| Clerk of Court (District Court) | Adams County Clerk of Court (17th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton, CO 80601 |
| Phone | 303-659-1161 (main); 303-654-3202 (Clerk of Court) |
| Hours | Building hours 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Clerk's Office Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., phone hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed to the public 12:00-1:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.25 per page ($0.50 if double-sided), per Chief Justice Directive 06-01 |
| Certified copy fee | $20.00 per certified document, per Chief Justice Directive 06-01 |
Adams County makes up the 17th Judicial District on its own, and its district and county courts are combined into a single location, the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton, with one Clerk of Court's office serving both.
Case lookups work the same way as the rest of Colorado: the free statewide docket search or the paid CoCourts service, since there is no Adams County-specific search site. Self-represented litigants can e-file domestic-relations and eviction cases directly with the court.
The Clerk of Court's office closes to the public for an hour on the fourth Wednesday of every month, which is worth checking before an in-person visit.
Search Adams County court records online
Clerk of Court (District Court)
Adams County Clerk of Court (17th Judicial District)
- Cost
- Free case search via the statewide docket tool; per-page fee for copies
- Coverage
- District- and county-court cases for Adams County — felonies, civil, family, probate, misdemeanors, traffic, evictions, and small claims — kept by one combined clerk's office
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
The office closes to the public from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
What is available online
The statewide docket search covers Adams County district and county courts for free but shows only scheduled hearings and basic case data. CoCourts, the Judicial Branch's paid vendor, provides a fuller register of actions for a per-search fee. Non-attorneys can e-file domestic-relations and eviction cases directly through the Judicial Branch's e-filing system.
Which clerk has your record
In Colorado, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Colorado page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| District Courts (22 judicial districts) | Felony criminal cases; Civil claims of any dollar amount; Divorce, custody, and other domestic relations | Clerk of Court for the judicial district (Colorado Judicial Branch) |
| County Courts | Misdemeanors and petty offenses; Traffic infractions; Civil claims up to $25,000 | Clerk of Court for the county (same office as the district clerk in most counties) |
| Denver County Court | Denver municipal ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued in Denver; State misdemeanors filed in Denver | Denver County Court Clerk (City and County of Denver, not the state Judicial Branch) |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued by city police | Municipal court clerk for that city |
Request records in person or by mail
Adams County clerk offices
Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton, CO 80601
Phone: 303-659-1161 (main); 303-654-3202 (Clerk of Court)
Hours: Building hours 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Clerk's Office Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., phone hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed to the public 12:00-1:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
In person or by mail. Contact the Clerk of Court at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton, CO 80601. Provide the case number if known, the documents needed, and whether you need a certified copy. Copy fees follow the statewide schedule in Chief Justice Directive 06-01 unless a specific statute sets a different amount.
Online. Use the statewide docket search filtered to Adams County for free scheduling and basic case data, or CoCourts for a paid, fuller register of actions. Self-represented parties can e-file domestic-relations and eviction cases online.
Before visiting. Call ahead (303-654-3202) to confirm hours, especially around the fourth Wednesday of the month when the office closes at midday for an hour.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Colorado |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.25 per page ($0.50 if double-sided), per Chief Justice Directive 06-01 |
| Certified copy | $20.00 per certified document, per Chief Justice Directive 06-01 |
Fees set by Chief Justice Directive 06-01 as listed on the Judicial Branch's Record/Document Request Form: $0.25 per page for plain copies (parties and their attorneys are capped at $15 per request), $20.00 per certified document, $25.00 for a transcript of judgment, and $30.00 per hour for research or redaction time after the first hour, billed in 15-minute increments. Denver County Court and municipal courts set their own fee schedules.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Colorado court records are open to the public by default, but several categories are removed from public view:
The Colorado guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Adams County courthouse?
The Adams County Justice Center at 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton, CO 80601, which houses both the district and county courts and the Clerk of Court's office.
Can I e-file an eviction case in Adams County without a lawyer?
Yes. The Colorado Judicial Branch's e-filing system allows self-represented parties to file domestic-relations and eviction cases in Adams County online.
Is the Adams County Clerk of Court's office ever closed during business hours?
Yes, it closes to the public from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month; call ahead if planning to visit around that time.
How do I search for a case filed in Adams County?
Use the statewide docket search filtered to Adams County for free, or CoCourts for a paid, fuller register of actions. There is no separate Adams County search site.
Sources
- Adams County | Colorado Judicial Branch — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/adams-county
- Adams County Justice Center | Colorado Judicial Branch — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/location/adams-county-justice-center
- Colorado Judicial Branch — Trial Courts by County — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/trial-courts-county
- Colorado Judicial Branch — Docket Search — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets
- Colorado Judicial Branch — Access Guide to Public Records — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/access-guide-public-records
- CoCourts (Colorado Courts Data Access, LexisNexis) — https://www.cocourts.com/cocourts/
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation — Records and Background Checks — https://cbi.colorado.gov/records-and-background-checks
- Internet Criminal History Check (CBI) — https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/
- Colorado Case Law Search — https://research.coloradojudicial.gov/
- Chief Justice Directive 06-01 — Fees and Costs — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/CJD%2006-01%20Signed%20%20effective%20July%201,%202022%20WEB.pdf
- Colorado Judicial Branch — Record/Document Request Form (copy and certification fees) — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form
- Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 24, Article 72, Part 7 — Criminal Justice Record Sealing — https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-24.pdf
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado — https://www.cod.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Colorado counties.