Elbert County Court Records Search
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Elbert County is a largely rural Colorado county with Kiowa as its county seat, situated on the Eastern Plains southeast of Denver. Its courts operate as part of the 23rd Judicial District, a district established on January 14, 2025, when Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties separated from the former 18th Judicial District. The 23rd Judicial District brings together these three court locations under unified administration while each county courthouse continues to handle filings and records locally.
Court records in Elbert County encompass the full range of legal documents generated through civil, criminal, family, probate, and municipal proceedings — including dockets, orders, judgments, affidavits, decrees, and transcripts. This guide explains where those records are held, how to request them, what fees apply, and which records are restricted from general access.
Colorado residents searching for court case information can start with ColoradoCourts.us, which connects users to the Colorado Judicial Branch’s official resources for locating court locations, searching dockets, and accessing self-help tools. Records can also be sought directly through the Clerk of Courts office in Kiowa, public-access terminals at the courthouse, or through the statewide Colorado Judicial Branch docket search.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Elbert County?
The primary repository for court records in Elbert County is the Clerk of Courts office located in the Elbert County Courthouse. This office maintains all filings for District and County Court cases, including criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate matters.
Elbert County Clerk of Courts
Address: 75 Ute Avenue, P.O. Box 232, Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-2131
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (except state holidays)
Methods for locating and requesting records:
- Online docket search — The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes a free docket search tool for viewing scheduled hearings and case dockets by name, case number, or date. At least one filter beyond date is required to run a query.
- In-person request — Visit the Clerk of Courts at 75 Ute Avenue during business hours. Bring the subject’s name, case number, and case type, along with valid identification if requesting restricted documents.
- Mail request — Submit a completed Elbert County records request form by mail to P.O. Box 232, Kiowa, CO 80117. Include the document name, case details, and payment for applicable fees.
- Self-Help Center — The 23rd Judicial District operates a Self Help Center at 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109, available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30–4:00 p.m. Virtual appointments are available every Tuesday and Thursday. Contact: 23Selfhelp@judicial.state.co.us or (720) 437-6112.
For cases filed in municipal courts, requests go directly to the relevant municipal court clerk, as those offices maintain their own records independently.
Are Court Records Public in Elbert County?
Colorado law presumes that most court records are open to the public. Access is governed by the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq., as well as the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) at C.R.S. §§ 24-72-301 through 309, which applies specifically to law enforcement and criminal justice records. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 governs public access to records held by the Colorado Judicial Department.
Under this framework, court records are generally available for inspection and copying, but the following categories are commonly restricted or subject to redaction:
- Sealed or expunged criminal records
- Juvenile case files
- Records containing personal identifiable information (Social Security numbers, private addresses)
- Medical and mental health data
- Confidential financial information and trade secrets
- Personnel files
- Military records
- Records protected by attorney-client or other legal privilege
A requester must demonstrate specific legal authorization — such as a court order, statutory entitlement, or verified relationship to the subject — before restricted records can be released. CORA responses from the county must generally be provided within three business days of receipt, absent extenuating circumstances, which can extend the timeline by up to seven additional business days.
Elbert County designates the County Manager as its official CORA custodian for most county records. For criminal justice records, the Elbert County Sheriff serves as the custodian of law enforcement records, and the Coroner maintains custody of records within that office. CORA requests may be emailed to openrecords@elbertcounty-co.gov or mailed to Elbert County Open Records Department, P.O. Box 7, 215 Comanche St., Kiowa, CO 80117.
CORA copying and research fees:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Staff research/retrieval time (first hour) | Free |
| Staff research/retrieval time (after first hour) | $41.37 per hour |
| Regular paper copies | $0.25 per page |
| Thumb drive (if required) | $10.00 |
Elbert County Criminal Court Records
Court Jurisdiction:
The Elbert County District Court handles felony prosecutions and serious criminal matters. The County Court has concurrent jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and petty offenses, and conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases before binding them over to District Court. Municipal courts — in Elizabeth, Kiowa, and Simla — handle minor ordinance violations within their respective jurisdictions.
Court Locations:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Elbert County District/County Court | 751 Ute Street, P.O. Box 232, Kiowa, CO 80117 | (303) 621-2131 |
| Elizabeth Municipal Court | 151 South Banner Street, P.O. Box 159, Elizabeth, CO 80107 | (303) 646-4166 |
| Kiowa Municipal Court | 404 Comanche Street, P.O. Box 237, Kiowa, CO 80117 | (303) 621-2366 |
| Simla Municipal Court | 323 Pueblo Avenue, Simla, CO 80835 | (719) 541-2468 |
Searching criminal court records:
Case dockets for District and County Court criminal matters can be searched for free through the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search. For certified copies of criminal judgments, sentencing orders, or charging documents, submit a records request form to the Clerk of Courts at (303) 621-2131.
Sheriff’s Office law enforcement records:
The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office Records Division processes requests for incident reports, body-worn camera footage, booking photos, dispatch audio, and other criminal justice records under the CCJRA. All requesters must complete a records request form. Requests can be submitted as follows:
- In person: 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO 80117
- By mail: P.O. Box 486, Kiowa, CO 80117
- By email: sorecords@elbertcounty-co.gov
Elbert County Sheriff’s Office records fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025):
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Case/incident report | $0.25 per page (after first 10 free pages) |
| Traffic accident reports | Available at Crashdocs.org; $0.25/page + research fee for older reports |
| Body-worn camera / CAD / dispatch audio | $1.00 + research fee |
| Booking photo (mug shot) | $2.00 + research fee |
| Background check letter (local only) | $1.00 for 1–2 copies; $5.00 per additional copy |
| Lost citation/ticket | $5.00 each |
| Research/redaction time | $36.00/hour ($9.00 per quarter-hour; 15-minute minimum) |
| Notary | $5.00 per stamp |
| Returned check | $20.00 |
All fees are collected before records are released. Victims of the reported incident receive the first copy at no charge. Records held for pickup are destroyed after 90 days with no refund.
Statewide criminal history background checks:
For searches beyond Elbert County’s records, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database. Name-based checks are available through the CBI Records Check portal for a fee of $6.00 (Internet Criminal History Check) or $13.00 (notarizable Criminal History Record Information check). Fingerprint-based checks through the Colorado Applicant Background Service (CABS) cost $16.50–$19.50 for state-only searches.
Elbert County Civil Court Records
The County Court handles civil claims where the debt, damage, or value of personal property does not exceed $25,000, including small claims matters up to $7,500. The District Court handles civil cases of any amount, along with complex matters such as contract disputes, personal injury, foreclosures, and appeals from lower courts.
Civil filing fees (Colorado Judicial Branch, effective January 2025):
| Case Type | Plaintiff/Petitioner Fee |
|---|---|
| Small claims ($0–$500) | $31 |
| Small claims ($500.01–$7,500) | $55 |
| County civil ($0–$999.99) | $95 |
| County civil ($1,000–$14,999.99) | $115 |
| County civil ($15,000–$25,000) | $145 |
| District civil (general/money cases) | $265 |
A complete schedule of filing fees is available on the Colorado Judicial Branch list of fees page.
To search existing civil case records, use the free docket search on the Judicial Branch website, or request document copies from the Clerk of Courts at (303) 621-2131. Photocopies cost $0.25 per single-sided page at the courthouse. Certified copies carry an additional $20.00 certification fee under C.R.S. § 13-32-104.
The Elbert County Clerk and Recorder maintains property-related civil records such as deeds, real estate titles, liens, plats, and recorded judgments. These can be searched through the Elbert County Recorder online document search or by contacting the office directly.
Elbert County Clerk and Recorder
Address: 440 Comanche Street, P.O. Box 37, Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-3128
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Elbert County Clerk and Recorder charges $3.00 per copy for documents such as marriage licenses. Recording fees and other document-specific costs are set by state statute and posted at the office.
Elbert County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Elbert County are heard by the District Court, which sits as the domestic relations division. The court’s jurisdiction covers divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody and parenting time (allocation of parental responsibilities), child support, paternity determinations, adoptions, and protection orders. These proceedings are governed primarily by the Colorado Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Filing fees for domestic relations cases:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for divorce, legal separation, or annulment | $260 |
| Petition for custody (Allocation of Parental Responsibilities) | $252 |
| Response | $146 |
| Motion to modify a final order (after 60 days) | $105 |
Self-represented litigants can find procedural guidance and downloadable court forms through the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help divorce and family law section. Fee waivers for those who cannot afford court costs are available on the fee waiver page.
Divorce records filed in the District Court are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and are generally accessible to parties, their attorneys, and others with a legitimate legal interest. To obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, submit the Elbert County records request form indicating the case name and checking the “Divorce Decree” field, then deliver it in person or by mail to the Clerk of Courts. For divorce records on or after January 1, 2016, a divorce certificate may also be obtained from the Colorado Vital Records Office.
Marriage licenses in Elbert County are issued by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office (Recording/Marriage Licenses: (303) 621-3128). Copies of marriage licenses are available for $3.00 per copy, with certification and mailing costs additional. Access to these records is restricted to the record subjects, their immediate family members, and those with a demonstrated legal interest. The Colorado Vital Records Office also issues certified marriage verifications; the first costs $17.00 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10.00. Mail requests to: Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79912.
Birth and death records are issued by the Elbert County Department of Public Health rather than the courts. Birth certificates from 1908 to the present are available for $20.00 for the first copy and $13.00 for each additional copy ordered concurrently. Death certificates carry the same fees. Applications and fees, along with valid photo identification and proof of relationship, may be submitted by fax, email, or in person to:
Elbert County Public Health
Address: 75 Ute Avenue, P.O. Box 201, Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-3190
Fax: (720) 487-9987
Email: vitalrecords@elbertcounty-co.gov
Birth certificate applications are available at the Elbert County Vital Records page in English and Spanish. Access is restricted to the registrant, parents, adult children, legal representatives, and others with a direct and tangible legal interest.
Elbert County Probate Court Records
Probate in Colorado outside of Denver is administered through the District Court, meaning the Elbert County District Court — now part of the 23rd Judicial District — handles all probate and estate matters for county residents. The Clerk of Courts serves as the custodian for all probate case files.
Probate case types handled by the District Court include:
- Estate administration with and without a will (testate and intestate)
- Validation and admission of wills
- Guardianship appointments for minors and incapacitated adults
- Conservatorship proceedings
- Trust registration and actions
- Mental health commitments (Title 27 proceedings)
- Small estate affidavit proceedings
Probate filing fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| First filing for decedent’s estate (standard) | $229 |
| Small estate petition | $113 |
| Supervised administration | $198 |
| Petition for trust action | $229 |
| Trust registration statement | $198 |
| Deposit of will for safekeeping | $18 |
| Demand for notice | $36 |
To request copies of probate documents — including letters testamentary, guardianship orders, will transcripts, or estate inventories — contact the Clerk of Courts at (303) 621-2131 or visit in person at 75 Ute Avenue, Kiowa during business hours. Bring the decedent’s name and approximate date of death, or the case number if known. Probate case dockets can also be previewed through the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search before visiting.
For historical probate records that predate computerized filing systems, the Colorado State Archives holds county-level probate files and requires the county name and case number to retrieve a specific record. The 23rd Judicial District Self Help Center can assist self-represented parties with probate procedural questions by appointment at (720) 437-6112 or via the email 23Selfhelp@judicial.state.co.us.