Search Durango Residents Directory
Durango residents directory records are managed through the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder's office, where the city serves as the county seat. Public records in Durango cover property transactions, court filings, vital statistics, and business registrations held at both the county and state level. Colorado law, particularly the Colorado Open Records Act under C.R.S. sections 24-72-200.1 through 205, gives you the right to access most government documents. Requests can be made in person at the clerk's office, by mail, or through various online portals that the state maintains for public use.
Durango Quick Facts
La Plata County Clerk Services
The La Plata County Clerk and Recorder sits at 98 Everett Street, Suite A, Durango, CO 81303. Their phone number is 970-382-6280. This office is the main hub for public records that cover Durango residents. They maintain property filings, marriage records, and other official documents for the entire county.
Property records make up a large part of what the clerk handles. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are all filed here when real estate transactions take place. You can search these records by owner name or property address. Copies cost 25 cents per page. If you need a certified copy with the clerk's seal, expect to pay more. Most people doing basic research only need plain copies though.
The clerk also issues marriage licenses and keeps records of past marriages on file. Birth and death certificates are stored here, but access to those is restricted. Only the person named, parents, or authorized legal representatives can get copies. The general public cannot view birth or death records.
Check the county website at https://co-laplata.civicplus.com/191/Clerk-Recorder for current hours, fees, and information about what records can be searched online.
Types of Durango Public Records
Several categories of records fall under the Durango residents directory. Property records top the list. They show ownership history, sales prices, and any debts tied to a parcel of land. The county assessor adds to this by maintaining assessed values and tax information for every property. Both sets of data are public.
Court records are another key area. La Plata County is part of the 6th Judicial District, and its courts handle everything from small claims to felony cases. Civil disputes, criminal proceedings, family law matters, and probate cases all generate records that are mostly public. Some records get sealed by a judge or are protected by law. Juvenile cases, for example, are never public.
Voter registration records sit with the county clerk. Names and addresses of registered voters are public information. Other details like birth dates are not shared. Business filings are public too. Anyone operating under a name that is not their legal name must register it with the county, and those records can be viewed by anyone.
Requesting Records in Durango
Be specific when you ask for records. Provide names, dates, case numbers, or addresses. This speeds up the search and keeps your costs down. Broad or unclear requests take more staff time and may require extra fees.
Colorado law says agencies must respond within three working days. The response might just confirm that the records exist and tell you what copies will cost. Getting the actual documents can take longer if the request is large. But the three-day rule ensures you hear back quickly on any request.
Not all records are available. There are exceptions in the law for things like active investigations, certain personnel records, and documents protected by privacy statutes. If an office denies your request, they must tell you why and cite the specific law. You have the right to challenge the denial. Legal aid groups in the Durango area can help if you run into problems.
Durango Court Records Access
La Plata County courts are part of the 6th Judicial District. The county court handles lesser offenses and small claims. The district court takes on serious criminal cases, large civil matters, and family law. Probate is also handled through the court system. Most records from these courts are public and can be viewed by anyone.
Criminal records have their own set of rules. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, C.R.S. sections 24-72-301 through 309, controls access to arrest records, conviction data, and related information. Some criminal records are restricted based on the case outcome or how old the record is. You may not be able to see every detail, depending on the circumstances. Chief Justice Directive 05-01 also sets rules for what court records are available to the public and how you can get them.
Search for court cases online through the state tool at https://www.cocourts.com/cocourts/. This covers all Colorado counties including La Plata. You can search by party name or case number. It is a good first step before going to the courthouse in person.
State Resources for Durango
The state government directory at https://www.colorado.gov/government lists every state agency with links and contact details. This is a helpful starting point if you need records from a state-level department but are not sure which one to contact.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation provides criminal history checks at https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/. These reports cover convictions from all Colorado counties. There is a fee, and results are sent to you directly. This is different from court records because it pulls from a statewide database rather than a single county.
Below is a screenshot of the Colorado state government directory, which links to departments and services that may hold records relevant to Durango residents.
Using this directory, you can find the right agency for any type of state-level record, from professional licenses to regulatory filings.
The Department of Human Services at https://cdhs.colorado.gov/ oversees social services and child welfare programs. While most of their records are confidential, licensing information for care facilities is public. You can search for licensed providers in the Durango area through their site.
Property Records in Durango
Property records in Durango go through the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder. Every sale, mortgage, and lien gets recorded. This creates a public record of who owns what and what debts are attached to each property. The chain of title for any parcel can be traced through these filings.
The county assessor maintains separate but related records. They determine property values for tax purposes and keep data on lot sizes, building characteristics, and annual tax bills. This information is public and can often be found online. It is useful for comparing property values and understanding local real estate conditions in the Durango market.
For official copies of deeds or other recorded instruments, contact the clerk's office. Certified copies carry the official seal and work for legal or financial transactions. Plain copies are fine for personal research. Always ask for a cost estimate if you need many pages so you know what to expect.
Durango Business Filings
Colorado businesses register with the Secretary of State. You can look up any business entity through the search tool at https://www.coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do. This covers LLCs, corporations, and other entity types statewide, including Durango businesses.
Below is a screenshot of the CBI criminal history records check portal, another statewide resource that covers all Colorado counties including La Plata.
This tool lets you submit a records check request online and receive results showing convictions from across the state.
At the local level, trade names and assumed business names are filed with the La Plata County Clerk. These records are public. If someone in Durango operates a business under a name other than their legal name, they must file a registration. You can view these filings at the clerk's office or request copies.
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