Washington County Civil Records

Washington County civil court records are kept at the courthouse in Akron, Colorado. The county is part of the 13th Judicial District along with Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick, and Yuma counties. Civil cases in Washington County include contract disputes, personal injury claims, debt collection, property matters, and small claims. District court handles 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 26861 Hwy 34 in Akron maintains all civil case files for Washington County. You can search records in person, call 970-345-2756, or use online tools. This page explains how to find and get copies of civil court records in Washington County, Colorado.

Washington County Courthouse

The Washington County Court is located at 26861 Hwy 34, Akron, CO 80720. This courthouse serves the entire county and is part of the 13th Judicial District. 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 Washington County are kept at the Akron courthouse by the Clerk of Court. You can visit during business hours to search records or get copies. Call 970-345-2756 to ask about a specific civil case in Washington County.

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

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 Washington County are open to the public unless a judge has sealed them. Bring photo ID when you visit the courthouse.

Search Civil Records Online

You can search Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County Clerk of Court in Akron.

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 track a civil case as it moves through court in Washington 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 Washington County. Some records go back only five years. For older files, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-345-2756. 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 Washington County civil records.

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

Filing Civil Cases in Washington County

To file a civil case in Washington County, submit a complaint to the Clerk of Court at the Akron 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 Akron courthouse. You can also pay online through the state's online payments portal for civil cases in Washington 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 Washington County.

Copy Costs and Fees

Washington 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 Washington County.

To get copies, visit the courthouse at 26861 Hwy 34 in Akron. 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 970-345-2756 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 Washington 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. 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 Washington 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 Washington County, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-345-2756. Most requests are granted the same day if the file is available.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County has no cities with populations over 25,000. The county seat is Akron. All civil cases in Washington County are filed at the courthouse in Akron regardless of where you live. Contact the Clerk of Court at 970-345-2756 for more information about civil court records in any part of Washington County.

Nearby Counties

Washington County shares borders with Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, and Yuma 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.