Purchasing Resources for Colorado Public Records

Colorado Public Records Key Terms

Learn the ABCs of Colorado public records
By Jennifer Ehlenfeldt, Freelance Writer

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. Without a basic understanding, it is difficult to perform searches such as background checks. However, 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.

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