Lakewood Public Records

Residents and researchers looking for public records in Lakewood need to work with both city offices and Jefferson County agencies. As the fifth largest city in Colorado with nearly 156,000 people, Lakewood is part of Jefferson County and uses the county system for most court records, property documents, and vital records. City departments handle municipal records like building permits, business licenses, and city council minutes. You can submit a Colorado Open Records Act request to either the city or county depending on which office has the records you need. Most written requests get a response in three days. Some records are online while others need a formal CORA request.

Jefferson County Public Records

Most official records for Lakewood residents are kept by Jefferson County offices. Court records, property deeds, marriage licenses, and recorded documents are at the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder office. Criminal cases, civil lawsuits, and family court matters go through the First Judicial District Court. County offices are in Golden, which is about 10 miles west of Lakewood.

Jefferson County uses a NextRequest portal for CORA submissions. This online system lets you submit a request, track its status, and get documents when they are ready. The county responds in three working days under state law. Extensions of up to seven more days are possible for large or complex requests. The first hour of research and retrieval is free. After that, the rate is $41 per hour, which is the state maximum.

Property records are searchable through the county website. You can look up deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents by name, address, or document number. The index is free. If you need certified copies, you must order them from the Clerk and Recorder office. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Oversize documents like plats cost more. Certification adds a small fee per document.

Court records for Lakewood residents are part of the First Judicial District. This covers Jefferson and Gilpin Counties. The courthouse is in Golden at 100 Jefferson County Parkway. You can view case files in person at no cost. To get copies, contact the Clerk of Court. Many case indexes are also on LexisNexis Colorado Courts, a paid service. This site has summaries and some documents for civil and criminal cases.

City of Lakewood Records

The City of Lakewood maintains its own records for municipal operations. This includes city council minutes, agendas, resolutions, and ordinances. Building permits, zoning decisions, and planning documents are at the Community Resources Department. Business licenses and local tax records are kept by the City Clerk's office. These records are separate from county files.

Lakewood residents can submit CORA requests to the city for municipal records. The city follows the same response timeline as the county: three working days with a possible extension. The first hour of research is free. Fees for research and copies are similar to other Colorado cities. Contact the City Clerk's office for questions about which records the city has and how to request them.

City council meetings are public, and agendas are posted online before each meeting. Minutes are available after approval. You can also find city budget documents, financial reports, and annual audits on the city website. Some of these records are posted as PDFs, while others may need a formal request.

The Lakewood Police Department handles records related to law enforcement within city limits. This includes incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records for cases handled by Lakewood officers. These records are subject to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. Some details may be withheld during active investigations or to protect victim privacy. Submit requests for police records directly to the department, not through the general CORA portal.

Online Search Options

Several records for Lakewood are online. The Jefferson County property search database has real estate records. You can find who owns a property, when it was sold, and if there are liens. This is free to search. Court case indexes are on third-party sites like LexisNexis, which charges fees.

The Colorado Judicial Branch website provides general information about accessing court records. They explain which records are public and which are restricted. You can also submit a records request form online. This form goes to the appropriate court clerk based on the case type and location.

State agencies also have records that may relate to Lakewood residents. The Colorado Secretary of State keeps business entity records, UCC filings, and notary information. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has statewide criminal history records. You can run a name-based background check through the CBI online system for $5. This shows arrests and convictions in Colorado but not from other states.

Vital records like birth and death certificates are at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. These are not free. Birth certificates cost $20 for the first copy. Death certificates are the same price. You must provide ID and show that you are eligible to get the record under state law.

Colorado Open Records Act

Public records access in Lakewood is governed by the Colorado Open Records Act, found in C.R.S. §§ 24-72-201 to 24-72-206. This law says that all public records must be open for inspection unless a specific law says otherwise. The act defines public records as any document made or kept by a government office that relates to government work.

CORA requests must be submitted to the custodian of the records. There is no single office that has all public records. You need to know which agency has what you want. For Lakewood, most records are either with the city or Jefferson County. Some specialized records are with state agencies or the court system.

Under C.R.S. § 24-72-203, custodians have three working days to respond. They can extend this by seven more days if needed. The response must either provide the records, tell you when they will be ready, or explain why they are being withheld. Reasons for denial must cite a specific statute or court order.

The first hour of research and retrieval is free under state law. After that, fees can be charged. The current maximum hourly rate is $41, adjusted for inflation every five years. Copies cost $0.25 per page for standard documents. Electronic records sent by email are usually free. Certified copies and special handling cost extra.

Some records are exempt from disclosure under C.R.S. § 24-72-204. This includes personnel files, medical records, work product, and documents protected by attorney-client privilege. Law enforcement records may be withheld if releasing them would harm an investigation or endanger someone. Juvenile court records are generally not public.

If your CORA request is denied, you can appeal. The custodian must tell you why and cite the law. You can then ask a court to review the decision. Many disputes are resolved without going to court, but the option is there if you think the denial was wrong.

Nearby Cities in Colorado

Lakewood is near other large cities in the Denver metro area. Denver is directly east. Arvada is to the north. Littleton is south. Westminster is northeast. All of these cities use county systems for most court and property records, but each has its own municipal records. If your search involves multiple cities or counties, you may need to submit separate requests to each jurisdiction.