $25,000, domestic relations, probate, juvenile), County Court (misdemeanors, civil up to $25,000, small claims, traffic), Court of Appeals, or Colorado Supreme Court
  2. Search online through the Colorado Courts case search at courts.state.co.us or the Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (CICJIS) - search by name or case number
  3. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the District Court Clerk or County Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
  4. In-person access: visit the relevant courthouse clerk's office; bring photo ID and case details (names, case numbers, dates)
  5. For written requests: submit to the appropriate court clerk with case details and applicable fees
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online searches free; certified copy fees vary by court and county - typically $0.50-$1.25 per page plus $5-$20 certification fee; contact specific court clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Immediate online searches; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - Colorado Courts case search at courts.state.co.us; click "Case Information" or "Online Services"
Where to Go
District Court Clerk or County Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
County-specific variations apply

Colorado courts have a centralized online search portal but completeness varies by county and case type. Older records and some case types may require in-person or written requests. Denver (City and County) maintains its own court system. Some rural counties have limited online access. Contact your specific court clerk for current online access capabilities.

Colorado Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Colorado Courts online case search at courts.state.co.us provides public access to case information statewide.
  • District Courts handle felonies, civil cases over $25,000, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters.
  • County Courts handle misdemeanors, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims (up to $7,500), and traffic violations.
  • Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court opinions: courts.state.co.us/Courts/Supreme_Court/
  • Criminal history checks: Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducts criminal history background checks - colorado.gov/cbi; available to public.
  • Juvenile records are sealed and not accessible to the public.
  • Under Colorado Open Records Act (CORA): government records requests must be responded to within 3 business days (or longer for complex requests).
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Colorado Judicial Branch - courts.state.co.us | (720) 625-5150; Colorado Bureau of Investigation - colorado.gov/cbi | (303) 239-4222