Find Kit Carson County Civil Records

Kit Carson County civil court records are kept in Burlington at the county courthouse. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files for the 13th Judicial District in Kit Carson County. Civil cases cover disputes like contract claims, debt collection, property damage, and small claims under $7,500. District court in Kit Carson County handles larger civil matters with no dollar limit. County court takes claims up to $25,000. Anyone can search for civil court records at the courthouse or request them by mail. Records are public. You do not need to be part of the case to see the file in Kit Carson County, Colorado.

Kit Carson County Courthouse

The Kit Carson County Combined Court sits at 251 16th Street in Burlington, Colorado 80807. The phone number is 719-346-8638. Court hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. All civil case files for Kit Carson County are held at this office. The Clerk of Court can help you search for a case by name or case number. District and county civil cases both get filed here. For small claims, the same office handles the paperwork. If you know the case number, bring it with you. That speeds up the search. You can also submit a written request by mail if you cannot visit the courthouse in person.

The Kit Carson County court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch site has more contact details. Kit Carson County is part of the 13th Judicial District, which also covers Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties. The same district judges rotate through these courts. Civil case filings in Kit Carson County follow the state rules set by the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure. The clerk can explain what forms you need if you plan to file a civil case in Burlington.

How to File Civil Cases

To file a civil case in Kit Carson County, visit the courthouse at 251 16th Street in Burlington. Bring your complaint and any supporting documents. District court civil filings cost $235. County civil cases cost between $85 and $135, depending on the amount you seek. Small claims cost $31 to $55. The JDF 1 fee schedule lists all the filing costs for Colorado courts. You pay at the time you file. Cash, check, and card are all accepted at the clerk's office in Kit Carson County.

Cases under $7,500 go to small claims. These are simple disputes that do not require a lawyer. The clerk has small claims forms at the counter. Cases from $7,500 to $25,000 go to county court. Anything higher goes to district court. If you are suing a business or another party in Kit Carson County, make sure you file in the right court for the amount you seek. Civil cases can take months to resolve, so filing in the correct court from the start avoids delays and extra costs later on.

After you file, the defendant must be served with a copy of your complaint. You cannot serve it yourself. A process server or sheriff can do it for you. Once the defendant files an answer, the case moves forward. The court may schedule hearings or require mediation before trial in Kit Carson County. You can check the docket search portal to see when your hearing is set.

Access to Kit Carson Civil Records

Civil court records in Kit Carson County are public. You can view them at the courthouse in Burlington. Ask the Clerk of Court for access to a specific case file. The clerk will pull the file if it is available. Some older records may be stored off-site. If you need copies, the cost is $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20. A transcript of judgment runs $25. The Chief Justice Directive 05-01 sets the rules for access to court records in Colorado. Most civil records are fully open unless a judge has sealed the file.

You can also request civil court records by mail. Send a letter to the Kit Carson County Clerk of Court at 251 16th Street, Burlington, CO 80807. Include the case number or the names of the parties. State what you need. The clerk will respond within a few days. If you need a full case file, the cost can add up fast. Ask for an estimate before you place a large order. For online access, CoCourts offers a paid search tool that pulls data from the state court database. A statewide search costs $10. You can look up cases by name and see the Register of Actions, which lists all filings and court events for that case in Kit Carson County.

The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, is the main law governing access to public records. It applies to all government records in the state. C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1 says records must be open for inspection by any person. The Clerk of Court must respond to your request within three business days. If the office denies access, you can appeal. CORA sets limits on how much can be charged for research time. The first hour is free. After that, the fee is $30 per hour for research and redaction work in Kit Carson County.

Types of Civil Cases in Kit Carson County

Civil court records in Kit Carson County include a range of disputes. Contract claims are common. These involve breach of agreement or unpaid bills. Debt collection cases make up a large share of county court filings. Personal injury lawsuits also appear in district court. Property disputes, foreclosure actions, and eviction cases all end up in the civil courts in Burlington. Small claims court handles minor disputes like unpaid loans, property damage under $7,500, and landlord-tenant issues.

The type of case determines which court has jurisdiction. If your claim is under $7,500, file in small claims. Claims from $7,500 to $25,000 go to county court. Anything higher must be filed in district court. Kit Carson County civil court records will show what type of case was filed and what relief the plaintiff sought. You can also see how the case resolved, whether by settlement, trial, or dismissal in Kit Carson County, Colorado.

Note: Water rights cases in Colorado go to water courts, which are separate from the regular district and county courts.

Court Fees in Kit Carson County

Filing a district court civil case in Kit Carson County costs $235. The defendant pays $192 to answer. County civil cases cost $85 if the claim is under $1,000. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 cost $135. Small claims cost less. A claim under $500 costs $31. Claims from $500 to $7,500 cost $55. These fees are set by Colorado statute at C.R.S. § 13-32-101. The state legislature controls the fee schedule. Local courts like Kit Carson County must follow it.

Additional costs include:

• Plain copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copies: $20 per document
• Transcript of judgment: $25
• Name search: $5

If you are a party to the case, your copy cost is capped at $15 under Chief Justice Directive 06-01. That applies statewide, including Kit Carson County. You can also pay court fees online through the state's online payments portal. Fee waivers may be available if you cannot afford to pay. Ask the clerk for a waiver form before you file your civil case in Burlington.

Legal Help in Kit Carson County

If you need legal help, Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income residents. They handle cases like housing disputes, consumer debt, and family law. You can reach them by phone or apply online. Local bar associations also offer lawyer referral services. The Colorado Bar Association has a statewide referral program. You can find a lawyer who handles civil cases in Kit Carson County through their service.

The online records request form on the Colorado Judicial Branch website lets you submit a request for court documents. The court will respond within three days. For questions about civil procedures, call the Kit Carson County Clerk of Court at 719-346-8638. The staff can guide you through the filing process and answer questions about fees and forms for civil cases in Burlington.

Cities in Kit Carson County

Kit Carson County does not have any cities with populations over 25,000. Civil court records for all towns and unincorporated areas in the county are kept at the courthouse in Burlington, Colorado.

Nearby Counties

Kit Carson County borders several other counties in eastern Colorado. For civil court records in neighboring areas, visit their county pages: