Morgan County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Morgan County are open to the public in Colorado. Anyone can look them up. The county is part of the 13th Judicial District. Its courthouse sits at 400 Warner Street in Fort Morgan. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files for both district court and county court. District court handles civil cases with no dollar cap. County court takes claims up to $25,000. Small claims go to $7,500. You can search for civil records in person at the courthouse in Fort Morgan or use an online search tool like CoCourts to find case numbers and view the Register of Actions for each case. This page explains how to get civil court records in Morgan County, Colorado, and what to expect when you search or request copies.

Morgan County Courthouse in Fort Morgan

The Morgan County courthouse is at 400 Warner Street in Fort Morgan, Colorado. The phone number is 970-542-3435. The courthouse serves the 13th Judicial District. The Clerk of Court manages all civil case files for Morgan County. You can visit the office during business hours to ask about a case or make a copy request. The clerk can search by case number or by party name. If you know the case number, bring it with you. That speeds things up. Name searches cost $5 under the state fee schedule in Colorado.

The district court hears civil cases that have no dollar limit. County court takes cases up to $25,000. Small claims court is the simplest path in Colorado and handles disputes up to $7,500. To file a civil case in Morgan County, you go to the courthouse on Warner Street in Fort Morgan. The filing fee depends on the court level. District civil cases cost $235 to file. County cases range from $85 to $135 based on the claim amount. Small claims run from $31 to $55. All fees are set by state law under C.R.S. § 13-32-101. You can find the full fee schedule in the JDF 1 document from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

To file a civil case in Morgan County, you need to fill out the proper forms. The type of case determines which form you use. Most civil cases start with a complaint or petition. The Access Guide to Public Records page from the Colorado Judicial Branch explains how to request court records and what forms are available for different types of cases. You can also submit a records request through the state's online form to ask the court in Fort Morgan for specific documents from a civil case file.

How to Access Civil Records in Morgan County

Civil court records in Morgan County are public under Colorado law. The Colorado Open Records Act, known as CORA, gives anyone the right to view public records. You do not need to explain why. You do not need to be part of the case. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1, public records are available for inspection by any person at a time fixed by the custodian. The record custodian must respond to your request within three business days. That includes civil court records from the Morgan County courthouse in Fort Morgan. You can request records in person, by mail, or online through the state's records request form.

Most civil court records in Morgan County are open to the public. Some records are sealed by court order. Protected information like Social Security numbers and bank account details may be redacted from public copies. But the bulk of the case file is available. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 is the main rule for court records access in Colorado. It spells out which records are public, sealed, suppressed, or restricted. For Morgan County, most civil cases fall under the public category. If a record is sealed, the clerk cannot release it without a court order. You may appeal if your records request is denied. CORA also caps the research and retrieval fee that can be charged.

Search Morgan County Civil Cases Online

Online access to Morgan County civil court records comes through third-party vendors. The state does not run its own case search on the Judicial Branch website. Instead, it works with companies like CoCourts to give the public access to civil case data. CoCourts was created as a project of the Colorado Judicial Branch and pulls real-time data from the state court database. You can search by name to find civil cases in Morgan County. A statewide search costs $10. State courts without Denver cost $5. The site shows the Register of Actions for each case but does not provide copies of actual court documents. For document copies, you must contact the courthouse in Fort Morgan.

The Colorado Judicial Branch also runs a docket search portal on its website. This free tool lets you look up scheduled court hearings in Morgan County. You can search by case number or party name. It shows when hearings are set and what motions have been filed. It does not show the full case file. But it helps you track a civil case as it moves through the courts. The CoCourts pricing page shows what you pay to search civil court records through their site. Search results stay open for 24 hours after you pay. You can look up to four first names with the same last name in one search.

For older civil cases in Morgan County, some data may only go back five years on the CoCourts site. Contact the Clerk of Court for records that go back further. The court may have older files stored in archives. You may need to wait a few days for the clerk to pull older records from storage.

Note: The Colorado Attorney General's office has more details about CORA and how it applies to record requests across the state.

Filing Fees for Civil Cases in Morgan County

Filing fees for civil cases in Morgan County match the state schedule. District court cases cost the most. A plaintiff pays $235 to file. The defendant pays $192 to answer. County civil fees vary by claim amount. A claim under $1,000 costs $85. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 cost $135. Small claims are cheaper. A claim under $500 costs $31. Claims from $500 to $7,500 cost $55.

Copy fees in Morgan County are $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $20 per document. A transcript of judgment is $25. If you are a party to your own case, your copy cost is capped at $15. Research and redaction fees run $30 per hour after the first free hour. These rates are set by Chief Justice Directive 06-01 and apply to all Colorado courts. You can pay court fees online through the state's online payments portal for civil cases in Morgan County. The portal lets you pay filing fees, fines, and other court costs with a credit card or bank account.

Note: Fee waivers may be available for people who can show they cannot afford to pay.

Civil Case Types in Morgan County

Civil court records in Morgan County cover a range of disputes. Contract cases are common. Debt collection actions show up often. Property disputes and personal injury claims go through civil court as well. In district court, there is no cap on the claim amount, so large lawsuits end up there. County courts handle smaller civil matters with a $25,000 limit. Small claims court is the simplest path and does not require a lawyer. The case type determines which court hears it and what civil records get created.

Colorado civil court records may include contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, debt collection cases, foreclosure actions, protection orders, and small claims. Water rights cases in Colorado go to water court, which is a separate division. The type of case determines which court has jurisdiction and where you need to go to search for those civil records in Morgan County.

Nearby Counties

If you need civil court records from counties near Morgan County, check these links: