Denver County Civil Records

Denver County civil court records are kept at two separate court systems in the city. The Denver District Court is part of the Colorado state court system and handles civil cases with no dollar limit. The Denver County Court runs on its own and is not part of the state system. It covers civil cases up to $25,000. Denver County Court processes around 100,000 cases every year. Both courts are in the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse at 520 W. Colfax Avenue. You can search civil court records online through commercial vendors or request documents in person at Room 160. Denver is in the 2nd Judicial District. This page covers how to find and get copies of civil court records from either court in Denver County.

Denver District Court and Denver County Court

Denver is unique in Colorado because it has two separate court systems for civil cases. Denver District Court is part of the state system. It is in the 2nd Judicial District. This court hears civil cases with claims over $25,000. It follows all the same rules as other state courts. You can search Denver District Court records through CoCourts like any other district court in Colorado. The Denver District Court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website has contact info and court resources for district-level civil cases in Denver County.

Denver County Court is run separately. It is not part of the Colorado state court system. It has its own staff. It has its own online systems. It handles civil cases up to $25,000, small claims, traffic, and city ordinance cases. For civil court records from Denver County Court, you need to contact the court directly. You cannot use the standard state records request system for Denver County Court civil records. Email civil@denvercountycourt.org or call 720-337-0410 for questions about civil case files in Denver County Court. Record requests for open records go to coradatarequests@denvercountycourt.org. The court processes over 100,000 cases each year, so many Denver civil court records are kept at this court rather than in the state system.

Both courts are located at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. The address is 520 W. Colfax Avenue in Denver. Room 160 is where you get copies of civil case files in person. Knowing which court handled your civil case matters when you request records in Denver County.

Search Denver Civil Court Records Online

Online access to Denver civil court records depends on which court you need. For Denver District Court, use CoCourts. It pulls case data from the state system. A statewide search costs $10. You can also search just Denver courts for $5. CoCourts shows the Register of Actions for each civil case. It does not give you copies of the actual court documents. For document copies from Denver District Court, use the online records request form from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

The Denver County Court has a public portal for case searches. You can look up civil cases by case number. The portal does not allow name searches. It shows basic case info and the case status. If you need more details or document copies from Denver County Court, contact the clerk at civil@denvercountycourt.org. You can also visit Room 160 at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse to search civil court records in person. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $20 per document in Denver County.

For open records requests from Denver County Court, email coradatarequests@denvercountycourt.org. The Denver County Court has a data page with info on how to request different types of court data. Denver is the only county in Colorado with this kind of split court structure, so you need to know which court handled your civil case before you start your record request.

Filing Civil Cases in Denver County

The court you file in depends on how much money your civil case involves. Claims over $25,000 go to Denver District Court. The filing fee is $235 for the plaintiff. The defendant pays $192 to answer. Cases up to $25,000 go to Denver County Court. 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 for disputes up to $7,500. The filing fee is $31 for claims under $500. Claims from $500 to $7,500 cost $55 to file. These fees follow the state schedule in JDF 1 from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Denver County Court handles a high volume of cases. Over 100,000 cases go through that court each year. It covers city ordinance violations, traffic cases, misdemeanors, and civil claims. For civil court filings in Denver District Court, you follow the same procedures as any other Colorado district court. Forms and instructions are on the Colorado Judicial Branch website. You can pay court fees online through the state's payment portal for civil cases filed in Denver District Court. For Denver County Court filings, check with the clerk for local payment options in Denver County.

Copy Costs and Certified Documents

Copies of civil court records in Denver County cost $0.25 per page for plain copies. This applies to both Denver District Court and Denver County Court. Certified copies are $20 per document. A transcript of judgment costs $25. A name search runs $5. If you are a party to your own case, your copy cost is capped at $15. These rates follow Chief Justice Directive 06-01 for all Colorado courts. For Denver County Court records, pick up copies in person at Room 160 of the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. You can also ask for copies by email. Contact civil@denvercountycourt.org with your request. The clerk can tell you the total cost and when the copies will be ready in Denver County.

Research and redaction fees run $30 per hour after the first hour. This applies if the court needs to pull a large civil case file or black out protected details. For Denver District Court, you can submit record requests through the state online form. Most requests are filled within three business days under the Colorado Open Records Act. For Denver County Court, the turnaround time may vary. Call 720-337-0410 to ask about how long it will take to get your civil court records in Denver County.

Public Access to Denver Civil Records

Denver County civil court records are public. You do not need to be part of the case to see the file. The Colorado Open Records Act under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1 requires courts to make records available to any person within three business days of a request. Denver District Court follows state rules for access. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 is the main rule on what records are public and what details are restricted. Most civil case files are fully open. Sealed records are those a judge has ordered closed. Suppressed records are hidden from view. Protected information like Social Security numbers and bank account info is blacked out from public copies. The rest of the civil court file is open to anyone in Denver County.

Denver County Court follows the same public access rules as state courts. But you contact the Denver County Court directly for record requests. Email coradatarequests@denvercountycourt.org to ask for civil court documents. If your request is denied, you can appeal under CORA. The court will tell you the reason for the denial and how to appeal. For in-person access to Denver civil court records, visit the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse and ask the clerk at Room 160. You can review case files there and request copies on the spot.

Note: Fees may be waived if you can show you cannot afford them, so ask the court clerk about a fee waiver before filing your civil case in Denver County.

Cities in Denver County

Denver County has one major city. The city and county share the same borders. Civil court records for Denver residents are kept at either Denver District Court or Denver County Court, both at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Denver County is surrounded by three counties. Each has its own courthouse and Clerk of Court who keeps civil case files.