Chittenden County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after the first governor of Vermont, Thomas Chittenden, Chittenden County prides itself as the most populous county in the Commonwealth. Its noteworthy court system collaborates with police departments and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that law and order are maintained among its 168,309 residents. Chittenden court system comprises the Superior Court and the Judicial Bureau. Both courts have varying jurisdictions over the distinct legal matters that arise in the county.

The Superior Court shoulders the major responsibility of resolving legal issues in Chittenden County, hence it has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. Superior Court cases are handled by either of its four Divisions: Civil Division, Criminal Division, Family Division, and Probate Division. The Civil Division hears civil cases like medical malpractice and land disputes. The Criminal Division handles cases of felonies, misdemeanors, and municipal law violations. The Family Division ensures that family-related cases like divorce, child support, and other juvenile cases are handled efficiently. All probate matters including adoption and settlement of estates are handled by the Probate Division. The Judicial Bureau has statewide jurisdiction over civil matters like traffic infractions, unauthorized disclosure of criminal records, cruelty to animals, and inappropriate waste disposal. Although this Division has a central office, it tends to hold hearings in different locations in Vermont, including Chittenden. All Divisions of the Chittenden Superior Court are located in Burlington.

With a total of 130 crimes per 1000,000 residents, it is no surprise that Chittenden County hears the most number of civil cases in the state. As a result, the Chittenden court system prioritizes transparency and accountability. Therefore, anyone can request Chittenden court records from the Clerk of Court, who is the record custodian of all Chittenden court records. To do this, you can submit a complete request form to the Clerk via email or mail. Notably, some court records cannot be disclosed to the public due to the sensitive nature of their matters and are exempted from public access. They do require a court order or special permission by authorized personnel. These typically include cases concerning juvenile, custodial, adoption, medical, and mental health matters.

There is no doubt that Chittenden County is a major judicial hub in the commonwealth, especially since it handles the highest number of civil cases annually. Chittenden courts are well-equipped to deliver justice across a broad spectrum of legal matters, making them a cornerstone of the government.