Jefferson County Court Records Search
ColoradoCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on ColoradoCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Jefferson County is part of Colorado’s First Judicial District, which also encompasses Gilpin County. With 14 District Court judges, 10 County Court judges, and 10 magistrates, the First Judicial District handles a high volume of cases each year from its combined courthouse in Golden. The District Court exercises broad jurisdiction over felonies, civil matters of any dollar amount, domestic relations, juvenile proceedings, and probate. The County Court takes misdemeanors, traffic cases, civil actions under $25,000, small claims, and protection orders. Several municipalities within the county—including Arvada, Lakewood, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, and Golden—also operate their own municipal courts for local ordinance violations.
Individuals researching court records in Colorado have access to several official tools for locating case information. The Colorado Judicial Branch offers a statewide docket search system, and clerk offices at each courthouse provide in-person access to case files during posted hours. Jefferson County also maintains its own online records database for marriage, real estate, and other recorded documents. For broader statewide court information, ColoradoCourts.us can help users identify publicly available case data and court resources across all judicial districts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Jefferson County?
There are several practical ways to look up a case filed in Jefferson County, whether you need scheduling information, case status, or copies of filed documents.
Docket Search
The Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search tool allows anyone to find docket listings for Jefferson County courts. To use it:
- Navigate to the Docket Search page.
- Select “1st Judicial District” from the judicial district filter.
- Choose “Jefferson County” in the county field.
- Select the court type (District or County) and, optionally, a division.
- Enter a date range, party name, case number, or attorney name.
- Click “Find Dockets” to view results.
This tool displays scheduled hearings and case docket information but does not provide downloadable copies of filed documents.
Online Record/Document Requests
To obtain copies of court documents, use the Colorado Judicial Branch Record/Document Request Form. Select Jefferson County as the location, enter the case number or party information, and check the specific documents you need. Access to records is governed by Chief Justice Directive 05-01.
Requests can also be submitted locally by email to jeffcorecordrequest@judicial.state.co.us or by mail to the courthouse. For questions about records, call (720) 772-2570.
In-Person Access
The Records counter at the Jefferson County courthouse is open for walk-in service Monday through Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The counter is closed on Fridays. If you visit outside those hours, you can complete a records research request form and leave it in the basket at the Records window.
Courthouse Location and Hours
Jefferson Combined Court
Address: 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (720) 772-2500
Fax: (720) 772-2787
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Court front counter | Mon–Thu 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Fri 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Records counter (in-person) | Mon–Thu 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Closed Fri |
| Phone inquiries | Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Drop box | Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
Fees for Record Copies
All fees follow Chief Justice Directive 06-01:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy per page (single-sided) | $0.25 |
| Copy per page (double-sided) | $0.50 |
| Certified or exemplified copy (per document) | $20.00 |
| Name search | $5.00 |
| Research/redaction fee (per hour, after first hour) | $30.00 |
| Off-site case file retrieval | Actual cost |
| Transcript of judgment | $25.00 |
| Fax fee (per page) | $1.00 |
Parties to a case and their attorneys pay a maximum of $15.00 in copy fees regardless of page count. There is no maximum for non-parties.
Are Court Records Public in Jefferson County?
Most court records in Jefferson County are open for public inspection. Colorado’s framework for court record access rests on two main authorities: the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-72-201 et seq., and Chief Justice Directive 05-01, which governs public access to judicial branch records specifically. Under these rules, court records are presumed open, and members of the public may inspect them at reasonable times at the clerk’s office.
Records Excluded from Public Access
Despite this presumption of openness, several categories of records are restricted by statute, court rule, or court order:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Adoption records
- Mental health commitment records
- Medical records filed in court proceedings
- Records identifying victims of sexual assault or domestic violence
- Grand jury proceedings and records
- Confidential personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, active financial account numbers, insurance policy numbers, and vehicle plate numbers)
- Records sealed by court order or protected under state or federal law
Individuals who believe their records should be sealed may petition the court. Under Colorado statute, a motion to seal a criminal conviction costs $65 in county court and $224 in district court. Petitions to seal non-conviction records carry no filing fee.
Jefferson County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Jefferson County are divided between the District Court and the County Court. The District Court handles all felony prosecutions and hears appeals from county criminal matters. The County Court adjudicates misdemeanors, petty offenses, traffic infractions, and conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases.
Looking Up Criminal Cases
The Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search allows users to find criminal docket listings for the 1st Judicial District by filtering for Jefferson County and the appropriate court level. For questions specifically about criminal or traffic matters at the Jefferson County courthouse, the Traffic and Criminal Cases page provides additional direction.
Requesting Criminal Court Documents
Copies of criminal case files can be obtained through the Colorado Judicial Branch Record/Document Request Form or by emailing jeffcorecordrequest@judicial.state.co.us. In-person requests are accepted at the Records counter Monday through Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Standard copy and certification fees apply.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office maintains law enforcement records including incident reports, accident reports, body camera footage, jail records, and booking information. Records requests are submitted through the Sheriff’s NextRequest portal, which is available 24/7 online.
Sheriff’s Office records fees (effective January 2, 2025):
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Processing fee | $3.00 |
| Research, retrieval, and redaction (first hour free) | $40.00/hour |
| Hardcopy materials | $0.25/page |
| CD/DVD | $10.00/device |
| Flash drive (up to 32GB) | $10.00/device |
| Postal mail delivery | $3.00 |
The Sheriff’s main records office is at 200 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for lunch). Self-service iPads for submitting online requests are also available at the Mountain Precinct (4990 County Hwy 73, Evergreen) and South Precinct (11139 Bradford Road, #700, Littleton).
Requests can also be made by phone at (303) 271-5542 or by email at records@jeffco.us. Note that the Sheriff’s Office does not maintain court records, criminal history records, sealed or expunged records, or juvenile records. For sealed records, contact the court. For juvenile records restricted by law, access is limited to authorized parties only.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Criminal History Checks
For an official statewide criminal background check, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation offers the Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) system. This name-based search of the CBI database costs $6.00 per query and returns Colorado-only criminal history information. A more detailed Criminal History Record Information report costs $13.00.
Jefferson County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Jefferson County are heard by either the County Court or the District Court depending on the amount in controversy. The County Court handles civil actions with claims up to $25,000, including small claims (up to $7,500). The District Court has jurisdiction over all civil matters regardless of amount, and exercises exclusive jurisdiction over claims exceeding $25,000.
Types of Civil Cases
Common civil filings in Jefferson County include breach of contract, personal injury, property disputes, mortgage foreclosures, employment disputes, professional malpractice, product liability, and tort claims.
Accessing Civil Court Records
Civil case files at both court levels are generally public. To obtain copies:
- Submit the Colorado Judicial Branch Record/Document Request Form online, selecting Jefferson County
- Email jeffcorecordrequest@judicial.state.co.us
- Visit the Records counter at the courthouse in person (Mon–Thu, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Mail a completed records research request form to 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401
Civil Filing Fees
Filing fees for civil cases were updated effective January 1, 2025, per Colorado House Bill 2024-1286. Key civil filing fees from the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule include:
| Case Type | Plaintiff Fee |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Small claims ($0–$500) | $31 |
| Small claims ($500.01–$7,500) | $55 |
Property Records
Real property records in Jefferson County—including deeds, liens, titles, plats, and easements—are maintained by the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office. The public can search property information using the Property Records Search tool by address, owner name, parcel ID, schedule number, or sales data. Recorded documents such as deeds and liens are also searchable through the Jefferson County Record Search database maintained by the Clerk and Recorder.
Jefferson County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Jefferson County are handled by the District Court. Colorado does not operate a separate family court; the District Court presides over all domestic relations and juvenile cases.
Case Types
The District Court hears cases involving divorce and dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulment, allocation of parental responsibilities (custody), child support, spousal maintenance, paternity, adoption, emancipation, and protection orders arising from domestic violence.
Filing Fees for Family Law Cases
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for divorce, separation, or annulment | $260 |
| Petition for custody (allocation of parental responsibilities) | $252 |
| Response to a family law petition | $146 |
| Motion to modify a decree or final order (after 60 days) | $105 |
| Petition for adoption | $197 |
| Action for parentage | $268 |
For domestic relations matters, pro-se e-filing is available for self-represented parties filing domestic and eviction cases electronically.
Requesting Family Court Records
Family court records are generally public, though documents containing information about minors, medical evaluations, or sealed matters may be restricted. Records can be obtained through the same channels used for other case types: the online Record/Document Request Form, by email, or by visiting the Records counter at the courthouse. For probate-adjacent family matters like guardianships, contact the probate department at (720) 772-2540.
Confidential Family Records
Adoption records and juvenile dependency and neglect proceedings are confidential. Only parties to those cases, their attorneys, or individuals authorized by court order may access those files. Photo identification may be required at the clerk’s office when requesting confidential records.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and civil union records are issued and maintained by the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder. Recorded marriage and civil union records from the year 2000 forward can be searched through the Jefferson County Record Search database. For older marriage records, the Colorado State Archives maintains a statewide marriage index that may include historical Jefferson County entries.
Vital Records
Birth and death certificates for Jefferson County are issued by Jefferson County Public Health Vital Records. These are confidential records under Colorado law and are available only to individuals with a direct, tangible interest (the registrant, a parent, a legal representative, or other qualified persons). The Vital Records Office can be reached at:
Jefferson County Vital Records Office
Address: 800 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 1300, Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (303) 271-6450
Fax: (303) 271-6451
Birth and death certificates can also be ordered through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at the state level.
Jefferson County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Jefferson County fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the District Court. These proceedings cover estate administration, will validation and contests, trust registrations and disputes, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, and conservatorships.
Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| First filing for decedent’s estate, guardianship/conservatorship, personal injury settlement, or petition to accept transfer | $229 |
| Small estate | $113 |
| Supervised administration | $198 |
| Trust registration statement | $198 |
| Trust action petition | $229 |
| Deposit of will | $18 |
| Demand for notice | $36 |
For probate-specific questions, contact the Jefferson County courthouse probate department at (720) 772-2540.
Searching Probate Records
Current probate case docket information can be located through the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search by selecting the 1st Judicial District and Jefferson County. To obtain copies of documents from a probate case file, submit a request through the online Record/Document Request Form, by email to jeffcorecordrequest@judicial.state.co.us, or in person at the Records counter.
Historical Probate Records
The Colorado State Archives holds some historical Jefferson County probate records, including case files predating 1968. Researchers can search the Archives Search database or submit a formal request online. Requests can also be sent by email to dpa_research@state.co.us or by mail to:
Colorado State Archives
Request Desk
1313 Sherman Street, Room 120
Denver, CO 80203-2274
Most probate case files are open for public inspection. However, records involving minor settlements or other sensitive matters may carry access restrictions. For current estate, guardianship, or conservatorship filings, the District Court clerk’s office remains the primary source for both inspection and certified copies.