Find Rio Grande County Civil Records

Civil court records in Rio Grande County are open to the public and cover lawsuits, contract disputes, debt collection, property cases, and small claims. The Rio Grande County Combined Court sits at 925 6th Street in Del Norte and serves the 12th Judicial District. District court handles civil cases with no dollar limit. County court takes claims up to $25,000. Small claims cap at $7,500. You can search civil court records online, visit the courthouse in person, or file a written request to the Clerk of Court. Most records are public unless a judge has sealed them. This page shows how to access Rio Grande County civil court records, what fees you will pay, and where to go for copies of documents.

Rio Grande County Combined Court

The Rio Grande County Combined Court is at 925 6th Street in Del Norte. This courthouse handles all civil filings for the county. It serves both district and county court cases. District court has no dollar limit. County court hears cases up to $25,000. Small claims go to $7,500. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files at the courthouse. Call 719-657-3394 if you need to ask about a case or request copies of records. The clerk can tell you what records are public and how to get copies for civil cases in Rio Grande County.

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

Del Norte is the county seat. The courthouse is open weekdays. You can walk in to file a new civil case or ask to 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 Rio Grande County.

Search Civil Records Online

Rio Grande County civil court records are searchable through online 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 is a commercial search tool that 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 give you copies of documents. For those, contact the Rio Grande County Clerk of Court. CoCourts results stay active for 24 hours, so you can run multiple searches during that time.

The state also runs a docket search portal that is free. You can look up hearing schedules by case number or party name. This tool shows when a case has a court date. It does not show the full case file. But it helps you track a case as it moves through Rio Grande County courts. Use the docket search if you already have a case number from CoCourts or from a prior filing. Together, these tools give you good coverage of civil court records in Rio Grande County.

For older cases, you may need to call the clerk's office at 719-657-3394. Online data may only go back five years. Historical civil case files are stored at the courthouse in Del Norte. The clerk can tell you if a record is available and how to get a copy from Rio Grande County civil court records.

Filing and Copy Fees

Filing fees for civil cases in Rio Grande County follow the state schedule. District court cases cost $235 if you file as 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 is $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 rates are in the JDF 1 fee document published by the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Copies of court documents cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $20 per document. A transcript of judgment runs $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 fees apply to all Colorado courts under Chief Justice Directive 06-01. You can pay fees online through the Colorado online payments portal for cases in Rio Grande County.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may qualify for a waiver. Ask the clerk's office about the waiver form before you file your civil case in Rio Grande County.

Note: Fee waivers are available for people who can show they cannot afford to pay court costs.

Access to Court Records

Public access to court records in Colorado is governed by the Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1, public records must be 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 Rio Grande County. The Colorado Judicial Branch 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. 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 Rio Grande County, you can also call the clerk's office at 719-657-3394 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 Rio Grande County.

Types of Civil Cases

Civil court records in Rio Grande County cover a wide range 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. Protection orders and restraining orders are civil filings. Small claims handle disputes up to $7,500 and do not require an attorney. Each type of case generates its own set of records in Rio Grande County. District court files tend to be larger because the cases are more complex. Small claims files are shorter and simpler.

Common civil case types include:

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

For water rights disputes, Rio Grande County is part of the Rio Grande River basin. Water cases are heard in the Water Court for Division 3, which covers the Rio Grande basin. Water court records are kept separately but are still public under Colorado law. The type of case determines which court hears it and what civil records get created. You can search civil court records in Rio Grande County to find the Register of Actions for any public case.

Rio Grande County Communities

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

Nearby Counties

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