San Juan County Civil Records

San Juan County civil court records are kept at the courthouse in Silverton. Anyone can search these records. The county is part of the 6th Judicial District. Civil cases here include contract disputes, debt collection, and property claims. District court handles cases with no dollar cap. County court hears civil matters up to $25,000. Small claims go to $7,500. The Clerk of Court at 1557 Greene Street keeps all civil case files for San Juan County. You can request records in person, by phone at 970-387-5790, or through online systems. This page shows you how to find and get copies of civil court records in San Juan County, Colorado.

San Juan County Courthouse

The San Juan County Court sits at 1557 Greene Street in Silverton, Colorado 81433. The courthouse serves the entire county and is part of the 6th Judicial District. District court handles civil cases with any claim amount. County court hears claims up to $25,000. Small claims take disputes up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files. You can visit the clerk during business hours to search records or get copies. Call 970-387-5790 to ask about a specific civil case in San Juan County. The clerk can tell you if the case is open to the public or if it has been sealed by a judge.

San Juan County shares the 6th Judicial District with Archuleta and La Plata counties. District judges rotate through all three counties. A complex civil case in San Juan County may be heard by a judge who also handles cases in Durango or Pagosa Springs. County court judges work only in their home county. For civil filings in San Juan County, you must submit paperwork to the Silverton courthouse even if your case will be heard by a district judge who sits elsewhere. All civil records for San Juan County are kept in Silverton.

The courthouse is small. Staff can help you find a case file if you know the case number or the parties' names. If you need to review a large file, ask the clerk for a private area where you can take notes. San Juan County civil court records are public unless a judge has sealed them.

Search Civil Records Online

You can search San Juan County civil court records through CoCourts, a third-party vendor that works with the Colorado Judicial Branch. CoCourts pulls case data from the state court system. You can search by name to find civil cases in San Juan County. A statewide search costs $10. State courts without Denver cost $5. Denver courts alone cost $5. Results show the Register of Actions for each case but not copies of actual documents. For document copies, contact the San Juan County Clerk of Court in Silverton.

The Colorado Judicial Branch also runs a free docket search portal. This tool shows scheduled hearings and motions for civil cases. It does not show the full case file. But it helps you follow a civil case as it moves through court in San Juan County. Use CoCourts to find the case number, then use the docket tool to check the hearing schedule for that civil case.

Online searches may not show older civil cases from San Juan County. Some records go back only five years. For older files, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-387-5790. The clerk can search paper files and tell you if a record exists. You can also submit a records request through the online records request form on the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The court will usually respond within three business days to your request for San Juan County civil records.

Note: CoCourts search results stay open for 24 hours after you pay, so you can look up multiple civil cases in San Juan County during that time.

Filing a Civil Case in San Juan County

To file a civil case in San Juan County, you must submit a complaint to the Clerk of Court. Filing fees depend on the court level. District court costs $235 to file. The defendant pays $192 to answer. County civil fees are based on the claim amount. A claim under $1,000 costs $85. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105 to file. 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. These fees are set by state law under C.R.S. § 13-32-101. The full fee schedule is in the JDF 1 fee document from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

You can pay court fees in person at the Silverton courthouse. You can also pay online through the state's online payments portal for civil cases in San Juan County. If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver. You must fill out a form and show that you lack the funds to pay. The judge will decide whether to grant the waiver for your civil case in San Juan County.

After you file, the clerk assigns a case number. You need this number for all future filings. Keep it in a safe place. The defendant must be served with a copy of your complaint. Service can be done by a process server, by certified mail, or by publication if the defendant cannot be found. The defendant has a limited time to answer. If they do not answer, you can ask for a default judgment in your civil case.

Copy Costs and Certified Documents

San Juan County charges for copies of civil court records. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $20.00 per document. A transcript of judgment costs $25.00. A name search costs $5.00. A certificate of satisfaction costs $20.00. These rates are set by Chief Justice Directive 06-01 and apply to all Colorado courts. 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. The clerk can tell you the exact cost before making copies of your civil case file in San Juan County.

To get copies, visit the courthouse at 1557 Greene Street in Silverton. Bring the case number or the names of the parties. The clerk will pull the file and make copies for you. You can also request copies by phone at 970-387-5790 or through the online records request form. If you request copies by mail, include a check for the estimated cost. The clerk will send the copies and a receipt.

Public Access Rules

Most civil court records in San Juan County are open to the public. The Colorado Open Records Act, known as CORA, controls access to government records in the state. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1, public records are open for review by any person. You do not need to give a reason. You do not need to be a party to the case. The record custodian must make records available within three business days of a request.

The Colorado Judicial Branch has its own rules on top of CORA. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 spells out which records are public, sealed, suppressed, or restricted. Most civil court case files are fully open. Sealed records are those a judge has ordered closed to the public. Suppressed records are hidden from view entirely. Protected details like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and information about minor children may be blacked out from public copies. But the rest of the civil court file is open to anyone in San Juan County.

If your records request is denied, you can appeal. The Colorado Attorney General's office has more details about CORA and how it applies to record requests. For civil court records in San Juan County, contact the Clerk of Court first. Most requests are granted the same day if the file is available.

San Juan County Areas

San Juan County has no cities with populations over 25,000. The county seat is Silverton. All civil cases in San Juan County are filed at the courthouse in Silverton regardless of where you live. Contact the Clerk of Court at 970-387-5790 for more information about civil court records in any part of San Juan County.

Nearby Counties

San Juan County shares borders with Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. Each county has its own courthouse and keeps its own civil court records. If you need records from a case filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's Clerk of Court.