Boulder County Civil Records Lookup
Boulder County civil court records are public documents that anyone can search. These files include lawsuits, judgments, small claims, and other civil disputes filed in Boulder County courts. The county is part of the 20th Judicial District in north-central Colorado. District courts hear civil cases with no dollar limit. County courts take claims up to $25,000. Small claims go up to $7,500. The Boulder County Justice Center on 6th Street in Boulder is where you file cases and search records. This page shows how to access and get copies of civil court records from Boulder County, Colorado.
Boulder County Civil Court Quick Facts
Boulder County Justice Center
The Boulder County Justice Center is at 1777 6th Street in Boulder, Colorado 80302. This is where civil cases are filed and records are kept for the county. The main phone number is 303-441-3750. The Clerk of Court maintains all civil case files and provides public access during business hours. You can walk in to file a case, review records, or get copies. District courts handle all civil matters with no cap on the claim amount. County courts take smaller civil cases up to $25,000. Small claims court handles disputes up to $7,500 and does not require a lawyer. You file in the court that matches your claim amount. The Boulder County clerk can help you figure out which court to use if you are not sure.
Boulder County is part of the 20th Judicial District. This district covers only Boulder County, so all civil cases from the county are heard at the Justice Center in Boulder. Civil cases in Boulder County 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. The Justice Center sees a large volume of civil cases each year due to the county's population and business activity. If you need to search records or file a case, the clerk can guide you through the process.
Search Boulder County Civil Records
Online searches for Boulder County civil court records are available through third-party vendors. The state does not run a free public search portal. Instead, it works with commercial services like CoCourts to give the public 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 Boulder County Clerk at the Justice Center in Boulder.
The Boulder 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 Boulder 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 Boulder County civil court.
In-person searches are also available at the Justice Center. Walk into the clerk's office during business hours 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 Boulder County.
Note: If you are a party to your own case, your copy cost is capped at $15 under state rules.
Civil Filing Fees in Boulder County
Filing fees for civil cases in Boulder 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 Boulder County Justice Center.
Other court costs in Boulder 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 Boulder County.
Public Access to Court Records
Civil court records in Boulder 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. ยง 24-72-200.1, the record custodian must respond within three business days of your request. The Boulder 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. Boulder 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 Boulder County in person, by mail, or through an online request form. For in-person copies, visit the Justice Center at 1777 6th Street in Boulder. Ask the clerk for the documents you need and pay the copy fee. For mail requests, send a written request to the Boulder 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 303-441-3750 to ask about the process or check on the status of your request for civil records from Boulder County.
Civil Records in Boulder County Cities
Boulder County includes several cities, and residents file civil cases at the Justice Center in Boulder. Below are the major cities located in or partially within Boulder County.
Parts of Longmont also extend into Boulder County, though this city spans Boulder and Weld counties in northern Colorado.
Nearby Colorado Counties
Boulder County borders several other counties in north-central Colorado. Each has its own courthouse and clerk for civil court records.