Weld County is the third-largest county in Colorado. According to the 2020 Census, its land area was 3,985 square miles, and its 328,981 residents live there. The county seat is Greeley City.

Courts in Weld County

Weld County is part of the 19th Judicial District of Colorado. Its courts include the Weld County District Court, the Weld County Court, the Colorado Water Court, and the Municipal Courts.

The Weld County District Court hears civil claims of $25,000 and more and cases on felonies and lesser-included offenses. The district also has a family court that hears cases on dissolution of marriage and civil unions. Cases on paternity, child support, juvenile delinquency, dependency, and adoptions fall within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. The District Court also hears mental health cases as well as probate matters such as cases relating to wills, administration of a deceased estate, and guardianships. Additionally, the court handles appeals from the County Courts and cases that are beyond the authority of other courts.

Weld County Courts have jurisdiction over civil claims involving less than $25,000 and small claims of not more than $7,500. Its criminal jurisdiction covers traffic violations, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings of felony cases. The court also handles protection orders, name changes, and landlord-tenant matters.

The Colorado Water Court in Weld County hears all matters relating to water administration, water rights, and water use to the exclusion of other courts. 

Municipal Courts operate in each city in Weld County. They exercise jurisdiction over city ordinance violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Weld County

The Nineteenth Judicial District Clerk of Court maintains court records in Weld County. Interested persons can access these records by requesting from the Clerk’s office in person, by completing the online request form, or by sending a written record request via mail. To request transcripts, send a completed transcript request form to the Clerk’s office via email. Note that the Clerk charges fees for record search and copies. Also, Weld County court records are accessible on online platforms. To access records of the Municipal Courts, contact the relevant Municipal Court where the case was heard.

Types of Public Court Records in Weld County

Public court records in Weld County are information and materials on court cases that are accessible to members of the public without any legal limitation. Examples of such records are:

• Civil case records
• Criminal case records
• Small claims records
• Water Court records
• Misdemeanor and traffic records
• Felony records

Confidential Court Records in Weld County

Confidential court records in Weld County are protected by law from public access and, as such, may only be accessed by certain persons and entities or upon certain conditions. Examples of such records are:

• Records sealed by court order
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Records of mental health cases
• Adoption case records
• Paternity case records

Juvenile Delinquency in Weld, CO

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Weld County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Colorado often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 653 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Weld County. Of that total, 92% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 600 court cases. Another 8% were dependency cases that accounted for 53 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Weld County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Weld County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Weld County, CO

https://www.colorado.gov/

County Seat:	Greeley
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1861
Total Square Miles:	4,017
2019 Population:	304,633
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01

Weld County, CO Courts