| Clerk of Court (District Court) | Arapahoe County Clerk of Court (18th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S Potomac St, Centennial, CO 80112; also Arapahoe County Courthouse, 1790 W Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120 |
| Phone | (303) 645-6600 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed state holidays |
| 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 |
Arapahoe County anchors the 18th Judicial District, one of Colorado's busiest, which also covers Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties. District and county court records for Arapahoe County are kept by one Clerk of Court's office, with courthouses in Centennial and Littleton.
Cases are searched the same way as elsewhere in Colorado — the statewide docket search for free, or CoCourts for a paid, fuller register of actions — rather than through a county-specific portal. The district's self-represented e-filing system, available since October 2019, lets people without a lawyer file certain domestic-relations cases online.
A common source of confusion is which building handles a case: the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial is the main courthouse, but the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Littleton also hears cases, so check the docket search or call ahead before appearing in person.
Search Arapahoe County court records online
Clerk of Court (District Court)
Arapahoe County Clerk of Court (18th Judicial District)
- Cost
- Free case search via the statewide docket tool; per-page fee for copies
- Coverage
- District- and county-court cases for Arapahoe County — felonies, civil, family, probate, misdemeanors, traffic, and small claims — kept by one combined clerk's office
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
The 18th Judicial District also covers Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties; make sure you are searching or filing in the Arapahoe County location.
What is available online
The statewide docket search shows scheduled hearings and basic case data for Arapahoe County district and county courts; CoCourts, the Judicial Branch's paid vendor, provides a fuller register of actions for a per-search fee. Self-represented parties can e-file certain domestic-relations cases directly with the court.
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
Arapahoe County clerk offices
Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S Potomac St, Centennial, CO 80112; also Arapahoe County Courthouse, 1790 W Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: (303) 645-6600
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed state holidays
In person or by mail. Contact the Clerk of Court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S Potomac St, Centennial, CO 80112, or the Littleton courthouse depending on where the case is heard. 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 Arapahoe County for free scheduling and basic case data, or CoCourts for a paid, fuller register of actions. Self-represented litigants can e-file certain domestic-relations cases through the Judicial Branch's e-filing system.
Collections and interpreter requests. The clerk's office has dedicated email addresses for general records requests, collections matters, and interpreter services; see the court's contact page for current addresses.
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
Which courthouse handles my Arapahoe County case?
It depends on the case; Arapahoe County has both the Justice Center in Centennial and a courthouse in Littleton. Check the statewide docket search for the case's location, or call the clerk's office at (303) 645-6600.
Is there a free way to search Arapahoe County court records?
Yes, the statewide docket search covers Arapahoe County district and county courts at no cost, though it only shows scheduled hearings and basic case data rather than full histories or documents.
Can I file a divorce case without a lawyer in Arapahoe County?
Yes, self-represented parties can e-file certain domestic-relations cases through the Colorado Judicial Branch's e-filing system, available since October 2019.
Who keeps misdemeanor and small-claims records in Arapahoe County?
The same Clerk of Court that keeps felony and civil district-court files. Arapahoe County does not split district and county records into separate offices.
Sources
- Arapahoe County | Colorado Judicial Branch — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/arapahoe-county
- Arapahoe County Justice Center | Colorado Judicial Branch — https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/location/arapahoe-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.