Search San Miguel County Civil Records

San Miguel County civil court records are kept in Telluride at the county courthouse. The county falls within the 7th Judicial District in Colorado. Civil cases include contract disputes, personal injury claims, debt collection, and property matters. District court handles cases with no dollar limit. County court takes claims up to $25,000. Small claims court hears disputes up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court at 305 W. Colorado Avenue in Telluride maintains all civil case files for San Miguel County. Records can be searched in person, by calling 970-728-3954, or through online tools. This page explains how to find, view, and get copies of civil court records in San Miguel County, Colorado.

San Miguel County Courthouse Location

The San Miguel County Court is located at 305 W. Colorado Avenue, Telluride, CO 81435. This courthouse serves the entire county. It is part of the 7th Judicial District, which also includes Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, and Ouray counties. District court handles civil cases with any claim amount, no matter how large. County court hears civil matters up to $25,000. Small claims court takes disputes up to $7,500. All civil records for San Miguel County are kept at the Telluride courthouse by the Clerk of Court.

You can visit the courthouse during business hours to search civil case files. Bring photo ID. If you know the case number or the names of the parties, the clerk can pull the file for you. If you need to review a large file, ask for a space where you can take notes. Most civil court records in San Miguel County are open to the public unless a judge has sealed them. Call 970-728-3954 if you have questions about a specific case.

District judges in the 7th Judicial District rotate through all six counties. A civil case filed in San Miguel County may be heard by a judge who also handles cases in Montrose or Gunnison. County court judges work only in their home county. All filings and records for San Miguel County civil cases are kept in Telluride no matter which judge hears the case.

Online Civil Record Search

You can search for San Miguel County civil court records online through CoCourts. This is 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 Miguel 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. This is a list of all filings and court events. But CoCourts does not provide copies of actual documents. For document copies, you must contact the San Miguel County Clerk of Court in Telluride.

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

Online search results may not include older civil cases from San Miguel County. Some records go back only five years. For older files, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-728-3954. 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 Miguel County civil records.

Note: CoCourts search results stay open for 24 hours after you pay, so you can search for multiple civil cases during that time.

Filing Civil Cases

To file a civil case in San Miguel County, submit a complaint to the Clerk of Court at the Telluride courthouse. Filing fees depend on the court level and the claim amount. 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 to file. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105. Claims from $15,000 to $25,000 cost $135. Small claims are less. 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 Telluride courthouse. You can also pay online through the state's online payments portal for civil cases in San Miguel 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.

After you file, the clerk assigns a case number. You need this number for all future filings. 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 in San Miguel County.

Copy Costs for Court Records

San Miguel 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. 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.

To get copies, visit the courthouse at 305 W. Colorado Avenue in Telluride. 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 970-728-3954 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 for your civil case in San Miguel County.

Public Access to San Miguel County Records

Most civil court records in San Miguel County are open to the public. The Colorado Open Records Act, known as CORA, is the main law that 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. 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 Miguel County, Colorado.

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 across the state. For civil court records in San Miguel County, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-728-3954. Most requests are granted the same day if the file is available.

Cities in San Miguel County

San Miguel County has no cities with populations over 25,000. The county seat is Telluride. All civil cases in San Miguel County are filed at the courthouse in Telluride regardless of where you live. Contact the Clerk of Court at 970-728-3954 for more information about civil court records in any part of San Miguel County.

Nearby Counties

San Miguel County shares borders with Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, and San Juan 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.