La Plata 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.
La Plata County sits in southwestern Colorado, with Durango serving as the county seat. The county falls within the 6th Judicial District and operates a combined District and County Court that handles the full range of criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate proceedings. Three municipal courts — in Durango, Bayfield, and Ignacio — adjudicate local ordinance violations. Whether someone needs to pull a felony docket, verify a divorce filing, or look up a probate estate, the records are maintained primarily by the Clerk of the Combined Court at the La Plata County Courthouse.
Individuals searching for court records in Colorado can begin with the resources maintained by the state judiciary and the local clerk’s office. ColoradoCourts.us may be useful for identifying court locations and general case information. The Colorado Judicial Branch offers a docket search tool that allows users to look up scheduled hearings by party name, case number, attorney, or date. For copies of actual case documents, requests can be submitted directly to the La Plata Combined Court clerk, either in person, by email, or through the judiciary’s online records request form. Third-party commercial vendors such as LexisNexis Colorado Courts also provide name-based and case-number searches of register-of-actions data drawn from the state court database.
How to Look Up a Court Case in La Plata County?
The most direct way to locate a case filed in La Plata County is to contact the Clerk of the Combined Court. The clerk’s office maintains all district and county court records, including civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile files.
La Plata Combined Court (District and County Court)
Address: 1060 East 2nd Avenue, Room 106, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 247-2304
Fax: (970) 247-4348
Email: laplataclerk@judicial.state.co.us
Clerk’s Office Hours:
- Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (excluding state holidays)
- Building Hours: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
To search for a case, users can take any of the following approaches:
- Docket search online. The Colorado Judicial Branch’s docket search tool allows the public to look up hearing schedules by party name, case number, judge, or hearing date. This search covers district and county court dockets statewide.
- Online records request. For copies of specific documents — such as a disposition, decree, or judgment — submit a request through the judiciary’s records request form. The La Plata clerk’s office will follow up with details on availability and fees.
- Commercial vendors. Real-time register-of-actions data (covering civil, criminal, domestic, small claims, and traffic cases) is available from authorized commercial providers, including Background Information Services and LexisNexis Colorado Courts. These services charge their own access fees.
- In-person visit. Walk into the courthouse during office hours and request records at the clerk’s counter. Public-access terminals may be available for self-service searches.
- Phone or email. Contact the clerk by phone at (970) 247-2304 or email at laplataclerk@judicial.state.co.us with the party name, case number, or other identifying details.
When submitting any request, providing the case number speeds processing significantly. If the case number is unknown, include the full names of the parties, approximate filing date, and case type.
Municipal Courts
Cases involving Durango, Bayfield, or Ignacio municipal ordinance violations are handled by separate municipal courts:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Durango Municipal Court | 949 East 2nd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 | (970) 375-5020 |
| Bayfield Municipal Court | 1199 Bayfield Parkway, P.O. Box 80, Bayfield, CO 81122 | (970) 884-9544 |
| Ignacio Municipal Court | 570 Goddard Avenue, Ignacio, CO 81137 | (970) 563-9494 |
Records from municipal courts must be requested from the individual court where the case was filed.
Are Court Records Public in La Plata County?
Colorado law establishes a strong presumption that court records are open to public inspection. Two primary legal frameworks govern access.
The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified at C.R.S. §24-72-201 et seq., requires most public records to be available for inspection and copying. For court records specifically, the Criminal Justice Records Act (C.R.S. §24-72-301 et seq.) applies to criminal case files and authorizes custodians to deny inspection when prohibited by law, court rule, or court order, or when disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s Public Access to Information and Records Rule (P.A.I.R.R.) and Chief Justice Directive 05-01 further detail how court records can be inspected during regular business hours. Under these policies, any person may view case indexes by name, case number, filing date, or calendar date. The clerk of court serves as the official custodian and may adopt local procedures to protect records from damage and to prevent interference with court operations.
Records that are generally restricted or confidential include:
- Juvenile dependency, neglect, and delinquency files (governed by the Children’s Code, C.R.S. §19-1-301 et seq.)
- Sealed and expunged records
- Adoption records
- Mental health proceedings
- Medical records and active financial information (such as Social Security numbers, bank account details)
- Confidential informant and juror information
- Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
Copy and certification fees are set by statute and CJD 06-01:
- Single-sided copies: $0.25 per page
- Double-sided copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copy of any record: $20
- Fax fee: $1 per page
- Maximum copy fee for parties to the case: $15
La Plata County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in La Plata County are prosecuted through the Combined Court. The District Court division handles all felony cases and certain misdemeanors, while the County Court division hears misdemeanor charges, petty offenses, and traffic infractions. Municipal courts address violations of city ordinances within Durango, Bayfield, and Ignacio.
Searching criminal case records. The docket search on the Colorado Judicial Branch website is the fastest free method for locating a scheduled criminal hearing. For register-of-actions data, the commercial vendor sites noted above provide name-based criminal case lookups. To obtain actual documents from a criminal file, submit a request to the La Plata Combined Court clerk.
Criminal history background checks. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) provides two name-based background check products:
- Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC): An instant, Colorado-only search available online for $6.00 per search.
- Criminal History Record Information (CHRI): A more detailed name-based report processed by CBI staff for $13.00 per search. This product can be notarized upon request.
Fingerprint-based background checks are available through the Colorado Applicant Background Service (CABS) at fees ranging from $16.50–$19.50 for a state check and $38.50–$39.50 for a combined state and FBI check. Visit the CBI’s fees and forms page for current details and payment instructions.
La Plata County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 283 Girard Street, Durango, CO 81303
Phone: (970) 247-1157 (Administrative Office)
General Line: (970) 385-2900
The Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and booking information. Current inmate information is available through the VINE inmate search. The Colorado sex offender registry can be searched through the Colorado Sex Offender Search.
Key criminal filing fees (effective January 2025):
| Fee Category | Amount | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal from city court (not of record) | $70 | C.R.S. 13-10-116(1) |
| Petty offense jury demand | $25 | C.R.S. 16-10-109(2) |
| Convicted defendant (non-infraction) | $26 | C.R.S. 13-32-105 |
| Motion to seal criminal conviction | $65 | C.R.S. 24-72-706 |
| Petition to seal (non-conviction) | $0 | C.R.S. 24-72-705 |
| Probation supervision | $50/month | C.R.S. 18-1.3-204(2)(a)(V) |
La Plata County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in La Plata County is divided between the District and County Court based on the amount in controversy. The District Court has general jurisdiction over civil matters, while the County Court handles civil disputes involving $25,000 or less, as well as small claims up to $7,500.
Where to find civil records. All civil case files are maintained by the Clerk of the Combined Court at 1060 East 2nd Avenue, Room 106, Durango. Records can be inspected in person, requested by phone or email, or obtained through the judiciary’s online records request form.
Civil filing fees (effective January 2025):
| Case Type | Plaintiff Fee | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| District Court – general civil | $265 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(d) |
| County civil – claims up to $999.99 | $95 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(III.5)(A) |
| County civil – $1,000 to $14,999.99 | $115 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(III.5)© |
| County civil – $15,000 to $25,000 | $145 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(III.5)(E) |
| Small claims – up to $500 | $31 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(IV)(A) |
| Small claims – $500.01 to $7,500 | $55 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(IV)© |
| Jury demand (county court) | $98 | C.R.S. 13-71-144(b) |
| Jury demand (district court) | $231 | C.R.S. 13-71-144(1)(a) |
Defendant filing fees vary depending on whether a counterclaim is filed. Eviction defendants pay no filing fee under C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(V). A complete fee schedule is published on the Colorado Judicial Branch’s list of fees page, and fee waivers are available for qualifying individuals through the judiciary’s fee waiver forms.
Property and recorded documents. Although not court records, many civil matters involve recorded documents such as deeds, liens, and judgments. The La Plata County Clerk and Recorder maintains these records and provides online access through iDoc Market, which covers documents from 1874 to the present. The recording office can be reached at:
La Plata County Clerk and Recorder – Recording Division
Address: 679 Turner Drive, Suite C, Durango, CO 81303
Phone: (970) 382-6281
Email: recording@lpcgov.org
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Wednesday 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; closed Fridays
Recording fees are $43 per document (flat fee regardless of page count), with an additional state documentary fee when property is conveyed.
La Plata County Family Court Records
Domestic relations cases — including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, child support, and parenting time — are heard by the District Court division of the La Plata Combined Court. Protective order petitions are filed in either the district or county court, depending on the circumstances.
Filing fees for family cases (effective January 2025):
| Filing Type | Fee | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce / separation / annulment | $260 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(a) |
| Custody petition (APR) | $252 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1) |
| Response to petition | $146 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(b) |
| Motion to modify decree or order | $105 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(2) |
| Registration of foreign decree | $201 | C.R.S. 14-11-101 |
| Petition to prevent child removal | $265 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(d) |
| Protection order (C.R.S. 13-14-109) | $95 | C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)©(III.5)(A) |
Protection orders for domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual assault are filed without a fee to the petitioner under C.R.S. 13-32-101(3)(b). Adoption petitions are filed in the juvenile division at a cost of $197.
Obtaining family court records. Divorce decrees, custody orders, and other domestic relations documents are available from the Clerk of the Combined Court. Requests can be made in person, by email to laplataclerk@judicial.state.co.us, or through the state judiciary’s online request form. Adoption records are sealed and generally not available to the public.
Marriage licenses. Marriage and civil union licenses are issued by the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. The license fee is $30. Appointments can be booked online through the Clerk and Recorder’s marriage and civil union license page. Note that marriage license records are not available through iDoc Market online searches.
Birth and death certificates. These vital records are managed by the La Plata County Public Health Department and are confidential under Colorado law — available only to individuals who demonstrate a direct and tangible interest or family relationship.
La Plata County Public Health – Vital Records
Address: 185 Suttle Street, Suite 100, Durango, CO 81303
Phone: (970) 247-5702
Email: VitalRecords@lpcgov.org
The application fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $20 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously. Applications can be submitted in person, by mail, or by email using the fillable forms available on the La Plata County birth and death records page. Online payment is accepted through the county’s vital records payment portal. Certificates from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment can also be ordered directly from the state.
La Plata County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in La Plata County are handled by the District Court. The court oversees decedent estates, small estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and personal injury settlements. All probate filings and records are maintained by the Clerk of the Combined Court at the La Plata County Courthouse.
Probate filing fees (effective January 2025):
| Filing Type | Fee | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Decedent’s estate (standard) | $229 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(b) |
| Small estate | $113 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(a) |
| Supervised administration | $198 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)© |
| Petition for allowance/contested claim | $198 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(d) |
| Trust registration statement | $198 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(e) |
| Trust action petition | $229 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(f) |
| Deposit of will | $18 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(h) |
| Demand for notice | $36 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(g) |
| Guardianship/conservatorship (initial) | $229 | C.R.S. 13-32-102(1)(b) |
| Foreign guardianship/conservatorship registration | $201 | C.R.S. 15-14.5-401 |
| Jury demand | $231 | C.R.S. 46-71-144(1)(a) |
How to access probate records. Current probate case information — including dockets and hearing schedules — can be located through the Colorado Judicial Branch’s docket search. Copies of probate documents such as wills, letters testamentary, estate inventories, and guardianship orders are obtained from the Combined Court clerk by contacting the office at (970) 247-2304 or submitting a request through the online records request form.
Older La Plata County probate files — particularly those predating 1968 — may have been transferred to the Colorado State Archives. Researchers can search the State Archives database or submit a retrieval request through the Archives’ online request form.
Wills deposited with the court before the testator’s death are held by the clerk for a fee of $18. After the testator’s death, the deposited will is delivered to the personal representative or other authorized person. Guardianship and conservatorship records are generally public, though the court may restrict access to medical evaluations, financial accountings, or other sensitive documents filed in connection with those proceedings.