Brighton Civil Court Records

Brighton is home to the Adams County Justice Center, making it the hub for all civil court records in Adams County. The courthouse sits right in Brighton at 1100 Judicial Center Drive. Residents of Brighton and the rest of Adams County file civil cases here. You can search civil court records online through the state system or walk into the clerk's office to review files in person. This page covers how to find, request, and understand civil court records connected to Brighton, Colorado.

Adams County Justice Center in Brighton

The Adams County Justice Center at 1100 Judicial Center Drive is the courthouse for all civil matters in Adams County. Brighton serves as the county seat, so this building is right in town. The main phone number is 303-659-1161. The courthouse houses both district and county courts for the 17th Judicial District, which also includes Broomfield County. Brighton residents have the advantage of living close to the courthouse, which makes filing cases and picking up records much simpler than it is for people in other parts of Adams County who have to drive to Brighton for civil court business.

District court in Brighton handles civil cases with no cap on the claim amount. These are the larger disputes involving contracts, property, personal injury, and business matters. County court takes cases up to $25,000. Small claims court covers disputes up to $7,500 and lets people represent themselves without a lawyer. All three court levels operate out of the same building in Brighton. The clerk's office on the first floor is where you go to file new cases, check on existing ones, or request copies of civil court records.

Brighton also has a municipal court at 22 S. 4th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601, with a phone number of 303-655-2046. This court does not handle civil lawsuits. It deals with city ordinance violations and municipal matters only. For any civil dispute, Brighton residents use the Adams County Justice Center.

Searching Civil Records in Brighton

You have a few options for searching Brighton civil court records. The CoCourts commercial search tool is the main online option. It covers all Colorado state courts including Adams County. A statewide search runs $10. A search without Denver is $5. You can look up cases by name or case number and see the Register of Actions for each one.

CoCourts pulls real-time data from the state court system, so results for Brighton civil cases are current. The tool does not give you copies of actual documents though. For that, you need to contact the Adams County clerk. The Adams County docket search is a free state tool that shows hearings and motions scheduled in the 17th Judicial District. It works well for checking hearing dates on a Brighton civil case. The Adams County court page on the state website has hours, contact info, and local filing rules.

Walking into the clerk's office at the Justice Center is the most direct way to search Brighton civil records. The staff can pull up a case by number or do a name search for $5. You can review the full case file right there. No appointment is needed during regular business hours.

Note: The clerk's office closes on the fourth Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 pm for staff training.

Brighton Civil Court Filing Fees

Filing fees for civil cases at the Brighton courthouse follow the statewide schedule set by the Colorado Judicial Branch. District court costs $235 for the person filing the case. The person responding pays $192. County court fees depend on how much money is at stake in the civil dispute. A claim under $1,000 costs $85 to file. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105. Claims between $15,000 and $25,000 cost $135. Small claims court is the cheapest path, costing $31 for claims under $500 and $55 for claims up to $7,500.

Other fees that come up with Brighton civil court records include:

• Plain paper copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copies: $20.00 per document
• Name search by clerk: $5.00
• Transcript of judgment: $25.00
• Research time over one hour: $30.00 per hour

The JDF 1 fee schedule has every fee listed for Colorado courts. You can pay online through the state payment portal after your case has been filed. If the filing fee is a hardship, the court offers waivers. Ask the Brighton clerk for the form and bring proof of income.

Public Access Laws for Brighton Records

Civil court records filed in Brighton are open to the public. Colorado law protects your right to inspect these records. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) says any person can request access to public records. You do not have to be a party in the case or explain why you want to see the file. The Adams County clerk must respond to a records request within three business days. Most civil case files at the Brighton courthouse are completely open for public review.

Chief Justice Directive 05-01 lays out the specific rules for court record access in Colorado. It covers what is public, what gets sealed, and what personal information is redacted from copies. Social Security numbers and bank account details are removed. The rest of the Brighton civil case file is available to anyone. If a record has been sealed by a judge, you would need a court order to get access. But that is rare for standard civil cases. The vast majority of Brighton civil court filings can be reviewed by walking into the clerk's office at the Justice Center.

Getting Copies of Brighton Civil Records

Since the courthouse is right in Brighton, picking up copies in person is easy. Visit the clerk's office at 1100 Judicial Center Drive during business hours. Bring the case number if you have it. The clerk will pull the file, and you can ask for copies of any documents in it. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies run $20 each and come with the court's official seal. If you are a party to the case, your total copy cost is capped at $15 under state rules.

You can also submit a request through the online records request form or mail a written request to the Adams County Clerk at the Justice Center address. Include the case number, your name, your contact info, and a clear description of what documents you need. The clerk will respond within three business days with the cost and payment instructions. For Brighton residents, the in-person option is often the fastest since the courthouse is local.

Nearby Cities with Civil Court Records

Brighton sits in the northern part of the Denver metro area. Several nearby cities also fall within Adams County and use the same courthouse in Brighton for civil filings. Others are in neighboring counties with their own courthouses.

Commerce City, Thornton, and Northglenn all use the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton for civil court records. Visit each city page for details on their specific courthouse access and local resources.