Chaffee County Court Records Search
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Chaffee County, Colorado sits in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and its court system — while serving a relatively rural population — maintains the same comprehensive record-keeping framework found across the state. The Chaffee Combined Court in Salida handles the full spectrum of legal proceedings, from felony criminal cases and civil disputes to domestic relations matters and probate filings. Whether you are a legal professional, a researcher, or a private individual trying to locate a specific case, knowing how records are organized and where to request them will determine how efficiently your search goes.
Court records in Colorado can be accessed through multiple channels: directly at the courthouse clerk's office, through public access terminals at the court, via written or email requests, and through online tools maintained by the state judiciary. ColoradoCourts.us is a useful starting point for navigating Colorado's court system, including links to case search tools, self-help resources, and individual county court pages. For Chaffee County specifically, the Colorado Judicial Branch's official court page and its online docket search are the most reliable resources for current case information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Chaffee County?
Online Case Search
The Colorado Judicial Branch provides a public docket search tool that allows users to look up case information by party name, case number, or date. This is the most accessible starting point for anyone searching for a civil, criminal, or domestic case filed in Chaffee County. Additional guidance on locating records remotely is available through the Courts Records Search page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
In-Person at the Chaffee Combined Court
All trial court matters in Chaffee County are handled through the Chaffee Combined Court, which serves as both the District Court and the County Court for the county. Visiting the clerk's office in person remains one of the most reliable ways to access documents not yet indexed online.
Chaffee Combined Court
Address: 142 Crestone Avenue, P.O. Box 279, Salida, CO 81201
Phone: (719) 539-2561
Fax: (719) 530-7017
Email: ChaffeeCountyClerk@judicial.state.co.us
Effective March 1, 2026, the Clerk's Office is open:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Closed daily 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM for lunch
Closed on State holidays
Submitting a Written or Email Records Request
For records that do not require in-person retrieval, the Colorado Judicial Branch accepts formal records requests through its online Record/Document Request Form. Completed forms can be emailed to ChaffeeRecordsRequest@judicial.state.co.us or faxed to (719) 539-6281.
State Court Administrator
For compiled electronic court data extracted directly from the court case management system, requests may be directed to:
State Court Administrator's Office
Address: 1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (720) 625-5000 / (800) 888-0001
Self-Represented Litigant Support
Chaffee County has a dedicated Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator, Lori Hale, who assists unrepresented parties in navigating court procedures. She also serves as the Family Court Facilitator for family-related matters. Contact her at (719) 539-2561 or by email through the court's official contact page.
Are Court Records Public in Chaffee County?
Colorado courts operate under a presumption of public access. Court records filed in Chaffee County are generally open for inspection under Chief Justice Directive 05-01, which governs public access to records on file in Colorado court clerks' offices. This directive, alongside the Colorado Open Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq.), establishes the public's right to inspect and copy court records.
The right of access is not without limits. The Clerk of Court is authorized to restrict access to records — or portions of records — in the following circumstances:
- Criminal case files involving charges of sexual assault
- Cases in which a child is a victim
- Expunged or sealed criminal records
- Records sealed by specific statute or court order
- Certain exhibits during the time period of an active appeal
- Information whose release could interfere with chain of custody or fair trial rights
Where a record has been partially sealed, the public may still access the unsealed portions. Full access to sealed material requires a court order demonstrating good cause. Requesters are not required to state a reason for seeking public records, but they should be prepared to verify their identity and comply with any applicable fee requirements. Staff copy fees are assessed under standard schedules — typically $0.25 per page for hard copies.
Chaffee County Criminal Court Records
The Chaffee Combined Court's District Court division handles all felony criminal matters filed in Chaffee County. The County Court division has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and petty offenses. Both divisions maintain their records with the Clerk of Court at the Salida courthouse.
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case dockets can be searched through the Colorado Judicial Branch's docket search using the defendant's name or case number. Certified copies of criminal filings — including charging documents, dispositions, sentencing orders, and probation records — are available from the Chaffee Combined Court clerk's office either in person or through the written records request process described above.
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Reports
The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office maintains all law enforcement records for both the Sheriff's Office and the Salida Police Department. These records are governed by the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act and include arrest reports, incident reports, case files prepared for the District Attorney, and criminal history records.
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office – Records Division
Address: 641 West 3rd Street, P.O. Box 699, Salida, CO 81201
Phone: (719) 539-2814
Email: records@chaffeesheriff.org
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed on holidays)
To request law enforcement records, submit the Records Request for Criminal Justice Records Form to the Records Division. For jail and inmate status inquiries, contact the Chaffee County Detention Center administrative line at (719) 539-7150, providing the full legal name and date of birth of the individual.
Expunged or sealed criminal records are not accessible through public channels. Once a court has granted an expungement or sealing order, the underlying records are treated as confidential and will not appear in public searches.
Chaffee County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Chaffee County are split by jurisdictional dollar amount. The County Court hears civil cases where the claim does not exceed $25,000, while the District Court handles larger civil disputes, including contract actions, personal injury cases, and appeals from lower courts. Both divisions file records with the Chaffee Combined Court clerk at 142 Crestone Avenue in Salida.
Filing Fees
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes a comprehensive list of court fees that applies statewide. Key civil filing fees include:
- District Court civil general cases (plaintiff/petitioner): $265.00
- County Court civil cases (jurisdictional limit $25,000 or less): varies by claim amount
- Small claims (jurisdictional limit $7,500 or less): lower filing fee tier, generally under $100
For the most current fee schedule by case type, consult the Colorado Judicial Branch fee list directly, as fees are subject to legislative adjustment.
Court Fines and Payments
Court fines, fees, and restitution amounts can be paid online through the Colorado Judicial Online Payment System, which accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards.
Property and Land Records
Property-related records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments affecting real estate in Chaffee County — are maintained by the Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder, not the Combined Court. The Clerk and Recorder maintains a searchable document recording portal where property transactions can be looked up by name or document type. For assessed property values and parcel information, the Chaffee County Assessor's parcel search is available online at no charge.
Chaffee County Assessor
Address: 104 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201
Phone: (719) 539-4016
Chaffee County Family Court Records
The Chaffee Combined Court's District Court division handles all domestic relations matters, including divorce, legal separation, child custody and parenting time, child support, and civil protection orders. A dedicated Family Court Facilitator — Lori Hale, reachable at (719) 539-2561 — is available to assist parties navigating family law proceedings, particularly those without legal representation.
Divorce and Legal Separation
Divorce petitions are filed with the District Court division of the Chaffee Combined Court. The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains a full set of divorce and separation self-help forms covering both contested and uncontested cases, as well as instructions for responding to a filed petition. For cases involving a civil union, the same forms and procedures apply.
Complete certified copies of divorce decrees and related case files are available through the court clerk. The Colorado State Archives also hold some historical Chaffee County divorce records; to determine whether the Archives have the specific record you need, check the State Archives divorce records database for the applicable case. If the case number does not appear in the Archives list, request the record directly from the Chaffee Combined Court.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Chaffee County are issued by the Chaffee County Clerk & Recorder, located at 104 Crestone Avenue in Salida. Both applicants must appear in person by appointment, available Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The license fee is $30.00 cash (no credit cards or checks accepted), and the license is valid for 35 days from issuance. Both parties must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Contact the Clerk's office at (719) 530-5602 to schedule an appointment.
Historical marriage records — particularly those predating 1960 — may be held by the Colorado State Archives rather than the county. The Archives Search database allows users to search by name, record type, and time span to determine record availability before submitting a formal request.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates in Chaffee County are classified as vital records and are issued by the Chaffee County Public Health Vital Records Team — not the court — with access restricted to the record subject, immediate family, and authorized representatives.
Chaffee County Vital Records
Address: 448 East 1st Street, Suite 137, Salida, CO 81201
Phone: (719) 539-4510
Requests may be submitted in person by appointment (schedule at https://bit.ly/ChaffeeVRappointments), by secure email to vitalrecords@chaffeecounty.org, or by mail using the appropriate form. Mail requests for birth or death certificates must include a completed request form, a copy of valid identification, proof of relationship to the person on record, and payment by check or money order payable to Chaffee County Public Health. An $8.00 surcharge applies for return mailing of certificates, and orders are processed within 30 business days.
Chaffee County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Chaffee County — including estate administration, will filings, guardianships, conservatorships, and related matters — are handled by the District Court division of the Chaffee Combined Court. Probate records are maintained at the same location as all other court records: 142 Crestone Avenue in Salida.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records are generally public, subject to the same statutory exemptions and court order restrictions that apply to all Colorado court records. To access probate files, you may:
- Search the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search by the name of the decedent or case number
- Visit the Chaffee Combined Court clerk's office in person during business hours
- Submit a written request using the Record/Document Request Form by email or fax
When submitting a request, include the full legal name of the decedent, an approximate date of death or probate filing, and the case number if known. Copy fees apply at the standard schedule.
Self-Help Probate Forms
The Colorado Judicial Branch provides a complete library of self-help court forms organized by topic, including forms for probate and estate matters. These include petitions for appointment of personal representative, guardianship forms, conservatorship filings, and inventory worksheets. All forms are available at no charge and can be downloaded before visiting the clerk's office.
For historical probate research, the Colorado State Archives Legal Records collection holds older estate filings from county and district courts across the state, and the Archives Search database can be used to identify whether a specific historical probate record is held there.