Prowers County Civil Records

Prowers County civil court records are public documents anyone can view. These records cover lawsuits, debt collection, contract disputes, property claims, and small claims. The Prowers County Combined Court in Lamar serves the 15th Judicial District. District court hears civil cases with no dollar cap. County court handles claims up to $25,000. Small claims go to $7,500. You can search civil court records online through third-party tools, visit the courthouse in person, or submit a written request to the Clerk of Court. Most civil records are open unless a judge sealed them. This page shows how to find and get copies of civil court records in Prowers County.

Prowers Combined Court

The Prowers County Combined Court is located at 301 S. Main Street in Lamar. This courthouse handles all civil filings for the county. District court takes cases with no dollar limit. County court handles civil claims up to $25,000. Small claims cap at $7,500. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files. You can call 719-336-7416 if you need to ask about a case or request copies of records. The clerk can guide you through the process of getting civil court records in Prowers County.

The Prowers County Court page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website lists contact information and office hours. It also names the judges who hear civil cases in Prowers County. You can find links to state court forms on that page, including the JDF forms needed for civil filings. The site is the official source for courthouse information in Prowers County. It also provides links to payment options and other resources for people with cases in the county.

Lamar is the county seat. You can visit the courthouse in person to file a new civil case or view records from an existing case. Bring the forms you need and any required copies when you file. Court staff can answer questions about the filing process for civil cases in Prowers County. The courthouse is open weekdays during regular business hours.

Search Prowers Civil Court Records Online

Prowers County civil court records are available through online search tools. The Colorado Judicial Branch does not offer a free name search on its website. You can use CoCourts to search by party name or case number. CoCourts pulls data from the state court system. A statewide search costs $10. A search of all courts except Denver costs $5. The tool shows the Register of Actions for each case, which lists motions, orders, and hearings. It does not provide copies of the actual documents in the file. For those, contact the Prowers County Clerk of Court. CoCourts search results stay available for 24 hours after you pay.

Colorado also runs a docket search portal that is free. You can look up scheduled hearings by case number or party name. This tool shows when a case has a hearing set. It does not show the full case file. But it helps if you need to track a civil case as it moves through Prowers County courts. Use the docket search if you already have a case number from CoCourts. The two tools work well together to give you a complete view of civil court records in Prowers County.

For older records, you may need to call the clerk's office. Online data may only go back five years. Historical civil case files are kept at the courthouse in Lamar. The clerk can tell you if a record is available and how to get a copy from Prowers County civil court records.

Civil Court Filing Fees

Filing fees in Prowers County follow the state schedule set by Colorado law. District court cases cost $235 to file if you are the plaintiff. The defendant pays $192 to answer. County court fees depend on the claim amount. A case under $1,000 costs $85. A claim from $1,000 to $14,999 costs $105. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 run $135. Small claims are cheaper. Under $500, you pay $31. From $500 to $7,500, the fee is $55. These amounts are listed in the JDF 1 fee document published by the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Copies of court documents cost $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $20 per document. A transcript of judgment is $25. A name search costs $5. If you are a party to your own case, your total copy cost is capped at $15. Research and redaction fees are $30 per hour after the first hour, which is free. These copy fees apply to all Colorado courts under Chief Justice Directive 06-01. You can pay fees online through the Colorado online payments portal for civil cases in Prowers County.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may be able to get a waiver. Ask the clerk's office about the waiver form before you file your civil case in Prowers County.

Public Access to Court Files

Colorado law gives broad public access to court records. The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, is the main statute. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1, public records are open for review by any person. You do not need to be part of the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The record custodian must respond within three business days. CORA applies to civil court records in Prowers County. The state also has Chief Justice Directive 05-01, which sets rules for what court records can be sealed or restricted. Most civil case files are fully public. Only records a judge has ordered sealed are closed to the public in Colorado.

You can file a records request through the Colorado online records request form on the judicial website. This form goes to the court you select. For Prowers County, you can also call the clerk's office at 719-336-7416 to ask about civil records. Staff will tell you what is available and how to get copies. If a record is sealed, the clerk will inform you. Protected information like Social Security numbers may be redacted from public copies, but the rest of the file is open for civil cases in Prowers County.

Note: If your request is denied, you can appeal under CORA by contacting the Colorado Attorney General's office.

Civil Case Types in Prowers County

Civil court records in Prowers County include many types of disputes. Contract cases are common. So are debt collection cases and personal injury claims. Property disputes, foreclosures, and eviction actions are also civil matters. Small claims handle disputes up to $7,500 and do not require a lawyer. Protection orders and restraining orders are civil filings as well. Each type of case generates its own set of records in Prowers County. District court files tend to be larger because the cases are more complex. Small claims files are shorter and simpler. The type of case determines which court hears it and what records get created.

Common civil case types include:

• Contract and breach of agreement claims
• Debt collection and creditor actions
• Personal injury and property damage lawsuits
• Foreclosure and eviction proceedings
• Protection orders and restraining orders
• Small claims up to $7,500

For water rights disputes, Prowers County is part of the Arkansas River basin. Water cases are heard in the Water Court for Division 2, which covers the Arkansas basin. Water court records are kept separately from civil court records but are still public under Colorado law. You can search civil court records in Prowers County to find the Register of Actions for any public case, which lists all filings and orders.

Prowers County Communities

Prowers County has no cities over the 25,000 population threshold. All civil court records for the county are handled at the Combined Court in Lamar. Residents of smaller towns in Prowers County file their civil cases at the courthouse in Lamar. The same applies if you need to search for records or get copies. The clerk's office serves all residents of Prowers County.

Nearby Counties

Prowers County borders several other counties in southeastern Colorado. Each county has its own courthouse and Clerk of Court. If you need civil records from a nearby county, use the links below.