denver county public records overview and how to compare access options

What these records cover

Denver maintains a broad trail of civic documents: property deeds and liens, recorded plats, marriage and civil union licenses, business trade names, court dockets, and probate files. Most are available under the Colorado Open Records Act, while arrest and incident materials may fall under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act with added review.

Where to search and compare

Online portals versus in-person desks

The Clerk & Recorder hosts an index with downloadable images for many recordings, the Assessor provides parcel data, and the state’s courts offer e-services for case lookups. In-person counters remain useful for certified copies and complex cross-references that web forms don’t handle well.

• Speed: portals are immediate; counter requests may take a day or more.
• Cost: searching is often free, but per-page downloads and certification fees apply.
• Completeness: online indexes can omit historical or sealed items.
• Searchability: names and reception numbers work best; addresses vary.
• Privacy: expect redactions on sensitive identifiers.

Practical tips

Narrow by date ranges, confirm spellings, and keep reception or case numbers. If a result seems missing, ask staff to run a manual search-specificity pays off.