Routt County Civil Court Records

Routt County civil court records are public documents that anyone can access. These records include lawsuits, contract disputes, debt collection cases, property claims, and small claims. The Routt County Combined Court sits at 1955 Shield Drive in Steamboat Springs and serves the 14th Judicial District. District court handles civil cases with no dollar limit. County court takes 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 file a written request with the Clerk of Court. Most civil records are open unless a judge sealed them. This page explains how to find and get copies of civil court records in Routt County and what fees you will pay.

Routt Combined Court

The Routt County Combined Court is located at 1955 Shield Drive in Steamboat Springs. 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 cap at $7,500. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files. You can call 970-879-5020 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 Routt County.

The Routt 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 Routt 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 Routt County. It also provides links to payment options and other resources for people with cases in the county.

Steamboat Springs 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 Routt County. The courthouse is open weekdays during regular business hours.

Search Civil Court Records

Routt 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 Routt 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 Routt 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 Routt County.

For older records, you may need to call the clerk's office at 970-879-5020. Online data may only go back five years. Historical civil case files are kept at the courthouse in Steamboat Springs. The clerk can tell you if a record is available and how to get a copy from Routt County civil court records.

Fees for Civil Cases

Filing fees in Routt 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 Routt 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 Routt County.

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

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 Routt 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 Routt County, you can also call the clerk's office at 970-879-5020 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 Routt County.

Civil Case Types in Routt County

Civil court records in Routt 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 Routt 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, Routt County is part of the Yampa River basin. Water cases are heard in the Water Court for Division 6, which covers the Yampa 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 Routt County to find the Register of Actions for any public case, which lists all filings and orders.

Routt County Communities

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

Nearby Counties

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