Colorado public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as Colorado arrest records, immigration status and vital records. These laws also apply to government records such as meeting minutes and voting records.

State of Colorado public records laws may be grouped according to the aspect of public records that they address. These include the following three general areas:

1. Laws that affect a Colorado court record regulate the manner in which public information may be accessed. These laws may specify issues such as the length of time the state has to respond to information requests, any fees an agency is allowed to charge and whether the requestor must provide a reason for wanting the information.
2. Laws that define what information on an individual may be considered public. These laws control the personal information that may be accessed by an individual or party designated by the individual.
3. Laws that specify what government records may be accessible to the public. These laws are usually intended to permit journalists to perform a Colorado court case search or to allow private citizens to provide input on government decisions.
   

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Review the procedures for accessing Colorado public records

Access to Colorado court records and public records covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Colorado is typically handled by the Attorney General. County and municipal courts may also provide access to Colorado criminal records.

I recommend: The Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration provides the complete public records laws for Colorado. The Colorado Secretary of State has a FAQ on requesting information under the Colorado Open Records Act.

Learn about the laws regulating access of Colorado public records for individuals

Public records for individuals typically include Colorado birth records and criminal records. Individuals may only be able to access their own personal records.

I recommend: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has a FAQ on the laws that provide access to criminal records. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides the specific procedures for retrieving vital records in Colorado.

Look for Colorado public records laws on government records

Government records may include meeting minutes, personnel files and real estate sales. Some government departments provide many different types of government records, while others may be dedicated to a specific type of record.

I recommend: The National Freedom of Information Coalition provides extensive resources on the laws that control access to government records in Colorado. The City of Colorado Springs has a specific policy to comply with the Open Records Act for accessing government records.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Colorado public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996 which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access Colorado Public Records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by the federal, state and local governments, who in turn determine their availability. Although the state of Colorado public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department and state. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online. When researching public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in your state, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure that the Colorado official records you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching Colorado public records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

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Search state of Colorado public records to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Colorado county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking Colorado court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) provides an Internet Criminal History Check System (ICHC) to help you obtain Colorado criminal records. Additionally, public access to court records is available through CoJustice.com. This is an online resource that allows you to retrieve criminal, civil, domestic and traffic cases directly from the State of Colorado Criminal and Civil Record Repository.

Track down anyone with a Colorado vital records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find Colorado marriage licenses, or records of divorce, birth and death at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. People Lookup Directory can help you track someone down using a variety of information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as Colorado arrest records, is collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts companies from reporting on outstanding debts and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Colorado public records applications and uses are becoming more common due to their increasing accessibility through the Internet. Increased access to public records has led to the growth of the information broker industry, which uses public records to build profiles on millions of people and provides information to anyone who pays a fee. Individuals who know where to look also may be able to search public records for free. Access to public records is controlled at the federal level by the Freedom of Information Act and Colorado has its own version of this legislation.

There are a variety of professionals who may have an interest in Colorado public records. These include the following three general categories:

1. Genealogical research on public records in Colorado. Researchers use older vital records to locate ancestors or other people of historical interest. These records may be available from genealogical societies, public libraries and government agencies.
2. Background checks. Employers are making more frequent use of criminal records to investigate the personal history of job applicants.
3. News reports. Reporters and other people with an interest in government activity may wish to access state of Colorado public records on meetings and voting records.
   

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Use Colorado birth records to research the founders of a business

Colorado vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates, frequently are helpful for getting information about the early owners of a company and researching the history of a business. Vital records in Colorado become publicly available after a specified period of time and are of genealogical, rather than personal, interest.

I recommend: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides specific instructions for obtaining vital records in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration has older marriage and divorce records of historical interest.

Search Colorado criminal records to perform background checks

Law enforcement officials, private detectives and prospective employers may use Colorado arrest records to investigate an individual's background. Access to Colorado court records tends to be more restricted than access to other types of public records, and may require the subject's permission.

I recommend: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation provides a criminal history check with selected criminal records in Colorado. The City of Colorado Springs has specific instructions for obtaining criminal records from the police department.

Obtain Colorado public records for the purpose of reporting on government activity

Reporters frequently use government records in Colorado, such as voting records and meeting minutes. Access to these types of public records is controlled by Colorado's Sunshine laws. There are organizations of journalists and ordinary citizens that work to keep government records in Colorado available to the public.

I recommend: The Colorado Department of Law provides an overview of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and answers questions on obtaining government records in Colorado. The Colorado Secretary of State offers specific instructions for making a public records request under CORA.

The amount of information can be overwhelming when you start a Colorado public records search if you aren't sure where to look or what you are looking for. Learning a few basic terms that you'll come in contact with can save you a lot of time and effort.

Find out which records are public and which you can easily search using online databases such as vital statistics and other Colorado public record information. Knowing terms you'll be seeing can help you find the information you need a lot faster.

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Land records

Land records are documents kept by the Colorado state government detailing federal-citizen land transactions. The state has archived historic land records for viewing by citizens to use in genealogy searches or land acquisition background checks.

I recommend: Review information about land records and find out how to search and obtain records for your personal use at the Colorado State Archive.

Business search

A business search gives citizens the opportunity to search business names to find out if they are registered in the state. The search can also be used to find out if a potential business name is already trademarked in the state.

I recommend: Review the business search information available at the Colorado Secretary of State Business Center.

Vital records

The term vital records refers to marriage, divorce, birth, death and other records that Colorado makes available to the public.

I recommend: The Vital Records Section of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides additional information about vital records and allows citizens to request certified copies of these records.

Colorado Sunshine Law

The Colorado Sunshine Law was established so that legislative action would be recorded and available to the public. The law made all government actions more accessible to the public.

I recommend: Read about the Colorado Sunshine Law at the Colorado State Archives website.

Court records

rt records are documented papers of court cases and decisions. They are available in Colorado by searching a database or requesting the information from the individual court.

I recommend: Review how to obtain court records and find out which documents are available at the Colorado State Judicial Branch website.

Computerized criminal history

A computerized criminal history (CCH) report is a detailed report of arrest records for a given person. Certain information, including warrant details and juvenile records, are kept private and are unavailable in a public search.

I recommend: Visit the Colorado Criminal Bureau of Investigation website to find out more about obtaining a computerized criminal history report.