Caledonia County Court Records Search
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Caledonia County, Vermont, is served by a unified Superior Court structure that consolidates criminal, civil, family, and probate matters under a single courthouse in St. Johnsbury. The county’s court records document a broad spectrum of legal proceedings, from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to divorce and estate administration. These files are maintained by the court clerk and are subject to Vermont’s public records framework, which makes most court documents available to any member of the public upon request, with specific exceptions for sensitive categories of information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Caledonia County?
Vermont residents and out-of-state requesters alike have several avenues for accessing Caledonia County court case information. VermontCourts.us provides an orientation to Vermont’s court structure and can help users determine which division handles a particular matter. For actual case lookups, the Vermont Judiciary’s Public Portal offers web-based access to court records with customized, role-based access for members of the public. Most Caledonia County courthouses also maintain public access terminals (PATs) on-site, which allow visitors to search by case number or party name at no charge — though printing carries a per-page fee. In-person requests, mail submissions, and email inquiries to the court clerk’s office are all accepted methods for obtaining copies of specific case files.
Are Court Records Public in Caledonia County?
Vermont’s Public Records Act, codified at 1 V.S.A. § 316, establishes that any person may inspect or copy public records held by a public agency, including the courts. This presumption of openness applies broadly to Caledonia County court filings, meaning case documents, orders, judgments, and motions are generally available upon request.
However, the Vermont Rules for Public Access to Court Records identify categories that are exempt from disclosure. Requesters should be aware that the following types of records are withheld or restricted:
- Records of grand jury proceedings
- Juvenile court records and related files
- Sealed or expunged criminal records
- Records containing personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers and financial account details
- Medical and psychological evaluations submitted to the court
- Records related to alcohol or drug dependency treatment
- Adoption records
- Active law enforcement investigation materials
- Child custody and child support records where disclosure conflicts with applicable privacy protections
When access to a court record is denied, an aggrieved requester may appeal the decision by filing a Notice of Appeal of Decision on Access to Court Records with the relevant court division.
Caledonia County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Caledonia County are handled by the Criminal Division of the Superior Court, located at the Caledonia County Courthouse in St. Johnsbury. This division processes felony and misdemeanor cases, issues warrants, conducts arraignments, and maintains all related case files.
Caledonia County Criminal Division
Address: 1126 Main Street, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Phone: (802) 748-6600
Fax: (802) 748-6603
Email: CaledoniaEssexUnit@vtcourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed the second Tuesday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon for in-service training)
Presiding Judge: Honorable Heather Gray
Clerk of Court: Margaret Villeneuve
There is an important distinction in Vermont between a criminal record check — which covers all criminal cases associated with a specific individual — and a request for access to a single case file. The Vermont Judiciary’s Criminal Record Checks page explains both processes clearly.
Requesting a Statewide Criminal Record Search
- Obtain and complete the Request for Criminal Record Search form (Form 200-00331), available from the Vermont Judiciary website.
- Provide the full name and date of birth of the subject.
- Include an email address for return of results.
- Submit payment by check or money order made payable to Vermont Superior Court. The form specifies the current fee.
- Mail or hand-deliver the completed form and payment to:
Vermont Judiciary Information Center
Costello Courthouse, 32 Cherry Street, Ground Floor
Burlington, VT 05401
Results are returned by email within approximately three business days of receipt. Requests for criminal records predating 1990 must be sent directly to the county courthouse where the case was filed. Results will not include out-of-state records or confidential cases.
For information about individuals held in the Caledonia County facility, the Caledonia County Sheriff’s Office is located at 970 Memorial Drive, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819, and can be reached at (802) 748-6666.
Caledonia County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Caledonia County Superior Court handles non-criminal disputes, including contract claims, personal injury actions, small claims, liens, and other civil matters. Civil records encompass complaints, answers, motions, orders, and final judgments and are generally public documents available through the courthouse.
Caledonia County Civil Division
Address: 1126 Main Street, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Phone: (802) 748-6600
Fax: (802) 748-6603
Email: CaledoniaEssexUnit@vtcourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
To request copies of civil case records, requesters must complete the Request for Access to Court Records form, available through the Vermont Judiciary’s Records Requests page. Completed forms can be submitted by the following methods:
- In person at the Civil Division during business hours
- By mail to the courthouse address above
- By email to CaledoniaEssexUnit@vtcourts.gov (follow up with a phone call after a few days to confirm receipt)
Copy Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Paper copies | $0.25 per page (minimum $1.00) |
| Certified copies | $5.00 |
| Postage (older off-site cases) | $7.50 prepaid |
Payments for copies may be made by check or money order payable to Vermont Superior Court, submitted in person or by mail. Credit card payments over the phone are available — note this preference in the body of an email submission and the court will contact you to complete the transaction.
If a requested case file is no longer stored at the courthouse, the clerk will identify the off-site facility holding the record and provide the necessary locator numbers to facilitate access.
Caledonia County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Caledonia County are handled by the Family Division of the Superior Court, which operates under Vermont’s unified family court model. All family-related proceedings involving a household are managed within this single division, avoiding the need to navigate multiple courts.
Caledonia County Family Division
Address: 1126 Main Street, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Phone: (802) 748-6600
Fax: (802) 748-6603
Email: CaledoniaEssexUnit@vtcourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Presiding Judge: Honorable Heather Gray
Superior Judge: Honorable Bonnie Badgewick
Assistant Judges: Honorable John S. Hall, Honorable Merle Haskins
Clerk of Court: Margaret Villeneuve
Magistrates: Alicia Humbert and Jessica Seman
The Vermont Family Division handles the following case types, among others:
- Dissolution of marriage and legal separation
- Civil union dissolution
- Child custody, support, and visitation
- Parentage determinations
- Domestic violence — Relief from Abuse orders (after-hours emergency line: (800) 540-9990)
- Dependency, neglect, and abuse proceedings
- Termination of parental rights
- Status offenses (truancy, runaway, beyond parental control)
Family court proceedings do not include jury trials; decisions are made by the presiding judge or magistrate. Family Division records follow the same request process used for other divisions — submit the Request for Access to Court Records form to the court by in person, mail, or email.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage and divorce certificates for Caledonia County are issued by the Vermont Department of Health. Certified copies carry a fee of $10 per certificate, plus a $2 processing fee if ordered online. The three ordering options are:
- Town/City Clerk — The fastest and most affordable method for Vermont residents; local clerks can issue both certified and noncertified copies of vital records on file.
- Online — Place orders through the Vermont Vital Records Ordering Service using a credit card; most orders ship within 5 to 7 business days.
- By mail — Complete the applicable application form and mail it with payment to the address listed on the form. For marriages and divorces from 2024 onward, use the marriage/divorce/dissolution application. For records from 2023 and earlier, a separate application applies.
Only the parties to a marriage or their immediate families may obtain certified copies of marriage certificates. If you need documentation of a divorce without requiring the full decree, a Certificate of Divorce may be ordered through the online Vermont Vital Records Request Service.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth and death certificates are restricted under Vermont law to the record subject (if 18 or older), immediate family members, legal guardians, and their authorized representatives. Noncertified copies are available to anyone at no charge. The Certified Copy of Birth or Death Certificate Application covers records from January 1, 1909 to the present.
Vital Records Office
280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370
Tel: (800) 439-5008
Email: VitalRecords@vermont.gov
Caledonia County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Caledonia County fall within the Probate Division of the Superior Court, which sits at the same courthouse location as the other divisions. Probate judges in Vermont are elected to four-year terms and handle a range of proceedings that extend beyond traditional estate administration.
The Vermont Probate Division has jurisdiction over the following matter types:
- Probate of wills and validation of estate documents
- Administration of intestate estates
- Trust administration and oversight
- Adult and minor guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Adoptions
- Emancipation of minors
- Corrections to birth, death, and marriage records
- Authorization of nonresident clergy to perform marriages
Searching Probate Records
Caledonia County probate records are accessible through the same request procedures used for other court divisions. Requesters should:
- Visit the courthouse in person and use the public access terminal to search by case number or party name, or
- Complete the Request for Access to Court Records form and submit it to the courthouse by mail, in person, or by email.
When visiting in person, bring a valid photo ID and as much identifying information as possible — the decedent’s or ward’s full name, approximate filing date, and any known case number will help staff locate the file efficiently. Copies are charged at $0.25 per page (minimum $1.00) for regular copies and $5.00 for certified copies. A $7.50 prepaid postage fee applies if the case file has been moved to an off-site records storage facility.
Historical Caledonia County probate records are also available through the Vermont Secretary of State’s Archives and Records Administration, which holds older probate materials and maintains access to select collections through services such as Ancestry.com, with free access available to Vermont residents for research and printing. These archives are particularly useful for estate and guardianship records predating the unified Superior Court structure.