Providence County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Providence County was constituted in 1703 as the County of Providence Plantations. Its population in 2022 was 657,984, making up more than 60% of Rhode Island's population. Among its municipalities is the city of Providence, the state's capital, which also serves as the county's government seat. The Superior Court, Probate Courts, District Courts, Family Court, and Municipal Courts work together to maintain law and order within Providence County.

The Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all types of cases; its original jurisdiction lies in cases relating to felonies, civil actions in which the amount in dispute exceeds $10,000, and equity cases. The purpose of the Family Court is to tackle the social problems associated with children and families. This court handles matters involving juvenile delinquency, adoption, domestic violence, and child custody. The District Court is the first entry point for many legal issues within the county. It has original jurisdiction in civil actions in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000 and eviction actions with any amount in controversy. This court also handles misdemeanors and the initial arraignment of felonies.

The Providence County Probate Courts, such as those in the city of Providence, Pawtucket, North Providence, East Providence, Scituate, Glocester, Lincoln, Johnston, Cranston, Woonsocket, Smithfield, and Foster, focus on the authentication of wills, estate administration, asset supervision, and appointment of guardians for minors. The Municipal Courts, on the other hand, deal with a specific range of cases within their respective boundaries. Examples of such cases include noise violations, zoning violations, ordinance violations, and parking violations. Municipal Courts are located in the following locations within Providence County: Burrillville, Central Falls, North Smithfield, Cranston, Woonsocket, Providence, East Providence, and Cumberland.

The court records of cases filed in Providence County are in the custody of the Clerk of each respective court. The public can access electronic case information in the judiciary case management system by using the public access terminals available at the courthouse. The Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal also allows remote viewing of court records. However, records relating to adoption, juvenile proceedings, trade secrets, and pension records are not accessible to the public.

Providence County residents are served by key courts, including Family, Superior, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts. These courts play a vital role in managing the county's judicial workload and ensuring fair justice. Also, the court system prioritizes public access to court records by offering electronic access both at the courthouse and remotely.