All state, county, and municipal agencies in Colorado are governed by the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), enacted in 1969. This legislation mandates that government operations at every level—from local departments to statewide agencies—maintain transparency by providing public access to records.
Under CORA, any member of the public may request records without needing to state a reason. These open record laws are essential tools for residents, advocacy groups, and journalists seeking accountability and insight into government activities. While CORA ensures broad access, the statutes also include important provisions to protect personal privacy and exempt non-public information from disclosure.
Public records serve various purposes, particularly in the realm of background checks and investigative research. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—a division of the Department of Public Safety—offers detailed criminal history reports, including arrest and conviction records.
Criminal cases can also be retrieved directly from county and state courts, providing information such as:
Defendant names
Criminal charges
Court case numbers and outcomes
In addition to criminal records, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) allows individuals and employers to order driving records, which may be required for employment screening.
Other relevant databases for background checks include occupational license lookups and industry certification verifications, many of which are available for free online.
If you’re trying to locate an individual in Colorado, people finder tools can be used to uncover:
Current and previous addresses
Associated phone numbers
Residential history
Searching historical address data can help determine whether further research in other states is necessary. Many of these tools offer instant results from free databases, making them an efficient starting point for locating Colorado residents.
Searching for assets in Colorado is made easier through publicly accessible online tools. Common sources of asset information include:
County assessor databases for property ownership and valuation records
The Colorado Secretary of State’s business database, which provides free access to corporate filings, UCC searches, and business ownership details
Civil court records, which can reveal judgments, liens, and financial awards
The Colorado District Bankruptcy Court, where you can request documents listing declared assets and liabilities
These records are especially valuable for legal due diligence, financial vetting, or general investigations.
Whether you're conducting a background check, verifying assets, or accessing court documents, PublicRecordCenter’s Colorado directory serves as a one-stop resource. It features:
A categorized index of Colorado agencies and departments
Direct links to official websites
Step-by-step guides for requesting public records
Grouped sources for asset discovery, court document searches, and personal history checks
This centralized tool allows researchers to save time and access only the most relevant, reliable, and official sources when gathering information from across the state of Colorado.
