About the El Paso County Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court office at the El Paso County Judicial Building is the state court clerk for the 4th Judicial District. The district covers El Paso County and Teller County. The clerk's office is part of the Colorado Judicial Branch, not the executive branch. That matters because Colorado also has a separate elected office called the County Clerk and Recorder. The two offices are not the same.
The court clerk handles court files. The Clerk and Recorder handles deeds, marriage licenses, motor vehicle, and elections. To request deeds, plats, or recorded liens, use the public records page for the Clerk and Recorder. To request a divorce decree, a felony disposition, or any other court file, stay here.
The court clerk's office sits in Room S101 on the main floor of the Judicial Building. Staff at the front counter accept filings, take in court record requests, and direct visitors to the right division. They also process payments for fees, fines, and costs through the Collections office in Room S120.
El Paso County Clerk of Court
El Paso County Judicial Building, Room S101
270 S Tejon St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-452-5000
Records research email: 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Judicial Branch also lists a juror line at 719-452-5001 and a jury reporting line at 719-452-5002. For records work, callers should use the main number and ask for the records desk. Records research questions go to 719-452-5490.
Inside the El Paso County Judicial Building
The clerk's counter is one of several offices inside the Judicial Building. The same floor plan also holds the Self-Help Center in Room S116, Collections in Room S120, and Court Care in Room S140. The Self-Help Center runs Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached at 719-452-5100 or 04SelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us. Court Care is free childcare for parents handling court business and runs from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The official location page from the Judicial Branch confirms address, phone, and parking notes. The page is the best starting point for visit planning.
The image shows the address, the main phone, and the public parking guidance for the building. The clerk's office shares this entrance.
Note: Visitors enter through security on the east side of the Judicial Building, and screening can add several minutes during peak hours.
What the El Paso County Clerk of Court Does
The clerk's office is the gatekeeper for the trial court files in the 4th Judicial District. Staff accept new filings, build case files, route motions to the right division, schedule hearings, issue subpoenas and writs, and produce copies of court records on request. The office also collects court fees, fines, and restitution through the Collections team in Room S120 at 719-452-5303.
- Accept civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic filings
- Issue summons, subpoenas, writs, and certified court orders
- Hold same day civil protection order intake at S101 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday-Friday
- Take in court record requests and produce certified copies
- Run the Self-Help Center in Room S116 for pro se litigants
- Coordinate jury reporting through the jury room
- Process payments for fees, fines, and costs through Collections
Same day civil protection orders are a daily function at the counter. Petitions filed before 9:30 a.m. are heard the same day. Petitions filed after that cutoff are heard the next business day. The cutoff is firm. The Self-Help Center in Room S116 can help with the petition forms before filing.
Note: Effective July 1, 2025, Rule 120 public trustee foreclosure matters moved to Division 25, with questions to D04_Courts_Div25@judicial.state.co.us.
How to Request a Certified Copy
Certified copies are needed for many real world uses. A divorce decree filed with a bank, a sentencing order filed with a probation office, or a probate letter filed with a brokerage all need the court's seal. A plain copy will not be accepted in court or by most third parties.
- Find the case number. Use the free El Paso County docket search to look up the case if needed. Note the 4-digit year, the case class, and the case sequence.
- Pick a form. Use the online record/document request form for digital filing, or download the El Paso PDF form linked on the court landing page.
- List the documents. Check the boxes for the family, criminal, civil, or probate document you need. Mark the certified or exemplified box if you need the court's seal.
- Send the request. Email the PDF form and a copy of your ID to 04ResearchRequest@judicial.state.co.us, or mail to Research Department, El Paso County Combined Court, 4th Judicial District, 270 S Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
- Pay the fee. The court will send a Notice of Fees by email. Pay by check, certified funds, or by credit card by phone with the assigned researcher. If payment is not received within 14 days the request expires.
- Pick up or receive by mail. Certified items go by U.S. Postal Service mail. Non certified copies go by email. The pickup option is on the form if you prefer the counter.
The online record request form gives a sample case number example of 2019T999999. Denver GV, GS, and D cases go to Denver County Court, not El Paso. Confirm the right court before sending the request.
El Paso County Clerk of Court Records Request Form Fields
The Colorado Judicial Branch online record and document request form has a clear set of fields. The table below shows what the requester should plan to include. Many fields are optional but help the research staff match the right file.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First and Last Name | Yes | Requester contact for the Notice of Fees. |
| Business Name | No | Use if requesting on behalf of a firm or agency. |
| Email and Phone | Yes | Response channel; most non-certified copies go by email. |
| Mailing Address | Yes | Required even for emailed copies in case of certified mail. |
| Case Number | Optional | Year + class + sequence, e.g., 26CR2237 or 19CR2701. |
| Case Type | Optional | Civil, Divorce, Felony, Juvenile, Misdemeanor, Probate, Protection Order, Small Claims, Traffic, Water. |
| Year Case Filed | Optional | Years available from 1873 to current. |
| County of Record | Yes | Select El Paso County, or check the "I do not know" box. |
| Date of Birth | Optional | Of the primary party; useful for name search. |
| Party Information | Yes | Names on the case, list as many as needed. |
| Document Checkboxes | Required for copy | Family, Criminal, Civil, Probate, Other; also Register of Action. |
| Certified or Exemplified | Optional | Mark if the copy must carry the court seal. |
The El Paso PDF version of the form also asks for a daytime phone, an assistive technology yes or no question, and a free text box for additional information such as an alias, a year, a case type, or a list of documents. The PDF requires a copy of a valid ID.
The image shows the online intake page on the Judicial Branch site. The same form serves all 64 Colorado counties, with El Paso County selectable in the county dropdown.
El Paso County Clerk of Court Fees
The Judicial Branch sets a uniform fee schedule for court record requests across Colorado. The fees apply at the El Paso County Clerk of Court desk and through the online form. The CORA staff time cap of $41.37 per hour under C.R.S. ยง 24-72-205(6)(b) also applies to the court's research and redaction work. The first hour is often free.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | $0.25 |
| Party or attorney copy cap, same case | $15.00 maximum |
| Non-party copy | No cap, $0.25 per page |
| Certified or exemplified copy | $20.00 per document |
| Name search | $5.00 |
| Transcript of Judgment | $25.00 |
| Certificate of Satisfaction | $20.00 |
| Research and redaction after first hour | $30.00/hr in 15-minute units (state cap $41.37/hr) |
| Off-site file retrieval | Actual cost |
Parties and attorneys of record get a $15 cap on plain copies for their own case. Non parties have no cap. Certified copies always run at $20 per document because the seal and signature are added by hand. Pay only after the Notice of Fees arrives. The court will not begin work until the request is matched and priced.
Same Day Civil Protection Orders at El Paso County Clerk of Court
Civil protection order petitions can be filed at the Clerk of Court counter in Room S101. The window is firm. Petitions filed Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. are heard the same day. Petitions filed after 9:30 a.m. roll to the next business day. The petitioner should arrive early because security screening can take time.
The Self-Help Center in Room S116 can help with the forms before filing. Staff can review the petition for completeness, point out missing facts, and explain the next steps after the temporary order. The center does not give legal advice, but the procedural help is real and free.
Note: Bring photo identification, any prior court orders, and a clear written account of recent events when filing for protection.
Self-Help Center and Court Care
The Self-Help Center in Room S116 supports pro se litigants in all case types. Staff explain forms, court rules, and standard process. The center runs Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached at 719-452-5100 or 04SelfHelp@judicial.state.co.us. The center is the best first stop for anyone filing a divorce, a small claim, a name change, or a protection order without an attorney.
Court Care provides free childcare for parents and guardians handling court business. The room is S140 inside the Judicial Building. Hours run from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Court Care contact line is 719-452-5499 and info@courtcare.org. More details sit on the Court Care location page.
El Paso County Clerk of Court Hours and Closures
The clerk's office runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is closed on legal holidays. The Judicial Branch posts recurring third Wednesday early closures for the Clerk's Office and the Self-Help Center. Most third Wednesdays close at 3:30 p.m. June 17, 2026 closes at 2:00 p.m. for staff training.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday-Friday (standard) | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Self-Help Center, M-F | 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Protection order intake, M-F | 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. |
| Probate walk-up (Wed) | Protective 8:30-11:30 a.m.; estates 1:00-4:00 p.m. |
| Third Wednesday (recurring) | Closes at 3:30 p.m. |
| June 17, 2026 | Closes at 2:00 p.m. |
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
Call ahead before driving downtown on a third Wednesday. The clerk's main number is 719-452-5000. The court page also posts holiday and weather closures when they happen.
Online Filing and Court Docket Search
Colorado uses the state e-filing system for most case types. Attorneys file through the state e-filing service provider. Pro se litigants can also file electronically in most case types, although paper filing is still accepted at the counter. The state docket search at coloradojudicial.gov shows the court event schedule for El Paso County. Document downloads are not available on the public docket page; use the record request form instead.
The Judicial Branch landing page for El Paso County is a useful hub. It links to the docket search, the records request page, the Self-Help Center, problem solving courts, the judges and staff list, and the location page.
The image shows the El Paso County landing page on the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The right rail holds links to forms, dockets, the record request page, and self help resources.
Court Records vs CORA Public Records
Court records sit under Chief Justice Directive 05-01, the Colorado court rules, and case law. CORA does not control them. The split keeps court files inside the Judicial Branch and outside the executive branch. Practical effect: send court record requests to the clerk's office, not to the Clerk and Recorder.
For broader public records that are not court files, like county budgets or sheriff reports, see the public records page. For deeds and marriage licenses, the Clerk and Recorder is on the same page.