Elbert County Civil Records

Elbert County civil court records are kept at the Elbert County Combined Courts in Kiowa. The courthouse is at 751 Ute Avenue. Elbert County is part of the 18th Judicial District, which it shares with Douglas 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 Elbert County Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files for the county. You can search these records online through commercial vendors or request documents from the courthouse. This page explains how to access and get copies of civil court records from Elbert County.

Elbert County Courthouse and Clerk

The Elbert County Combined Courts are at 751 Ute Avenue in Kiowa. All civil court records for Elbert County are kept at this courthouse. The phone number is 303-621-3137. You can call during business hours to ask about civil case files or set up a time to visit and review records in person. The Elbert County court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website has the courthouse address, hours, and contact info. It also links to state court forms and resources for people filing civil cases in Elbert County.

Elbert County is part of the 18th Judicial District. The district covers Elbert and Douglas counties. Each county keeps its own civil case files at its own courthouse. The Clerk of Court in Elbert County maintains all civil records for district court, county court, and small claims cases filed in Elbert County. District court has no dollar cap. 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 requests them.

Search Elbert Civil Records Online

You can search Elbert County civil court records online through CoCourts, a commercial vendor that pulls case data from the Colorado 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 includes filings, motions, and orders. It does not provide copies of the actual documents. For document copies, use the online records request form from the Colorado Judicial Branch or contact the Elbert County Clerk of Court directly.

The Colorado Judicial Branch runs a free docket search portal. You can search by case number or party name to see scheduled hearings and recent filings in Elbert County civil cases. The docket tool does not show the full case file. It helps you follow an open case. For a more thorough search, 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 Elbert 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 Elbert County.

File Civil Cases in Elbert County

Civil cases in Elbert County are filed at the Combined Courts in Kiowa. The court you file in depends on the claim amount. District court has no dollar limit. A plaintiff pays $235 to file. The defendant pays $192 to answer. County court hears claims up to $25,000. The filing fee ranges from $85 to $135 based on the amount in dispute. Small claims handle disputes up to $7,500. Filing costs $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 Elbert County, the file becomes a public record. Anyone can request access to it under the Colorado Open Records Act. The 18th Judicial District covers two counties, but each county keeps its own files at its own courthouse in Elbert County.

Copy Costs and Document Requests

Plain copies of civil court records cost $0.25 per page in Elbert 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, the copy cost is capped at $15. These rates follow Chief Justice Directive 06-01 and apply to all Colorado courts. You can pick up copies in person at the courthouse in Kiowa. You can also request copies by phone at 303-621-3137 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 Elbert County.

Public Access to Elbert Civil Records

Elbert 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 Elbert County.

To request civil court records, visit the courthouse at 751 Ute Avenue in Kiowa or call 303-621-3137. 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 Elbert 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 Elbert County

Elbert County has no cities that meet the population threshold for dedicated pages on this site. The county seat is Kiowa. Civil court records for all Elbert County residents are kept at the Combined Courts in Kiowa.

Nearby Counties

Elbert County is in east-central Colorado. It borders seven counties. Each has its own courthouse and keeps civil court records separately from Elbert County.