Colorado Small Claims Court Online Filing: Can You E-File?

E-Filing Is Mandatory for Attorneys, Limited for Everyone Else

Colorado has an electronic filing system — Colorado Courts E-Filing (CCE) — but its availability for self-represented small claims litigants varies significantly by judicial district. Licensed attorneys are required to e-file in all Colorado courts. If you are filing without a lawyer, which is the norm in small claims, your options depend on where you file.

Denver County Court, the state's busiest small claims court, does not currently offer e-filing for self-represented small claims litigants. If you are filing in Denver, you must submit Form JDF 250 in person at the clerk counter (City and County Building, 1437 Bannock Street, Room 135) or by mail.

Some suburban and urban counties in other judicial districts do accept electronic filings from self-represented parties through the CCE system. Check with the specific county court clerk's office before assuming you can file online.

The Paper Filing Process

For most self-represented filers, the standard process is paper filing at the clerk counter:

1. Download Form JDF 250 from the Colorado Judicial Branch website at coloradojudicial.gov. This is the "Notice, Claim and Summons to Appear for Trial" — the initiating document for your case.
2. Complete all four parts of the 7-page packet. Part 1 is the court's copy, Part 2 goes to the defendant (with response and counterclaim sections on the back), Part 3 is your copy, and Part 4 is the affidavit of service.
3. Deliver the completed packet to the county court clerk counter with your filing fee ($31 for claims up to $500, $55 for claims between $500.01 and $7,500).
4. The clerk stamps, assigns a case number, and sets a trial date — which must be at least 30 days from the issuance date under C.R.C.P. Rule 502(c).

You can also file by mail. Send the completed JDF 250 packet with a check or money order for the filing fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk processes the filing, stamps the trial date, and mails back your copies.

Downloading and Printing Forms

All Colorado small claims forms are available as free PDF downloads from coloradojudicial.gov:

• JDF 250 — Notice, Claim and Summons to Appear for Trial (the main filing form)
• JDF 248 — Guide to Small Claims (instructional overview)
• JDF 205 — Motion to Waive Fees (if you qualify for a fee waiver)
• JDF 254 — Small Claims Subpoena (to compel witness attendance)

If you do not have access to a printer, most county court clerk offices have blank paper forms available at the counter. Public libraries also offer printing, typically for a small per-page charge.

Filing Fee Waivers Are Also Paper-Based

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can request a waiver by submitting Form JDF 205 alongside Form JDF 206. To qualify, your household income must be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level, or you must be enrolled in qualifying public assistance programs (SNAP, TANF, SSI, OAP, AND, or Aid to the Blind). These forms are filed in person with the clerk.

Self-Help Resources at the Courthouse

Every judicial district in Colorado maintains a Self-Help Center staffed by Self-Represented Litigant Coordinators — known as "Sherlocks" under Chief Justice Directive 13-01. They can help you understand which forms to file, where to file, and what the process looks like. They cannot give legal advice, evaluate the merits of your case, or fill out forms for you.

In Denver, the Self-Help Center is in Room 281 of the City and County Building. In rural judicial districts, Sherlocks rotate between multiple courthouses, so call ahead to check availability.

Our Colorado Small Claims Filing Guide provides line-by-line guidance for completing JDF 250 and the full filing checklist — so you arrive at the clerk counter with everything ready, whether you file in person or by mail.

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