El Paso County, Colorado State Court Records
An El Paso County court record is any information, audio recording, video recording, or document collected, received, or maintained by a court or the clerk of court that is related to a judicial proceeding, regardless of format. Court records include indexes, dockets, calendars, certified transcripts, decrees, judgments, and minute orders.
Records that do not fall in this classification, regardless of whether they are created and maintained by the judiciary, are not considered court records. For instance, administrative records, judicial notes related to a deliberative process, and draft opinions or orders are not classified as court records (Section 3.03 of the Chief Justice Directive). It should be noted that judicial documents are classified separately from other official datasets, such as vital statistics, criminal history reports, or arrest documentation.
The court clerk is the official custodian of all records created and maintained by the court in the course of carrying out its duties.
Are El Paso County Court Records Public?
Yes. Individuals, businesses, organizations, and entities that gather and disseminate information are granted access to El Paso County court records in accordance with Chief Justice Directive 05-01 and Supreme Court Rule on Public Access to Information and Records (P.A.I.R.R.).
However, there is a caveat:
If the disclosure of an El Paso County court record is against public interest, such records are generally not available to the public. If a federal or state statute, regulation, court rule, court order, or Chief Justice Directive restricts access to a particular court record, then that record becomes confidential. Additionally, some case types are not available to the public. Examples include adoption, judicial bypass, juvenile delinquency, mental health, paternity, probate, protected proceedings, and truancy.
What Information is Available in El Paso County Court Records?
Within El Paso County, a court record is defined as any documentation or data pertinent to a particular judicial proceeding. Although certain details are accessible through public records, specific data may be redacted or entirely restricted from public access. Listed below is some of the information a court clerk includes in a case file.
- Chronological log of case filings (docket) and the actual filings themselves, including motions, petitions, subpoenas, and orders.
- Case information, including the names of the litigants, assigned judge, filing court and county, and the scheduled dates, times, and locations of court hearings or trials.
Additional information may include financial data, addresses & phone numbers of the parties to the case, and information about witnesses.
El Paso County Court Records Search
The retrieval of El Paso County court records follows a systematic procedure. Regardless of the type of record sought, whether electronic or hard copy, there is a provision for access.
Neither Colorado nor El Paso County offers the public direct access to online court records. Instead, this option is provided through an approved third-party vendor.
Members of the public seeking El Paso County court records, for example, a case disposition or decree, can also submit their request using the online records request form. The completed form may be emailed to 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us or downloaded and sent to the court clerk's office. After the form is submitted, the court typically contacts the requester with further information regarding the request.
Alternatively, inquirers may directly contact the courthouse or probation department that handled or is handling the case to make inquiries or obtain a record.
Searches and record retrieval may incur a fee, regardless of the medium chosen.
Fees for Court Records in El Paso County
A list of fees covers Colorado, including El Paso County court services, searches, and copies of different court records. Some of these fees include
- 25 cents per page for copies, with a maximum fee of $15 for parties of the case and their attorneys
- Transcript of judgment: $25
- Certificate of satisfaction: $20
- Name search: $5
- Off-site case file retrieval fee: Actual cost of retrieval
- Research/redaction fee (assessed in 15-minute increments after the first hour): $30
- Fax fee: $1
El Paso County Courthouse Locations
The El Paso County Combined Court is the primary court hub for the 4th Judicial District. The El Paso District and County Courts, which are combined, handle civil, criminal, domestic, probate, and small claims cases. Also included in the El Paso County court system are five municipal courts in different precincts. These courts adjudicate matters related to municipal ordinances. The locations of these courts are
District Court and County Court of El Paso County
El Paso County Judicial Building
270 South Tejon
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
Phone: (719) 452-5000
Fax: (719) 452-5006
Municipal Courts in El Paso County
Colorado Springs Municipal Court
224 East Kiowa Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 385-5928
101 North Main Street
Fountain, CO 80817
Phone: (719) 382-5561
Green Mountain Falls Municipal Court
Green Mountain
Falls, CO 80819
Phone: (719) 684-9414
Manitou Springs Municipal Court
606 Manitou Avenue
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Phone: (719) 685-2544
Fax: (719) 685-2607
645 Beacon Lite Road
Monument, CO 80132
Phone: (719) 481-3253
Criminal Records Access in El Paso County
El Paso County criminal court records are maintained by the court that handled the case, specifically by the court clerk, who serves as the official custodian of court case records. Any inquiry regarding complete criminal case files or filed documents may be directed to the court clerk. Records may be retrieved online through the approved third-party channel, in person, or by mail, as previously discussed.
Criminal history checks, on the other hand, are handled by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPCSO). The CBI maintains statewide criminal history records and makes them available to the public through an Internet Criminal History Check System (ICHC). The system provides arrest information, supported by fingerprint evidence. Each search costs $6 and can be conducted by providing a name. For local inquiries, the Sheriff's Office provides information regarding arrests and individuals held in custody.
El Paso County Probate Records
Probate matters in El Paso County are handled by the District Court. These matters involve estate administration, trusts, wills, and protective proceedings. The records resulting from these proceedings are maintained as part of the El Paso County probate records.
As provided by Colorado Rules of Probate Procedure and Chief Justice Directive (CJD) 05-01, probate case records are presumed open to the public. However, access to compiled records of protected case types, including foreign protected proceedings and guardianships/conservatorships, is restricted. Records identifying minors and financial statements are also exempt.
As with other court records, El Paso County probate court records can be accessed through the channels provided by the judiciary (online, in person, or by mail). While online access may provide limited information, in-person access provides broader access.
El Paso County Family Court Records
In El Paso County, family law (domestic relations) cases include dissolution of marriage (divorce), dissolution of civil unions, spousal support, visitation, and adoption. The court also handles modifications to court-ordered alimony, protection orders, and paternity cases.
The El Paso District Court has jurisdiction over all family law matters in the region. Records of these proceedings are maintained by the court and made available to the public in accordance with statutory provisions. All record searches require a name or a case number.
| Record | Medium | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Digital copies | Approved third-party contractor | Online. Most records are available to the public |
| Hard copies | Court clerk's office | In person. Provides access to a broader range of records, subject to statutory restrictions |
| Remote | By mail | |
| Certified copies | Courthouse | In person. Available only to authorized persons |
Federal Court Records in El Paso County
Proceedings handled by a federal court are documented in federal court records. Cases under federal jurisdiction are not handled by the local courts in El Paso County. Instead, even if such cases originate from the county, they are handled by the court with the appropriate jurisdiction.
Those seeking federal information in El Paso County should note the following:
- Jurisdictional authority for federal matters in the region: United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
- Retrieval methods: Electronic access via PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), physical access at public computer terminals within the courthouse, or via written request mailed to the federal clerk's office.
- Cost provisions: Fees may be assessed for record searches and duplication.
