Vermont Court Records Search

Vermont Court Records and Case Lookup

According to statistics provided by the Vermont Judiciary for the year 2022, the Superior Courts in the state tried a total of 4,951 felony offenses, 12,212 misdemeanor offenses, 1386 other criminal cases, and 5,928 small claims cases. The Vermont Judicial system operates trial courts and an appellate court. There are no intermediate courts in the state of Vermont.

The state's Public Records Act grants members of the public access to court records that are classified as public. The law provides for the exemption of certain court records from retrieval, copying, or inspection. Persons who want to obtain Vermont court records can do so either in person, by mail, or by email.

State of Vermont Court System

The State of Vermont's court system comprises a trial court known as the Superior Court and an appellate court known as the Supreme Court. The Superior Court has five divisions, namely the Probate Division, the Family Division, the Civil Division, the Environmental Division, and the Criminal Division. Vermont has 14 counties, so there is a Superior Court located in each of these counties. The Judicial Bureau in Vermont is also under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Vermont's Supreme Court. Is responsible for setting out the legal procedures followed by all state courts. Attorneys in Vermont can only practice if they have been admitted to the bar by the Vermont Supreme Court

The Probate Division

This division of the Vermont Superior Court is responsible for handling birth, death, and marriage records as well as adoption cases and guardianship matters. Each Vermont county has a Probate Court headed by an elected judge.

The Family Division

The Vermont Family Court is headed by a judge or magistrate and has locations in all 14 counties of the state. The Family Court has a broad range of responsibilities, including the adjudication of family-related matters such as divorce, domestic violence, separation, and parentage disputes. It is also responsible for adjudicating custody matters, child support, child welfare, and visitation rights.

The Environmental Division

All cases relating to environmental law in Vermont are handled by the Environmental Court.

The Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Vermont Superior Court has jurisdiction in cases relating to eviction, medical malpractice, contract disputes, and property foreclosure. The Civil Division also acts as an appeals court for probate matters in Vermont. In addition, plaintiffs who file small claims cases can have them adjudicated by the Civil Division. Small claims cases involving sums of up to $5,000 can be adjudicated by the Civil Division.

The Criminal Division

Felony and misdemeanor cases are handled by the Criminal Division of the Vermont Superior Court, also known as the Criminal Court. Criminal court judges oversee other specialty courts, including the following:

• Adult drug courts
• Juvenile drug courts
• Mental health courts
• DUI courts

The Judicial Bureau

The Judicial Bureau in Vermont oversees the adjudication of civil violations across the state. The Judicial Bureau is run under the auspices of the Vermont Supreme Court. Civil violations which fall under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Bureau include the following:

• Tobacco and alcohol-related violations
• Fishing, hunting, and wildlife trapping offenses
• Traffic offenses
• Environmental violations
• Offenses involving cruelty to animals
• Violations involving unlawful disclosure of Vermont criminal records
• Minor marijuana-related violations

What are the Specialty Courts in Vermont?

Vermont has several specialty courts, which fall under the jurisdiction of criminal court judges. They include the following:

• Adult drug courts
• Juvenile drug courts
• Mental health courts
• DUI courts

These specialty courts allow persons with substance abuse or mental health disorders to request treatment as a means of avoiding either incarceration or the loss of parental rights. Persons who can take advantage of treatment court dockets include juveniles, other criminal defendants, and parents with ongoing child welfare cases. Vermont's treatment court dockets are located at the following centers:

• Windsor DUI Treatment Docket
• Chittenden Family Treatment Docket
• Chittenden Adult Drug Treatment Court Docket and Adult Mental Health Treatment Docket
• Washington Adult Drug Treatment Court Docket
• Rutland Adult Drug Treatment Court Docket

Vermont State Court Records vs Federal Court Records

Vermont state court records are records generated and maintained by any of the trial or appellate courts operating in the state. These records include documents such as warrants, judgments, motions, case files, and dockets. Federal court records are records maintained by the federal court which has jurisdiction in Vermont. The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the sole federal court in the state. The District Court has two courthouses in Vermont, one in Rutland and the other in Burlington. The District Court maintains records of all cases adjudicated in its Vermont courthouses as well as federal bankruptcy cases.

To access court records from the United States District Court in Vermont a person can use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Persons searching for a federal court record must create a PACER account. It is necessary to provide details such as the location of the case. The PACER portal has a Case Locator to assist searchers find the precise location of the courthouse where a case was heard.

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Vermont?

Public court records in Vermont comprise all documents permitted to be inspected or accessed under the provisions of the state's Public Records Act. Non-public court records are those whose disclosure or copying is prohibited by law.

How To Seal or Expunge Vermont Court Records

The following offenses may qualify for sealing or expungement in Vermont:

• Grand larceny
• Fraud or deceit
• Criminal mischief
• Burglary which did not involve burglary of an occupied residence
• Possession of cocaine
• Possession of marijuana
• Felony offenses covered by a pardon granted by the Governor of the state of Vermont

Persons who have been convicted of the following offenses in Vermont do not qualify to petition for sealing or expungement:

• Domestic violence
• Reckless endangerment
• Abuse, exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable person
• Prostitution
• Stalking

How To Seal Court Records in Vermont

The process of sealing court records in Vermont begins with a request to view the case file connected to the conviction. The case file is typically held at the courthouse where proceedings were conducted. Court records may also be held by Public Records, and can be obtained upon payment of a retrieval fee. The second stage of the process of sealing court records involves paying whatever fines or restitution has been levied against the individual in question. After the fine or restitution has been paid, the individual seeking to seal court records can then file a Petition to Seal or Expunge Criminal History. This form can be obtained in person from the court or online from the website of the Vermont Judiciary. Under Vermont law, a copy of the petition must be sent to the prosecutor in the original court case, known as the respondent. The respondent can respond to a petition to seal court records by consenting or dissenting. If the prosecutor/respondent dissents, the court will hold hearings so that the petitioner can make a case. The prosecutor must also inform any victim or victims of the petitioner's decision to file for sealing. If the petition to seal is successful, the petitioner will be issued a court order affirming this fact. If the petition is unsuccessful, the petitioner will be unable to file a similar request for at least two years. Vermont court records that have been sealed are classified as confidential but will remain physically intact in the custody of law enforcement.

How To Expunge Court Records in Vermont

Persons who satisfy certain legal requirements provided by Vermont law can apply to have their court records expunged. The process of applying to expunge court records in Vermont is identical to that involved in applying to seal court records. When a person's Vermont court records are expunged, all documents relating to the conviction which are held by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts are destroyed. As a result of this expungement the person whose records are involved will receive a formal notice from the court. Such a person will not be required to provide information about a prior conviction to prospective employers or licensing authorities. In addition, law enforcement agencies and courts in Vermont are not obligated to provide answers to any inquiries about the person whose records have been expunged. Court records in Vermont can be expunged if the following conditions are met:

• If the person petitioning for expungement has not been found guilty of another felony within the 10 years since the original conviction
• If the petitioner has also not been charged and convicted of any misdemeanor within the 5 years prior to the petition for expungement
• If the petitioner has fully paid any court-ordered fines and restitution
• If the court determines that expungement is a fair and just resolution in this particular instance
• If the persons involved were cited or arrested for offenses committed after June 30, 2018, for which there were no convictions, in which case expungement is automatic
• If the person was convicted of an offense which has been decriminalized

How Do You Access State of Vermont Court Records?

There are multiple ways of accessing Vermont court records: by email, mail, and by hand. The Vermont Judiciary provides a downloadable Request for Access to Court Records form on its website. Completed forms must be submitted to the Clerk of the court where the case was judged, There are fees associated with requests for court records.

Email Access to Vermont Court Records

Completed Request for Access to Court Record forms can be sent by email to the courthouse whose records are being sought. Email addresses for all Vermont state courts are available on the Vermont Judiciary's Court Email Addresses online portal. It is advisable to contact the courthouse by phone shortly after a request email is sent, to confirm receipt of your form.

Mail Access to Vermont Court Records

Persons interested in obtaining Vermont court records by mail can send completed Requests for Access to Court Records forms to the courthouse where the records being sought are maintained. The Vermont judiciary provides an online list of courthouse locations and mailing addresses. There are various fees applicable for the retrieval and copying of court records. Certified copies will require a fee of $5, while paper copies of records will be processed at $0.25 per page.

In-Person Access to Vermont Court Records

In-person requests for court records can be made to the Clerk of the particular court where the records being sought are domiciled. Applicable fees for the retrieval and copying of court records can be made in person as well. Payments can be made by check or money order in favor of the Vermont Superior Court.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Persons interested in accessing Vermont judicial administrative records can begin by completing a Request for Access to Court Record form. Request forms must contain the requester's full name, mailing address, and phone number. Completed request forms must be submitted to the Clerk of the court whose records an applicant wishes to retrieve. It is also advisable to state clearly what type of court records are being sought, to enable officials to narrow down the search.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Vermont

Persons interested in obtaining archived Vermont court records can contact the Vermont State Archives with their requests. Vermont's State Archives maintains court records relating to probate, civil, criminal, and chancery matters. It is possible to find archival court records dating to before 1945. Inquiries regarding archived court records can be made in person at the following address:

If the court records in question are held by a court known to the requester, formal requests can be made to the Clerk of that courthouse. It is also advisable to use the online guide to archival court records provided by the Vermont Secretary of State.