Search Chaffee County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Chaffee County come from the Combined Courts based in Salida. These records include lawsuits, small claims, debt collection cases, contract disputes, and personal injury filings. The court is part of the 11th Judicial District and handles all civil matters from across the county. District court takes cases with no dollar cap, while county court hears claims up to $25,000. Small claims cases go up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court stores all civil case files at the courthouse at 142 Crestone Avenue. Anyone can request copies of public civil records in Chaffee County. You can search online through state databases or ask for documents in person or by mail.

Chaffee County Clerk of Court

The Chaffee County Combined Courts serve as the hub for all civil case filings in the county. The courthouse sits at 142 Crestone Avenue in Salida, Colorado 81201. You can reach the court by phone at 719-539-2561. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files and makes them available to the public. This office processes new filings, issues copies, and answers questions about civil court records in Chaffee County. Office hours vary, so call ahead if you plan to visit in person. The clerk handles both district and county court civil cases at the same location.

The Chaffee County Court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website has contact details and general court information. It lists judges, staff contacts, and links to state court resources. For a broader view of civil cases across Colorado, you can also check the Access Guide to Public Records from the state court system. That guide covers how to request civil case files from any county in Colorado, including Chaffee County.

Most civil court records in Chaffee County are public. Sealed files exist only when a judge orders it. The clerk can tell you if a case is sealed or if any documents are restricted before you request copies.

How to Search Civil Records in Chaffee County

You can search for civil court records in Chaffee County online or in person. The easiest way is to use CoCourts, a commercial search tool run through the Colorado Judicial Branch. CoCourts pulls data from the state court database and shows civil cases by name or case number. A statewide search costs $10. A search of all counties except Denver runs $5. You get 24 hours of access after you pay. The site shows the Register of Actions, which lists all filings and hearings in a case, but it does not provide copies of actual documents. For document copies in Chaffee County, you need to contact the Clerk of Court directly.

The Colorado Judicial Branch also runs a free docket search that shows scheduled hearings in civil cases. You can search by case number or party name to see when a hearing is set. This tool does not give full case details but helps you track court dates for ongoing civil cases in Chaffee County. If you need older records, CoCourts may only show the last five years of data. Contact the clerk for earlier case files. They can search back further and pull documents from archived civil court records.

For in-person searches, you can visit the courthouse in Salida and ask the clerk to look up a case by name or number. They can pull the file and make copies for you at the standard rate of $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20 per document. A judgment transcript runs $25. Mail requests work the same way. Send a written request with the case number or party names to the Chaffee County Combined Courts at 142 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201. Include payment or ask for a cost estimate before the clerk sends copies. The online records request form from the state court system is another option for asking any Colorado court for civil case documents.

Civil Filing Fees in Chaffee County

Filing fees in Chaffee County follow the state schedule set by Colorado law. District court civil cases cost $235 for the plaintiff to file and $192 for the defendant to answer. 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. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 run $135. Small claims are the cheapest. A claim under $500 costs $31. Claims from $500 to $7,500 cost $55. These fees are set under C.R.S. § 13-32-101 and apply statewide. The full fee schedule is in the JDF 1 fee document from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Costs for copies and other services in Chaffee County include plain copies at $0.25 per page, certified copies at $20 per document, transcript of judgment at $25, and a name search for $5. Research and redaction fees are $30 per hour after the first free hour. If you are a party to the case, your copy cost is capped at $15 total. Fee waivers may be available if you can show you cannot afford to pay. Ask the Chaffee County clerk about the waiver form before you file. You can pay court fees online through the state's online payments portal for civil cases across Colorado.

Note: Check the current fee schedule before filing, as rates can change based on state law updates.

Types of Civil Cases Filed in Chaffee County

Chaffee County civil court records cover contract disputes, debt collection, personal injury claims, and property cases. District court handles the larger claims with no dollar limit. These cases often involve insurance disputes, real estate contracts, and complex business matters. County court takes the smaller civil cases up to $25,000. This includes most debt collection actions, landlord-tenant disputes, and property damage claims. Small claims court is for disputes under $7,500 where parties can represent themselves without a lawyer.

Common civil case types in Chaffee County include:

• Contract breach and business disputes
• Personal injury and property damage lawsuits
• Debt collection and creditor claims
• Eviction and landlord-tenant cases
• Small claims up to $7,500

The case type determines which court hears it. Ask the clerk if you are not sure where to file. Civil court records for all case types are kept at the Chaffee County courthouse in Salida.

Public Access to Chaffee County Court Records

Colorado law gives broad access to civil court records. The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, is codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1 and allows any person to review public records. You do not need to be part of the case. You do not need to give a reason. The record custodian must respond within three business days. Most civil case files in Chaffee County are open. Sealed records require a court order. Protected details like Social Security numbers and bank account numbers may be redacted from copies. The rest of the file is public.

Chief Justice Directive 05-01 sets the rules for court records access in Colorado. It defines which records are public, sealed, suppressed, or restricted. Civil cases are usually fully open unless a judge orders otherwise. You can ask the Chaffee County clerk for any civil court record that is not sealed. For questions about access rules or fees, call the courthouse at 719-539-2561 before you make the trip to Salida.

Civil Court Records for Chaffee County Cities

Chaffee County has no cities with a population over the threshold for dedicated pages. Residents of Salida, Buena Vista, and other towns file civil cases at the Chaffee County Combined Courts in Salida. All civil court records are kept at the county courthouse regardless of which town the parties live in.

Nearby Colorado Counties

Chaffee County borders several other Colorado counties. For civil court records in neighboring areas, visit these county pages: