Colorado Public Records
Public records in Colorado are administered by a number of different divisions and departments. Some records are maintained at the state level and some at the county level. Generally, though, Colorado's public records are easy to find and access, many of them are available online. What follows is a broad overview of some of the most commonly-sought Colorado public records.
Vital Records
In Colorado, vital records - including records of birth, death, marriage, and divorce - are administered by the Department of Public Health, which is located in Denver. Certificates are available for order by a few different methods.
Online - To request records online, visit third party processor VitalChek here. There is a fee for the service.
By Mail - To request records by mail, first download the appropriate application. On the left side of the vital records home page, there is a menu of the certificates available for order. Follow the links to the relevant application, fill it out, and mail it to:
Colorado Dept of Public Health and EnvironmentVital Records Section4300 Cherry Creek Dr SHSVRD-VR-A1Denver, CO 80246-1530
For more information, or to order records by phone, call the vital records office at (303) 692-2200.
Criminal Records
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains a searchable online database of criminal records. The system requires a credit card and charges a fee of $6.85 for each name searched. Begin here.
The search will return all information of arrest records based on fingerprints on file. If fingerprints were not taken incident to arrest, there will be no records returned. Additionally, records that have been sealed as part of the judicial process, as well as juvenile records, are not available for search.
Court Records
The Judicial Branch of the State of Colorado operates, in partnership with LexisNexis, the Colorado Courts Record Search website. For a fee, it is possible to search Colorado's court records. Not all records are available on the website, though. It is generally a good idea to contact the local county court regarding the best way to obtain local records.
For more information, visit the website of the Judicial Branch of Colorado, here: www.courts.state.co.us.
Business Records
The Colorado Secretary of State maintains business records for corporations and limited liability companies. The business entity records typically include such information as the name and file number of the business, the names of any officers or agents, as well as the date of formation. The document search page is available for business lookups. State trademark and trade name records are searchable from the same page.
The Colorado Secretary of State can be reached by phone at (303) 894-2200. Its main office is located at 1700 Broadway (at the northeast corner of 17th and Broadway) in Denver.
Property Records
Property records in Colorado are maintained at the county level. For the City of Denver, there is a searchable property assessment and taxation system website. Outside of Denver, it is a good idea to contact the local county assessor's office.
Driving Records
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles administers driving records. People may purchase their own driving records by visiting the Division of Motor Vehicles at 1881 Pierce Street in Lakewood, Colorado. For more information visit the DMV website or call them at (303) 205-5600.