Court records in Adams County, Colorado are maintained by the clerk of the combined district and county court and can be accessed through several channels. AdamsCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Adams County. You can also search records through the Colorado Judicial Branch records search portal, submit requests directly to the Adams County clerk's office, or visit the courthouse in person.
Adams County Court System Overview
Adams County is part of Colorado's 17th Judicial District, which serves Adams County exclusively. Colorado operates a unified court system, meaning the district court and county court in Adams County function as a combined court under one roof. District court judges hear the most serious cases, while county court judges and magistrates handle higher-volume matters such as misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims. The courthouse is located in Brighton:
Phone: (303) 659-1161
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (The Clerk's Office closes to the public on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
The 17th Judicial District is administered by a chief judge who oversees judicial assignments, court operations, and local rule implementation for all Adams County courts.
Courts Serving Adams County
Adams County District Court (17th Judicial District)
Phone: (303) 659-1161
Adams County County Court
Phone: (303) 659-1161
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Phone: (303) 844-3433
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado
Phone: (720) 904-7300
Municipal Courts
Several municipalities within Adams County operate their own municipal courts for ordinance violations, including the cities of Thornton, Westminster, Northglenn, Commerce City, Brighton, and Federal Heights. Contact the individual city for municipal court addresses and phone numbers.
What Types of Cases Adams County Courts Hear
Adams County's district and county courts handle a broad range of case types:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, petty offenses, DUI/DWAI
- Traffic: Infractions, moving violations, careless driving
- Civil: Lawsuits of all dollar amounts, small claims
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protection orders
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, dependency and neglect (child protective cases), adoption
- Mental health: Involuntary commitment proceedings
The sections below explain which court level handles each category and how cases progress through the system.
District Court Cases in Adams County
The Adams County District Court has general jurisdiction over the most serious matters. District judges preside over felony criminal cases, civil cases with amounts in controversy exceeding $25,000, domestic relations matters, probate and estate proceedings, juvenile cases, and mental health cases. District court also hears appeals from county court decisions. Criminal felony cases typically arrive at district court after charges are filed by the district attorney. Cases are assigned to individual judges, and proceedings follow the Colorado Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure along with any local rules for the 17th Judicial District.
Magistrate Court Cases in Adams County
Adams County Court (the county-level division) handles misdemeanors, petty offenses, traffic infractions, DUI arraignments and hearings, civil cases up to $25,000, and small claims up to $7,500. County court judges and magistrates manage these high-volume dockets. Felony preliminary hearings may also be conducted at the county court level before cases are bound over to district court. Small claims cases follow a simplified process without formal rules of evidence, and parties often represent themselves. Given Adams County's large population, county court judges are typically assigned to specific case-type divisions to manage caseload efficiently.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Adams County
Family Law
Divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities (custody), child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the district court division. Adams County sees a high volume of family law filings, and cases are assigned to judges who regularly handle domestic relations matters.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes fall under district court jurisdiction. Filings are made with the clerk of the combined court at the Adams County Justice Center.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency cases and dependency and neglect (child protective) proceedings are heard in district court. Juvenile court records are confidential under Colorado law and generally not accessible to the public. Adams County has juvenile court services staff who work with the court on case management and supervision.
How Cases Move Through the Adams County Court System
- Filing/Initiation: A case begins with a criminal complaint or indictment (criminal), a civil complaint or petition (civil/family/probate), or a petition in juvenile matters.
- Assignment: The case is assigned to a judge based on case type and the court's internal rotation.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment; civil parties attend an initial status or scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and—in criminal cases—may engage in plea negotiations. Civil cases may involve mediation.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases resolve by plea agreement, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. District court decisions may be appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Adams County
The 17th Judicial District is administered by a chief judge and a trial court administrator who oversee day-to-day operations, judicial assignments, and budgets. Local rules specific to the 17th Judicial District govern practice and procedure beyond statewide rules; these can be found through the Adams County page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
Public Access to Records
Most court records in Colorado are generally open to the public under Colorado Chief Justice Directive 05-01 and the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile records, mental health proceedings, and certain domestic violence filings. The clerk of court may restrict access to specific files or portions of files. Adams County government also maintains a CORA request process for non-court county records.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings at the Adams County Justice Center are open to the public. Some proceedings are available by remote video or telephone—check with the clerk's office or the court's website for current electronic hearing options.
Court Administration Contact
Phone: (303) 659-1161
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Adams County
- Court Records Search: Search Adams County court case information through the Colorado Judicial Branch Courts Records Search portal.
- Docket Search: Look up scheduled hearings and case dockets using the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search.
- Record/Document Requests: Submit a request for court documents using the Adams County Record/Document Request Form. You can also email requests to AdamsRecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: The Adams County Court Resource Center at the Justice Center offers in-person assistance. Statewide court forms are available through the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
- Recorded Documents (Deeds, Liens, etc.): The Adams County Clerk & Recorder's public records search provides access to real estate documents, maps, and other recorded instruments. Uncertified copies can be downloaded at no charge; certified copies are available by calling 720-523-6020.
- Property Records: Search ownership, assessment, and parcel data through the Adams County Property Look-Up tool, maintained by the Adams County Assessor's Office.
- Inmate Search: The Adams County Sheriff's Office inmate search provides current custody status for individuals held at the Adams County Detention Facility.
- Sheriff's Office Public Records: Request incident reports, case files, and other law enforcement records through the Adams County Sheriff's Office public records page. Fees apply for case-related and inmate records.
- Colorado Sex Offender Registry: Search the registry maintained by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at the official state portal.
- Victim Notification: Colorado's VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system allows victims to track offender custody status statewide.