Chittenden County Court Records

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    Chittenden County is Vermont's most populous county, with Burlington — the state's largest city — as its seat. The Chittenden County Superior Court runs five divisions: civil, criminal, environmental, family, and probate. Each division keeps its own set of case records, and the Superior Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining all of them. You can request records online, by email, by mail, or in person at the relevant division's office during regular business hours.

    If you're just starting your search, the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal lets anonymous users search Civil Division and Judicial Bureau case summaries remotely at no charge. Access to criminal, family, and probate case information, however, is only available to the general public through public access terminals located at the courthouse. You'll find additional court details, forms, and contact information for every division through VermontCourts.us. Clerk offices, the Vermont Crime Information Center, and local town clerks are also useful sources depending on the type of record you need.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Chittenden County?

    There are several ways to track down a Chittenden County court case. The right approach depends on what kind of record you need and how you want to receive it.

    Online via the Public Portal

    The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal is free and open to anyone. Search by party name, attorney name, business name, or case number. To narrow results to Chittenden County, select Chittenden Unit from the Location filter. Keep in mind that the portal currently supports remote document viewing only for Civil Division and Judicial Bureau cases — if you need criminal, family, or probate records, you'll have to visit a courthouse terminal in person.

    Public Access Terminals (PAT)

    Most Chittenden County courthouse locations have public access terminals where you can view records from all divisions, including case types that are restricted from remote online viewing. Here's how to use one:

    1. Visit the courthouse during business hours.
    2. Open the Public Portal on the terminal and select Smart Search.
    3. Enter a party name or case number.
    4. Click on any case number in the results to view the full case record.
    5. Use advanced filtering options to narrow a long results list.

    There's no charge to view records on a PAT, though printing costs a per-page fee.

    By Email or Mail

    To request records by email or mail, complete the Request for Access to Court Records form and submit it to the court division where the case was filed. Email requests go to ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov — follow up by phone a few days later to confirm receipt. For mail requests, send the form to the appropriate courthouse address for the relevant division.

    In Person

    Walk-in requests are accepted at any Chittenden County Superior Court division Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All divisions close on the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 4:00 p.m. for in-service training. The courthouse also closes on judiciary holidays.

    Copy Fees

    ServiceFee
    Paper copies$0.25 per page (minimum $1.00)
    Certified copies$5.00
    Retrieval of older archived cases$7.50 postage fee

    Payment by mail or in person is accepted by check or money order made out to Vermont Superior Court. If you'd prefer to pay by credit card, email the completed request form and note in the email body that you want to pay by phone — the clerk's office can arrange the transaction.

    Are Court Records Public in Chittenden County?

    Court records in Chittenden County are generally open to public inspection. Two main legal authorities govern access: the Vermont Public Records Act (1 V.S.A. 316) and the Vermont Rules for Public Access to Court Records (Vt. Pub. Acc. Ct. Rec.). Under Rule 2, a "court record" covers both judicial branch records — documents related to a court decision — and administrative records about the operation of the judiciary or any court.

    That said, public access has real limits. Rule 6 identifies categories of records shielded from disclosure. The following are not available to the public:

    • Denied search warrant applications
    • Mental health records
    • Judicial work product
    • Names of minor victims
    • Motions for ex parte relief
    • Risk assessments and needs screening records
    • Records that have been sealed, expunged, or otherwise designated confidential
    • Social Security numbers, passport numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, and financial account numbers
    • Prefiled proposed exhibits not yet admitted at trial or an evidentiary hearing
    • Evidence introduced in non-public proceedings
    • Complaints and affidavits filed by a plaintiff until after the hearing has occurred
    • Discovery materials not used at trial or in connection with a court action request
    • Information and supporting affidavits filed in a criminal case where no probable cause was found
    • Contact information (address, phone, email) provided solely for notification purposes
    • Income tax returns and financial information filed in connection with fee-waiver applications
    • Search warrant records (application, affidavits, testimony, inventory, and the warrant itself) until the return of the warrant is filed

    Under 12 V.S.A. 5, the court does not permit remote internet access to criminal, family, or probate case records. Those records are accessible remotely only to case parties, attorneys, and authorized agency personnel with elevated portal accounts. If you're a member of the general public and need access to those case types, plan on visiting a courthouse public access terminal in person.

    If access to a record is denied, you may file a Notice of Appeal of Decision on Access to Court Records with the court where the denial originated.

    Chittenden County Criminal Court Records

    The Chittenden County Criminal Division handles felony and misdemeanor cases. You'll find it at:

    Chittenden Criminal Division
    Address: 32 Cherry Street, Suite 300, Burlington, VT 05401
    Phone: (802) 651-1950
    Email: ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed the second Tuesday of each month, noon–4:00 p.m.)

    Searching Criminal Court Case Records

    Criminal case information isn't available for remote public viewing on the Public Portal, so public users have these options:

    • Public access terminal: Visit the Criminal Division courthouse and use the PAT to search by party name or case number at no charge. Printing fees apply.
    • Mail or in person: Complete the Request for Access to Court Records form, specify Criminal Division as the case type, and submit it to the Criminal Division by mail or at the public service counter. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page (minimum $1.00); certified copies cost $5.00. Payment is by check or money order.
    • Email: Send the completed form to ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov and follow up by phone after a few days to confirm receipt.

    Criminal Record Checks Through the Court

    A criminal record check is different from a single-case records request — it covers all criminal cases for a given individual in that county. The Chittenden County Superior Court handles criminal record checks through the Criminal Division. To request one:

    1. Complete the Criminal Record Check Request & Reply form (form 200-000331), available on the Vermont Judiciary's criminal record checks page.
    2. Provide the subject's name and date of birth. Case numbers are not required.
    3. Submit the form in person at the courthouse or by mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and payment.
    4. The search fee is $30.00 per name. Additional charges apply for photocopies ($0.25 per page, minimum $1.00) and certified copies ($5.00).
    5. Results are typically available within three business days of receipt.

    The court cannot run a statewide search, so if charges may have been filed in multiple counties, you'll need to submit a separate request to each one.

    Statewide Criminal Conviction Reports via VCIC

    For a statewide criminal history, the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) maintains the official state repository of criminal records. You can get a report in three ways:

    • Online: The Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS) provides immediate results for $30.00 per report. You'll need a name and date of birth.

    • By mail: Send a completed Public Request Form, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $30.00 cashier's check or money order to:

      Vermont Crime Information Center
      Criminal Records Section
      45 State Drive
      Waterbury, VT 05671-1300

      Mail requests take five to seven business days.

    • In person: Walk-ins are accepted at the VCIC office in Waterbury, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. In-person results are typically available in about 10 minutes. If you're requesting your own complete criminal history, bring two forms of identification.

    Notarized copies of conviction reports — often needed for international adoption, licensing, immigration, or employment — must be obtained by mail or in person at the VCIC office.

    Local law enforcement agencies also maintain arrest records. For instance, the Essex Police Department publishes monthly arrest reports on its website. For arrest records from a specific incident, contact the police department in the city or town where the arrest occurred.

    Chittenden County Civil Court Records

    The Chittenden County Civil Division is the trial court for civil matters. It handles personal injury, medical malpractice, foreclosure, breach of contract, land disputes, eviction, and wrongful death cases, among others. The Division also hears appeals from the Probate Division and includes a Small Claims docket for disputes with amounts in controversy up to $10,000.

    Civil Division Location

    Address: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401
    Phone: (802) 863-3467
    Email: ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed the second Tuesday of each month, noon–4:00 p.m.)

    Accessing Civil Court Records

    Civil Division case summaries are the one category available for remote public viewing on the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Search by name or case number and filter by Chittenden Unit and Civil Division to locate relevant cases.

    For copies of specific documents within a civil case file, you can:

    • Use the Public Portal for cases where documents are viewable remotely.
    • Submit the Request for Access to Court Records form by email, mail, or in person to the Civil Division.
    • Visit a public access terminal at the courthouse to view additional records not available remotely.

    Fees for civil record copies follow the standard schedule: $0.25 per page (minimum $1.00) for paper copies and $5.00 for certified copies. Archived cases may carry a $7.50 retrieval postage fee.

    Environmental Division

    The statewide Environmental Division — which handles appeals from municipal zoning boards, environmental enforcement actions, and Act 250 proceedings — is also located in Burlington:

    Address: 32 Cherry Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401
    Phone: (802) 951-1740

    Environmental Division records follow the same request procedures and fee schedule as other Superior Court divisions.

    Chittenden County Family Court Records

    The Chittenden County Family Division handles divorce, legal separation, civil union dissolution, parentage, child custody (parental rights and responsibilities), parent-child contact (parenting time), child support, and domestic violence cases.

    Family Division Location

    Address: 32 Cherry Street, Suite 200, Burlington, VT 05401
    Phone: (802) 651-1709
    Email: ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed the second Tuesday of each month, noon–4:00 p.m.)

    Confidentiality of Family Records

    Many family court records are confidential under both the Rules for Public Access to Court Records and 12 V.S.A. 5, which prohibits remote internet access to family case records. Public users cannot view family case information through the Public Portal. General public access is limited to in-person review at a courthouse public access terminal, where what you can view will depend on the confidentiality status of each case.

    Requesting Family Court Records

    If you need copies of public family court records, here's the process:

    1. Complete the Request for Access to Court Records form.
    2. Submit the form by email to ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov, by mail, or in person during business hours.
    3. Include the case name or number and select Family Division as the case type.
    4. Standard copy fees apply: $0.25 per page; $5.00 for certified copies.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records are vital records kept at the town or city level, not by the court. To get a copy of a Chittenden County marriage record, contact the clerk's office in the municipality where the marriage license was issued. Certified copies cost $10.00; non-certified copies cost $2.00.

    Divorce Certificates

    If you need proof that a divorce occurred — but not the full decree — you can order a Certificate of Divorce from the Vermont Department of Health through the Vermont Vital Records Request Service.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death certificates are issued by the town or city clerk where the event took place. Non-certified copies are public records. Certified copies are restricted to the record subject (for birth records), qualifying family members, court-appointed executors or administrators, legal representatives, individuals with a court order, and certain government agencies. Certified copies cost $10.00 per copy; non-certified copies cost $2.00. The City of Burlington Clerk/Treasurer's Office accepts requests online, by mail, and in person Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Chittenden County Probate Court Records

    The Chittenden County Probate Division has jurisdiction over estate administration, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, emancipation of minors, and the correction or establishment of birth, death, and marriage records.

    Probate Division Location

    Address: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401
    Phone: (802) 651-1518
    Email: ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed the second Tuesday of each month, noon–4:00 p.m.)

    Searching Probate Records

    Like criminal and family records, probate case information is not available for remote public viewing on the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal under 12 V.S.A. 5. You have a few options for getting access:

    • Public access terminal: Visit the Probate Division at the courthouse and search by name or case number on the PAT at no charge. You can search using an attorney name, business name, party name, case number, case cross-reference number, or citation number. Printing fees apply.
    • Email: Send a completed Request for Access to Court Records form to ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov and follow up by phone to verify receipt.
    • Mail: Send the completed form along with payment — check or money order payable to Vermont Superior Court — to the Probate Division at 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
    • In person: Submit the form at the Probate Division counter during business hours. Standard copy fees apply.

    Probate Fees

    Paper copies of probate records cost $0.25 per page with a $1.00 minimum. Certified copies cost $5.00. Retrieving archived cases not stored at the courthouse requires an advance postage fee of $7.50. If you'd like to pay by credit card, email the request form and indicate your preferred payment method in the email body — the clerk can arrange a phone transaction.

    Adoption records held by the Probate Division are generally confidential and carry additional access restrictions beyond the standard public records rules. Guardianship and conservatorship records may be partially public, depending on the specific filings and any protective orders the court has issued.