Washington County
Washington County is located in the central part of Vermont. It was established in 1810 and named after George Washington. It covers approximately 687.1 square miles, with a combination of mountainous terrain and valleys. As of 2022, Washington County had a population of around 59,768 people. The county is home to Montpelier, the county seat and also Vermont's state capital.
The Washington County Superior Court serves as the central judicial body for the county. This court is organized into several divisions based on case type. They include the Family, Civil, Criminal, and Probate Divisions. The Family Division handles family-related cases, including dissolution of civil unions, divorces, child custody and support, domestic disputes, and juvenile cases. The Civil Division oversees non-criminal matters, including landlord-tenant disputes, personal injury, foreclosure, evictions, contract disputes, and small claims with money damages up to $5,000. The Criminal Division handles criminal cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, and municipal ordinance violations. It also hears DUI driver's license suspension, extradition proceedings, and some municipal parking infractions. Meanwhile, the Probate Division deals with cases such as wills, settlement of estates, administration of trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships, judicial consent of marriage for a minor, emancipation, and adoptions.
Washington County court records are documentation of court-related activities such as case filings, motions, writs, pleadings, rulings, and transcripts of hearings generated during legal proceedings within the county. These records are useful for background checks, legal research, and precedents for future judgments. Court records are public unless restricted by law per Vermont Public Records Act. Washington County court records include:
- Family court records
- Criminal court records
- Civil court records
- Probate court records
Records such as those involving adoption, juvenile cases, or certain sealed or confidential files are exempt from public inspection. Each division of the Superior Court maintains its records. Requesters may visit or contact the courthouse to request specific documents at:
Washington County Courthouse Vermont
65 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
Phone: (802) 828-2091
Alternatively, record seekers can search by case number or party name via the Vermont Judicial Public Portal. Access may involve minimal fees for copying or certification of records.
