Westminster Public Records Access

Westminster sits in two counties, which affects where public records are kept. Most of Westminster is in Adams County, with the western part in Jefferson County. This means court cases, property records, and vital records might be at either county depending on the address. City records like permits, licenses, and council documents are at Westminster City Hall. When you look for public records in Westminster, start by figuring out which county has jurisdiction over the property or case. Both counties follow the Colorado Open Records Act. Response time is three working days. The first hour of research is free. After that, fees apply for staff time and copies.

Which County Has Your Records

Westminster spans Adams and Jefferson Counties. Most of the city is in Adams County. The western edge is in Jefferson County. Property records, court cases, and vital records are kept at the county level. You need to know which county has jurisdiction over the address or case you are researching.

Adams County offices are in Brighton. Jefferson County offices are in Golden. Each has its own Clerk and Recorder, court system, and CORA process. If you are not sure which county to contact, look up the property address on the county assessor website. Tax records will show which county has jurisdiction.

Court cases from Westminster go to different judicial districts. Adams County is part of the 17th Judicial District. Jefferson County is part of the 1st Judicial District. Criminal cases, civil lawsuits, and family court matters are handled at the district level. County courts handle traffic, small claims, and misdemeanors. Make sure you contact the right courthouse for your case.

Both Adams and Jefferson Counties use online portals for CORA requests. Jefferson County has a NextRequest portal. Adams County has its own system. Response time is three working days under state law. Extensions of up to seven more days are possible for large requests. The first hour of research is free. After that, the maximum fee is $41 per hour.

Property records are searchable online through each county website. You can look up deeds, mortgages, and liens by owner name, address, or parcel 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. Certification adds a small fee.

City of Westminster Records

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

Westminster residents can submit CORA requests to the city for municipal records. The city follows the same response timeline as the counties: three working days with a possible extension. The first hour of research is free. Fees for research time 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. Agendas are posted online before each meeting. Minutes are available after approval. You can also find budget documents, financial reports, and annual audits on the city website. Some of these records are posted as PDFs. Others may need a formal request.

The Westminster Police Department handles records related to law enforcement within city limits. This includes incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records for cases handled by Westminster 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.

Westminster also has records for parks, public works, water utilities, and other city services. If you need documents about a specific city project or service, contact the department that handles it. The city website lists phone numbers and email addresses for each department. Staff can tell you if the records you want are available and how to request them.

Online Records Search

Many records for Westminster are online. Both Adams and Jefferson Counties have property search databases. You can find who owns a parcel, when it was last sold, and if there are liens or judgments. This is free to search. Court indexes are on LexisNexis Colorado Courts, which charges fees for access.

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

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

Vital records like birth and death certificates are at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Birth certificates cost $20 for the first copy. Death certificates are the same price. You must provide ID and prove you are eligible to get the record. Marriage licenses are at the county where the license was issued. Divorce decrees are at the Clerk of Court where the case was filed.

How to Submit CORA Requests

Public records access in Westminster is governed by the Colorado Open Records Act, found in C.R.S. §§ 24-72-201 to 24-72-206. This law requires most government records to be open to the public. You can request records by writing to the custodian. Include your name, contact information, and a detailed description of what you want.

Custodians have three working days to respond under C.R.S. § 24-72-203. They can extend this by seven more days for large or complex requests. The response must provide the records, tell you when they will be ready, or explain why they are being withheld. Denials 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, which is adjusted for inflation every five years. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. 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, attorney-client communications, and documents that would reveal security plans. Law enforcement records may be withheld during active investigations. Juvenile court records are generally not public.

If your 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 litigation.

Nearby Cities in Colorado

Westminster is close to other large cities in the Denver metro area. Thornton is to the north. Arvada is to the south. Denver is southeast. Broomfield is northeast. All of these cities use county systems for court and property records but have their own municipal records. If your search involves multiple cities or counties, you may need to submit separate CORA requests to each jurisdiction.