Castle Rock Civil Records

Castle Rock civil court records are filed and stored at the Douglas County Courthouse. As the county seat of Douglas County, Castle Rock is home to the courthouse where all civil lawsuits, judgments, small claims, and related filings are processed for the area. The 18th Judicial District serves Douglas County along with three other counties. You can search Castle Rock civil records online, in person at the courthouse, or through a written request to the clerk. This page covers how to find, search, and get copies of civil court records in Castle Rock.

Douglas County Courthouse in Castle Rock

The Douglas County Courthouse sits at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock, CO 80109. This is where you go for all civil court business in the area. The main phone line is 303-663-7200. District and county courts both operate from this building. District court takes civil claims of any amount. County court hears cases up to $25,000. Small claims cap at $7,500. The Clerk of Court manages all civil case files and handles public access requests. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours if you want to search records or file a new case.

Castle Rock also has a Municipal Court at 100 North Wilcox Street with a phone line at 303-660-1015. The municipal court deals with traffic violations and city ordinances. It has no role in civil lawsuits. If you have a dispute over money, property, or a contract in Castle Rock, that goes through the Douglas County courthouse on Justice Way. The municipal court and the county courthouse are separate buildings in different parts of town.

The 18th Judicial District covers Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. Cases from all four counties share judges and some administrative staff. But each county keeps its own records. Castle Rock civil court records stay at the Douglas County clerk's office. You would not find them at the Arapahoe County courthouse, even though both are in the same judicial district.

How to Search Castle Rock Civil Records

The fastest way to search Castle Rock civil court records is through the CoCourts online system. This state-authorized tool lets you look up cases by name or case number. A statewide search costs $10. Without Denver it costs $5. The search pulls the Register of Actions for each matching case, showing all filings and hearings. You will not get copies of the actual documents through CoCourts, just the activity log. For document copies, you contact the Douglas County Clerk directly. The data comes from the state court system in real time, so Castle Rock civil cases show up as soon as the clerk enters them.

The state provides a free Douglas County docket search as well. This tool shows scheduled hearings and upcoming court dates for active cases. It is helpful if you need to verify when a Castle Rock civil case is on the calendar. The docket search does not give you the full case history. It covers only upcoming events. Between CoCourts and the docket search, you can get a solid picture of a Castle Rock civil case without leaving your desk.

The Colorado Judicial Branch homepage provides links to court tools, forms, and contact information for every county, including Douglas County where Castle Rock civil records are kept.

From the homepage you can navigate to the Douglas County court page, download forms, or access the docket search tool for Castle Rock civil cases.

Note: The docket search is free but only shows future hearings, not past case activity.

Castle Rock Civil Court Filing Fees

Colorado sets filing fees statewide, so the costs at the Douglas County Courthouse in Castle Rock match what you would pay anywhere else in the state. District court charges $235 for the plaintiff to file a civil case. The defendant pays $192 to respond. County court fees depend on the claim amount. A case under $1,000 costs $85 to file. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105. The $15,000 to $25,000 bracket costs $135. Small claims run $31 for disputes under $500 and $55 for claims up to $7,500.

The JDF 1 fee schedule lists every cost you might encounter. Additional fees in Castle Rock civil cases include:

• Paper copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copies: $20 per document
• Clerk name search: $5
• Transcript of judgment: $25
• Certificate of satisfaction: $20
• Research time past one hour: $30 per hour

You can pay ongoing court costs through the Colorado Judicial Online Payment portal once your case has a number. For people who cannot afford the filing fee, the Douglas County clerk has fee waiver forms. You fill one out and submit proof of your financial situation. The court decides whether to waive the fee for your Castle Rock civil case.

Public Access to Castle Rock Court Records

Civil court records filed in Castle Rock are public documents. The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, says anyone can inspect and copy public records. You do not need to be a party to the case. The Douglas County Clerk is the records custodian and must respond to requests within three business days. CORA limits how much the clerk can charge for research and preparation time. Most civil case files are open in full unless a judge sealed the record or marked parts of it as protected.

Chief Justice Directive 05-01 provides detailed rules on which court records are public, which are sealed, and what information gets redacted. Social Security numbers and financial account details are stripped from copies before they go out. The rest of the Castle Rock civil file is accessible. Sealed records need a court order to view. In standard civil disputes, sealing is uncommon. Domestic relations and juvenile matters may carry tighter restrictions, but those are separate case types from general civil filings.

Requesting Castle Rock Civil Court Documents

You have three ways to get copies of Castle Rock civil records. Visit the Douglas County Courthouse at 4000 Justice Way and ask the clerk. Bring photo ID and the case number. If you lack the case number, the clerk runs a name search for $5. You can also mail a request to the Douglas County Clerk of Court at 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109. Put your name, contact information, case number, and a list of documents you need in the letter. The third route is the online records request form on the Colorado Judicial Branch website. This form works for any county, including Douglas County.

The clerk responds within three business days. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies with the court seal run $20 per document. Parties to the case have their copy costs capped at $15 under state rules. For bulk requests, the clerk may charge $30 per hour past the first hour for research and preparation work. The access guide to public records on the state judicial website explains the process and your rights under Colorado law when requesting Castle Rock civil court records.

Note: The Douglas County Courthouse is at 4000 Justice Way, not the municipal court at 100 North Wilcox, so make sure you go to the right building.

Nearby Cities with Court Records

Castle Rock sits between Denver and Colorado Springs along I-25. Several other cities in the area have civil court records accessible through their county courthouses.