Colorado Background Checks

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Vital Records Search, is the central distribution location for the issuance of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. These records are not released to just anyone for Colorado background checks. In keeping with Colorado law, only those with a proof of relationship to the individual or a “direct and tangible interest” in obtaining the vital records are eligible for access.

When doing Colorado background checks, a main family member, or the individual named in the document, with valid ID, can access the vital records. Legal representatives or probate researchers, with proof of their credentials, are examples of non-family members who are likely to be granted access to someone else’s vital records.

Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce certificates all have a fee of $17, with additional copies available at $10. Marriage certificates are available from 1900 – 1939 and 1975 to the present. For dates between 1940 – 1974, it’s necessary to obtain these certificates from the county court in which the marriage license was issued.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Vital Records Search, also doesn’t maintain divorce records between 1940 – 1967, so these documents must be retrieved from the county in which the dissolution took place. Divorce records from 1851 – 1931 and 1968 to ther present are available.

Walk-in, same day service for birth, death, marriage and divorce documents, such as those that may be used in Colorado background checks, is typically available at the Vital Records Search office at this address:

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
Phone: (303) 692-2000

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the central source of criminal history background checking information in the state. In Colorado, criminal history records are open to the public unless they involve juveniles or are sealed. Warrants and criminal background information from other states are not provided in CBI files. Colorado background checks from the CBI include fingerprint based criminal history information.

CO Background Check

A unique situation in Colorado criminal history reports is that before 1998, dispositions weren’t usually added to CBI records. Although, where known, disposition information was added after that year, there are still many files that don’t have it included and are marked “disposition unknown.” For Colorado criminal background checks done by the CBI, it’s mandatory to have the subject’s first and last names as well as his or her date of birth (DOB). Other information such as sex and race are optional.

Official or notarized criminal history searches on CBI letterhead are available for $13. Personal checks aren’t accepted, but business and cashier checks, as well as money orders and credit cards, are permitted. A written request form must be submitted to CBI for Colorado background checks. Results typically take 3 business days, plus mailing time. The CBI works with The Criminal Background Check Unit (CBC) to perform checks on local residents for various legal circumstances.

The contact information for the CBI is:
Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
690 Kipling St., #3000
Denver, CO 80215
Phone: (303) 239-4208
Fax: (303) 239-5858