Arapahoe County Clerk of Court

About the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court Office

Shana Kloek serves as Clerk of Court and Registrar for Arapahoe County. Her office is part of the Colorado Judicial Branch and operates within the 18th Judicial District. Following the 2025 creation of the 23rd Judicial District, Arapahoe County is now the only county in the 18th district. That change means the Clerk of Court's responsibilities are focused entirely on Arapahoe County cases, which simplifies which office to contact for any Arapahoe-filed case.

The Court Executive for Arapahoe County is Jenni Turnidge. Audrey Smith serves as Deputy Court Executive. Kimberly Gehler is the Jury Commissioner and can be reached at 303-645-6861 or arapahoejury@judicial.state.co.us. These staff members support court administration alongside the Clerk's office, but records requests go through the Clerk of Court, not the Court Executive's desk.

The Clerk of Court maintains two court locations. All Arapahoe County court records requests are directed to the main Justice Center mailing address, but both locations serve the public during normal court hours.

Note: Arapahoe County Court does not accept faxed documents. Use mail or email for records requests. Protection orders must be filed before 4:00 p.m. on business days for same-day processing and judicial review.

Clerk of Court vs. Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder

Colorado splits court-related functions between two separate offices, and Arapahoe County is no exception. These two offices share a similar name but handle completely different records. Getting them mixed up is one of the most common mistakes people make when trying to pull a document.

The Clerk of Court (Shana Kloek) is a Colorado Judicial Branch employee. She manages all case files, court orders, judgments, divorce decrees, probate records, and other documents filed through the 18th Judicial District courts. If you need a document that a judge signed or that was filed as part of a civil, criminal, family, or probate case, that record lives with the Clerk of Court.

The County Clerk and Recorder (Joan Lopez) is an elected county official. Her office at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120, phone 303-795-4200, handles recorded land documents, marriage and civil union licenses, military discharges, election services, passports, and motor vehicle services. Recorded marriage licenses from February 1, 1996 to present are searchable at arapahoe.co.publicsearch.us. For more on marriage license records and the Clerk and Recorder's role, see the marriage and divorce records page.

The split breaks down this way:

What the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court Does

The Clerk of Court's core job is keeping the official court record for every case in the 18th Judicial District. That means accepting new filings, docketing every event in a case, maintaining the physical and electronic case file, issuing certified copies, and collecting statutory filing fees. The Clerk's office also manages the jury pool. Kimberly Gehler handles jury administration for Arapahoe County specifically.

Day-to-day duties of the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court office include:

• Accepting and stamping new civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic filings at both court locations
• Maintaining the docket and register of actions for each case from filing through disposition
• Issuing certified copies of orders, decrees, judgments, and other court documents on request
• Processing and responding to records requests submitted by mail or email within 3 business days
• Supporting self-represented e-filing for qualifying case types (available in Arapahoe County since October 1, 2019)
• Managing jury summoning and coordination through the Jury Commissioner's office
• Handling court payments, collections, and bond receipts in conjunction with court operations

The Clerk's office does not provide legal advice. It does not tell you whether to file, what to file, or whether your documents will succeed. For help preparing court forms or understanding procedures, the official Arapahoe County self-help resources page is the right starting point. The Colorado Judicial Branch also maintains a statewide self-help forms library covering divorce, custody, small claims, probate, and many other matter types.

How to Request a Certified Copy from Arapahoe County Clerk of Court

A certified copy carries the Clerk's official seal and signature. It confirms the document is a true and accurate copy of the original court record. Banks, government agencies, immigration authorities, and courts in other jurisdictions typically require a certified copy rather than a plain photocopy. Divorce decrees for name changes, estates, and other legal proceedings almost always require certification.

The Arapahoe Court Records team responds to all requests within 3 business days. Requests go to the Records Team, not to a general court phone line. Use the Arapahoe Court Records Request Form to submit a complete, accurate request and avoid delays.

1. Find the case number. The case number ties your request to the correct file. It follows a format of 4-digit year, case class code, and sequence number (for example, 23DR00123 for a 2023 domestic relations case). If you do not have it, check the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search using a party name and the 18th Judicial District filter, or contact the court at 303-645-3814 to ask whether the Records Team can locate it by party name.
2. Download and complete the Records Request Form. The form is the official PDF for the 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County. Fill in every field: case number, party names, document type requested, number of copies, and your contact information. Note whether you need plain copies, certified copies, or an exemplified copy. Include your return mailing address or email clearly.
3. Submit by email or mail. Email the completed form to 18records@judicial.state.co.us. Or mail it to: Arapahoe Court, Attn: Records Requests, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. Phone inquiries go to 303-645-3814. The court does not accept faxed submissions.
4. Pay the applicable fees. The Records Team will confirm the fee amount based on the number of pages and whether certification is required. See the fee schedule below. Payment methods and invoicing details are coordinated with the Records Team on response. Do not send cash through the mail.
5. Receive your documents. The Records Team responds within 3 business days. If the record is sealed, restricted, or not available for public release, the office will advise you of the limitation. Copies of documents are not available from commercial case-register sites; they must come directly from the court.

Arapahoe Court Records Request Form Fields

The official Arapahoe Court Records Request PDF is the form to use when submitting any request to the 18th Judicial District Records Team. The form directs you to mail or email the completed request to the addresses above. The Records Team extracted from the PDF confirms submission channels, response time, and primary contact fields. Include every field you can fill in accurately; missing information is the most common reason for delayed responses.

The official Arapahoe Records Request Form captures the following information. Fields marked as required should always be completed; optional fields help the Records Team locate the correct case more quickly.

The image below is a screenshot of the official records request PDF source page for the 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County courts, hosted by the Colorado Judicial Branch at courts.state.co.us. The form shows submission instructions, the Records Team email and mailing address, and the 3-business-day response commitment.

Submitting a complete, accurate form with the case number, party names, document type, and return contact is the fastest way to get a response from the Arapahoe County Records Team within the 3-business-day window.

Arapahoe County Clerk of Court Fee Schedule

The fees below come from the official Arapahoe Court records request information and the Colorado Judicial Branch public records access guide. Colorado courts set copy and certification fees under C.R.S. Title 24 Article 72. The search fee structure gives the first 15 minutes at no charge, which covers most straightforward requests where the case number is already known. Longer or more complex searches fall under the hourly rate.

Exemplification is a higher level of certification, typically needed when a document must be authenticated for use in another state or country. If you are not sure whether you need a certified copy or exemplification, contact the Records Team at 303-645-3814 before submitting to avoid paying for the wrong format.

For probate records and other case types with many pages, it is worth estimating page count before submitting. A 50-page file at $0.25 per page adds $12.50 in copy fees on top of any certification cost. The Records Team can give a page-count estimate before you commit to full copies.

Online Case Access and Vendor Search

Colorado's Judicial Branch does not provide free full case-record access directly through its website. The official Judicial Branch Public Records Access Guide is clear: online access to the court case register is available only through authorized third-party vendors. The free Judicial Branch website offers a docket/schedule search, not a full case-record portal. Those two tools serve different purposes.

For docket schedules only (hearing dates, courtroom assignments, and scheduled matters), the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search is free and official. To search for Arapahoe County cases, select the 18th Judicial District from the dropdown, choose Arapahoe County or either courthouse location, and add at least one additional filter such as a party name or case number. The system requires at least one non-date filter to run a search. Results show docket schedules, not document copies.

For a full register of actions by case number or party name, the Judicial Branch Access Guide lists authorized vendors including LexisNexis Colorado Courts Record Search (CoCourts) at cocourts.com. Vendor access covers civil, civil water, small claims, domestic, felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases. Fees apply. Vendor results show case summary and docket entries but do not include document copies. If you need the actual document, a records request to the Clerk of Court is required regardless of what the vendor shows.

The Access Guide states that vendor data is real-time from the Colorado Judicial Department electronic database but is not the official court record. If data appears wrong, contact the court where the original record was filed. Do not rely on third-party aggregator sites that are not listed in the official Access Guide; those sites do not have authorized access to Colorado court data.

Note: self-represented e-filing for qualifying case types has been available in Arapahoe County since October 1, 2019. The official court page links to e-filing information and virtual courtroom access for hearings.

Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Office (Separate from Clerk of Court)

The screenshot below comes from the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder homepage, which is operated by Joan Lopez as an elected county official. This is the office that handles recorded land documents, marriage and civil union licenses, motor vehicle services, elections, and passports.

Knowing the difference between this office and the Clerk of Court prevents misdirected requests. Court records (divorce decrees, case orders, criminal dispositions, probate filings) go through the Clerk of Court at the Justice Center. Recorded documents and marriage licenses go through Joan Lopez's office at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton.

Court Forms and Self-Help Resources

The Clerk of Court's office accepts filings on standard Judicial Branch forms. For most case types, approved forms are available through the statewide self-help system. The Clerk's staff can accept a properly completed form but cannot advise you on whether your facts support the legal relief you are seeking.

• Arapahoe Court Records Request Form - official 18th District PDF for requesting copies or certified records by mail or email
• Colorado Judicial Branch Self-Help Forms - statewide library covering divorce, custody, small claims, probate, guardianship, and more
• Arapahoe County Self-Help Resources - local page with filing guides, e-filing access, and self-help center information
• Arapahoe County Probate Information PDF - official probate overview from the Colorado Judicial Branch for Arapahoe County
• 18th Judicial District Wedding Information PDF - for judge-performed ceremonies and related court wedding services

Small claims petitions must be filed at the Littleton County Court, 1790 West Littleton Blvd, not the Justice Center. If you are filing a protection order, submit before 4:00 p.m. so the Clerk's Office can process it and a judge can review it the same day. After 4:00 p.m., the matter moves to the next business day.

Arapahoe County Court Staff Directory

The official judges and staff page for Arapahoe County lists all judicial officers and court administrators. The Clerk of Court is listed there alongside judges, magistrates, and other court staff. Key contacts for court administration are shown below.

The image below is captured from the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder staff directory page, which lists Joan Lopez and the Clerk and Recorder office contact details. Note that this page covers the county Clerk and Recorder, not the Clerk of Court. It is shown here for comparison to clarify which office holds which records in Arapahoe County.

This staff directory confirms that Joan Lopez's office at 5334 S. Prince St. in Littleton is the right contact for recording, motor vehicle, and election services, while court case records stay with Shana Kloek's Clerk of Court office at the Justice Center in Centennial.

Public Access Laws for Arapahoe County Court Records

Colorado court records are governed by Chief Justice Directive 05-01 (CJD 05-01) and the Colorado Supreme Court's Public Access to Information and Records Rule (P.A.I.R.R.). These policies set out which records are open to the public, which are restricted, and how the Clerk's office handles requests. The Judicial Branch Access Guide also references C.R.S. § 24-72-304 as a key Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act provision governing custodian discretion.

General court records are open for public inspection at reasonable times. However, several categories are restricted or confidential by law:

• Juvenile records under C.R.S. § 19-1-301 et seq. and CJD 05-01, accessible only to parties, counsel, and court-authorized persons
• Sealed criminal records under C.R.S. §§ 24-72-703 through 24-72-711; courts, law enforcement, and prosecutors retain access even after sealing
• Mental health case records, which contain medical and treatment information protected by statute and court order
• Victim and witness personal information, which custodians may withhold to protect safety
• Adoption records, dependency and neglect files, and grand jury proceedings
• Financial identifiers such as Social Security numbers, account numbers, and financial statements, which are redacted before public release

If a record you need is sealed or restricted, the Clerk's office will tell you at the time of your request. Access to sealed records requires a court order to unseal. For questions about sealing your own criminal record in Colorado, review the official Colorado Judicial Branch sealing packet for current forms, eligibility requirements, and filing steps. Do not rely on third-party summaries for sealing eligibility; statutes and rules update periodically.

Key Terms for Arapahoe County Court Records

Court filings use legal language that can be confusing if you have not dealt with them before. These are the terms most often encountered when requesting records from the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court.

Register of Actions

The official chronological log of every filing and event in a case. It shows dates, document names, and what happened at each step. Vendor sites show the register of actions but not the actual documents.

Certified Copy

A copy of a court document stamped and signed by the Clerk of Court to confirm it is a true reproduction of the original court record. Required for most legal proceedings outside the court.

Exemplification

A higher level of authentication, typically used when a court document must be certified for use in another state or country. Costs $20 from the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court.

Disposition

The final outcome of a case or charge. Examples: dismissed, convicted, plea of guilty, judgment for plaintiff, sealed. The disposition appears in the register of actions and on certified case documents.

Mittimus

A court order committing a convicted defendant to jail or prison. It is part of the criminal case file held by the Clerk of Court.

Docket

The court's schedule of hearings, or the chronological summary of case events. The free Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search shows docket schedules, not full records.

For a broader glossary covering civil, criminal, and probate terms, the Arapahoe County court records page includes a 30-term reference drawn from the Colorado Judicial Branch's own definitions.

Related Arapahoe County Records Resources

The Clerk of Court handles court case documents, but many records searches in Arapahoe County span more than one office or system. These pages cover the adjacent topics most often needed alongside a records request to the Clerk's office.

For searching court case files and understanding how case registers, vendor access, and document copies work in Colorado, see Arapahoe County court records. For the 18th Judicial District courts themselves, how cases move through the system, and which judge handles which division, see Arapahoe County District Court.

Probate filings, estate records, guardianship cases, and conservatorship proceedings are all court records held by the Clerk of Court. Those cases are documented in detail at Arapahoe County probate records. For marriage licenses, recorded civil union certificates, and other documents held by Joan Lopez's office, the separate marriage and divorce records page explains the Clerk and Recorder's process and fees. For a broader overview of all public records available across Arapahoe County agencies, see Arapahoe County public records. Common questions about court access, certified copies, and the two clerk offices are answered in the FAQ.