About the Jackson County County Clerk and Recorder
Colorado State Archives and the Colorado Secretary of State county clerk roster identify Hayle Johnson as the Jackson County Clerk and Recorder. The state-published contact information lists the office at 396 Lafever Street, P.O. Box 337, Walden, Colorado 80480. The phone number is 970-723-4334, the Secretary of State roster lists fax 970-723-3214, and the email is hjohnson@jacksoncountyco.gov.
The County Clerk and Recorder is separate from the court clerk. Use this office for recorded-document index searches, official recorded-document copies, marriage and civil-union license issuance, certified marriage or civil-union copies, elections, and county motor vehicle functions. Use the Clerk of Court for District Court and County Court case files.
Jackson County Clerk and Recorder
Clerk: Hayle Johnson
396 Lafever Street, P.O. Box 337
Walden, CO 80480
970-723-4334
Fax: 970-723-3214
hjohnson@jacksoncountyco.gov
Landmark Official Records Search
Jackson County uses Landmark Web for official recorded-document index searching. The visible search options include name, document, book and page, consideration, record date, reception number, and legal search. The portal also shows a Quick Search option for seeing all documents with a person's name on them. These are recorded-document searches, not court case searches.
The Landmark portal warning says the Clerk and Recorder's Office believes the index is accurate but reserves the right to make changes, corrections, and updates without notice. It also states that the office assumes no liability for damages or losses arising from errors, omissions, or discrepancies. For official copies, the portal instructs users to contact the Clerk and Recorder's Office at 970-723-4334.
Because Landmark is an index and access portal, searchers should preserve the details they find before ordering copies. A reception number, record date, document type, party name, or book and page reference can make the clerk request more precise and can prevent a recorded-document question from being misrouted to the court clerk.
| Search Mode | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Find recorded documents by party name | Useful for grantor, grantee, and other indexed names. |
| Document | Search by document type or attributes | Dropdown details were not exposed in text capture. |
| Book and Page | Find historical references | Helpful for older recorded instruments. |
| Record Date | Search by date or date range | Use when the recording period is known. |
| Reception Number | Search by instrument number | Best when a citation or prior document gives the number. |
| Legal | Search legal description fields | Useful for land and property-related records. |
Marriage and Civil-Union Services
The County Clerk and Recorder issues Jackson County marriage licenses and civil-union licenses. The Jackson County Marriage Kiosk states that only the Jackson County Clerk and Recorder's office may issue a license using the online application. Applicants must be at the office by 4:00 p.m. for issuance, and both applicants normally appear in person to complete and sign under oath.
If one party cannot appear, that person must obtain an Absentee Affidavit from the Clerk and Recorder's Office. The affidavit must be notarized, and the appearing party must bring the affidavit plus identification for the absent party. Copies of the absent party's identification are accepted. Colorado marriage and civil-union licenses are not valid outside Colorado, and the completed license and certificate must be completed within 35 days and returned to the Clerk and Recorder for recording.
County Clerk and Recorder Fees
The accessible research located marriage and civil-union fees through the Jackson County Marriage Kiosk. A complete recorded-document copy fee schedule was not located, and the Landmark portal directs users to call the Clerk and Recorder for official copies. Court-certified copy fees are not County Clerk and Recorder fees.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | $30 | Jackson County Marriage Kiosk. |
| Civil-union license | $30 | Jackson County Marriage Kiosk. |
| Certified marriage or civil-union copy | $1.25 each | Request from the Clerk and Recorder. |
| Official recorded-document copies | Contact clerk | Landmark says to call 970-723-4334 to print official copies. |
| Court certified copies | Not this office | Use the Clerk of Court at 970-723-4363. |
How to Request Recorded Documents
For recorded documents, start with the Landmark index and then contact the Clerk and Recorder for official copies. The strongest request includes the name searched, document type, record date, reception number, book and page if known, legal description if land-related, copy type requested, and return-contact information.
- Open Jackson County Landmark Web.
- Search by name, document, book and page, record date, reception number, or legal description.
- Record the reception number, document type, names, recording date, and any book/page details found.
- Call 970-723-4334 or email hjohnson@jacksoncountyco.gov for official-copy instructions.
- Confirm fees, payment method, mailing, pickup, and certification needs before ordering.
Records Not Held by the County Clerk and Recorder
The County Clerk and Recorder's Landmark system should not be used as a substitute for court lookup. A deed, mortgage, lien, release, or recorded marriage document may appear in Landmark, but court pleadings and certified court orders do not. Divorce decrees, probate letters, criminal dispositions, traffic case records, civil judgments, small-claims files, and sealed-access questions belong with the Jackson County Combined Court.
For court files, contact the Clerk of Court at 396 Lafever Street, P.O. Box 308, Walden, Colorado 80480, phone 970-723-4363. For docket calendars, use the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search. For Register of Actions information, use CoCourts only for included case types and remember that probate, juvenile, sealed, and confidential records are excluded or limited.
Public Access and Request Limits
Recorded documents and court records use different access rules. County administrative records generally fall under the Colorado Open Records Act unless an exception applies. Criminal justice records from a sheriff or law enforcement custodian fall under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. Court case records are governed by Colorado Judicial Branch access rules, Chief Justice Directive 05-01, and PAIRR rather than an ordinary county clerk request.
That custodian difference explains why a recorded-document request can go to the County Clerk and Recorder while a divorce decree, probate order, or criminal disposition must go to the Clerk of Court. It also explains why an online index result should not be treated as a certified legal copy. Confirm the record type first, then contact the office that maintains that record.
When the record type is uncertain, separate the request by the event that created the record. A document recorded to give public notice of a land transaction, lien, release, or marriage license belongs with the Clerk and Recorder. A document filed because a judge opened a case, entered an order, accepted a pleading, imposed a sentence, or issued a decree belongs with the court. This is especially important in Jackson County because both offices are associated with the courthouse address in Walden, but they use different mailing addresses, phone numbers, systems, and access rules.