Adams County Court Records
Section 3.03 of the Chief Justice Directive 5-01 defines court records as information, documents, or recordings related to a case gathered, received, and kept by a court or clerk of court. Generally, these records are deemed part of public records and are maintained and disseminated by the Adams County Clerk of Court.
Court records provide critical evidence that a particular action took place and can be used as evidence in a court of law. Access to court records allows anyone to follow the advancement of a court case. Court records are also crucial resources that legal scholars can utilize to inform their studies on history, sociology, advocacy, and public policy. Additionally, court records contribute to the impartiality and fairness of the legal process.
Are Court Records Public in Adams County
Yes. Per the Colorado Open Documents Act (CORA), court records are available for inspection and copying by members of the public. Therefore, anyone can view or obtain copies of court records at the Adams County Court during normal business hours. However, not all court records are available for public disclosure. Examples of confidential records are:
- Adoption records
- Dependency and neglect records
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Judicial bypass records
- Mental health records
- Paternity records
- Probate-protected proceedings
- Conservatorship-adult or minor
- Conservatorship/guardianship-adult or Minor
- Foreign protected proceeding
- Guardianship-adult or minor
- Relinquishment records
- Truancy records
- Driver license numbers, financial account numbers, personal identification numbers, Social Security Numbers, and Tax Identification Numbers
- Suppressed court records: Examples of such records are birth certificates, credit reports, child abuse investigative reports, genetic testing information, paternity tests, and psychological and intelligence test documents. Suppressed court records are open to only court staff, judges, case parties, their attorneys, and other authorized Department staff.
- Protected court records: These records are only accessible to the public after redaction. Prior to redaction, protected records are only open to a selected few.
- Sealed court records: Examples of such records are death certificates, juror questionnaires, deposited wills, probate case information sheets, National Crime Information Center, HIV/AIDS testing information, and exhibits or materials that are dangerous or contraband.
- Restricted records: These are criminal records that contain sexual assault or involve child victim charges.
What Do Adams County Court Records Contain?
There are various details available to members of the public seeking court records in Adams County. Such information includes:
- Date
- Len
- Appearance
- Full name
- Hearing type
- Case number
- Location
- Division
- Case type
- Date of birth
- Index
- Calendar
- Docket
- Register of actions
- Certified transcript
- Orders
- Decrees
- Judgments
- Audio and video recordings
Where to Conduct an Adams County Case Lookup
The following custodians provide Adams County court case records to members of the public:
How to Conduct an Adams County Case Records Search
The Adams County Clerk's Office is open to members of the public seeking court records in person. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A case number or parry name will be required to process the search. However, the preferred method of conducting a court records search is by submitting a Records Request Form by phone at (303) 654-3239, by email (AdamsRecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us), or by mail. Mail-in requests must contain a case number, a case name, and the title of the document requested. The Clerk’s office does not charge for viewing public court records, but a minimum $5 fee applies when a requester is not the case party and the case number is unknown.
Alternatively, requesters can use the Docket Search tools available on the Adams County Court and 17th Judicial District websites. The search parameters are by case number, party name, or attorney name. Using the 17th Judicial District requires selecting the county and court.
Adams County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are formal documents providing information on procedures and decisions made in civil matters during court hearings within the county. The Adams County Court Civil Division manages all civil cases filed in Adams County. The Adams County District Court handles civil cases in any amount, while the County Courts hear civil cases that do not exceed $25,000. Interested persons can find civil case records online, by email, mail, phone, or in person at the Clerk of Courts’ office.
Adams County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records are records of all the documents from criminal cases kept by a court that can provide insight into what happened during a court session. The Adams County Court Criminal Division handles all criminal court cases in Adams County and makes criminal records available to the public. Therefore, interested persons can request to view or obtain criminal court records online, by email, phone, mail, or in person at the Clerk of Courts office. Online requests can be made through the Docket portals available on the Adams County Court and 17th Judicial District websites. Email and mail requesters must submit a Records Request Form AdamsRecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us or the Clerk’s mailing address. The mail must include a photo identification and a check/money order with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Email requesters will receive instructions on how to make payments for criminal court records online.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Section 4.20 of the Chief Justice Directive 5-01 allows access to certain public court records remotely. Therefore, Adams County Court and 17th Judicial District have docket portals where individuals can get court records online for free. Here is how to view court records for free on the Adams County Court website:
- Go to the Adams County Court official website
- Click on the " Dockets" tab on the left navigation plane
- Conduct a search by case number, party last name or company name, party first name, or attorney bar number
- Click on "Show Docket" to retrieve the necessary information
Courts in Adams County
Here is the address of the court located in Adams County:
Adams County Justice Center
1100 Judicial Center Dr.
Brighton, CO 80601
Phone: (303) 659-1161
