Garfield County Public Records

Public records in Garfield County include court documents, property deeds, vital records, and government files maintained by county offices. The Colorado Open Records Act gives you the right to view and request most of these records. Garfield County is located in western Colorado near the mountains. The county seat is Glenwood Springs. County offices there handle records for the whole area. You can request records in person, by mail, or through email. The Clerk and Recorder keeps property documents and marriage licenses. The court system maintains case files and judgments. The Sheriff's Office has arrest records and incident reports. Each office must respond to requests within three working days under state law. Viewing records in person is often free, but copies and research time may cost money.

Accessing Records Through CORA

The Colorado Open Records Act governs how you get public records in Garfield County. CORA is found in C.R.S. §§ 24-72-201 to 24-72-206. This law says that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times. Most government documents, emails, reports, and files are public. Some records are exempt. These include personnel files, medical data, and certain law enforcement records under C.R.S. § 24-72-204.

To request records, contact the custodian who keeps them. In Garfield County, this is usually the Clerk and Recorder for property records, the Clerk of Court for case files, or the Sheriff for law enforcement records. Your request must be in writing. Include your name and how to reach you. Be specific about what records you want. List names, dates, or case numbers if you know them. The more detail you give, the easier it is for staff to find the records.

Garfield County must respond within three working days under C.R.S. § 24-72-203. If your request is complex, the county can extend this by seven more days. You will be notified if extra time is needed. The first hour of research and retrieval is free. After that, the county may charge up to $41 per hour. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard documents in Colorado.

The Colorado Secretary of State CORA page has more information about how the law works. You can also contact the county attorney if you have questions about access or exemptions. If your request is denied, the office must tell you why and cite the law that allows them to withhold the records.

Clerk and Recorder Office

The Garfield County Clerk and Recorder maintains property records for the county. This office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other documents related to real estate. They also issue marriage licenses and keep some vital records. The office is in the Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

You can visit the office to search property records for free. Staff will help you use the index. If you need copies, there is a fee. Standard documents cost $0.25 per page. Larger maps and plats cost more. The first page is $1, and each additional page is $0.75. Certification adds $1 per document. Ask the office for current fees before you order copies in Colorado.

Some Colorado counties have online databases for property records. Check the Garfield County website to see if this is available. If not, you need to visit in person or submit a written request. Include the property address or legal description if you know it. The Clerk can search by owner name, but this takes more time.

Marriage licenses are public records in Colorado. You can get copies from the Clerk and Recorder if you know the names and approximate date. The state also keeps a marriage index. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment can verify marriages but does not issue certified copies. You must get those from the county where the license was issued in Colorado.

Court Records and Case Files

Garfield County is part of the 9th Judicial District in Colorado. The District Court and County Court are both in the Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs. Court records include civil cases, criminal cases, domestic matters, probate cases, and small claims. Most court records are public unless sealed by a judge or restricted by law.

The Colorado Judicial Branch provides guidance on accessing court records statewide. You can search some records online through third-party vendors like LexisNexis Colorado Courts. These services charge fees. The state does not offer free online access to full case files. You must visit the courthouse to view records at no cost in Colorado.

To get copies of court documents, contact the Clerk of Court. Fees include $5.00 for a name search. Paper copies are $0.75 per page. Electronically filed documents cost $0.25 per page. Research time is charged after the first free hour. Certified copies cost $20 per document. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the Colorado Judicial Branch records request form.

Chief Justice Directive 05-01 governs which records are open and which are not. Juvenile records are generally sealed. Some domestic cases have restricted access. If a record is not available, the clerk will explain why and cite the law or court order. For questions, call the State Court Administrator's Office at 720-625-5000 or email public.access@judicial.state.co.us in Colorado.

Costs and Processing Timelines

Garfield County follows state CORA guidelines for fees. The first hour of research and retrieval is free under C.R.S. § 24-72-205. After that, the county can charge up to $41 per hour. This rate is adjusted for inflation every five years. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard documents. Electronic records sent by email are often free.

Court records have their own fee schedule set by the Colorado Judicial Branch. Property records from the Clerk and Recorder also follow state guidelines. If you want certified copies, expect to pay more. Certification costs $1 per document from the Clerk and Recorder. Court certified copies are $20 each. Shipping adds to the total if you want records mailed to you in Colorado.

Response times are set by law. Garfield County must respond within three working days. This starts when the custodian gets your request. If the records are ready, you may get them sooner. If the request is large, the county can extend the deadline by seven more days. You will be notified in writing if this happens. Payment is usually required before records are released. Ask about payment methods when you submit your request.

Sheriff Office Records

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records, incident reports, and booking information. These records fall under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act in C.R.S. §§ 24-72-301 to 24-72-309. Some are public, while others may be withheld during active investigations or to protect victims and witnesses in Colorado.

Submit CORA requests for Sheriff's Office records in writing. Include as much detail as you can. List dates, names, case numbers, and locations if you know them. The office will tell you if the records are available and what fees apply. Response times are the same as other county offices: three days with a possible seven-day extension.

For crime reports filed with local police departments in Garfield County, contact those agencies directly. Each city or town police department handles its own records. The Sheriff's Office only has records for incidents in unincorporated areas or where deputies responded. Some law enforcement records are not public. These include ongoing investigation files, informant identities, surveillance techniques, and certain victim information. If your request is denied, the office will cite the exemption that applies under state law in Colorado.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation also keeps a statewide criminal history database. You can request your own criminal history through the CBI for a fee. Access to other people's records is restricted. Use the CBI Internet Criminal History Check system to get your own record. The online cost is $5.00 per search. Mail-in requests cost $13.00.

State Archives and Databases

The Colorado State Archives holds historical records from Garfield County and other counties. This includes old vital records, probate files, and naturalization papers. Some records are searchable online. Others require an in-person visit or written request. The Archives is in Denver. Hours and access rules are posted on their website.

For business entity records, use the Colorado Secretary of State business database. You can search for corporations, LLCs, and other entities registered in Colorado. This database is free and updated regularly. It includes names, addresses, registered agents, and filing dates. You can get certified copies of business documents for a fee in Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Revenue handles CORA requests for tax records and motor vehicle information. Some of this data is restricted by law. You can request your own records or records for businesses you are authorized to access. Submit requests through their online portal or by mail.

Towns in Garfield County

Garfield County has several cities and towns. None have populations over 25,000. Glenwood Springs is the county seat. Rifle and Carbondale are other towns in the county. Each municipality may have its own public records for city operations. Contact city halls directly for local records. County offices handle records for unincorporated areas and countywide functions in Colorado.

Neighboring Counties

Garfield County borders several other Colorado counties. Rio Blanco County is to the north. Eagle County is to the east. Pitkin County is to the southeast. Mesa County is to the west. Each county has its own records system. If you need records from multiple counties, submit separate requests to each one in Colorado.