Thornton Civil Court Records

Thornton civil court records are filed at the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton, Colorado. As one of the largest cities in Adams County, Thornton generates a steady volume of civil case filings each year. All civil lawsuits, judgments, small claims, and related disputes for Thornton go through the Adams County courts in the 17th Judicial District. The courthouse is about a 20-minute drive from central Thornton. This page shows you how to search for civil court records tied to Thornton cases and how to get copies from the clerk.

Where Thornton Civil Cases Are Filed

The Adams County Justice Center sits at 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601. This is where all civil court records for Thornton are filed and stored. The main phone line is 303-659-1161. The building houses both district and county courts for the 17th Judicial District, which covers Adams County and Broomfield County. District court takes civil cases of any dollar amount. County court handles disputes up to $25,000. Small claims max out at $7,500. Thornton residents file at this courthouse regardless of the claim size.

Brighton is the county seat, so the drive from Thornton takes about 20 minutes heading northeast on I-25 and Highway 7. The courthouse has public parking. Thornton Municipal Court at 9500 Civic Center Drive is a city facility that only handles municipal ordinance issues, parking tickets, and traffic violations. It has nothing to do with civil lawsuits. Every civil court matter for Thornton goes through Adams County.

Note: The Adams County clerk's office closes the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12 to 1 pm for staff training.

Searching Thornton Civil Records Online

The quickest way to search for Thornton civil court records online is through CoCourts. A search without Denver runs $5 and includes Adams County. The statewide option costs $10. You type in a name or case number and get the Register of Actions for each match. This shows what happened in the case and when, but it does not give you copies of the actual filed documents. To get document copies, you need to go through the Adams County clerk.

The Colorado Judicial Branch website also has useful tools for Thornton residents looking for civil court information. The Adams County court page has hours, phone numbers, and clerk contact details. The Adams County docket search is free and shows upcoming hearings for cases in the 17th Judicial District. You can check if a Thornton civil case has a hearing on the schedule or see which motions have been filed recently. The docket search does not replace a full records search, but it gives you a snapshot of case activity at no cost.

Public Records Access for Thornton

The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes a guide explaining how the public can access court records across the state. The access guide to public records covers what you can request, how to request it, and what fees apply for civil court records in Thornton and all other Colorado locations.

This guide is a plain-language resource from the state. It walks through the rights you have under the Colorado Open Records Act and the process for getting copies of civil case files. For Thornton residents, it is a helpful starting point if you have never requested court records before. The page links out to the request form, fee schedule, and contact information for each county clerk's office including Adams County.

Thornton Civil Court Fees and Costs

Filing fees for Thornton civil cases follow the state schedule. A district court filing costs $235 for the plaintiff. The defendant pays $192. County court fees depend on how much is at stake. Claims under $1,000 cost $85. Claims between $1,000 and $14,999 cost $105. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 are $135. Small claims are $31 for amounts under $500 and $55 for amounts up to $7,500. All fees are paid at the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton when you file.

Other costs for Thornton civil court records include:

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

The JDF 1 fee schedule shows every court fee in detail. After your Thornton case is filed, you can pay through the Colorado Judicial Online Payment portal. The Adams County clerk also accepts fee waiver requests for people who demonstrate financial hardship.

How to Get Thornton Court Record Copies

Getting copies of civil court records for Thornton cases involves the Adams County clerk. You can visit the Justice Center in Brighton during business hours, mail a request, or use the online records request form. For in-person visits, bring the case number and a way to pay. Without a case number, the clerk does a name search for $5. Reviewing the case file at the counter is free. You only pay when you want copies.

The Colorado Open Records Act makes civil court records public. Anyone can ask for copies. You do not need to be a party to the case. The clerk responds to written requests within three business days. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 defines what is open, restricted, or sealed. Most Thornton civil case files are fully public. Sealed records require a court order. Protected personal details are blacked out, but the rest of the file is there for you to review or copy.

Note: Mail requests to the Adams County clerk should include your return address and phone number so they can contact you about fees before sending Thornton civil court record copies.

Nearby Cities in Adams County

Thornton is surrounded by other cities in the north Denver metro area. Several share the Adams County court system or border it. Each of these cities has its own page with civil court record details.