Search Arapahoe County Public Records

Colorado Open Records Act in Arapahoe County

The Colorado Open Records Act, codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-200.1 et seq., is the general public-records law for state and local government bodies in Colorado. Its legislative declaration at C.R.S. § 24-72-201 states that public policy favors access to records and that any person may inspect or copy public records unless an exemption applies. CORA covers records held by county departments, boards, offices, and agencies, including Arapahoe County's administrative offices, Public Works, and the Clerk and Recorder.

C.R.S. § 24-72-202 defines a public record as any documentary material that is made, maintained, or kept by a public entity and is related to a public function. That definition is broad. It covers emails, reports, contracts, agendas, budgets, inspection logs, and similar materials. The custodian is the person responsible for a record in a given office. Under CORA, a requester must contact the department or office that created or holds the record, not a central clearing house. Arapahoe County does not have a single CORA portal for all departments; each office handles its own requests.

CORA does not govern court case records, criminal justice records held by law enforcement agencies, or classified federal records. Those categories follow different rules described in sections below. If you want a divorce decree, a criminal history report, or an active-case docket entry, CORA is not the right path.

CORA vs. CCJRA vs. Court Records: Key Differences

Arapahoe County has three distinct records ecosystems. Mixing them up leads to requests sent to the wrong office. The table below shows the key differences.

The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, at C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq., requires criminal justice agencies to maintain records of official actions that are open to inspection. But other criminal justice records, such as investigative files, may be released at the custodian's discretion after weighing the public interest against privacy and safety concerns. The standard is narrower than CORA's general presumption of access. C.R.S. § 24-72-305 allows the custodian to deny inspection if disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.

Court records in Arapahoe County follow Chief Justice Directive CJD 05-01 and the Supreme Court's Public Access to Information and Records Rules (P.A.I.R.R.), not CORA. The Colorado Judicial Branch's official public-record access guide states that court records are open for inspection at reasonable times as allowed by CJD 05-01 and P.A.I.R.R., but access may be limited by federal law, state law, court rule, court order, or case law.

Court Records Under CJD 05-01 and P.A.I.R.R.

Court case records at the Arapahoe County District Court and County Court are not subject to CORA. They are governed by Colorado Judicial Branch policies, primarily Chief Justice Directive 05-01 for trial court records and the P.A.I.R.R. (Chapter 38, Rule 2 of the Colorado Supreme Court Rules) for administrative records of the Judicial Branch itself.

The Judicial Branch does not provide direct public case-file access on its own website. Limited online access to the register of actions is available through authorized vendors. The Judicial Branch's access guide lists Background Information Services, LexisNexis Colorado Courts Record Search (CoCourts), and Tessera Data as authorized vendors. Vendor access covers civil, civil water, small claims, domestic, felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases. These vendors charge fees and do not provide document copies. Copies of actual filed documents must come from the court.

For document copies, certified copies, divorce decrees, and case dispositions, submit a request to the Arapahoe Court Records Team. The official Arapahoe Records Request Form gives three ways to submit: email 18records@judicial.state.co.us, mail to Arapahoe Court, Attn: Records Requests, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112, or call 303-645-3814. The Records Team states it responds within 3 business days. For more detail on court case searches and what a court record contains, see the court records page.

Recorded Documents at the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder

Joan Lopez serves as Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder. Her office at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120 (phone 303-795-4200) handles recorded documents such as real property deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens, military discharges, and recorded marriage and civil-union licenses. These are not court records. They are documents recorded with the county under Colorado recording statutes and are searchable through the Clerk's own portal.

The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Legal Document Search, powered by GovOS, provides free searching of recorded documents. The portal was verified through May 15, 2026. Quick Search and Advanced Search tabs are available. Searching does not require an account, but registration is available for features such as Property Alert.

Recorded marriage and civil-union licenses from February 1, 1996 to the present are searchable through this portal. For older documents, make an appointment to visit the Littleton office. Plain copies of recorded marriage licenses cost $0.25; certified copies cost $1.25. For questions about recorded documents, email recording@arapahoegov.com or call 303-795-4520. Marriage licenses, divorce decrees, and court records are separate. Divorce records are court records and must be requested from the District Court, not the Clerk and Recorder. See marriage and divorce records for full details.

The Clerk and Recorder office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. effective January 1, 2026. Branch locations in Centennial (6954 S Lima St), Littleton (5334 S Prince St), and Aurora (490 S Chambers Rd) provide in-person services. Some services are by appointment only. Drop boxes outside branch offices accept many motor vehicle and recording services; drop-box payments must be by check or money order.

Property Records and the Arapahoe Fraud Alert Program

Recorded property documents, including deeds, deeds of trust, and releases, are available through the GovOS portal. Anyone can search by name or document number at no cost. The Clerk and Recorder also offers a Property Alert program to help owners detect unauthorized activity against their property records.

The Arapahoe County Property Alert page lets property owners register to receive notifications when a document is recorded that matches their name or property. This is a free monitoring service. It does not prevent fraudulent recording, but it gives owners early notice so they can act quickly. Registration is through the GovOS portal using a Property Alert account.

The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder fraud detection and Property Alert page explains the free notification service for monitoring recorded documents.

Recorded property releases, including releases of deeds of trust, have their own recording fees. Effective July 1, 2025, the Clerk flat recording transition fee is $43 per document; a total release fee of $73 applies in the context of Public Trustee release requirements. For current recording fees on all document types, confirm with the Clerk and Recorder office at 303-795-4520 before submitting.

Criminal Justice Records and the ACSO Records Unit

Criminal justice records in Arapahoe County, including arrest records, booking information, and Sheriff incident data, are held by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and governed by the CCJRA. The ACSO Records Unit phone number is 720-874-3875. The Sheriff's Office headquarters is at 13101 E. Broncos Parkway, Centennial, CO 80112 (main: 720-874-3600).

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation handles statewide criminal-history background checks. The CBI Internet Criminal History Check portal is the official paid portal for name-based background searches across Colorado. The CBI also maintains its own CCJRA information page explaining how to request criminal justice records directly from agencies.

The CBI's Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) page describes the framework, custodian discretion rules, and how to request criminal justice records from agencies statewide.

CCJRA records of official actions, such as arrest, charge, and custody status, are generally open under C.R.S. § 24-72-303. Other criminal justice records may require a request to the holding agency, after which the custodian applies public-interest balancing under C.R.S. § 24-72-304 and § 24-72-305. Requests denied on public-interest grounds or because of an active investigation may not be appealed under CORA's standard path; consult an attorney if a CCJRA denial affects a legal matter. For background check searches and full criminal records detail, see the criminal records page.

How to File a CORA Request in Arapahoe County

There is no single CORA request office for all of Arapahoe County. Each department is its own custodian. Identify the office that holds the records you need before submitting. The steps below apply to general administrative records at county departments. Court records and criminal justice records use the separate routes described above.

1. Identify the custodian. Determine which Arapahoe County department or office created or maintains the records. Examples include Public Works for public-works project files, the Clerk and Recorder for recorded documents, or a specific county board for meeting minutes. A request sent to the wrong office will be redirected or denied.
2. Describe the records clearly. Provide enough detail to allow staff to find the records without guessing. Include date ranges, subject matter, document type, and any identifying numbers such as project IDs, parcel numbers, or case references. A vague request may result in a broad fee estimate or a request for clarification that extends the timeline.
3. Submit the request in writing. Colorado law does not require a standard form for CORA requests. Submit by email, mail, or in person to the custodian's office. Some departments may have their own form or intake process; check the department's website first. For Public Works records, the official Public Works records page describes the department's record boundaries and links to the CORA process for applicable requests.
4. Wait for the response window. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-203, the custodian must allow inspection at reasonable times or provide a response within 3 working days. If the custodian needs more time due to extenuating circumstances, the response period may be extended by up to 7 additional working days. The Colorado Department of Revenue's CORA explanation page confirms this statutory timeline.
5. Pay any fees and receive the records. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-205, the custodian may charge for copies and for research or retrieval time after the first hour. If the estimated fee is high, you may narrow the request scope or ask for a fee breakdown. Pay approved fees before copies are released.

Note: Colorado law does not require a requester to explain why they want a public record. However, if an exemption is claimed, the burden shifts to the custodian to show the exemption applies.

What to Include in a CORA Request

No standard statewide CORA request form exists for county departments. However, a well-drafted request includes the fields below. Court records requests use the separate Arapahoe Records Request Form, which has its own submission channels and 3-business-day response commitment.

For court records, the Arapahoe Records Request Form routes submissions to email 18records@judicial.state.co.us or mail to 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. The phone for the Arapahoe court records team is 303-645-3814. The form's submission channels are U.S. Mail and email; the court does not accept faxed documents.

Response Timelines and CORA Deadlines

C.R.S. § 24-72-203 sets the core CORA timeline. Public records must be open for inspection at reasonable times. When a written request is made, the custodian has 3 working days to respond. If extenuating circumstances exist, the custodian may extend the response period by up to 7 additional working days and must notify the requester of the extension and the reason. The Colorado Department of Revenue's CORA page confirms these timelines apply to state and local agencies subject to CORA.

The Colorado Department of Revenue CORA page explains the 3-working-day response requirement and the 7-day extension for extenuating circumstances.

Court records from the 18th Judicial District have a separate 3-business-day commitment from the Arapahoe Court Records Team, stated in the official records request form. That window is separate from CORA's statutory timeline and applies only to the Judicial Branch records request process.

If a custodian does not respond within the statutory window, or if the extension is used without adequate cause, a requester may have grounds to seek a court order compelling inspection. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-204, a court may award attorney fees and costs if the denial was arbitrary or without good cause. In practice, most Arapahoe County requests within CORA's scope are resolved within the 3-day window or through a short extension with explanation.

Public Records Fees in Arapahoe County

CORA fee authority comes from C.R.S. § 24-72-205. A custodian may charge for the actual cost of copies and for research or retrieval time beyond the first hour. The Colorado Secretary of State sets a statewide maximum hourly rate for research fees; verify the current rate before budgeting a complex request. Copy fees vary by department and format. Electronic delivery is often cheaper than paper copies.

Drop-box payments at Clerk and Recorder branch offices are accepted by check or money order only. Court records fees for certified copies are separate and set by the Judicial Branch; confirm current fees when you submit the Arapahoe Records Request Form or call 303-645-3814.

Public Works Records and Departmental CORA Requests

Not every Arapahoe County record request goes to the Clerk and Recorder or the courts. County departments each maintain their own records within their functional area. Public Works is one example: the official page at files.arapahoeco.gov Public Works records describes the department's record boundaries and points users to the CORA process for applicable requests.

The Arapahoe County Public Works records page outlines which departmental records are available and how to submit a CORA request for Public Works files.

Other county departments that may receive CORA requests include the Board of County Commissioners for meeting minutes and resolutions, Human Services for non-confidential program data, the Assessor for property assessment records, and the Treasurer for tax records. Each office has its own staff and may have its own intake process. The main Arapahoe County government site at files.arapahoeco.gov is the starting point for finding the right department contact. Match the record type to the office before you write the request.

Records That Are Restricted or Exempt

CORA's presumption of access is not unlimited. C.R.S. § 24-72-204 contains a list of exemptions and denial grounds. Common exempt categories include personnel files where privacy interests outweigh the public interest, attorney-client communications, active law-enforcement investigative files, trade secrets submitted to a government body, certain financial account information, and records protected by federal law or a court order.

Court records carry additional restricted categories beyond CORA exemptions. Under CJD 05-01 and related statutes, the following court records are restricted or confidential in whole or in part:

• Juvenile delinquency and dependency/neglect records (C.R.S. § 19-1-301 et seq.)
• Sealed criminal records under C.R.S. §§ 24-72-703 through 24-72-711; courts, law enforcement, and authorized agencies may still access sealed records
• Adoption records; confidential to protect adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families
• Mental health proceeding records containing medical and treatment information
• Grand jury materials, unless indictment is filed or court-authorized disclosure occurs
• Victim and protected-person addresses in domestic violence, protection-order, and similar cases
• Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar personal identifiers in filed documents

For criminal justice records under CCJRA, the custodian may deny inspection if disclosure would be contrary to the public interest under C.R.S. § 24-72-305. That standard gives law enforcement agencies more discretion than CORA's exemption list approach. Active investigations, witness-safety concerns, and ongoing prosecutions are common denial grounds. For more on restricted criminal records, sealed records, and expungement, see the criminal records page and the Clerk of Court page.

Which Arapahoe County Office Handles Each Record Type

Sending a request to the right office saves time. The breakdown below maps common record types to the correct Arapahoe County office. Court records are always requested from the Judicial Branch or the court's records team, not the county Clerk and Recorder or the Sheriff.

When a Public Records Request Is Denied

Under CORA, if a custodian denies inspection, the custodian must cite the specific statutory exemption or legal authority. A denial without explanation may itself be a CORA violation. The requester has two main options after a denial.

First, the requester may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General's Office. The AG's open-records advisory program can help clarify whether a denial was proper and may contact the agency. This route is informal and does not guarantee records will be released, but it often resolves disputes without litigation. Second, the requester may file a civil action in district court under C.R.S. § 24-72-204(5). If the court finds the denial was arbitrary, capricious, or in bad faith, the judge may award attorney fees and costs to the requester. Courts take CORA violations seriously.

For court records denied under CJD 05-01, the appeal path is different. Denials of court-record inspection are reviewed through the Judicial Branch's own procedures, not the AG's CORA complaint route. Consult the Judicial Branch's access guide or an attorney if a court-records denial affects a legal proceeding. The Colorado State Public Defender's Arapahoe office at 13356 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial, CO 80112 (phone 303-799-9001) may be able to help if the denied record relates to a pending criminal case in which representation is needed.

For CCJRA denials by a criminal justice agency such as ACSO, the custodian's public-interest balancing is given significant deference. If you believe a denial is improper, document the denial in writing, note the statute cited, and consult an attorney who handles public-records or criminal defense matters before taking further steps.

Key Arapahoe County Contacts for Public Records

Three offices handle the majority of Arapahoe County public records requests. Each serves a different legal framework and record type.

Related Arapahoe County Records

Public records cover a wide range of document types held across multiple Arapahoe County offices. For court case files and how to search the register of actions, see court records. For criminal records, arrest data, and background checks, see criminal records. For the Clerk of Court's role in the court filing and records process, see the Clerk of Court page. Marriage records and divorce decrees each have their own request routes covered on the marriage and divorce records page. Estate and guardianship files handled by the District Court probate division are detailed on the probate records page.