Search Arapahoe County Court Records

How to Search Arapahoe County Court Records

The Colorado Judicial Branch does not offer free full case-file access on its own website. Its official Public Access Guide separates the process into three distinct paths, and using the wrong path wastes time. The free path at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets returns only docket schedules, meaning court dates and hearing lists, not register-of-actions entries or document copies. For actual case records, the official guide points the public to authorized vendors, with CoCourts (LexisNexis) listed as the primary option. For certified copies or specific documents such as a divorce decree, a direct records request to Arapahoe Court is required.

Before you start, know which path matches your goal. If you only need a court date or hearing schedule, the free state docket tool is enough. If you need a register of actions showing every filing in a case, use an authorized vendor and expect fees. If you need a certified copy of an order, decree, or judgment, submit a records request by email or mail to the Arapahoe court records team. Having a case number, party name, or approximate filing year ready will speed up any of the three paths.

1. Decide what you need: a court schedule, a case register entry, or a document copy. Each requires a different tool.
2. For a schedule or court date, go to the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search. Select the 18th Judicial District or Arapahoe County from the dropdown, then add at least one more filter, such as a party name, case number, attorney, division, or courthouse. The system requires at least one non-date filter to run a search.
3. For a case register of actions, visit cocourts.com. This authorized vendor provides real-time access to Colorado county and district court case data for civil, small claims, domestic, felony, misdemeanor, and traffic matters. Vendor fees apply; document copies are not available through the site.
4. For a divorce decree, case disposition, certified order, or any actual document, submit a request to the Arapahoe Court Records Team. Email 18records@judicial.state.co.us or mail your request to Arapahoe Court, Attn: Records Requests, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. You can also download and use the official Arapahoe County Records Request Form. The records team responds within 3 business days.
5. If data from an authorized vendor appears wrong, contact the court where the original record was created. Vendors pull real-time data from the Colorado Judicial Department electronic database, but the vendor's copy is not the official record. Phone for the Arapahoe court records team: 303-645-3814.

Note: The official Access Guide states vendor data "does not represent all cases or case types filed with Colorado courts" and is provided "as is" with no warranties.

Free Docket Search for Arapahoe County

The free statewide schedule tool is the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search. It covers all Colorado trial courts, including both Arapahoe County courthouse locations. The form requires a date range plus at least one additional filter. For Arapahoe-specific results, set the Judicial District dropdown to "18th Judicial District" or the County dropdown to "Arapahoe County." You can also choose a specific courthouse: either Arapahoe County Justice Center or Arapahoe County Courthouse - Littleton.

The docket tool is useful for checking whether a hearing is set, confirming a courtroom division, or verifying a case number format. It is not a substitute for the full register of actions. The docket shows scheduled events and docket entries, but it does not display the complete filing history, bond details, or financial information that appear in a full case record. Use it as a first check, then move to an authorized vendor or a direct records request if you need more detail.

The official Colorado Judicial Branch provides this docket-search interface at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets, which is the starting point for finding any scheduled Arapahoe County court matter.

The docket search form filters by judicial district, county, courthouse, division, case number, party name, or attorney, and returns a schedule list rather than a full case file.

Arapahoe County Docket Search Fields

The docket search form at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets uses the following fields. At least one filter beyond the date range must be filled in or the search will not run. For Arapahoe County cases, the most direct filters are Judicial District set to 18th, County set to Arapahoe, or Courthouse set to one of the two Arapahoe locations. Adding a case number or party name on top of the location filter narrows results quickly.

CoCourts Vendor Search for Case Registers

The Colorado Judicial Branch's official access guide lists CoCourts (LexisNexis) as an authorized vendor for online case register access. CoCourts pulls real-time data from the Judicial Department's electronic database, so entries reflect current case status. Vendor access covers civil, civil water, small claims, domestic relations, felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases for Colorado county and district courts, including both Arapahoe County courthouse locations.

Vendor registration and fees apply. The exact pricing is set by the vendor; contact CoCourts directly for current rates. CoCourts search supports lookup by party name or case number. Results show the register of actions, which is a chronological log of every filing, hearing, and order in the case. This is the closest thing to a full online case record short of requesting documents from the court itself. Document images, however, are not available through vendor portals. If you need an actual copy of an order, decree, or judgment, you must request it from the Arapahoe court records team.

The official Colorado Judicial Branch access guide directs the public to cocourts.com as the primary authorized vendor for online Colorado court case register searches.

CoCourts provides a register-of-actions view for Arapahoe County cases spanning civil, criminal, domestic, small claims, and traffic case classes, accessible after vendor registration.

Types of Arapahoe County Court Records

Arapahoe County sits in the 18th Judicial District. Two courts operate here: the District Court and the County Court. The District Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court. It hears civil cases in any dollar amount, domestic relations (divorce, custody, maintenance, child support), felony criminal matters, probate, juvenile, and mental health cases. County Court handles limited-jurisdiction matters: civil cases under $25,000, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, felony complaints that may be sent up to district court, and small claims. The official Arapahoe court page notes that small claims petitions must be filed at the Littleton County Court, not the Justice Center. Each court produces its own set of records, and the case class code in the case number tells you which court handled it.

Several other record types fall under the Arapahoe County court umbrella. Protection orders may be filed in either district or county court; the Justice Center requires protection-order filings before 4:00 p.m. for same-day processing. Federal matters go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado in Denver; those records are searched through PACER, not the state docket system.

• Civil records: complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, garnishments, liens, and satisfaction-of-judgment entries from both district and county civil cases.
• Criminal records: felony files in district court and misdemeanor/traffic files in county court; includes complaints, information, advisements, bond orders, plea documents, sentencing orders, and mittimus. For deeper criminal-history searches, see the Arapahoe County criminal records page.
• Domestic relations records: divorce decrees, parenting plans, child support orders, maintenance orders, contempt filings, and post-decree modifications. Divorce decrees are court records, not Clerk and Recorder records.
• Probate records: estate petitions, wills, letters testamentary, creditor notices, inventories, accountings, and guardianship/conservatorship files handled by the district court.
• Traffic records: citations, pleas, fines, points, continuances, and dispositions from county court. For full traffic record details, visit the traffic court records page.
• Small claims records: filed at Littleton County Court; notice/claim, answer, hearing date, judgment, and payment orders.

What Arapahoe County Court Records Show

A standard Arapahoe County court record contains identifying information about the case, the parties, the court, and every event that occurred. Authorized vendor access shows the register of actions, which is the chronological log. Document images are not available from vendors; to read the actual filings, submit a records request to the Arapahoe court records team. The table below covers the major fields that typically appear in a case record or register-of-actions entry.

Note: Commercial vendor access does not include document images; copies of pleadings, orders, or decrees must be requested directly from Arapahoe Court at 18records@judicial.state.co.us.

Arapahoe County Court Record Fees

Fee information for court record access and copies comes from the official Arapahoe Court Records Request Form and the Colorado Judicial Branch. Search time at the court is free for the first 15 minutes. After that, the court may charge for research time. Copy and certification fees apply when documents are provided.

Payments for in-person requests at the court are made at the clerk's counter. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to Clerk of Court. Verify current fees with the court before submitting a large request, as fee schedules can change.

Public Access Laws for Arapahoe County Court Records

Colorado court records are subject to two separate legal frameworks, and both apply in Arapahoe County. The first is C.R.S. § 24-72-201, the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), which establishes the general presumption that public records held by public entities are open for inspection at reasonable times. CORA applies broadly to county administrative records but is not the primary framework for court case files, which have their own court-specific access rules. Under CORA, responsive documents are generally due within three working days, with seven additional working days allowed for extenuating circumstances.

The second framework is the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), found at C.R.S. § 24-72-301. The CCJRA governs criminal justice agencies, including courts with criminal jurisdiction and law enforcement. It requires criminal justice agencies to maintain records of official actions that are open for inspection, while giving agency custodians discretion over other criminal justice records. Custodians may deny inspection if disclosure would be contrary to the public interest or if restricted by law, court rule, or court order.

Court-specific public access policy comes from Chief Justice Directive 05-01 (CJD 05-01) and the P.A.I.R.R. (Public Access to Information and Records Rules), which is Chapter 38, Rule 2 of the Colorado Supreme Court Rules. The official Judicial Branch access guide says court system records are open for inspection as provided by those two directives, but access may be limited by federal law, state law, court rule, court order, or case law. Understanding which framework controls the record you want helps you write a cleaner, faster request.

The Judicial Branch Public Access Guide

The Colorado Judicial Branch Public Access Guide is the official starting point for understanding how to request Arapahoe County court records. It covers the difference between the free docket-schedule search and vendor case-register access, names the authorized vendors, describes the court-direct request process, and explains what CORA, the CCJRA, CJD 05-01, and P.A.I.R.R. mean for record seekers. It also states which record types are available by case class through vendor portals and which must be obtained from the court directly.

The guide is available in English and Spanish. It is the same document that Arapahoe court staff refer to when explaining why direct case-file download is not offered through the Judicial Branch website. If you are unsure which access path applies to your request, reading the guide before contacting the court can save several days of back-and-forth.

The Colorado Judicial Branch's public records access guide explains the authorized access paths for Colorado court records, including Arapahoe County cases handled through the 18th Judicial District.

The official access guide lists CoCourts as an authorized vendor for register-of-actions access and explains that document copies must be requested from the individual court, not from vendor portals.

Sealed and Confidential Records in Arapahoe County

Not all Arapahoe County court records are open to the public. Several categories carry statutory confidentiality or are subject to sealing orders. Knowing which records are restricted prevents wasted requests and helps you understand what will and will not appear in a vendor search result or a docket entry.

Colorado provides several sealing paths for criminal records. Eligible cases include dismissed or acquitted charges, completed diversion programs, completed deferred judgment agreements, and certain convictions after the required waiting period. The sealing statutes are at C.R.S. § 24-72-703 through § 24-72-711. A petitioner files in the court that handled the case, serves the required agencies and prosecutors, and pays any required processing fees. Once a sealing order is entered, public access is cut off, though courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, and certain authorized agencies retain access. To request documents from a sealed record, a person must file a petition and obtain a court order to unseal. Official Colorado Judicial sealing packets and forms are available through the statewide self-help forms library.

• Juvenile records: governed by C.R.S. § 19-1-301 et seq. and CJD 05-01; access is typically limited to parties, counsel, and court-authorized individuals.
• Sealed criminal records: once a sealing order is entered under C.R.S. §§ 24-72-703 to 24-72-711, the public record is closed; law enforcement and authorized agencies retain access.
• Mental health proceedings: contain protected medical information; statutory confidentiality and court orders restrict access beyond party status.
• Adoption records: confidential to protect all parties; sealed by statute and not part of the general public court file.
• Dependency and neglect / CPS records: child protection files are highly restricted under the Children's Code.
• Grand jury proceedings: secret unless an indictment is returned or a court order authorizes disclosure.
• Victim and witness information: custodians may redact or withhold addresses, contact details, and safety-sensitive information under the CCJRA.

Legal Terms in Arapahoe County Court Records

Court records use specific legal vocabulary that may not be familiar to everyone. The terms below come directly from the 30-term glossary compiled from Colorado court record research. They appear in Arapahoe County case files, docket entries, and register-of-actions reports.

Register of Actions

The detailed chronological log of every event in a case: filings, hearings, orders, continuances, bonds, and dispositions. The vendor portal at CoCourts provides this view for Arapahoe County cases.

Disposition

The final or current outcome of a charge or case. In criminal files, disposition might be "guilty plea," "acquittal," or "dismissed." In civil files, it might be "judgment for plaintiff" or "settled and dismissed."

Mittimus

A court order committing a defendant to custody to serve a sentence. It is one of the last entries in a criminal case file and directs the sheriff or DOC to receive and hold the person.

Bench Warrant

An arrest warrant issued directly by a judge, most often because a party failed to appear in court. Bench warrants appear as active status entries in the case docket. For more on warrant searches, see the Arapahoe County warrant records page.

Continuance

A postponement of a scheduled hearing or deadline. Continuances appear frequently in active case dockets and explain why a hearing date changed from one search to the next.

Garnishment

A post-judgment process used to collect a civil judgment by seizing wages or bank-account funds. Garnishment entries appear in civil case dockets after a final judgment is entered.

Personal Recognizance

Release from custody based on the defendant's signed promise to appear, with no upfront money required. Abbreviated PR bond in Arapahoe County bond documents.

In-Person Records Request at Arapahoe County Courts

Both Arapahoe County court locations can handle in-person records requests during regular court hours. The Justice Center in Centennial is the main records-request location. It is the mailing address listed on the official Arapahoe Records Request Form and handles district court matters for the 18th Judicial District. The Littleton courthouse handles county court filings, including small claims. Bring a case number, party name, and approximate filing date to speed up the search. The court does not accept faxed documents; use email, mail, or in-person delivery.

For interpreter services at either location, contact the interpreter coordinator before your visit: phone 303-645-6857 or email 18interpreter@judicial.state.co.us. Interpreter needs take time to arrange, so the earlier you call, the better. For ADA accommodation requests, use the Judicial Branch accommodation request process before your court date. Both locations are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and are closed on state holidays. Protection-order filings must be submitted before 4:00 p.m. to receive same-day processing.

Arapahoe County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court for the 18th Judicial District in Arapahoe County is Shana Kloek. The Clerk of Court maintains court case files, handles filing of new cases and documents, processes records requests, and certifies copies of court records. Do not confuse the Clerk of Court with the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, Joan Lopez. The Clerk and Recorder handles recorded documents such as deeds, mortgage releases, and marriage licenses; those are separate from court case files. For court records, all requests go through the Clerk of Court's records team, not the Clerk and Recorder.

The Clerk of Court office operates out of the Justice Center at 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. Self-represented e-filing has been available in Arapahoe County since October 1, 2019. The court also offers virtual courtrooms and public livestreaming of select hearings. For more on the clerk's duties, fees, and forms, visit the Arapahoe County Clerk of Court page.

Related Arapahoe County Record Searches

Court records are one piece of the broader public-record landscape in Arapahoe County. Depending on what you are looking for, you may also need other record types. Arapahoe County court dockets cover hearing schedules and case calendars in detail. Criminal records go deeper into arrest history, charges versus convictions, and background check options through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Traffic court records cover citations, pleas, and driver-record distinctions. Public records explains CORA requests for administrative county records outside the court system. For more on the court itself and how cases move through the system, see the Arapahoe County District Court page.