Garfield County Court Records

Section 3.03 of the Chief Justice Directive 05-01 defines court records as any item collected, received, and maintained by a court or Clerk of Court, probation department, or the Department's CMS. Such items include calendars, information, minute orders, audio or video recordings, documents, indexes, dockets, registers of actions, certified transcripts, orders, decrees, and judgments. These records are beneficial to various individuals and groups in multiple ways:

• Legal professionals like judges, lawyers, legal scholars, and academics can use court records to study precedents and similar past rulings in preparation for a case and conduct research on legal trends and principles.
• Case parties use court records to know their case status and history, support appeals, track the case's progress, and prepare for hearings.
• Advocacy groups can use court records to track legal cases related to their cause, which will help them monitor legal developments, challenge unjust policies, and support relevant cases.
• Law enforcement agencies access court records to enforce rulings, maintain criminal databases, or ensure compliance with legal decisions.
• Employers often use court records to assess potential hires' criminal history and civil disputes during background checks.
• Most businesses review court records when entering contracts or partnerships to avoid potential legal risks.

Are Court Records Public in Garfield County?

Yes. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and the Chief Justice Directive 05-01 grant members of the public access to court records while also protecting case parties' privacy interests. Most court records are available for inspection and copy at the court during regular business hours. However, records like adoption, mental health, paternity, judicial bypass, dependency and neglect, juvenile delinquency, and probate-protected proceedings such as conservatorship, guardianship, and relinquishment are unavailable to the public. Confidential court records are only open to case parties, attorneys, Colorado Judicial Department staff, and authorized representatives.

Garfield County Court Records Search

Members of the public can easily find Garfield County court records online through the Docket Search portal, a third-party portal, or by submitting an online Record/Document Request Form. Records searched via the Docket Search portal are free, but other online submissions require a small fee. Copies of court records are also available in person at the Garfield County and District Courts for a fee. Individuals who use the public access terminals available at the courthouse can view court records without charges as long as the records are not printed out.

Garfield County Courts

The Garfield County judicial system comprises County, District, and Municipal Courts. These courts are located at the following addresses:

Garfield County Courthouse
109 8th Street
Suite 104
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Phone: (970) 928-3065
Fax: (970) 928-3067
Email: GCGWSCourt@judicial.state.co.us

Garfield County Associate Court
200 East 18th Street
Suite 103
Rifle, CO 81650
Phone: (970) 625-5100
Fax: (970) 625-1125

Glenwood Springs Municipal Court
101 West 8th Street
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Phone: (970) 384-6530
Fax: (970) 928-8280

New Castle Municipal Court
450 West Main Street
P.O. Box 90, New
New Castle, CO 81647
Phone: (970) 984-2311

Carbondale Municipal Court
Town Hall, Room 1
511 Colorado Avenue
Carbondale, CO 81623
Phone: (970) 510-1206
Email: jmarkham@carbondaleco.net

Parachute Municipal Court
222 Grand Valley Way
Parachute CO, 81635
Phone: (970) 665-1144, (970) 285-7630
Fax: (970) 285-0292

Rifle Municipal Court
201 East 18th Street
Rifle, CO 81650
Phone: (970) 665-6420

Silt Municipal Court
231 N. 7th Street
Silt, CO 81652
Phone: (970) 876-2353
Email: sheila@townofsilt.org

Garfield County Criminal Records

The Sheriff's Office Records Division distributes Garfield County criminal records to its customers by mail. A valid ID and a fee of $5 are required to retrieve copies of criminal records. The Division responds to l requests within 48 to 72 business hours when a Request for Background Records Check Form is received. The requester will receive their desired record by email, mail, fax, or pick them up at the office. The mailing address is:

Garfield County Sheriff's Office Annex
ATTN: Records
106 County Road 333A
Rifle, CO 81650
Phone: (970) 945-0453
Fax: (970) 665-0253
Email: records@garcosheriff.com

Record seekers can also find Garfield County arrest records at the Sheriff's Office. Arrest information is published on the website for free through the Current Inmates portal. Applicants who want to purchase an arrest photo (mug shot) of an adult will have to pay a $1.25 per photo fee.

Get Garfield County Civil Court Records

Garfield County Court handles civil cases under $25,000, while the District Court hears civil cases in any amount. Individuals can view any of these cases online using the Docket Search portal. To streamline the search, users should go to the location area and choose the appropriate judicial district, county, courthouse, and court type. The search criteria are date, case number, party, or attorney. Note that the portal only provides access to limited case information. Individuals who want copies of civil court records online can submit a Record/Document Request Form. Ensure that sufficient information is provided to help locate the appropriate record.

Alternatively, inquirers can visit the court where the case was handled to obtain certified copies of civil court records. Requests are welcomed Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The staff will require a copy fee before releasing the record. Requesters can also use public access terminals available in the courthouse to search for records without charges. However, copies printed from the computer cost a fee.

Garfield County Marriage Records

Anyone can submit requests for marriage certificates since they are part of Garfield County public records. The Clerk and Recorder charges $1.50 per copy payable by cash, check, or credit card. The staff attends to requests when they receive a completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Marriage License (English or Spanish) Form by mail or when a request is made in person.

Garfield County Divorce Records

Record seekers can find divorce records at the Garfield County Divorce Court. To facilitate the search, they must provide a name or case number. Once the record is found, the staff will require a copy fee. Divorce cases that occurred between 1906 and 1916 can be viewed online through the Archives Search database maintained by the Colorado State Archives. Individuals who cannot find the desired results in the database can submit a Records Request for the staff to search for their divorce records. This service attracts $20.50 for uncertified copies of divorce decree and $32.50 for certified copies. Uncertified copies of divorce packets depend on page count, while certified copies cost $43.50).

Garfield County Birth and Death Records

The Clerk and Recorder issues certified copies of birth and death certificates to eligible individuals like the registrant (applies to Garfield County birth certificate), immediate family members, legal guardians, legal representatives, and genealogists. These Garfield County vital records are available for $20 for the first copy and $13 for each additional copy. The acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, cash, and credit/debit cards (American Express, Visa, Discover, and Mastercard). Credit card payments attract an additional 2.7% processing fee. All applicants must provide a valid ID.

Individuals can visit the office from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., to obtain certified copies of records. They will be given an application form to complete, and payments will be required after the copy is ready. Alternatively, requesters can complete an Application for Certified Copy of Birth or Death Certificate Form and mail it alongside the required documentation to the office.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also provides copies of birth and death certificates to eligible individuals. They receive orders online, by mail, and in person by appointment. Two third-party vendors handle online orders for an extra fee. Standard copy fees are similar to those the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder charges. A complete application form (birth or death), a valid ID, and the applicable fees are required when submitting a mail request.

Garfield County Probate Court Records

Garfield County residents file their probate cases with the District Court. Records of these cases are available to the public in person at the courthouse from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Requesters should know some information about the case to assist with the search. Probate court records from 1885 to 1970 can be viewed through the Archives Search database. Users should provide appropriate information in the search field to locate the record.

Garfield County Property Records

Garfield County has several custodians responsible for handling property records. Individuals can view or copy these records in person at custodian offices such as the Assessor, Treasurer's Office, and Clerk and Recorder. Most of these offices accept requests from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and charge fees for copies of records. Individuals can also find property information for free via online portals available on records custodians' websites. Examples of such databases are:

• Document Search: Click the Basic or Advanced link and enter reception number, book/page, recording date, grantor's name, grantee's name, platted legal, or PLSS legal.
• Tax Account Search: Users can search by account number, owner name, parcel number, or situs address.
• Parcel Maps: Enter a search criteria in the search box at the right corner of the page.
• Property Search: The search parameters are the owner's name, location address, account name, parcel number, legal description, or subdivision.

Garfield County Court Records Online

Third-party platforms such as coloradocourtrecords.us make court records available to the public by name or case number. Most of these sites require a fee for extensive searches without creating an account. Users should be cautious when using information obtained from third-party databases as they can contain incomplete information.