Aurora Civil Court Records

Aurora civil court records are spread across three different county court systems because the city spans parts of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties. Where you file or search for a civil case depends on which part of Aurora the dispute is connected to. This makes Aurora different from most other Colorado cities that sit in just one county. Each county has its own courthouse, clerk, and filing process for civil cases. This page walks you through how to figure out where your Aurora civil court records are held and how to search for them.

Which Court Handles Aurora Civil Cases

The first step for any Aurora civil court matter is figuring out which county your case falls in. Most of Aurora sits in Arapahoe County, which is part of the 18th Judicial District. The northern portion of the city extends into Adams County under the 17th Judicial District. A smaller section in the southeast touches Douglas County, also in the 18th Judicial District. Your home address or the location where the dispute took place determines which courthouse you use for filing civil cases in Aurora.

The three courthouses that handle Aurora civil cases are:

• Adams County Justice Center: 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton, CO 80601, phone 303-659-1161
• Arapahoe County Justice Center: 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial, CO 80112, phone 303-649-6355
• Douglas County Courthouse: 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109, phone 303-663-7200

If you are not sure which county your Aurora address is in, check with the city clerk or look up your address on the county assessor website. Filing in the wrong county can cause delays. The court may dismiss your case and tell you to refile in the right jurisdiction, which means paying the filing fee again.

Note: Aurora Municipal Court at 14999 E. Alameda Pkwy handles only city ordinance violations, not civil lawsuits.

Searching Aurora Civil Court Records Online

Because Aurora spans three counties, you may need to search more than one court database to find a civil record. CoCourts is the easiest way to search across all three at once. A statewide search costs $10 and covers Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties together. A search without Denver is $5. CoCourts lets you look up cases by name or case number and shows the Register of Actions. It does not include document copies. For those, contact the clerk at whichever county courthouse holds the case.

You can also search each county individually. The Colorado Judicial Branch website has docket search pages for each county. These are free and show scheduled hearings and pending motions. The docket search portal lets you pick a county and search by case number or party name to see what is on the calendar. This works well for checking hearing dates on Aurora civil cases but does not show the full case history or provide document copies.

Aurora Court Records by County

The Colorado Judicial Branch lists all trial courts organized by county so you can find the right court for your Aurora civil case. The trial courts by county page shows which judicial district each county belongs to and provides direct links to court contact information.

From this page, you can click through to Adams, Arapahoe, or Douglas county court pages to find specific clerk contact details, addresses, and hours for each location that handles Aurora civil court filings. The site also links to court forms and self-help resources for people representing themselves in civil cases filed in any of the three Aurora-area courthouses.

Civil Court Fees for Aurora Residents

Filing fees for Aurora civil cases are the same regardless of which county court you use. District court costs $235 for the plaintiff. The defendant pays $192. County court fees range from $85 to $135 based on the claim amount. Small claims cost $31 to $55. These fees are set by state law and apply in Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties equally. The full fee list is in the JDF 1 fee schedule.

Getting copies of civil records from any of the three county courts follows the same pricing. Plain copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20 per document. A name search is $5. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through the online records request form. Each county clerk processes requests within three business days. If you need copies from more than one county for Aurora-related civil cases, you will need to submit separate requests to each court.

After a case is filed, the Colorado Judicial Online Payment portal lets you pay court costs electronically. This works for all three counties that serve Aurora residents.

Note: Fee waivers are handled by each county separately, so you must apply at the courthouse where your Aurora civil case is filed.

Public Access Laws for Aurora Records

Civil court records for Aurora cases are public under the Colorado Open Records Act. CORA gives anyone the right to inspect public records without stating a reason. The clerk at each county courthouse must respond within three business days. Most civil case files are fully open unless a judge has sealed them. Protected details like Social Security numbers are redacted from copies, but the rest of the file is available to view or copy.

Chief Justice Directive 05-01 sets the statewide rules for court records access. All three counties that serve Aurora follow this same directive. You can review case files at any of the three courthouses during business hours for free. Bring the case number with you for faster service. If you do not have it, the clerk will run a name search for the $5 fee to help you find the right Aurora civil court record.

Cities Near Aurora

Aurora shares borders with several major Colorado cities. Some of these also span multiple counties. Each city has its own page with details on how to search and get civil court records.