Rifle Residents Directory
The Rifle residents directory is based on public records held by the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder. While the county seat is in nearby Glenwood Springs, the clerk's office serves all of Garfield County including Rifle. Property documents, court filings, vital statistics, and business registrations are maintained at the county level. Colorado's open records laws, particularly the Colorado Open Records Act under C.R.S. sections 24-72-200.1 through 205, give you the right to access most of these records. Requests can be submitted in person at the clerk's office in Glenwood Springs, by mail, or through state online search tools.
Rifle Quick Facts
Garfield County Clerk Services for Rifle
The Garfield County Clerk and Recorder is located at 109 8th Street, Suite 200, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601. Call 970-384-3700 for information about records, fees, or hours. Even though the office is in Glenwood Springs, it serves all Garfield County residents including those in Rifle. This is where property filings, vital records, and other official documents are kept.
Property records are a big part of the clerk's work. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases get recorded here when real estate transactions take place. You can search for Rifle property records by owner name or address. Copies are 25 cents per page. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and cost more. For basic research, plain copies are usually enough.
Marriage licenses are issued by the clerk. Records of past marriages are on file. Birth and death certificates are maintained here too, but they have strict access controls. Only the person named on the certificate, their parents, or authorized legal representatives can get copies. The general public does not have access to these vital records.
The county website at https://www.garfield-county.com/clerk-recorder/ has information about available services, online search tools, and the process for submitting requests.
Types of Records in Rifle
The Rifle residents directory covers many categories. Property records are requested most often. They show who owns a piece of land, what mortgages exist, and what liens have been filed. The county assessor maintains related data including assessed values, property characteristics, and annual tax bills. Both sets of information are public.
Court records are another key part of the directory. Garfield County falls in the 9th Judicial District. Courts here handle civil disputes, criminal proceedings, family law, and probate cases. Most court filings are public, though some are sealed or restricted. Juvenile records are never available to the general public. Criminal records follow the rules in the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, C.R.S. sections 24-72-301 through 309.
Voter registration records sit with the county clerk. Basic voter data like names and addresses is public. Other personal details stay protected. Business registrations are also open to the public. Anyone running a business under a name other than their legal name must register with the county, and those filings can be looked up by anyone.
How to Request Rifle Records
Be specific with your request. Provide names, dates, addresses, or case numbers. The more detail you include, the faster the search goes and the less it costs. Vague requests take extra time because staff has to sort through more files.
Under CORA, the clerk must respond within three working days. That first response confirms the records exist, says whether they are public, and gives you a cost estimate. If the request is large, it may take more time to prepare all the documents, but the initial acknowledgment must come within three days of when they receive your request.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Active investigations, certain personnel files, and information protected by privacy statutes cannot be released. The office must explain the legal basis if they deny your request. You have the right to appeal any denial you believe is incorrect. Legal aid groups in the area can provide guidance on appeals.
Rifle Court Records
Garfield County is part of the 9th Judicial District. County court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims. District court takes on felonies, major civil disputes, and family law matters. Most records from these courts are open to the public. Sealed records and juvenile cases are the main exceptions.
You can search for court records online through the state tool at https://www.cocourts.com/cocourts/. This covers all Colorado counties including Garfield. Search by party name or case number. It can save a trip to the courthouse in Glenwood Springs for basic record lookups.
Chief Justice Directive 05-01 sets the overall policy for public access to court records in Colorado. The Colorado Judicial Branch also publishes a guide at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/access-guide-public-records that explains what court documents are available and how to request them. This guide applies to all courts in the state, including those serving Rifle.
State Resources for Rifle
The Colorado government directory at https://www.colorado.gov/government lists all state agencies with website links and contact details. This is helpful when you need records from a state department but are not sure which one to contact. Each agency has its own process for records requests.
The CBI criminal history check service at https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/ covers convictions from all Colorado counties. You submit a request online, pay the fee, and get results sent to you. This statewide database goes beyond what a single county can provide.
Below is a screenshot of the Colorado transportation department website, another state resource with public records relevant to Rifle and Garfield County residents.
The transportation department maintains records related to vehicles, driver licensing, and road infrastructure that may be relevant to certain types of public records research.
The Colorado Secretary of State maintains a business entity search at https://www.coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do. You can look up any registered business in Colorado, including those based in Rifle. The search is free and covers LLCs, corporations, and other entity types.
Rifle Property and Land Records
Property records for Rifle are filed with the Garfield County Clerk in Glenwood Springs. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases all go through that office. Each filing becomes part of the public record. The chain of title for any parcel in Rifle can be traced through these documents.
The county assessor keeps additional property data. They assign assessed values, track lot sizes and building characteristics, and calculate tax bills. This information is public and can often be found online through the county website. Rifle residents can use this data for property research and to check tax assessments.
For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the clerk's office. Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted for legal and financial transactions. Plain copies are fine for personal research. Always ask about the total cost if you need copies of multiple documents so you are not surprised by the bill.
Additional Rifle Resources
The main state portal at https://www.colorado.gov/ is a good starting point for any public records search. It connects to all state agencies and departments. From there, you can navigate to the specific office that has the records you need.
Below is a screenshot of the Colorado state homepage, which provides links to government services and public records resources available to Rifle and Garfield County residents.
This portal covers courts, vital records, business filings, and every other state department that maintains documents accessible to the public.
Legal aid organizations in western Colorado can assist Rifle residents who have trouble accessing public records or who need help understanding their rights under CORA. Some groups offer free services to those who meet income or other eligibility criteria.
Nearby Cities
Search residents directory records in other Colorado cities near Rifle: