Colorado Small Claims Court Forms: JDF 250, JDF 248, and Every Form You Need

The Forms You Will Actually Use

Colorado small claims court uses a standard set of Judicial Department Forms (JDF) published by the Colorado Judicial Branch. Every form is free to download from coloradojudicial.gov, but knowing which ones you need and how they fit together saves trips to the courthouse.

Form JDF 250: The Main Filing Document

This is the document that starts your case. Officially titled "Notice, Claim and Summons to Appear for Trial," JDF 250 is a 4-part, 7-page packet:

• Part 1 (Page 1): Court record copy
• Part 2 (Pages 2–3): Defendant's copy, with response and counterclaim sections on the back
• Part 3 (Page 4): Plaintiff's copy
• Part 4 (Pages 5–7): Affidavit of Service / Return of Service

You fill out the claim details, sign a certification under penalty of perjury that you have not exceeded the filing frequency caps (2 per month, 18 per year in that county), and bring it to the clerk counter with your filing fee ($31 or $55 depending on claim amount).

The clerk stamps it, assigns a trial date at least 30 days out, and you are responsible for getting the defendant's copy served at least 15 days before trial.

Form JDF 248: The How-To Guide

JDF 248 is the court's own 5-page instruction sheet for small claims procedure. It covers eligibility, venue selection, service options, hearing preparation, and what happens after judgment. The Judicial Branch publishes translated versions in Spanish, Russian, Burmese, French, Korean, and Mandarin.

Read JDF 248 before you fill out JDF 250 — it explains what goes in each section. But it is a text-heavy overview, not a step-by-step workflow, and it does not walk you through entity verification or exhibit organization.

Form JDF 205 and JDF 206: Fee Waiver

If you cannot afford the filing fee, Form JDF 205 ("Motion to Waive Fees") is the fee waiver application. You qualify if your household income is at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level, or if you are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, SSI, Old Age Pension, Aid to the Needy and Disabled, or Aid to the Blind Colorado. Form JDF 206 is the judge's order granting or denying the waiver.

Form JDF 254: Subpoena

If a witness refuses to come to your hearing voluntarily, Form JDF 254 compels their attendance. You pay an $8 subpoena fee to the clerk, then serve the subpoena personally — along with a check for the $20 daily witness fee and $0.58 per mile traveled — through someone over 18 who is not a party to the case.

Other Forms You May Encounter

• JDF 75 (Stipulation): If you settle before or during trial, this form records the agreement and converts it into a binding court order
• JDF 251 (Notice of Removal): Used by defendants to transfer a case to county civil or district court when their counterclaim exceeds $7,500 — filed at least 7 days before trial
• JDF 256 (Notice of Representation of Attorney): If the defendant wants to bring a lawyer, they file this at least 7 days before trial, which also entitles you to hire counsel
• JDF 740 (Request for Correction of Clerical Errors): Fixes minor caption mistakes before trial

Where to Get the Forms

All JDF forms are downloadable from the Colorado Judicial Branch website (coloradojudicial.gov under Self-Help → Small Claims). Physical copies are available at any county court clerk counter. Denver County Court forms are processed at 1437 Bannock Street, Room 135.

E-filing is mandatory for attorneys. For unrepresented small claims filers, e-filing availability varies by judicial district; paper filing at the clerk counter or by mail remains a standard route.

Getting the forms is the easy part. Filling them out correctly — naming the right legal entity, selecting proper venue, calculating your claim with interest — is where most mistakes happen. The Colorado small claims filing guide includes field-by-field instructions for JDF 250 and every supporting form.

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