Title 13, Courts and Court Procedure

Pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of article VI of the Colorado constitution, there is hereby established in each county of the state of Colorado a county court. Source: L. 64: p. 409, � 1. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-13-1.

Each county court shall be a court of record, with such powers as are inherent in constitutionally created courts. Source: L. 64: p. 409, � 2. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-13-2.

The jurisdiction of the county court shall extend to all cases which arise within the boundaries of this state or are subject to its judicial power and which are within the limitations imposed by this article, but the exercise of this jurisdiction is subject to restrictions of ve…

(1) On and after January 1, 2019, the county court shall have concurrent original jurisdiction with the district court in civil actions, suits, and proceedings in which the debt, damage, or value of the personal property claimed does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, inclu…

(1) The county court has no civil jurisdiction except that specifically conferred upon it by law. In particular, it has no jurisdiction over the following matters: (a) Matters of probate; (b) Matters of mental health, including certification, restoration to competence, and the ap…

(1) The county court shall have concurrent original jurisdiction with the district court in the following criminal matters: (a) Criminal actions for the violation of state laws which constitute misdemeanors or petty offenses, except those actions involving children over which the…

C.R.S. 13-6-107Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services …

(1) For such organizational and administrative purposes concerning county courts as are specified in this part 2, counties shall be classified as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The classifications established in this section shall not have any effect upon any classif…

(1) There is one county judge in each county, except that: (a) Subject to available appropriations, the number of county judges in the county of Jefferson is nine; (b) Subject to available appropriations, the number of county judges in the county of El Paso is ten; (c) Subject to…

(1) The county judge shall be a qualified elector of the county for which he is elected or appointed and shall reside there so long as he serves as county judge. (2) In counties of Class A and B, no person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the office of county judg…

(1) In counties of Class A and B, county judges shall devote their full time to judicial duties and shall not engage in the private practice of law. They may also serve as municipal judges in counties of Class A but may not do so in counties of Class B. (2) In counties of Class C…

The term of office of county judges shall be four years. County judge appointments shall be made pursuant to section 20 of article VI of the state constitution. This section shall not apply to the city and county of Denver, and the term of office and manner of selection of county…

(1) If the office of a county judge, except in the city and county of Denver, becomes vacant because of death, resignation, failure to be retained in office pursuant to section 25 of article VI of the state constitution, or other cause, the governor, as provided in section 20 of …

Source: L. 64: p. 413, � 13. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-14-7. L. 69: p. 250, � 11. L. 79: Entire section repealed, p. 602, � 30, effective July 1.

(1) In order to provide for the expeditious handling of county court business and for county court sessions in population centers which are not county seats, there may be created in counties designated by law the positions of special associate county judge, associate county judge…

(1) In the county of Montrose there shall be an associate county judge who shall maintain his or her official residence in Montrose county and court chambers in that portion of Montrose county that is included in the southwestern water conservation district as set forth and descr…

Source: L. 64: p. 415, � 16. L. 65: p. 477, �� 1, 2. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-14-10. L. 67: p. 304, � 1. L. 69: p. 263, � 1. L. 72: p. 592, � 63. L. 77: (1) repealed, p. 785, � 2, effective July 1. L. 79: (3) amended, p. 607, � 1, effective May 18. L. 90: (2) repealed, p. 861, � 1, effe…

(1) (a) The position of clerk of the county court is established in counties of Classes A, B, C, and D, except as otherwise provided in this section and in section 13-3-107. (b) In counties of Class A, the appointment of the clerk shall be made and his salary fixed as prescribed …

(1) The powers and duties of the clerk of the county court shall be similar to the powers and duties of the clerk of the district court exclusive of the powers of the district court clerk in probate and shall include such duties as may be assigned to him by law, by court rules, a…

Source: L. 64: p. 417, � 22. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-14-16. L. 69: p. 251, � 15. L. 79: Entire section repealed, p. 602, � 30, effective July 1.

(1) In counties of Class A, such deputy clerks, assistants, reporters, stenographers, and bailiffs as shall be necessary for the transaction of the business of the county court may be appointed and their compensation fixed in the manner provided in the charter and ordinances ther…

In each county court which has more than one county judge, the court, by rule, shall provide for the designation of a presiding judge. If there is a failure to select a presiding judge by rule, the chief justice shall designate a presiding judge. Source: L. 64: p. 418, � 24. C.R.…

In each county court which has more than one county judge, each judge shall sit separately for the trial of cases and the transaction of judicial business, and each court so held shall be known as the county court of the county wherein held. Each judge shall have all of the power…

In each county court which has more than one judge, the court may sit en banc for the purpose of making rules of court, the appointment of a clerk and other employees, pursuant to section 13-3-105, and the conduct of other business relating to the administration of the court, as …

Any county judge or retired county judge who has been licensed to practice law in this state for five years may be assigned by the chief justice of the supreme court, pursuant to section 5 (3) of article VI of the state constitution, to perform judicial duties in any district cou…

(1) If a judge or former judge of a county court is a party in his or her individual and private capacity in a case that is to be tried within any county court in the same judicial district in which the judge or former judge is or was a judge of a county court, any party to the c…

Each county court possesses the power to make rules for the conduct of its business to the extent that such rules are not in conflict with the rules of the supreme court or the laws of the state, but are supplementary thereto. In each county court which has more than one judge, o…

Terms of the county court shall be fixed by rule of the court in each county; except that at least one term shall be held in each county in each year. Source: L. 64: p. 419, � 28. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-15-2.

In each county, the county court shall sit at the county seat, and the county court by rule or order also may provide for hearing and trials to be held in locations other than the county seat. In particular, if the corporate limits of a municipality extend into two counties, the …

The county commissioners shall provide court facilities at the county seat and are authorized to do so elsewhere. Such facilities may be provided by arrangement with municipal authorities, by rental, or by other appropriate means. Source: L. 64: p. 419, � 30. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-15…

(1) Permanent records of the county court shall be maintained at the office of the clerk of the court at the county seat. (2) (a) If the county court sits regularly at a location other than the county seat, and the court so provides by rule, cases may be docketed at such location…

The county court of each county shall have an appropriate seal. Source: L. 64: p. 420, � 32. C.R.S. 1963: � 37-15-6.

(1) Each county court shall have the power to issue process necessary to acquire jurisdiction, to require attendance, and to enforce all orders, decrees, and judgments. Such process runs to any county within the state and, when authorized by the Colorado rules of civil procedure,…

(1) When required, juries shall be selected and summoned as provided for courts of record in articles 71 to 74 of this title, with such exceptions as are provided in this section. With the consent of the district court and the jury commissioners, the county court may, if feasible…

A verbatim record of the proceedings and evidence at trials in the county court shall be maintained by electronic devices or by stenographic means, as the judge of the court may direct, except when such record may be unnecessary in certain proceedings pursuant to specific provisi…

C.R.S. 13-6-309.5Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Service…

(1) Appeals from final judgments and decrees of the county courts shall be taken to the district court for the judicial district in which the county court entering such judgment is located. Appeals shall be based upon the record made in the county court. (2) The district court sh…

(1) (a) If either party in a civil action believes that the judgment of the county court is in error, he or she may appeal to the district court by filing notice of appeal in the county court within fourteen days after the date of entry of judgment and by filing within the said f…

The general assembly hereby finds and declares that individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations frequently do not pursue meritorious small civil claims because of the disproportion between the expense and time of counsel and litigation and the amount of money or pro…

There is hereby established in each county court a division designated as the small claims court. Source: L. 76: Entire part added, p. 517, � 1, effective October 1.

(1) (a) The small claims court has concurrent original jurisdiction with the county and district courts in all civil actions in which the debt, damage, or value of the personal property claimed by either the plaintiff or the defendant, exclusive of interest and costs, does not ex…

The clerk of the county court or a deputy designated by said clerk shall act as the clerk of the small claims court. The clerk of the small claims court shall provide such assistance as may be requested by any person regarding the jurisdiction, operations, and procedures of the s…

(1) In the following circumstances, a magistrate may hear and decide claims in a small claims court: (a) In Class A counties, as defined in section 13-6-201, magistrates for small claims may be appointed by the presiding judge. (b) In Class B counties, as defined in section 13-6-…

The small claims court shall conduct hearings at such times as the judge or magistrate may determine or as the supreme court may order. Source: L. 76: Entire part added, p. 518, � 1, effective October 1. L. 91: Entire section amended, p. 356, � 11, effective April 9.

(1) Any natural person, corporation, partnership, association, or other organization may commence or defend an action in the small claims court, but no assignee or other person not a real party to the transaction which is the subject of the action may commence an action therein, …

Counterclaims exceeding the jurisdiction of the small claims court shall be removed to the county or district court of appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to rule of the supreme court. If a county or district court determines that a plaintiff who originally filed a claim in the sma…

The judge or magistrate shall conduct the trial in such manner as to do justice between the parties and shall not be bound by formal rules or statutes of procedure or pleading or the technical rules of evidence, except for rules promulgated by the supreme court controlling the co…

A record shall be made of all small claims court proceedings, and either the plaintiff or the defendant may appeal pursuant to county court rules. Upon appeal, all provisions of law and rules concerning appeals from the county court shall apply, including right to counsel. A tape…

(1) No plaintiff may file more than two claims per month, eighteen claims per year, in the small claims court of any county. Each claim filed in any small claims court shall contain a certification by the plaintiff that the plaintiff has not filed any more than two claims during …

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, all actions in the small claims court shall be brought in the county in which any defendant at the time of filing of the claim resides, is regularly employed, is a student at an institution of higher education, or has an o…