Search La Plata County Civil Records

La Plata County civil court records are housed at the courthouse in Durango at 1060 E. 2nd Avenue. Civil cases filed in La Plata County cover contract disputes, personal injury claims, debt collection, foreclosure actions, and small claims. The Clerk of Court maintains all civil case files for the 6th Judicial District. District court handles civil cases with no dollar cap. County court hears matters up to $25,000. Small claims court takes disputes under $7,500. Records are public. You can search for a case by name or number at the courthouse. You can also request copies by mail or online. Anyone can access these records in La Plata County, Colorado.

La Plata County Courthouse Location

The La Plata County Combined Court is at 1060 E. 2nd Avenue in Durango, Colorado 81301. You can call them at 970-247-2304. Hours are Monday through Friday. All civil case files for La Plata County are kept at this office. The Clerk of Court handles filings for both district and county courts. Small claims cases also go through the same clerk's office. If you know your case number, bring it with you to speed up the search process in Durango.

The La Plata County court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website has additional contact information. La Plata County is part of the 6th Judicial District, which also covers Archuleta and San Juan counties. District judges rotate through all three county courthouses. Civil procedures in La Plata County follow the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, which apply statewide. The clerk can explain which forms you need if you plan to file a civil case in Durango.

You can also submit a written request for civil court records by mail. Send your request to the La Plata County Clerk of Court at the address above. Include the case number or the names of the parties involved. State what documents you need. The clerk will respond within a few business days. If the file is large, the cost for copies can add up quickly. Ask for an estimate before you place a large order for civil records in La Plata County.

Filing a Civil Case in La Plata County

To file a civil case in La Plata County, go to the courthouse at 1060 E. 2nd Avenue in Durango. Bring your complaint and all supporting documents. The filing fee depends on the court level. District court cases cost $235 to file. County court cases cost between $85 and $135, depending on the claim amount. Small claims cost $31 to $55. You can find the full fee schedule in the JDF 1 document from the Colorado Judicial Branch. Fees must be paid at the time of filing. The clerk accepts cash, check, and card in La Plata County.

Cases under $7,500 go to small claims court. These disputes are simpler and do not require a lawyer. You can pick up small claims forms at the clerk's counter in Durango. Cases between $7,500 and $25,000 must be filed in county court. Anything above that goes to district court. If you are unsure which court to file in, ask the clerk before you pay the filing fee. Filing in the wrong court can delay your case and cost you more money later on in La Plata County.

After you file, the defendant must be served with a copy of your complaint. You cannot serve it yourself in Colorado. A process server or sheriff can handle service for you. Once the defendant files an answer, the case moves into the discovery phase. The court may require mediation before trial. You can check the docket search portal to see when your hearing is scheduled. Civil cases in La Plata County can take several months to reach a resolution, so plan accordingly.

How to Access Civil Court Records

Civil court records in La Plata County are public. Anyone can view them at the courthouse in Durango. 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. Copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20. A transcript of judgment runs $25. These rates are set by Chief Justice Directive 05-01, which governs access to court records across Colorado.

For online access, CoCourts offers a paid search tool that pulls data from the state court database. A statewide search costs $10. You can search by name to find civil cases in La Plata County. The site shows the Register of Actions, which lists all filings and court events for each case. It does not provide copies of actual court documents. For document copies, you must contact the Clerk of Court in Durango directly.

The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, governs access to public 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 also caps the research fee at $30 per hour after the first free hour. That applies to all civil court records requests in La Plata County, Colorado.

Types of Civil Court Cases

Civil court records in La Plata County include contract claims, debt collection, personal injury, property disputes, and foreclosure actions. Contract cases are common. These involve breach of agreement or unpaid bills. Personal injury lawsuits often end up in district court due to the higher claim amounts. Foreclosure cases appear regularly in county court. Small claims court handles minor disputes like property damage, unpaid loans, and landlord-tenant issues under $7,500 in Durango.

The type of case determines which court has jurisdiction. Small claims go to small claims court. County court hears civil matters from $7,500 to $25,000. District court handles anything above $25,000. La Plata County civil court records will show what type of case was filed, what relief the plaintiff sought, and how the case was resolved. You can see whether the case settled, went to trial, or was dismissed in La Plata County, Colorado.

Note: Water rights cases in Colorado are handled by water courts, which are separate from district and county courts.

Court Fees and Costs

Filing a district court civil case in La Plata County costs $235. The defendant pays $192 to file an answer. County civil cases cost $85 if the claim is under $1,000. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105 to file. 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 C.R.S. § 13-32-101 and apply across Colorado, including La Plata County.

Other court costs in La Plata County include:

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

If you are a party to the case, your copy cost is capped at $15 under Chief Justice Directive 06-01. Research and redaction fees run $30 per hour after the first free hour. You can 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 La Plata County.

Legal Help in La Plata County

If you need legal help, Colorado Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income residents. They handle housing disputes, consumer debt, and family law cases. You can reach them by phone or apply online. The Colorado Bar Association also offers a lawyer referral service. You can find a lawyer who handles civil cases in La Plata County through their program. 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 business days. For questions about civil procedures, call the La Plata County Clerk of Court at 970-247-2304. The staff can guide you through the filing process and answer questions about fees and forms in Durango.

Cities in La Plata County

La Plata 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 Durango, Colorado.

Nearby Counties

La Plata County borders several other counties in southwestern Colorado. For civil court records in neighboring areas, visit their county pages: