Search Douglas County Civil Records

Douglas County civil court records are kept at the Douglas County Combined Courts in Castle Rock. The courthouse is at 4000 Justice Way. Douglas County is part of the 18th Judicial District, which it shares with Elbert County. The 18th District handles civil cases with no dollar cap in district court and claims up to $25,000 in county court. Small claims go up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court in Douglas County keeps all civil case files. You can search these records online through commercial vendors or request documents directly from the courthouse. This page shows you how to find and get copies of civil court records from Douglas County.

Douglas County Courthouse

The Douglas County Combined Courts are at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock. This is the main courthouse for Douglas County. All civil court records for the county are kept here. The phone number is 303-663-7200. You can call during business hours to ask about case files or set a time to visit and review civil court records in person. The Douglas County court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website lists the courthouse address, hours, and contact info. It also has links to state court forms and resources for people filing civil cases in Douglas County.

Douglas County is part of the 18th Judicial District. This district covers Douglas and Elbert counties. The Clerk of Court in Douglas County maintains all civil case files for district court, county court, and small claims. District court has no dollar limit. County court takes claims up to $25,000. Small claims handle disputes up to $7,500. The clerk can search records by name or case number and make copies for anyone who asks.

Online Access to Douglas Civil Records

You can search Douglas County civil court records online through CoCourts, a third-party vendor that pulls case data from the state court system. A statewide search costs $10. State courts without Denver cost $5. CoCourts shows the Register of Actions for each civil case. This lists all filings, motions, and court orders in the case. It does not give you copies of the actual documents. For document copies, use the online records request form from the Colorado Judicial Branch or contact the Douglas County Clerk of Court.

The Colorado Judicial Branch runs a free docket search portal on its website. You can search by case number or party name to see scheduled hearings and recent filings in Douglas County civil cases. The docket tool does not show the full case file. It helps you track an open case. For detailed records, use CoCourts to find the case number, then request documents from the clerk. You can pay court fees online through the state payment portal for civil cases filed in Douglas County.

Note: Some civil court records may be sealed by a judge's order or have restricted details blacked out, so check with the clerk if you cannot find a specific case in Douglas County.

Filing Civil Cases in Douglas County

Civil cases in Douglas County are filed at the Combined Courts in Castle Rock. The court you file in depends on the claim amount. District court handles claims with no dollar cap. A plaintiff pays $235 to file. The defendant pays $192 to answer. County court takes claims up to $25,000. 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 and $55 for claims from $500 to $7,500. These fees are set by state law in JDF 1 from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

You can file in person at the courthouse or by mail. Some attorneys use electronic filing. Pro se litigants usually file on paper. The clerk can give you the forms you need. You can also download forms from the Colorado Judicial Branch website. Once your civil case is filed in Douglas County, the file becomes a public record. Anyone can request access to it under the Colorado Open Records Act. The 18th Judicial District covers Douglas and Elbert counties, but each county keeps its own case files at its own courthouse.

Copy Costs and Certified Documents

Plain copies of civil court records cost $0.25 per page in Douglas County. Certified copies cost $20 per document. A transcript of judgment is $25. A name search is $5. If you are a party to your own case, copy costs are capped at $15. These rates follow Chief Justice Directive 06-01 and apply to all Colorado courts. You can get copies in person at the courthouse in Castle Rock. You can also request copies by phone at 303-663-7200 or through the state's online records request form.

Research and redaction fees run $30 per hour after the first free hour. This applies if the court needs to pull a large file or redact protected details like Social Security numbers. Most record requests are filled within three business days under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1, the Colorado Open Records Act. If you need a rush, ask the clerk if expedited service is available for your civil court records request in Douglas County.

Public Access to Douglas Civil Records

Douglas County civil court records are public. You do not need to be part of the case to see the file. You do not need to give a reason. The Colorado Open Records Act requires courts to make records available within three business days of a request. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 controls which records are public, sealed, or restricted. Most civil case files are fully open. Some may be sealed by a judge's order. Others have protected details like Social Security numbers and bank account info blacked out. The rest of the file is open to anyone who asks in Douglas County.

To request civil court records, visit the courthouse at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock or call 303-663-7200. You can also submit a request through the state's online form. The clerk will pull the file and let you review it or make copies. Sealed files require a court order to open. For most civil cases in Douglas County, the entire file is available to the public as soon as it is filed with the court. This includes the complaint, answer, motions, orders, and judgments.

Cities in Douglas County

Douglas County has three major cities. Civil court records for residents of these cities are kept at the Douglas County Combined Courts in Castle Rock.

Note: Littleton is in multiple counties, so some civil cases may be filed in Arapahoe County instead of Douglas County.

Nearby Counties

Douglas County borders six counties. Each has its own courthouse and keeps civil court records separately from Douglas County.