Find Civil Records in Arapahoe County

Arapahoe County civil court records are public documents that anyone can search. These files include lawsuits, judgments, small claims, and other civil disputes filed in Arapahoe County courts. The county is part of the 18th Judicial District, which also includes Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. District courts hear cases with no dollar limit. County courts take claims up to $25,000. Small claims go up to $7,500. The Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial is where you file cases and search records. This page shows how to access and get copies of civil court records from Arapahoe County, Colorado.

Arapahoe County Justice Center

The Arapahoe County Justice Center is at 7325 South Potomac Street in Centennial, Colorado 80112. This is the main courthouse for civil cases in the county. The phone number is 303-649-6355. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files and provides access to the public. District courts handle large civil matters with no cap on the claim amount. County courts take smaller civil cases up to $25,000. Small claims go up to $7,500 and do not require a lawyer. You file in the court that matches your claim amount. The clerk can help you figure out which court to use if you are not sure.

Arapahoe County is part of the 18th Judicial District, which covers Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties as well. The Justice Center in Centennial handles most of the caseload for the district. Civil cases may include contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, property matters, debt collection actions, and foreclosures. The clerk's office processes all filings and keeps the official record for each case. You can walk in during business hours to file a case, review records, or request copies of civil court documents from Arapahoe County.

Search Arapahoe County Civil Court Records

Online searches for Arapahoe County civil records are available through third-party vendors. The state does not run a free public search tool. Instead, it works with commercial services like CoCourts to provide online access to court data. CoCourts pulls real-time data from the state court database. You can search by party name or case number. A statewide search costs $10. A search without Denver costs $5. The system shows the Register of Actions for each case but does not give you copies of filed documents. For document copies, you need to contact the Arapahoe County Clerk directly at the Justice Center in Centennial.

The Arapahoe County court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website lists contact info and courthouse hours. You can also use the docket search portal to check scheduled hearings for Arapahoe County cases. This free tool lets you look up when a case is on the calendar and what motions have been filed. It does not show the full case history, but it helps if you need to check hearing dates. Use CoCourts to find the case number, then use the docket tool to track hearings in Arapahoe County civil court.

You can also search records in person at the Justice Center. Walk into the clerk's office and ask to review a case file. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, the clerk can do a name search for $5. You may review the file at the courthouse for free. Copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20 per document. The clerk can also provide a transcript of judgment for $25 if you need an official record of a ruling in a civil case from Arapahoe County.

Civil Filing Fees in Arapahoe County

Filing fees for civil cases in Arapahoe County are set by state law. District court costs $235 for the plaintiff to file and $192 for the defendant to answer. County court fees depend on the claim amount. A claim under $1,000 costs $85 to file. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 cost $135. Small claims are the cheapest option. A claim under $500 costs $31. Claims from $500 to $7,500 cost $55. You pay these fees when you file your case at the Arapahoe County Justice Center.

Other court costs in Arapahoe County include:

• Plain paper copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copies: $20.00 per document
• Transcript of judgment: $25.00
• Name search: $5.00
• Certificate of satisfaction: $20.00

The JDF 1 fee schedule has the full list of current filing fees for Colorado courts. You can pay fees online through the Colorado Judicial Online Payment portal after your case has been filed. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask for a fee waiver. The court offers waivers for people who can show financial hardship. Fill out the waiver form and submit proof of income to the clerk. The court will review your request and let you know if it is approved for your civil case in Arapahoe County.

Note: If you are a party to your own case, your copy cost is capped at $15 under state rules.

Public Access to Civil Records

Civil court records in Arapahoe County are open to the public under Colorado law. The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, gives any person the right to inspect public records. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to state a reason. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1, the record custodian must respond within three business days of your request. The Arapahoe County Clerk serves as the custodian for civil court files and must follow CORA rules when processing record requests from the public.

Chief Justice Directive 05-01 sets the rules for court records access across Colorado. This directive defines which records are public, sealed, or restricted. Most civil case files are fully open. Sealed records require a court order to view. Protected details like Social Security numbers and bank account numbers may be redacted from public copies. But the rest of the civil case file is available to anyone. Arapahoe County follows these same rules as every other county in Colorado. You can review the file for free at the courthouse or request copies by mail or email for the standard fees set by state policy.

How to Get Copies of Civil Records

You can get copies of civil court records from Arapahoe County in person, by mail, or through an online request form. For in-person copies, visit the Justice Center at 7325 South Potomac Street in Centennial. Ask the clerk for the documents you need and pay the copy fee. For mail requests, send a written request to the Arapahoe County Clerk at the Justice Center address. Include your name, contact info, the case number, and which documents you want. The clerk will mail you the copies and a bill for the fees.

For online requests, use the Colorado records request form on the Judicial Branch website. The clerk will respond within three business days. Copy costs are $0.25 per page for plain paper. Certified copies cost $20 per document. For large requests that take more than one hour to prepare, the clerk may charge $30 per hour for research and redaction. Call 303-649-6355 to ask about the process or check on the status of your request for civil records from Arapahoe County.

Civil Records in Arapahoe County Cities

Arapahoe County includes several cities, and residents file civil cases at the Justice Center in Centennial. Below are the major cities located in or partially within Arapahoe County.

Parts of Aurora and Littleton also extend into Arapahoe County, though these cities span multiple counties in the Denver metro area.

Nearby Colorado Counties

Arapahoe County borders several other counties in the metro Denver region. Each has its own courthouse and clerk for civil court records.