Providence County
Located in northern Rhode Island, Providence County is bordered by Massachusetts to the east and the north, and Connecticut to the west. It was established in 1636. Providence County has a population of more than 660,000 people, covering a land area of 409.5 square miles.
There are traffic tribunals, municipal courts, probate courts, family courts, district courts, and superior courts in the Providence County court system. Traffic tribunals are tasked with the administration and adjudication of traffic violations, while municipal courts handle violations of municipal ordinances.
Probate courts in Providence County have jurisdiction over administration of estates, adoption of adults, name changes, probate of wills, conservatorships, and guardianship. Juvenile matters and issues involving domestic relations are heard at the family courts.
District courts hear certain types of civil and criminal cases. The criminal cases handled by the court include misdemeanors in situations where the jury trial has been waived. They also handle domestic violence protective orders, some administrative agency appeals, and general civil claims in which the amount in controversy is less than $5,000.
Providence County superior courts original jurisdictions in matters of equity, civil matters where the amount in dispute is above $10,000, and all felony proceedings. It is a trial court of record and is the only court where jury trials are heard.
Public court records in Providence County are kept by the clerk of the courts. You can access superior, family, district, and traffic tribunal case information from the computer terminals available in the respective clerks' offices in the courthouses. Access to these records include all public electronic case information but not sealed or confidential cases. For a fee, you may be able to obtain certified copies of public court records at the courthouse.
Also, per state regulation, the public, parties to a case, and self-represented litigants can remotely access the register of actions or dockets, but do not have access to other electronic case information.
