Fairfield County
Covering a total area of 837 square miles, Fairfield County encompasses four of the largest cities in Connecticut. With a population of 957,419, the county makes up 26.6% of the state's overall population. Fairfield County was created in 1666 and named after the salt marshes that surrounded its coastline.
Fairfield County is served by both Superior Courts and Probate Courts. The Fairfield County Superior Courts sit in two locations: the Judicial District Courthouses which hear complex criminal and civil cases, and the Geographical Area Courts which hear simpler cases such as arraignment, misdemeanors, and small claims.
Furthermore, the Superior Courts have divisions separated by the type of cases they hear:
- Civil Division: it handles non-criminal legal disputes between entities and individuals. Such matters include personal injury lawsuits, debt collection, property disputes, product or professional liability suits, and landlord-tenant disputes
- Criminal Division: it handles infractions, misdemeanors and felonies punishable by imprisonment, as well as motor vehicle violation punishable only by a fine
- Housing Division: it handles housing matters relating to landlord-tenant disputes, forcible entry and detainer, back rent and damages, discrimination in the sale or rental of residential property, and evictions
- Family Division: it handles legal cases related to children and families such as adoption, child custody, juvenile delinquency, child neglect, divorce, and domestic violence restraining orders
The Northern Fairfield County District Probate Court and the Fairfield Probate Court have jurisdiction over cases involving parental right termination, emancipation of minors, adoptions, appointment of conservators and guardians for minors and incapable individuals, trusts, probate of wills, and name changes.
Public court records in Fairfield County comprise testimonies, pleadings, exhibits, and orders that took place during the legal proceedings of cases filed in the county. The public has the right to view and request court records from the clerks of various courts in Fairfield County. In addition, interested parties can inspect the documents that are open to the public in partially sealed records.
To look up Fairfield County superior and probate court cases, you will need to provide an attorney or firm juris number, property address, docket number, case type, party name, case status, or hearing date. The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch offers remote access to court records for the following case types:
- Civil case
- Family case
- Housing case
- Small Claims case
- Criminal/Motor Vehicle case
- Probate case (Decedent's Estate and Trust only)
Lastly, the Connecticut State Library has a collection of Fairfield County Superior Court historical records from 1841 to 1932. Persons interested in reproducing the original records can submit their requests by contacting the History and Genealogy Unit at (860) 757 6580 or by email.
