About the Larimer County Clerk of Court
Colorado uses a state-administered Clerk of Court rather than a county-elected court clerk. The Clerk of Court for the 8th Judicial District serves Larimer and Jackson counties from offices in Fort Collins and Loveland and is part of the Colorado Judicial Branch. The office files pleadings, maintains case dockets, issues certified copies, manages records requests, supports judges and magistrates, processes payments, and helps the public with non-legal court information. The Clerk of Court does not give legal advice; for that, the 8th Judicial District Court Resource Center on the first floor of the Justice Center can help self-represented filers with forms.
The elected Larimer County Clerk and Recorder, Tina Harris, is a different office. The Clerk and Recorder handles elections, recorded real-property documents, vehicle licensing, and marriage licenses, but does not handle court case files. Confusing the two offices is one of the most common errors at the courthouse.
8th Judicial District Clerk of Court (Fort Collins)
Larimer County Justice Center
201 LaPorte Avenue, Suite 100
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970-494-3500 / fax 970-494-3580
08RecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us
Customer service Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Loveland County Court Clerk
810 E. 10th Street, Suite 110
Loveland, CO 80537
970-622-2100 / fax 970-622-2149
08RecordsRequest@judicial.state.co.us
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-noon and 1:00-5:00 p.m.
What the Larimer County Clerk of Court Does
The Clerk of Court handles the daily case-flow work for the District Court and County Court. The role covers civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile, probate, mental health, and water cases. Larimer County's filing volume drives a small specialty unit for each function. The Collections team at 970-494-3530 manages fines, restitution, and other court financial obligations. The Court Resource Center at 970-494-3581 supports self-represented filers on non-criminal matters.
- Accept civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and traffic case filings for the 8th Judicial District.
- Maintain dockets and the official case files for the District Court and County Court.
- Issue certified and plain copies of court documents.
- Process records requests by email, mail, or in person.
- Collect filing fees, fines, restitution, and court costs.
- Provide procedural information; the Clerk cannot give legal advice.
- Schedule and notice hearings, including weekend bond hearings at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday for long weekends.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy of a Larimer County court document is required for many official purposes, including immigration filings, real-estate closings, and Social Security claims. The process is set by the Colorado Judicial Branch and is the same in every county.
- Identify the case using the case number or the parties' names and approximate filing date. Search the Colorado docket lookup to confirm the case.
- Open the Larimer County Combined Courts Records Request Form.
- Submit by email to 08RecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us, by mail to 201 LaPorte Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80521, or in person at the Clerk of Court counter.
- Pay the certification fee of $20 per document along with any photocopy charges.
- Receive the certified document by mail with a self-addressed stamped return envelope, or pick up in person.
Important: Plain copies are not accepted by Social Security, U.S. immigration agencies, or most banks; pay the certification fee when a record is going to a government or financial institution.
Larimer County Records Request Form Fields
The 8th Judicial District uses a short records request form that asks for the same core fields whether the request is for a misdemeanor case, a divorce decree, or a probate filing.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requester name | Yes | The person who will receive the records. |
| Contact information | Yes | Phone, email, and mailing address. |
| Case number | Recommended | Speeds the response; format includes year, case class, and sequence. |
| Party names | Yes | Used when the case number is not known. |
| Document type | Yes | Decree, order, register of action, transcript, judgment, plea. |
| Number of copies | Yes | Specify certified or plain. |
| Delivery method | Yes | Email, mail with self-addressed stamped envelope, or in-person pickup. |
| Fee acknowledgment | Yes | Confirms willingness to pay applicable copy and certification fees. |
Larimer County Clerk of Court Fees
The Clerk of Court charges fees set by the Colorado Judicial Branch. The fees below match the Judicial Branch's list of fees. Filing fees for civil, divorce, probate, and small claims cases vary by case class and amount in controversy; the Judicial Branch publishes the current schedule online.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Photocopy (plain, printed page) | $0.75 per page |
| Photocopy (electronic page) | $0.25 per page |
| Certified or exemplified copy | $20.00 each |
| Transcript of judgment | $25.00 |
| Records search | Per Judicial Branch schedule; complex searches priced by staff time |
| Civil filing fee | Per Judicial Branch schedule; depends on amount in controversy |
| Probate filing fee | Per Judicial Branch schedule |
Common Clerk Forms and Resources
The Colorado Judicial Branch publishes most case forms statewide. The most-used forms for Larimer County are linked below. The 8th Judicial District also adds local forms for domestic relations, parenting, contempt, and weekend bond procedure.
- Records Request Form for the Larimer County Combined Courts.
- Divorce and legal separation forms for domestic relations cases.
- Probate forms for decedent estates, guardianship, and conservatorship.
- JDF 301 juvenile delinquency expungement instructions.
- Self-help resources hub with general forms and instructions.
E-Filing and Online Payments
Colorado Courts E-Filing is the statewide system attorneys use for civil, probate, criminal, and domestic relations cases. Self-represented filers in Larimer County can submit some case types by email or paper at the Justice Center, but many filings now move through the e-filing platform. Online payment for court-ordered fines and traffic tickets is handled through the Colorado Judicial Online Payment system. Cases filed at the Loveland County Court branch use the same e-filing system as the Justice Center; the branch is part of the same district court file system.
The Clerk of Court also schedules hearings on the Webex virtual courtroom platform when the judge directs. Notices are sent through the court's published schedule. Interpreter requests and ADA accommodations route through the Clerk and the Judicial Branch interpreter services link.
Collections, Restitution, and Court Costs
The 8th Judicial District Collections team in Fort Collins is at 970-494-3530, fax 970-494-3539, email 08Collections@judicial.state.co.us. The team manages criminal fines, restitution, civil judgments owed to the court, and other court-ordered payments. Payments can be made online, by mail, or in person at the Clerk of Court counter. Failure to pay a court-ordered obligation can lead to additional enforcement, including a bench warrant.