Sedgwick County Civil Court Records

Sedgwick County civil court records are maintained at the courthouse in Julesburg, Colorado. The county is part of the 13th Judicial District along with Logan and Phillips counties. Civil cases in Sedgwick County include contract disputes, personal injury claims, debt collection, and property matters. District court handles civil cases with no dollar limit. County court hears claims up to $25,000. Small claims court takes disputes up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court at 315 Cedar Street in Julesburg keeps all civil case files for Sedgwick County. You can search records in person, call 970-474-3346, or use online search tools. This page explains how to find and obtain copies of civil court records in Sedgwick County, Colorado.

Sedgwick County Courthouse

The Sedgwick County Court is located at 315 Cedar Street, Julesburg, CO 80737. This courthouse serves the entire county and is part of the 13th Judicial District. District court handles civil cases with any claim amount. County court hears civil matters up to $25,000. Small claims court takes disputes up to $7,500. The Clerk of Court keeps all civil case files at the Julesburg courthouse. You can visit during business hours to search records or get copies. Call 970-474-3346 to ask about a specific civil case in Sedgwick County. The clerk can tell you if the case is open to the public or if it has been sealed by a judge.

Sedgwick County shares the 13th Judicial District with Logan and Phillips counties. District judges rotate through all three counties. A civil case filed in Sedgwick County may be heard by a judge who also handles cases in Sterling or Holyoke. County court judges work only in their home county. For civil filings in Sedgwick County, you must submit paperwork to the Julesburg courthouse even if your case will be heard by a district judge who sits elsewhere. All civil records for Sedgwick County are kept in Julesburg.

The courthouse 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 space where you can take notes. Most civil court records in Sedgwick County are open to the public unless a judge has sealed them. Bring photo ID when you visit the courthouse.

Note: The courthouse has limited hours, so call ahead to make sure staff are available before you make the trip to Julesburg.

Search Sedgwick County Records Online

You can search Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County. A statewide search costs $10. State courts without Denver cost $5. Results show the Register of Actions for each case but not copies of actual documents. For document copies, contact the Sedgwick County Clerk of Court in Julesburg.

The Colorado Judicial Branch also runs a free docket search portal on its website. 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 Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County. Some records go back only five years. For older files, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-474-3346. 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 Sedgwick County civil records.

Filing Civil Cases in Sedgwick County

To file a civil case in Sedgwick County, submit a complaint to the Clerk of Court at the Julesburg 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. Claims from $1,000 to $14,999 cost $105 to file. 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 Julesburg courthouse. You can also pay online through the state's online payments portal for civil cases in Sedgwick 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. Keep it safe. 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 Sedgwick County.

Costs for Copies and Certified Records

Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County.

To get copies, visit the courthouse at 315 Cedar Street in Julesburg. 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 970-474-3346 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 to you.

Public Access to Civil Records

Most civil court records in Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-474-3346. Most requests are granted the same day if the file is available.

Note: Some civil records may be sealed by court order if they involve minors or sensitive information.

Sedgwick County Communities

Sedgwick County has no cities with populations over 25,000. The county seat is Julesburg. All civil cases in Sedgwick County are filed at the courthouse in Julesburg regardless of where you live. Contact the Clerk of Court at 970-474-3346 for more information about civil court records in any part of Sedgwick County.

Nearby Counties

Sedgwick County shares borders with Logan and Phillips 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.