El Paso County Court Records Search
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El Paso County is the most populous county in Colorado, with its county seat in Colorado Springs. The county’s trial-level court system operates through the 4th Judicial District, which serves both El Paso and Teller counties. The El Paso County Judicial Building in downtown Colorado Springs houses the combined District Court and County Court, handling everything from felony prosecutions and domestic relations matters to small claims disputes and probate proceedings. Five municipal courts within the county address local ordinance violations in their respective jurisdictions.
Court records in Colorado can be searched through several channels, including clerk offices, in-person visits to courthouse records rooms, and electronic tools provided by individual courts and authorized vendors. The Colorado Judicial Branch docket search allows public access to case docket information by name or case number. ColoradoCourts.us may also help users locate publicly available court case data statewide. For El Paso County specifically, the 4th Judicial District provides an online records request form, a local record request form for mail or email submissions, and walk-in service at the courthouse.
How to Look Up a Court Case in El Paso County?
The 4th Judicial District offers multiple ways to search for El Paso County court cases. The approach depends on whether you need docket information, document copies, or certified records.
Online docket search:
- Navigate to the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search portal.
- Select El Paso County from the location filter.
- Search by case number, party name, company name, or attorney bar number.
- Review docket entries, which include case status, hearing dates, and minute orders.
Docket information is viewable at no charge. Copies of actual documents are not available through the docket portal and must be requested separately.
Online records request:
Submit a request through the Colorado Judicial Branch Record/Document Request Form. After submission, the court will send a Notice of Fee detailing the cost. Payment by check or money order must be received within 30 days, or the request expires.
In-person requests:
Visit Room S101 at the El Paso County Judicial Building during business hours.
El Paso County Judicial Building — Clerk’s Office (Room S101)
Address: 270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 452-5000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closes at 3:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month)
Mail or email requests:
Complete the El Paso County Record Request Form and submit it to the address or email listed at the bottom of the form. Sealed-record requests require a copy of your identification.
Court record fees (per CJD 06-01):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy — per page | $0.25 |
| Name search | $5.00 |
| Certified or exemplified copy (per document) | $20.00 |
| Transcript of judgment | $25.00 |
| Certificate of satisfaction | $20.00 |
| Research/redaction (per hour after first hour, billed in 15-min. increments) | $30.00 |
| Off-site case file retrieval | Actual cost |
Parties to a case and their attorneys pay a maximum of $15.00 for copies regardless of page count. There is no cap for non-parties.
Are Court Records Public in El Paso County?
Public access to court records in El Paso County is governed by three overlapping frameworks. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 (CJD 05-01) regulates access to case records in civil and other proceedings. The Supreme Court Rule on Public Access to Information and Records (P.A.I.R.R.) applies to administrative records maintained by the judicial branch. The Criminal Justice Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq.) addresses records generated in criminal proceedings.
Under these authorities, the Colorado Judicial Branch’s public records guide confirms that court records are open for inspection by any person at reasonable times. Custodians may adopt local policies to protect records and prevent interference with office operations.
Records restricted from public access under CJD 05-01, Section 4.60:
- Adoption proceedings
- Dependency and neglect cases
- Judicial bypass matters
- Certain juvenile delinquency cases (also governed by the Children’s Code, C.R.S. § 19-1-301 et seq.)
- Mental health proceedings
- Paternity actions
- Certain probate protected proceedings
- Relinquishment cases
- Truancy proceedings
- Any record sealed by court order or protected by federal or state statute
Under the Criminal Justice Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-305), the custodian may deny inspection if disclosure is prohibited by law, Supreme Court rule, an existing court order, or if release would be contrary to the public interest. Juvenile criminal history information is also restricted, as detailed below in the criminal records section.
El Paso County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in El Paso County are divided between two courts. The District Court has jurisdiction over felonies and more serious offenses, while the County Court handles misdemeanors and felony complaints that may be bound over to district court. Both courts operate from the El Paso County Judicial Building at 270 S. Tejon Street.
Searching criminal court records:
- Online docket: Use the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search to review criminal case docket entries by name or case number.
- In person: Visit Room S101 at the Judicial Building during business hours.
- By mail or email: Submit the El Paso County Record Request Form.
- Online request: Complete the Record/Document Request Form on the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
Standard copy and search fees apply (see fee table above). Note that as of recent Colorado law, criminal court records now require redaction of juveniles’ names, which may extend processing times.
Arrest and law enforcement records:
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest and booking records. An online inmate search tool allows the public to look up current inmates by name or booking number. For booking desk inquiries, call (719) 390-2151.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 27 E. Vermijo Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 520-7100
The Colorado Springs Police Department Records Division provides local background checks and police report copies. Key fees include $10.00 for a background check and $10.00 for a police report (first five pages), with additional pages at $0.25 each.
Statewide criminal history checks:
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation operates two name-based background check options:
| Check Type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) | $6.00 per result | Instant; cannot be notarized |
| Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) | $13.00 | Staff-processed; can be notarized on request |
Both searches return Colorado-only records. Exceptions from public disclosure include juvenile arrests (age 17 and younger except when adjudicated as an adult), traffic arrests under age 16, and arrests sealed by court order.
El Paso County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in El Paso County is split between the County Court and the District Court. The County Court handles civil disputes involving amounts under $25,000, including small claims. The District Court hears civil cases of any dollar amount. Both courts share the Judicial Building at 270 S. Tejon Street.
Accessing civil court records:
Civil case docket information—covering limited civil, unlimited civil, small claims, and domestic matters—is searchable through the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search. The docket search draws from real-time data in the Colorado Judicial Department’s electronic database. Authorized third-party vendors such as LexisNexis Colorado Courts and Background Information Services also provide register-of-actions searches for a fee.
To obtain actual document copies, use any of the following methods:
- In person at Room S101 of the Judicial Building.
- Online via the Record/Document Request Form.
- Mail or email using the El Paso County Record Request Form.
Copies cost $0.25 per page for non-parties with no cap; parties to the case and their attorneys pay a maximum of $15.00 regardless of page count. Certified copies are $20.00 per document. A $5.00 name search fee applies when the clerk must locate cases associated with a name.
Property records are maintained separately by the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder and the El Paso County Assessor. The Clerk and Recorder provides an online public records search portal for recorded documents including deeds, liens, and marriage records. The Assessor maintains a Real Property Search Portal for ownership details, sales history, and valuations.
El Paso County Clerk and Recorder — Recording Department
Address: 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Phone: (719) 520-6200
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
El Paso County Family Court Records
Domestic relations cases in El Paso County—including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody and parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, annulment, and allocation of parental responsibilities—fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court within the 4th Judicial District.
Accessing family court records:
Family case dockets are searchable through the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search by party name or case number. Document copies must be obtained separately through one of the standard request channels: in person at Room S101, online via the Record/Document Request Form, or by mail/email using the El Paso County Record Request Form. Standard fees apply.
Family court records are generally accessible to the public unless sealed by court order or made confidential by statute. Paternity cases are among the categories restricted under CJD 05-01, Section 4.60.
Marriage records:
Marriage and civil union licenses are issued and recorded by the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Recording Department. The Clerk’s online public records search portal allows name-based searches for marriage and civil union records. Certified copies of marriage certificates can be requested by email at copyrequests@elpasoco.com or in person at the main office. Marriage license issuance ends at 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.
El Paso County Clerk and Recorder — Recording Department
Address: 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Phone: (719) 520-6200
Copy Requests: (719) 520-6198
A satellite office at 8830 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80920, is open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Birth and death certificates:
Birth and death records are not public in Colorado. They are available only to eligible persons as defined by state law. The El Paso County Public Health Vital Records office issues certified copies for births that occurred anywhere in Colorado and deaths that occurred in El Paso County.
Eligible requestors for birth certificates include the registrant, spouse, parents, step-parents, adult children, grandparents, siblings, legal guardians, and their legal representatives. Death certificate eligibility extends to a broader list including ex-spouses, in-laws, creditors, beneficiaries, insurance companies, funeral directors, and persons demonstrating a direct and tangible interest.
Vital records fees:
| Certificate | First Copy | Each Additional (same order) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $25.00 | $20.00 |
| Death certificate | $25.00 | $20.00 |
Requests can be made in person (walk-in or by appointment) or by mail using the birth certificate application or death certificate application. Walk-in check-ins are accepted 8:00–11:50 a.m. and 1:00–3:50 p.m. A surcharge applies for credit and debit card payments.
El Paso County Public Health — Vital Records
Address: 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 2044, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Phone: (719) 575-8492
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
El Paso County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in El Paso County—including decedents’ estates, guardianships of minors, conservatorships of adults, and trust administration—are heard by the District Court. The Probate Division operates from Room W150 (previously W149) of the El Paso County Judicial Building.
Probate Division walk-up hours (Wednesdays only):
- Protective proceedings (guardianships, conservatorships): 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Estate cases: 1:00–4:00 p.m.
For general probate questions outside walk-up hours, contact the Clerk’s Office at (719) 452-5000.
Searching probate records:
Probate case docket information is available through the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search. To obtain copies of probate filings, use any of the standard request channels:
- In person at Room S101 during regular clerk’s office hours.
- Online through the Record/Document Request Form.
- By mail or email using the El Paso County Record Request Form.
Certain probate protected proceedings are among the case types restricted from public access under CJD 05-01, Section 4.60. If records have been sealed or are subject to a confidentiality statute, the requester may need to provide identification or demonstrate legal authority to access the file.
Historical probate records:
El Paso County probate records predating 1985 are held by the Colorado State Archives. Researchers need a probate case number to search the Archives database. A formal request form is available for submitting retrieval requests to the Archives.
Standard court record fees apply to all probate document requests through the 4th Judicial District: $0.25 per page for copies, $20.00 for certified copies, and $5.00 for name searches. Off-site retrieval is billed at actual cost.