Search Arapahoe County Court Records

How to Search Arapahoe County Court Records

Colorado does not offer a free, direct case-record portal through the Judicial Branch website. There are three separate access paths, and picking the wrong one wastes time. The right path depends on what you need: a court schedule, a case register of actions, or an actual document copy.

Before you start, know whether you want a docket date, a case summary, or a certified copy. Each path has different costs and different sources. None of the free paths give you a full document copy straight from the screen.

1. Free docket-schedule search. Go to the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search. Select the 18th Judicial District and/or Arapahoe County from the dropdowns. Choose a courthouse if you know it: Arapahoe County Justice Center or Arapahoe County Courthouse - Littleton. Add at least one more filter beyond a date range, such as a party name, case number, attorney bar number, or division. Click Find Dockets. Results show scheduled court events, not case documents.
2. Case-register search through authorized vendors. The official Judicial Branch Access Guide says limited online access is available through authorized vendors including LexisNexis Colorado Courts Record Search (CoCourts). Vendor access covers civil, small claims, domestic, felony, misdemeanor, and traffic registers of actions. Vendors charge fees; document copies are not available through commercial sites.
3. Request a document or certified copy. Email the Arapahoe court records team at 18records@judicial.state.co.us or mail Arapahoe Court, Attn: Records Requests, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. Phone inquiries go to 303-645-3814. The records team responds within 3 business days.
4. Recorded documents and marriage records. These are held by the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, not the court. Use the Clerk Legal Document Search portal to search deeds, liens, and recorded marriage and civil-union licenses from February 1, 1996 to present.
5. Criminal-history background checks. For a statewide background record rather than a specific court case, use the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Internet Criminal History Check. This is a paid service and covers CBI records, not just Arapahoe County cases.

The official Colorado Judicial Branch Arapahoe County court page lists both courthouse locations, court hours, interpreter contacts, and links to self-help resources. It is the authoritative starting point before calling or emailing the court.

The Colorado Judicial Branch Arapahoe County court page shows both courthouse cards, current highlights, and links to records access tools.

Docket Search Field Reference

The Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search requires at least one filter beyond a date range. The fields below are available when searching for Arapahoe County dockets.

Note: The docket search returns scheduled court events. It is not a case-document portal. For a copy of a filed pleading, order, or decree, contact the court directly at 18records@judicial.state.co.us.

The Arapahoe County Judicial System

Arapahoe County sits in the 18th Judicial District, which now covers only Arapahoe County after the 2025 creation of the 23rd Judicial District for Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. The district was established in 1962. Chief District Court Judge Michelle Amico leads the district. The official Arapahoe court page states there are 33 judicial officers in the 18th Judicial District, including district court judges, county court judges, and magistrates.

Colorado's trial courts divide into district courts and county courts. District courts have general jurisdiction: civil cases of any dollar amount, felony criminal cases, domestic relations, probate, juvenile, and mental health proceedings. County courts are limited-jurisdiction courts that handle civil cases under $25,000, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, felony complaints that may be bound over to district court, protection orders, and small claims. Small claims petitions in Arapahoe County must be filed at Littleton County Court. County court decisions may be appealed to the district court; district court decisions generally appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals and then to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Case flow: Municipal Court / County Court › District Court › Court of Appeals › Supreme Court

The official Arapahoe County judges and staff page lists all 33 judicial officers with division numbers and direct phone lines.

Arapahoe County Courthouses and Hours

Arapahoe County Court runs out of two locations. The Justice Center in Centennial is the primary district and combined-court location and is where most felony, civil, and domestic-relations filings are handled. The Littleton courthouse handles county court matters including small claims, traffic, and misdemeanor cases. Both buildings are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and are closed on state holidays. Arapahoe County Court does not accept faxed documents.

Protection orders need special attention: the official court page says protection-order petitions must be filed before 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday so staff can process the petition and a judge can review it the same day. Filings after 4:00 p.m. are addressed the next business day.

The Justice Center location page on the Colorado Judicial Branch site lists building hours, security requirements, and notes about virtual courtrooms and weekend bond hearings.

The Arapahoe County Courthouse - Littleton location page covers county court functions including small claims filings and traffic matters.

Types of Court Records Available in Arapahoe County

Arapahoe County Court generates several distinct categories of records across its district and county court divisions. The type of case determines which courthouse created the record and which access path applies. District court records cover a broader scope; county court records are limited to the court's jurisdiction. Both are maintained by the Clerk of Court, Shana Kloek, at the Justice Center.

District court handles the most complex case types: major felonies, multi-party civil disputes, divorce and child custody, probate estates, and juvenile matters. County court handles everyday misdemeanors, traffic tickets, small dollar civil cases, and emergency protection orders. Magistrates handle many domestic-relations and protection-order matters at both locations. Municipal courts in Aurora, Centennial, Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan are separate from the state court system and maintain their own records.

• Criminal records - District court holds felony cases; county court holds misdemeanor and traffic cases. Records include the complaint or information, bond orders, plea documents, sentencing orders, and mittimus.
• Civil records - District court handles civil cases of any amount; county court handles civil cases under $25,000. Records include complaints, answers, motions, judgments, garnishments, and satisfaction filings.
• Family and domestic-relations records - Divorce decrees, parenting plans, child support orders, maintenance orders, and post-decree modifications are all district court records. Request them through the court records team, not the Clerk and Recorder.
• Probate records - Wills, estate inventories, letters testamentary, guardianship orders, and conservatorship accountings are district court records. See the Arapahoe County probate records page for more detail on the request process.
• Traffic court records - Traffic infractions and minor traffic misdemeanors are county court records. Records show the citation, plea, fine, point assessment, and any failure-to-appear warrant entries.

Note: Recorded marriage and civil-union licenses, deeds, liens, and real-property documents are held by the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, not by the courts. Use the Clerk Legal Document Search for those records.

What Arapahoe County Court Records Show

A court record in Arapahoe County is not a single document. It is a case file that grows over time with each filing, hearing, and order. What you can see in a register of actions through an authorized vendor differs from what you get in a certified copy from the court. Vendor access shows the case summary and docket entries; certified copies provide the actual filed documents.

Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, minor names, victim addresses, and protected medical or mental health information are redacted or withheld. The Judicial Branch Access Guide confirms that vendor data comes directly from the Colorado Judicial Department database but is not the official court record and comes with no warranties about completeness or accuracy. If data looks wrong, contact the court where the record was created.

Public Access Laws for Arapahoe County Court Records

Colorado public-records law divides into two main frameworks. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) covers general public records held by government agencies. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) governs records held by criminal justice agencies, including courts with criminal jurisdiction and law-enforcement agencies like the Sheriff. Both frameworks carry a general presumption of public access but allow denial based on specific statutory grounds, court orders, or a public-interest balancing test. Courts also operate under Chief Justice Directive 05-01 (CJD 05-01) and the Supreme Court Rule on Public Access to Information and Records (P.A.I.R.R. 2) for Judicial Branch administrative records.

Requesters who are denied access under CCJRA can challenge the denial, but the burden shifts depending on the type of record and whether it is a record of official action. For court case files, CJD 05-01 governs day-to-day public access, while specific statutes restrict or seal particular categories. The Judicial Branch Access Guide states records are open at reasonable times as provided by these directives, but access may be limited by federal law, state law, court rule, court order, or case law.

The official Colorado Judicial Branch access guide explains how public records requests work, which vendor provides online case access, and what types of records require a direct court request.

Records That Are Restricted or Confidential

Not every Arapahoe County Court record is open. Colorado law restricts or completely seals several categories, and courts routinely redact sensitive personal data even from otherwise public files. Knowing which categories are restricted can save time before making a request that the court will partially or fully deny.

The most common restricted categories are juvenile delinquency and dependency records, sealed criminal records, adoption records, mental health case files, dependency and neglect cases, and grand jury proceedings. For these, access is limited to parties, their attorneys, specified agencies, or persons with a court order. Protection-order files may have victim addresses withheld. Financial identifiers, Social Security numbers, and account numbers are redacted from court documents before they are released to the public.

Colorado provides several statutory paths to seal a criminal record after certain outcomes, including dismissal, acquittal, completed diversion or deferred judgment, eligible convictions after a waiting period, and some drug or decriminalized conduct cases. The sealing petition is filed in the court that handled the original case. The court notifies required agencies, and if no objection stands or the public-interest test is met, the judge signs a sealing order. The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes sealing packets with current forms and fees at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms. Juvenile records governed by C.R.S. § 19-1-301 et seq. have separate rules under the Children's Code and CJD 05-01.

Problem-Solving Programs in Arapahoe County

The 18th Judicial District uses problem-solving and treatment approaches alongside standard criminal proceedings. District Attorney Amy Padden, who took office January 14, 2025, lists specific goals that shape how the office routes cases: community safety, alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, juvenile justice reform, and better responses to mental health and substance abuse in the criminal justice system. The DA office is at 6450 S. Revere Pkwy, Centennial, CO 80111, and can be reached at 720-874-8500.

The official Arapahoe court page links to the Office of Dispute Resolution and Mediator resources, family court facilitators (Karla Carrigan at 303-645-6853), self-help centers in English and Spanish, a child-friendly courts program, parenting class providers, and lists of eligible Child and Family Investigators. The court also provides weekend bond hearings on Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. via Webex, which reduces the time low-risk defendants spend in custody while awaiting a first appearance judge.

The Colorado State Public Defender's Arapahoe office supports defendants who cannot afford counsel. That office is at 13356 E. Briarwood Ave., Centennial, CO 80112, phone 303-799-9001, email Arapahoe@coloradodefenders.us. Office head David Kaplan leads the office. The statewide public defender number is 303-764-1400.

Arapahoe County Sheriff and Jail

Sheriff Tyler Brown leads the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (ACSO), which was established in 1858 and is the oldest law-enforcement agency in Colorado. The Sheriff provides patrol services to Centennial, Bennett, Deer Trail, Foxfield, and unincorporated Arapahoe County, and also oversees the Arapahoe County Detention Facility at 7375 South Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. The Sheriff's main office is at 13101 E. Broncos Parkway, Centennial, CO 80112, phone 720-874-3600. The detention facility phone is 720-874-3500, open 24 hours.

The Civil and Warrants Unit at 720-874-3845 handles warrant entries and civil process service. In 2015 the unit entered 6,663 warrants into the computer and processed 8,751 civil papers in a single year, which gives a sense of the caseload. Active warrant searches are not available through an official public portal; to confirm warrant status, use the official docket search or contact the court or an attorney.

Useful phone numbers from the ACSO emergency communications page: non-emergency dispatch 303-795-4711; detentions automated information 720-874-3500; victim notification regarding inmate release, call 720-874-3500 and press 7; records unit 720-874-3875; civil section 720-874-3845. For full inmate lookup, bond information, and visitation details, see the Arapahoe County inmate records page. For active warrant information, see the Arapahoe County warrant records page.

Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records

Marriage and divorce records come from different offices in Arapahoe County, and confusing them leads to requests sent to the wrong place. Marriage and civil-union licenses are issued and recorded by the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, Joan Lopez, at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120. Divorce decrees and domestic-relations case documents are court records and must be requested from Arapahoe County District Court, not the Clerk and Recorder. Probate matters are also handled by District Court. See the Arapahoe County marriage and divorce records page and the Arapahoe County probate records page for step-by-step access details.

Testator

The person who wrote a will. In Arapahoe District Court probate files, the testator is the decedent whose estate is being administered.

Executor (Personal Representative)

The person or institution named in a will to administer the estate. Colorado uses the term "personal representative" in its Probate Code; both terms appear in Arapahoe probate filings.

Conservator

A person appointed by the court to manage the financial affairs of someone who cannot do so themselves, such as a protected person due to age, disability, or incapacity.

Guardian

A person appointed by the court to make personal decisions, such as health care and living arrangements, for a minor or incapacitated adult.

Intestate

Dying without a valid will. When a decedent dies intestate, Colorado's intestacy statutes govern who inherits rather than a named executor.

Arapahoe County Court and Clerk Record Fees

Court filing fees and copy costs in Arapahoe County are set by Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedules and by the Clerk and Recorder for recorded-document services. The court records team charges for copies of case documents; the Clerk and Recorder charges separately for certified copies of recorded instruments such as marriage licenses and deeds. The fees below come from official Arapahoe sources and the official Colorado marriage-license instructions.

Court copy fees for case documents (plain copies, certified copies, research fees) are set by Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedules. Contact the Arapahoe court records team at 18records@judicial.state.co.us or 303-645-3814 for current per-page rates before submitting your request.

Arapahoe County Court Dockets and Case Dates

The free Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets is the official tool for checking upcoming court dates in Arapahoe County. It is not a case-file portal. Results show the scheduled docket, not the underlying documents. Still, it is the fastest way to confirm whether a case has a hearing set and to identify which division it is in.

When filtering to Arapahoe, select the 18th Judicial District and/or Arapahoe County in the location dropdowns. Add the known courthouse to narrow further. The form requires at least one additional filter beyond a date range, such as a party name or case number. Division codes like 201 and 207 correspond to specific district court judges; codes like A1 and A2 are county court divisions. See the Arapahoe County court dockets page for a full field-by-field walkthrough and tips for reading docket results.

The Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search is the official, free way to check court schedules and verify hearing dates for Arapahoe County cases without paying a vendor fee.

Clerk of Court vs Clerk and Recorder in Arapahoe County

Arapahoe County has two separate offices with the word "clerk" in their names, and they handle entirely different record types. Mixing them up is the single most common mistake users make when searching for Arapahoe records.

The Clerk of Court, Shana Kloek, works within the Colorado Judicial Branch. Her office maintains all court case files: civil cases, criminal cases, divorce decrees, probate filings, protection orders, and every other document filed in district or county court. Court records requests go to 18records@judicial.state.co.us or by mail to 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. The Clerk of Court also oversees juror management through Jury Commissioner Kimberly Gehler at 303-645-6861 or arapahoejury@judicial.state.co.us.

The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, Joan Lopez, is an elected county official at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120, phone 303-795-4200. Her office records and maintains real-property documents, military discharges, marriage and civil-union licenses, and handles motor vehicles, elections, and passports. The Clerk and Recorder Legal Document Search at arapahoe.co.publicsearch.us covers recorded instruments back to February 1, 1996. The office has 24-hour red drop boxes at branch locations for motor vehicle and recording documents; drop-box payments by check or money order only. Active military and first responders with valid ID receive priority service at the four branch locations. Starting January 1, 2026, all Clerk and Recorder branches open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 4:00 p.m.

See the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court page for the court records request process in full detail.

The official Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder homepage describes all services offered by Joan Lopez's office, including recording, elections, motor vehicle, and marriage licenses.

How to Read Arapahoe County Court Records

Court records use abbreviations and legal terms that can be confusing without context. A few key concepts make a register of actions much easier to follow.

An arrest does not mean a conviction. The record may show a charge filed (Information or Complaint), followed by an arraignment, then hearings, and finally a disposition. If the disposition reads "Dismissed," the charge did not result in conviction. If it reads "Conviction" or "Plea of Guilty," the defendant was found or pleaded guilty to that specific count. A case with multiple counts may have mixed dispositions: guilty on count one, dismissed on count two. Sealed records will not appear in public vendor searches or be released without a court order.

Register of Actions

A chronological log of every filing and event in a case. This is what authorized vendors display when you search Arapahoe County cases by name or case number.

Disposition

The final or current outcome of a charge or civil claim: dismissed, convicted, judgment entered, transferred, or sealed.

Mittimus

The court order committing a defendant to jail or prison after sentencing. It is a distinct document from the judgment and sentence order.

Continuance

A postponement of a hearing or deadline, often shown in docket entries as "CON" or spelled out. Multiple continuances are common in complex cases.

Bench Warrant

A warrant issued by the judge, typically for failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. It authorizes law enforcement to arrest the person named and bring them before the court.

Personal Recognizance (PR Bond)

Release based on the defendant's promise to appear, without paying cash upfront. The official Arapahoe bond page says the Sheriff must release within six hours once a PR bond is set and conditions are met.

Accuracy and Record Limitations

Vendor data pulled from the Colorado Judicial Department database is real-time, but it is explicitly not the official court record. The Judicial Branch Access Guide says data is provided "as is" with no warranties and does not represent all cases or case types filed in Colorado courts. This means a name-based search may miss records filed under a different name, a previous name, or a case type not covered by the vendor's license.

Record updates depend on when court staff enter them into the system. A hearing held on Friday may not appear in the vendor's database until Monday. A sealing order takes time to propagate; a sealed record that still appears in a vendor search should be reported to the court where the original record was created. For any legal purpose, request a certified copy directly from the Arapahoe court records team rather than relying on a vendor-screen printout.

Arapahoe County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and civil-union licenses in Arapahoe County require an appointment at one of three Clerk and Recorder branch locations: Centennial at 6954 S. Lima St., Littleton at 5334 S. Prince St., or Aurora at 490 S. Chambers Rd. All marriage and civil-union license services are appointment-only until further notice. Once issued, the license is valid for 35 days and must be returned for recording within 63 days after the ceremony; a $20 late fee applies after 63 days.

Recorded marriage licenses from February 1, 1996 to present are searchable through the Clerk Legal Document Search portal. Plain copies cost $0.25 and certified copies cost $1.25. For marriages before February 1, 1996, make an appointment at the Littleton office. Divorce records are district court records, not Clerk and Recorder records. Request a divorce decree by emailing 18records@judicial.state.co.us. Full details are on the Arapahoe County marriage and divorce records page.

The official Arapahoe County marriage and civil-union license page explains the appointment-only process, branch locations, and recording requirements.

The official Arapahoe County marriage license instructions PDF covers the 35-day use period, 63-day recording deadline, late fee, and copy fee schedule.

History of Arapahoe County Courts

The 18th Judicial District was established in 1962, according to the official Arapahoe court page. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, which works closely with the courts on warrant service and detention, was founded in 1858 and is the oldest law-enforcement agency in Colorado. The Sheriff's historical pages describe early deputies earning roughly $20 per month for jail work and $24 for investigative work, with badges literally cut from tin can lids before formal ones were purchased.

Three notable cases are listed on the official Arapahoe court page: 2023CR664 (People v. James Craig), 19PR30197 (Amie Bowlen Klemmer et al. v. Josiah W. Ellis et al.), and 2002CR1623 (People v. Alex Ewing). Each reflects the range of serious criminal and civil matters handled by Arapahoe District Court over the decades. In terms of technology, self-represented e-filing became available in Arapahoe County on October 1, 2019, and the court has since added virtual courtrooms, public livestreaming, and Webex-based weekend bond hearings.

The most recent structural change to the district happened in 2025, when the 23rd Judicial District was created for Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. Arapahoe County is now the sole county in the 18th Judicial District, which streamlines administration but concentrates all district court caseload in the two Arapahoe locations. DA Amy Padden, who took office January 14, 2025, serves a four-year term expiring January 2029 as the first DA for this reconstituted district.

Self-Help and Legal Aid in Arapahoe County

The Colorado Judicial Branch operates a self-help center for Arapahoe County with resources in English and Spanish. The official Arapahoe County self-help resources page links to filing guides for family law, divorce, custody, guardianships and conservatorships, small claims, evictions, traffic court, and probate. Forms are available at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-forms, with categories covering all major case types including trusts, estates, wills, and guardian/conservator proceedings.

Self-represented litigants in Arapahoe County can also access the Family Court Facilitator, Karla Carrigan, at 303-645-6853, who assists with domestic-relations matters. The Office of Dispute Resolution provides mediation resources. Interpreter services are available through the coordinator at 303-645-6857 or 18interpreter@judicial.state.co.us; request a language interpreter well before the scheduled hearing date. ADA accommodation requests are available through the Judicial Branch accessibility information page.

For criminal cases, indigent defendants who qualify receive representation through the Colorado State Public Defender Arapahoe office at 13356 E. Briarwood Ave., Centennial, CO 80112, phone 303-799-9001. The Public Defender Arapahoe office page has contact details for the office head and manager. Defendants who do not qualify for a public defender but need guidance can use the Colorado Legal Help Center linked from the Judicial Branch self-help resources page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find an Arapahoe County court date?

Use the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search. Set the location to the 18th Judicial District and/or Arapahoe County. Add a case number, party name, attorney bar number, or division as an additional filter; the form requires at least one non-date filter to run. Results show the upcoming scheduled events for that case or party in Arapahoe County Court.

Can I search full case records for free on the Judicial Branch site?

No. The official Judicial Branch Access Guide says direct online case-record access is not available through the Judicial Branch website. The free docket search shows scheduled hearing dates only. For a register of actions, use an authorized vendor such as CoCourts (LexisNexis) for a fee. Document copies always require a direct request to Arapahoe County Court.

How do I request a divorce decree or case document?

Email 18records@judicial.state.co.us or mail Arapahoe Court, Attn: Records Requests, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. Phone inquiries go to 303-645-3814. The records team responds within 3 business days. The request route is the same for divorce decrees, civil judgments, probate orders, and any other case-filed document.

Where are the Arapahoe County courthouses?

The Justice Center is at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112 (phone 303-645-6600). The Littleton courthouse is at 1790 West Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO 80120 (phone 303-798-4591). Both are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and are closed on state holidays. Small claims petitions must be filed at Littleton; district court matters generally file at the Justice Center.

Does Arapahoe County Court accept fax filings?

No. The official Arapahoe court page states the court does not accept faxed documents. Use email, mail, in-person filing, or the self-represented e-filing system, which has been available in Arapahoe County since October 1, 2019.

How do I check if someone is in the Arapahoe County jail?

Use the official inmate lookup tool linked from the Arapahoe Sheriff inmate pages, or call Detentions at 720-874-3500 for automated information. For victim-notification calls about a specific person's release, call 720-874-3500 and press 7. For more on the lookup tool and bond process, see the Arapahoe County inmate records page.

Are juvenile records public in Arapahoe County?

Generally not. The Judicial Branch Access Guide says juvenile record availability is primarily determined by the Colorado Children's Code, C.R.S. § 19-1-301 et seq., and CJD 05-01. Access is typically limited to parties, their attorneys, specified agencies, and persons with a court order. Do not expect juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, or adoption records to appear in vendor searches.

More questions and answers on the Arapahoe County Court Records FAQ page.