Understanding Civil Court Records in Colorado

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    Civil court records in Colorado are maintained by the judicial branch and include petitions, motions, affidavits, responses, decrees, and other documentary materials produced, collected, received, or preserved during the course of a civil proceeding.

    Under Colorado law, any person or entity can sue or be sued for any injury or damage suffered or incurred. Such lawsuits are filed in the state's civil courts and are non-criminal in nature, meaning they do not involve charges or result in a person's incarceration or other penal repercussions. Instead, civil complaints typically seek monetary redress or equitable remedies.

    As part of Colorado's commitment to judicial transparency, courts maintain official accounts of civil proceedings, collectively referred to as civil court records. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. §24-72-201 et seq., and Colorado Judicial Branch Access Policies facilitate public access to these documents.

    Civil Court Record Statistics Reported by Colorado Courts

    Every fiscal year (FY), the Colorado Judicial Branch circulates court statistics on the business and operations of the state courts, including the number and types of cases filed and disposed of in the civil and appellate courts.

    In Fiscal Year 2025 (spanning June 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025), Colorado's civil courts recorded a total of 225,225 filings and 194,227 terminations/dispositions. Of the 225,225 civil filings, 148,956 were cases filed in the county courts, while the remaining 76,269 were district court filings.

    The above trial court figures exclude small claims, domestic relations, probate, juvenile, mental health, juvenile adoption, and juvenile relinquishment cases, which, although classified as civil or quasi-civil (non-criminal) proceedings, were tracked and reported separately:

    Case Type

    Total Filings (FY 2025)

    Small Claims

    5,694

    Domestic Relations

    31,231

    Probate

    18,107

    Juvenile (Other)

    7,731

    Mental Health

    6,661

    Juvenile Adoption

    2,058

    Juvenile Relinquishment

    		207

    Water

    		689

    Also, in FY 2025, civil appeals (i.e., requests to modify or reverse a trial court or intermediate level appellate court judgment) filed in the Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals were as follows:

    Appellate Court

    Total Civil Appeals (FY 2025)

    Colorado Court of Appeals

    1,015

    Colorado Supreme Court

    		287

    How Civil Records Differ from Criminal Records in Colorado

    Civil records and criminal records are clearly distinct in Colorado. The former encompasses all proceedings that seek to determine private rights and obligations between two or more parties. Meanwhile, the latter are formulated from state-led prosecutions against persons alleged to have perpetrated or participated in a crime. The following table provides more details:

    Aspect

    Civil Court Record

    Criminal Court Record

    Type of Proceeding

    Civil: Addresses claims or disagreements between individuals or entities

    Criminal: Violations of criminal law prosecuted by the state. These are categorized as felonies or misdemeanors

    Trial Authority

    District, County, & Water Courts

    District & County Courts

    Appellate Authority

    District Courts (may hear county court appeals), Colorado Court of Appeals, or Colorado Supreme Court

    Same as for civil cases

    Caption

    Petitioner/Plaintiff v. Respondent/Defendant

    The People of the State of Colorado v. Defendant

    Possible Outcome Upon a Determination of Guilt or Liability

    Monetary compensation or equitable relief (e.g., injunctions, declaratory relief)

    Imprisonment, fines, or both.

    Alternative sentences (ASPs) may be imposed, such as probation, diversion, community corrections (e.g., home detention, work release, day reporting), or deferred sentence

    Accessibility

    Mostly open to the public, with access limitations on sensitive data, like a minor's name

    Open to the public, with restrictions imposed on sealed cases, juvenile offender cases, and other records deemed non-public

    Structure of the Civil Court System in Colorado

    Colorado's civil court system addresses non-criminal proceedings between natural persons, businesses, or organizations that seek lawful remedies for private disputes. The state's civil courts, established under Section 1 of Article VI of the Colorado Constitution, include the District Courts, County Courts, and Water Courts. Proceedings in these courts are governed by C.R.S. Title 13 and the Colorado Court Rules.

    Below are the types of civil proceedings adjudicated by each court (note that district and county courts also hear criminal cases but with different procedures and record-keeping rules):

    Colorado Court

    Type of Civil Cases

    District

    These are the state's general trial jurisdiction courts, handling a wide range of civil cases:

    • Civil claims for any amount
    • Domestic relations
    • Juvenile matters, including paternity actions, adoption, and dependency & neglect
    • Probate
    • Mental health
    • Water cases

    District courts can also hear civil appeals from county courts.

    County

    Limited trial jurisdiction courts that handle the following civil cases:

    • Claims for $25,000 or less
    • Small claims

    Water

    Specialized courts with exclusive jurisdiction over

    • Water rights
    • The use and administration of water
    • All other water matters within the court's jurisdiction

    There are seven water courts in Colorado, one in each of the state's major river basins (Arkansas, Colorado, Gunnison, Rio Grande, San Juan, South Platte, and White). The water court is a division of the district court.

    Note: The Colorado State Court System excludes the Denver County Court, which operates independently (i.e., it is not funded by the state but by Denver taxes). This court serves the City and County of Denver, functioning as both a municipal and county court (with civil jurisdiction similar to other county courts).

    Denver also uniquely has the only separate juvenile and probate courts in Colorado; in other counties, district courts manage these matters.

    Public Access to Civil Court Documents in Colorado

    Public access to civil court documents in Colorado is supported by the Colorado Open Records Act, Colorado Judicial Branch Access Policies (Chief Justice Directive (CJD) 05-01), and the applicable state statutes. These regulations permit any person to inspect or obtain copies of a civil court record unless the record is sealed/restricted by the judiciary or deemed confidential by law. Examples of confidential civil records in Colorado include

    • Juvenile records (access primarily regulated by the Children's Code (C.R.S. § 19-1-301, et. seq.) and CJD 05-01)
    • Sealed, suppressed, or protected records
    • Adoption records
    • Mental health proceedings
    • Dependency & Neglect records
    • Probate protected proceedings, such as conservatorships and guardianships

    How to Lookup Colorado Civil Court Records

    Civil records in Colorado may be retrieved as follows:

    Online

    • Colorado Judicial Branch's Docket Search: A free service to search civil case dockets by name, case number, court location, or date range.
    • Colorado Judicial Branch's Record/Document Request Form: This form can be completed to request copies of civil case documents online for a fee.
    • Denver County Court's Public Portal - Case Management System: A case number is required for free civil case review on the portal. While name searches are not available, users can locate upcoming civil court dates by name without any cost.
    • Commercial Sites: Various data aggregators offer online searches of civil court cases (some allow real-time searches of registers of actions). However, payment is often required to see comprehensive information, and copies of case documents are not available through these vendors.

    In-Person

    • The Presiding Court: When searching for information related to a particular case, individuals can visit the court that heard or resolved the matter during business hours. Requesters are advised to bring a valid U.S. government-issued picture ID and payment, especially when needing document reproduction, certification, or access to confidential or protected information. Access procedures can be confirmed beforehand by contacting the clerk's office.

    While record inspection or case lookups are generally free in Colorado, fees apply for copying or certifying documents. Examples include

    • 25 cents per page (single-sided)
    • $5 for a name search
    • $20 per document for certification
    • Off-site case file retrieval (based on the actual retrieval expenses)

    However, fee waivers may be applicable under CJD 06-01.

    Types of Civil Cases Filed in Colorado Courts

    Civil courts in Colorado hear a variety of cases depending on their geographical and subject-matter jurisdiction. These proceedings address different types of grievances or claims, including those for

    • Monetary compensation: Financial awards to cover actual loss, injury, or damage
    • Punitive damages: Additional awards to punish wrongful conduct or discourage similar future misconduct
    • Equitable remedies: Orders deterring or compelling a particular act or behavior when money damages alone are inadequate

    Common case categories heard in the Colorado civil courts include

    Information Captured in Colorado Civil Court Files

    Section 3.03 of the Chief Justice Directive 05-01 defines court files in Colorado to include documents, information, audio or video recordings, or other items related to a legal proceeding. In civil cases, these files may include

    • Complaints or petitions
    • Answers, responses, counterclaims, and crossclaims
    • Motions submitted by the parties
    • Subpoenas and summonses
    • Proofs of service
    • Court orders and judgments
    • Jury verdicts
    • Dockets or registers of action
    • Writs and injunctions
    • Affidavits and declarations
    • Transcripts
    • Minute orders
    • Exhibits and evidence
    • Satisfactions of judgment
    • Any electronic record of a civil proceeding

    As mentioned, civil court records are public in Colorado. However, not all documents or information in the file may be disseminated. Personal identifiers-such as a case party's financial account information, Social Security number, or driver's license number-are confidential, along with any other information prohibited by Section 4.60 of the CJD 05-01, a federal statute or regulation, court rule, court order, or a state statute.

    Retention and Archiving of Civil Court Records in Colorado

    The Colorado Judicial Department's Retention and Disposition Schedules outline basic retention and disposition timelines for court, probation, and administrative records. While many civil court records are retained for a long time, some may be destroyed (completely disposed of) after a set period or at the court's discretion.

    For example, files/documents from probate, mental health, adoption, name change, permanent protection order, water, domestic relations, and Special District cases are retained permanently in Colorado. In contrast, files/documents from small claims, county civil, and district civil actions may become eligible for destruction six years from the filing year or as ordered by the court. Juvenile support records may be kept for 20 years after the juvenile turns 18.

    These schedules apply exclusively to records in paper and electronic formats. They do not affect documents, records, or other data entered into the Colorado judicial case management systems, as information within such systems is deemed permanent.

    Civil court records having historical value may be transferred to archival facilities, such as the Supreme Court Library or State Archives, for proper storage and maintenance. Requests for such documents should be directed to the appropriate custodian. If the custodian is unknown, inquiries can begin at the court where the case was resolved.

    References and Official Resources