Rio Grande County, Colorado: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Rio Grande County Court (Small Claims Division, 12th Judicial District) in Del Norte. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $7,500. Colorado return time: 30 days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $797. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Rio Grande County Court (Small Claims Division, 12th Judicial District)
City	Del Norte
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$7,500 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	30 days after Termination of the lease or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last. 60 days after Termination of the lease or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last. Applies when: lease specifies a longer period (statute max 60 days).
Time limit to sue	3 years
Deposit statute	C.R.S. 38-12-103 and 38-12-104 (Colorado Security Deposit Refund Act, Title 38, Article 12, Part 1); as amended by HB25-1249, effective January 1, 2026

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $7,500 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Colorado statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
No, or my lease doesn't say	30 days	Termination of the lease or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last
Yes, my lease says the landlord has more time (the law caps it at 60 days)	60 days	Termination of the lease or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last

Colorado return rule: 30 days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Rio Grande County Court (Small Claims Division, 12th Judicial District). Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Rio Grande County.
The Colorado business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Colorado Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Colorado filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: private process server; constable or sheriff.

Procedure source (medium confidence): Small Claims ($7,500 award limit) Plaintiff / Petitioner $0.00 - $500.00 $31 $500.01 - $7,500.00 $55 13-32-101(1)(c)(IV)(A) 13-32-101(1)(c)(IV)(C)

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Rio Grande County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$476	$952	$1,428	Fits under the $7,500 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$797	$1,594	$2,391	Fits under the $7,500 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$697	$1,394	$2,091	Fits under the $7,500 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$671	$1,342	$2,013	Fits under the $7,500 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Rio Grande County compare with other Colorado counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $797: rank 56 of 63 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 31.6% of households rent in Rio Grande County.

Rio Grande County two-bedroom rent $797, rank 56 of 63 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Cheyenne County	$847
Bent County	$827
Rio Grande County	$797
Otero County	$782
Lincoln County	$767
Sedgwick County	$750

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 63 of 64 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Rio Grande County

Center
Del Norte
Monte Vista
South Fork

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Colorado Legal Services: free civil legal help for low-income Coloradans on housing and other non-criminal issues, including in-person eviction clinics at certain courthouses
Colorado Poverty Law Project: free legal representation, advice, and clinics for low-income Coloradans facing eviction and housing injustice
Brothers Redevelopment (Colorado Housing Connects): HUD-approved housing counseling and statewide helpline for renters, including tenant-landlord rights information, eviction-prevention navigation, and rental assistance referrals

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Rio Grande County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Rio Grande County?

Rio Grande County Court (Small Claims Division, 12th Judicial District) is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.