Chittenden County Court Records Search

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    Chittenden County is the most populous county in Vermont and home to Burlington, the state’s largest city. The Chittenden County Superior Court operates five divisions—civil, criminal, environmental, family, and probate—each maintaining its own set of case records. The Superior Court Clerk is charged with the safekeeping of all court records within the county. Members of the public may request these records online, by email, by mail, or in person at the relevant division’s office during regular business hours.

    Vermont residents and researchers looking for court case information can begin by consulting official judiciary resources. The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal allows anonymous users to search Civil Division and Judicial Bureau case summaries remotely. Access to criminal, family, and probate case information is available to the general public only through public access terminals located at the courthouse. Additional court details, forms, and contact information for every division can be found through VermontCourts.us. Clerk offices, the Vermont Crime Information Center, and local town clerks also serve as points of access for various record types.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Chittenden County?

    There are several methods for locating a court case in Chittenden County, and the best approach depends on the type of record needed and how you prefer to receive it.

    Online via the Public Portal

    The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal is available at no charge for remote case searches. Anonymous users can search by party name, attorney name, business name, or case number. To narrow results to Chittenden County, select “Chittenden Unit” from the Location filter. The portal currently provides remote document viewing only for Civil Division and Judicial Bureau cases. For criminal, family, and probate records, the public must use a courthouse terminal.

    Public Access Terminals (PAT)

    Most Chittenden County courthouse locations have public access terminals where visitors can view records from all divisions, including case types that are restricted from remote online viewing. To use a PAT:

    1. Visit the courthouse during business hours.
    2. Navigate to 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 refine results if the list is extensive.

    There is no charge to view records on a PAT, though printing carries 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 should be sent to ChittendenUnit@vtcourts.gov. Follow up with a phone call a few days after emailing to confirm receipt. Mail requests should be directed to the appropriate courthouse address.

    In Person

    Walk-in requests are accepted at any Chittenden County Superior Court division during office hours: 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 is also closed 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 via check or money order made out to Vermont Superior Court. Credit card payment can be arranged over the phone by emailing the completed request form and noting in the email body that you wish to pay by phone.

    Are Court Records Public in Chittenden County?

    Court records in Chittenden County are presumptively open to public inspection. Two primary 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 includes both judicial branch records—documents in the judiciary’s possession related to a court decision—and administrative records about the operation of the judicial branch or any court.

    While the default is public access, Rule 6 identifies categories of records that are 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. These records are accessible remotely only to case parties, attorneys, and authorized agency personnel with elevated portal accounts. General public access to those case types requires an in-person visit to a courthouse public access terminal.

    Anyone denied access to a court record 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 adjudicates felony and misdemeanor cases. It is located 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

    Because criminal case information is not available for remote public viewing on the Public Portal, public users have the following 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. Submit the form 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 differs from a single-case record request—it covers all criminal cases for a given individual in that county. The Chittenden County Superior Court processes 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 perform a statewide search. A separate request must be submitted in each county where charges may have been filed.

    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. Reports can be obtained through:

    • Online: The Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS) provides immediate results for $30.00 per report. A name and date of birth are required.

    • 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. Results for in-person requests are typically available in approximately 10 minutes. Two forms of identification are required for individuals requesting their own complete criminal history.

    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 example, the Essex Police Department publishes monthly arrest reports on its website. Contact the police department in the city or town where the arrest occurred for specific records.

    Chittenden County Civil Court Records

    The Chittenden County Civil Division serves as the trial court for civil matters. It hears cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, foreclosure, breach of contract, land disputes, eviction, and wrongful death, among other civil causes of action. The Division also handles 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. Users can search by name or case number and filter by “Chittenden Unit” and “Civil Division” to locate relevant cases.

    For copies of documents within a civil case file, requesters may:

    • 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 incur 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 cases involving divorce, legal separation, civil union dissolution, parentage, child custody (parental rights and responsibilities), parent-child contact (parenting time), child support, and domestic violence.

    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. Access for the general public is limited to in-person review at a courthouse public access terminal, where viewable records will depend on the confidentiality status of each case.

    Requesting Family Court Records

    Requesters seeking copies of public family court records should:

    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. Specify 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 maintained at the town or city level, not by the court. A copy of a Chittenden County marriage record must be obtained from 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

    Individuals who need documentation confirming that a divorce occurred—but do not need the full decree—may 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 occurred. Non-certified copies are public records. Certified copies are restricted and available only to the record subject (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, and non-certified copies cost $2.00 per copy. The City of Burlington Clerk/Treasurer’s Office accepts requests online, by mail, and in person during its regular hours of 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 matters including 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. The public can access probate records through the following methods:

    • Public access terminal: Visit the Probate Division at the courthouse and search by name or case number on the PAT at no charge. Searches can be conducted 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. Follow up by phone to verify receipt.
    • Mail: Mail 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. Retrieval of archived cases not stored at the courthouse requires an advance postage fee of $7.50. Credit card payments over the phone can be arranged by emailing the request form and indicating the preferred payment method in the email body.

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