Notice of Appearance - Colorado

ENTRY OF APPEARANCE / NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

State of Colorado -- District Court / County Court

COURT HEADER AND CASE CAPTION

Colorado uses a distinctive caption format for court filings:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  DISTRICT COURT, [________________________________] COUNTY,         │
│  COLORADO                                                           │
│  Court Address: [________________________________]                  │
│                                                                     │
│  Plaintiff(s): [________________________________]                   │
│                                                                     │
│  v.                                                                 │
│                                                                     │
│  Defendant(s): [________________________________]                   │
│                                                                     │
│  ──────────────────────────────────────────────────                 │
│  ATTORNEY OR PARTY WITHOUT ATTORNEY (Name and Address):             │
│  [________________________________]                                 │
│  [________________________________]                                 │
│  [________________________________], CO [________]                  │
│  Phone Number: [________________________________]                   │
│  E-mail: [________________________________]                         │
│  Atty. Reg. #: [________________________________]                   │
│                                                                     │
│  Case Number: [________________________________]                    │
│  Courtroom: [________________________________]                      │
│                                                                     │
│  ENTRY OF APPEARANCE                                                │
│                                                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Select Court:

☐ District Court (general jurisdiction)
☐ County Court (limited jurisdiction -- civil claims up to $25,000)
☐ Denver District Court
☐ Denver County Court
☐ Water Court (Water Divisions 1-7)

ENTRY OF APPEARANCE

COMES NOW [________________________________], Attorney Registration Number [________________________________], and pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1, hereby enters an appearance on behalf of [________________________________] ("Client") in the above-captioned matter.

1. ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Note: Colorado uses "Attorney Registration Number" (Atty. Reg. #) rather than "Bar Number." This number is assigned by the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation upon admission.

2. CLIENT AND PARTY INFORMATION

The undersigned attorney enters this appearance on behalf of:

Client Name: [________________________________]

Client's Role in this Matter:

☐ Plaintiff
☐ Defendant
☐ Third-Party Plaintiff
☐ Third-Party Defendant
☐ Cross-Claimant
☐ Counter-Claimant
☐ Intervenor
☐ Petitioner
☐ Respondent (Domestic Relations)
☐ Co-Respondent (Domestic Relations)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

3. TYPE OF APPEARANCE

A. Full Entry of Appearance

☐ Full Entry of Appearance -- The undersigned enters a full appearance on behalf of the above-named Client and will represent the Client in all aspects of this matter. Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1, no attorney shall appear in any matter before the court unless that attorney has entered an appearance by filing an Entry of Appearance or signing a pleading.

B. Limited Representation Entry of Appearance

☐ Limited Representation Entry of Appearance -- Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1(5) and Colo. RPC 1.2(c), the undersigned enters a limited appearance. The scope of this representation is limited to:

☐ Specific hearing or proceeding on [__/__/____]: [________________________________]
☐ Specific motion(s): [________________________________]
☐ Discovery phase only
☐ Mediation or settlement negotiations only
☐ Trial only
☐ Post-judgment matters only
☐ Other specific limitation: [________________________________]

Description of limitation: [________________________________]

Anticipated termination date or event: [________________________________]

Note: Under C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1(5), an attorney making a limited appearance must specify the scope of representation. When the limited representation is completed, the attorney must file a Notice of Completion of Limited Representation.

C. Entry of Appearance -- Jurisdictional Challenge Only

☐ Jurisdictional Challenge -- The undersigned enters an appearance solely for the purpose of challenging jurisdiction or venue under C.R.C.P. 12(b). This entry does not constitute a general appearance or waive objections to jurisdiction.

4. ELECTRONIC SERVICE (CCE)

Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-26, regarding electronic service through the Colorado Courts E-Filing (CCE) system:

☐ The undersigned CONSENTS to electronic service through the CCE system. Documents may be served electronically to: [________________________________]

☐ The undersigned DOES NOT CONSENT to electronic service. All service must be made in compliance with C.R.C.P. 5.

CCE Registration Status:

☐ Attorney is registered with CCE and will file and receive service electronically.
☐ Attorney is in the process of registering with CCE.
☐ Attorney claims exemption from CCE e-filing (specify basis): [________________________________]

IMPORTANT: CCE registration is mandatory for most civil practitioners in Colorado. Register at https://www.courts.state.co.us/efiling. Documents filed through CCE before 11:59 PM Mountain Time are deemed filed that day.

5. SUBSTITUTION OR ADDITIONAL COUNSEL

☐ This is a new appearance -- no prior counsel has appeared for this Client.

☐ This is an additional appearance -- the undersigned is appearing as co-counsel alongside: [________________________________] (Atty. Reg. # [________________________________]).

☐ This is a substitution of counsel -- the undersigned is replacing:

Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1(2), the prior attorney's withdrawal has been approved or consented to, and the undersigned now enters an appearance.

☐ Client consent to substitution is attached or on file.
☐ Prior counsel consent to substitution is attached or on file.

☐ Client previously appeared pro se. The undersigned now enters an appearance to represent the Client.

6. PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION (Out-of-State Attorneys)

☐ Not applicable -- attorney is admitted and licensed in Colorado.

☐ The undersigned out-of-state attorney seeks to appear pro hac vice pursuant to C.R.C.P. 205.3.

Pro Hac Vice Requirements (C.R.C.P. 205.3):

☐ A Verified Motion requesting permission to appear pro hac vice has been filed with this Court.
☐ A copy of the Verified Motion has been filed with the Clerk of the Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Registration.
☐ The filing fee of $300.00 (check payable to "Clerk of the Colorado Supreme Court") has been submitted to the Office of Attorney Registration.
☐ Permission from the trial court has been or will be obtained prior to appearing in any proceedings.

Unless an exception applies, the following is required:

☐ A Colorado associate attorney (local counsel) has been designated:

Note: Under C.R.C.P. 205.3, unless an exception applies, the pro hac vice attorney must designate Colorado local counsel who is admitted and licensed in Colorado. The application process requires concurrent filing with the trial court and the Colorado Supreme Court.

7. DOMESTIC RELATIONS MATTERS (If Applicable)

☐ Not applicable.

☐ This matter is a domestic relations case. The following additional documents are filed concurrently:

☐ Case Information Sheet (JDF 1101)
☐ Limited Representation Entry of Appearance (JDF 1103) -- for limited scope domestic relations matters
☐ Confidential Information Sheet
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Note: In domestic relations matters, both an Entry of Appearance and a Case Information Sheet (JDF 1101) may be required to be filed simultaneously. Limited representation in domestic relations cases requires JDF 1103.

8. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted this [____] day of [________________________________], [________].

[________________________________]
(Law Firm Name)


By: ________________________________________
    [________________________________], # [________________________________]
    Attorney for [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]
         [________________________________], CO [________]
Phone:   [________________________________]
Email:   [________________________________]

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [__/__/____], a true and correct copy of this ENTRY OF APPEARANCE was served via the method(s) indicated in accordance with C.R.C.P. 5 on the following:

________________________________________
[________________________________], # [________________________________]

PRACTITIONER NOTES AND GUIDANCE

Colorado Court Structure

Colorado has 22 judicial districts with District Courts (general jurisdiction) and County Courts (limited jurisdiction).

Colorado Entry of Appearance Requirements

Under C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1:

• No attorney shall appear in any matter before the court unless that attorney has entered an appearance by filing an Entry of Appearance or signing a pleading.
• Signing a pleading constitutes an entry of appearance for the party on whose behalf the pleading is signed.
• An attorney may be required to file a separate Entry of Appearance even if they have signed a pleading, depending on the court's practices.

2024 Amendments to C.R.C.P. 11(b)

On December 19, 2024, the Colorado Supreme Court amended Rule 11(b) of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure. Key changes:

• Conforms Rule 11(b) to the current version of Rule 5(e) of the Colorado Rules of Appellate Procedure.
• Practitioners should review the amended rule for any changes affecting the signature and certification requirements for filed documents.

CCE (Colorado Courts E-Filing)

• Mandatory: CCE registration is mandatory for most civil practitioners.
• Registration: Register at https://www.courts.state.co.us/efiling
• Filing Deadline: Documents filed before 11:59 PM Mountain Time are deemed filed that day.
• Pro Hac Vice Attorneys: Out-of-state attorneys admitted pro hac vice must also register with CCE. A separate registration packet is available.
• Service: Electronic service through CCE satisfies C.R.C.P. 5 requirements when consented to.

Limited Scope Representation

Colorado has embraced limited scope representation ("unbundled legal services"):

• C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1(5): Governs limited representation entries of appearance.
• Colo. RPC 1.2(c): Permits attorneys to limit the scope of representation with informed consent.
• Drafting Assistance Without Appearance: Under C.R.C.P. 11(b), an attorney may provide drafting assistance to a self-represented party without filing an entry of appearance. The documents must disclose the attorney's name, address, telephone, and email.
• JDF 1103: For domestic relations limited representation, use Judicial Council Form JDF 1103.

Withdrawal of Counsel

Under C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1(2):

• An attorney may withdraw with consent of the client and approval of the court.
• The motion to withdraw must include: the client's current address and telephone number; all pending deadlines and hearing dates; and the reason for withdrawal (without violating attorney-client privilege).
• Withdrawal is not effective until the court grants the motion.

Domestic Relations Cases

• File both an Entry of Appearance and a Case Information Sheet (JDF 1101) simultaneously.
• Limited representation in domestic relations uses JDF 1103.
• Confidential financial information may require separate filings.

Key Practice Tips

1. Attorney Registration Number: Colorado uses "Atty. Reg. #" (not "Bar Number"). Include it on every filing.
2. CCE Mandatory: Register with CCE before your first filing.
3. Caption Format: Colorado uses a distinctive caption format with Plaintiff(s)/Defendant(s) on separate lines and attorney information below the horizontal rule.
4. JDF Forms: Check whether a Judicial Department Form (JDF) applies to your filing type.
5. Filing Fee: Entry of Appearance alone typically does not carry a separate filing fee (the case filing fee covers it), but confirm with the specific court.
6. Responsive Pleading Deadline: Filing an Entry of Appearance does NOT extend the 21-day deadline to respond under C.R.C.P. 12(a).
7. Denver County: Denver County has its own set of local rules; confirm requirements before filing.

Colorado Judicial Districts

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• C.R.C.P. 121, Section 1-1: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov
• Colorado Courts E-Filing (CCE): https://www.courts.state.co.us/efiling
• C.R.C.P. 205.3 (Pro Hac Vice): https://coloradosupremecourt.com/Future%20Lawyers/ProHacVice.asp
• 2024 Amendments to C.R.C.P. 11(b): https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Rule%20Change%202024(20).pdf
• Colorado Bar Association: https://www.cobar.org