| Superior Court | Bennington Superior Court — Civil Division |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 207 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201 (Civil & Probate Divisions); 200 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT 05201 (Criminal & Family Divisions) |
| Phone | Civil/Probate Divisions: 802-447-2700; Criminal/Family Divisions: 802-447-2727 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays. Civil & Probate close the first Friday of each month, 12:30–4:30 p.m.; Criminal & Family close the third Friday of each month, 8:00 a.m.–noon, for in-service training. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.25 per page, $1.00 minimum |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 per document (plus $0.25/page if the certified copy is provided to a non-party) |
Bennington County's Superior Court unit is split between two Bennington addresses with different phone numbers and different monthly training closures, so it pays to know which division you need before you call. The Civil Division and Probate Division share the courthouse at 207 South Street; the Criminal Division and Family Division are together at 200 Veterans Memorial Drive. As in every Vermont county, there is no separate "county clerk" for court records; each location has its own Court Operations Manager, and the Probate Division also has a Probate Register who handles estate filings.
Only the Civil Division docket is searchable by the public online, through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Criminal, family, and probate records are confidential from the general public online under 12 V.S.A. § 5, so those requests go through a phone call, an email to the unit's shared address, or a visit to the right courthouse.
Bennington County occupies the southwestern corner of Vermont and includes Bennington, Manchester, Arlington, and the mountain towns along Route 7. Bennington is one of the two Vermont counties (with Windsor) that historically had two shire towns, Bennington and Manchester, but the Superior Court's divisions are now all located in the town of Bennington.
Search Bennington County court records online
Superior Court
Bennington Superior Court — Civil Division
- Cost
- Free to review the docket in person or through the statewide portal; copy fees apply
- Coverage
- Civil Division case records for Bennington County; the only division here searchable by the public online
- Records
- Civil
At 207 South Street. Closed the first Friday of each month, 12:30–4:30 p.m., for training — a different schedule from the Criminal and Family Divisions. Contact this office for civil, small-claims, foreclosure, and eviction case records.
Other courts
Bennington Superior Court — Criminal Division
- Coverage
- Felony and misdemeanor criminal case records for Bennington County
- Records
- Criminal
Not searchable online by the public; contact the Court Operations Manager or visit 200 Veterans Memorial Drive. Closed the third Friday of each month, 8:00 a.m.–noon, for training.
Other courts
Bennington Superior Court — Family Division
- Coverage
- Divorce, parentage, custody, relief-from-abuse, and juvenile case records for Bennington County
- Records
- Family
Confidential by statute; not searchable online by the public. Shares 200 Veterans Memorial Drive with the Criminal Division.
Other courts
Bennington Superior Court — Probate Division
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianship, adoption, and name-change records for Bennington County
- Records
- Probate
Handled by a Probate Register at 207 South Street, in the same building as the Civil Division.
What is available online
The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal shows Civil Division docket entries and calendars for Bennington County. Criminal, family, and probate cases are not shown to the public online under 12 V.S.A. § 5. Registered Vermont attorneys get broader online access to nonconfidential records in those divisions through the same portal. The two courthouses keep different monthly training closures (first Friday afternoon at South Street, third Friday morning at Veterans Memorial Drive), so check the division's page before an in-person visit. Email for the whole unit goes to BenningtonUnit@vtcourts.gov.
Which clerk has your record
In Vermont, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Vermont page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court — Civil Division | Contract and debt disputes; Personal injury; Foreclosure and eviction | Court Operations Manager of the county unit |
| Superior Court — Criminal Division | Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions; DUI; Bail and arraignment | Court Operations Manager of the county unit |
| Superior Court — Family Division | Divorce and civil union dissolution; Parentage and custody; Child support | Court Operations Manager of the county unit |
| Superior Court — Probate Division | Estates and wills; Guardianship; Adoption | Clerk of the Probate Division (with a Probate Register handling filings) |
| Environmental Division | Act 250 land-use appeals; Municipal zoning and planning appeals; Environmental enforcement | Court Operations Manager, Environmental Division (statewide, sits in Barre) |
| Judicial Bureau | Traffic tickets; Municipal ordinance violations; Minor civil violations (e.g., underage alcohol/tobacco) | Court Operations Manager, Judicial Bureau (statewide) |
Request records in person or by mail
Bennington County clerk offices
207 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201 (Civil & Probate Divisions); 200 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT 05201 (Criminal & Family Divisions)
Phone: Civil/Probate Divisions: 802-447-2700; Criminal/Family Divisions: 802-447-2727
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays. Civil & Probate close the first Friday of each month, 12:30–4:30 p.m.; Criminal & Family close the third Friday of each month, 8:00 a.m.–noon, for in-service training.
Civil Division (207 South Street). Search the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal, or call 802-447-2700 or visit in person. Copies can be requested in person, by mail, or by email; certified copies cost $5.00 per document under the statewide fee schedule.
Criminal Division (200 Veterans Memorial Drive). Contact the Criminal Division at 802-447-2727, since case information is not online. Bring the docket number if you have it, or the defendant's name and an approximate date.
Family Division (200 Veterans Memorial Drive). Contact the Family Division at the same number. Because family cases are confidential, ask the Court Operations Manager what is available to a member of the public before visiting.
Probate Division (207 South Street). Contact the Probate Register at 802-447-2700 for estate, guardianship, adoption, or name-change records. Adoption files are sealed and generally unavailable except to the parties.
By email. All four divisions accept email at BenningtonUnit@vtcourts.gov; using it means agreeing to the Vermont Superior Court email policy posted on each division's page.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Vermont |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.25 per page, $1.00 minimum |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per document (plus $0.25/page if the certified copy is provided to a non-party) |
Set under 32 V.S.A. § 1751 and published on the Vermont Judiciary's fee page; some proceedings (for example, two certified copies of an adoption decree or a name-change order) carry no fee. Confirm the current amount with the Court Operations Manager before sending payment, since fee statutes can change.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Vermont limits public access to court records in two separate ways: by statute, entire categories of case records are simply never posted online, and separately, individual records can be sealed or expunged by court order.
The Vermont guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look up a Bennington County court case online?
Only Civil Division cases are searchable online, through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Criminal, family, and probate cases are not posted online for the public under state law.
Where is the Bennington County criminal court?
The Criminal Division and Family Division are at 200 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington (802-447-2727) — a different building from the Civil and Probate Divisions at 207 South Street.
Who handles probate matters in Bennington County?
The Probate Division of the Bennington Superior Court, at 207 South Street, which has a Probate Register for estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes.
How do I get a certified copy of a Bennington County court record?
Contact the division that heard the case in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus per-page copy fees under the statewide fee schedule.
Sources
- Bennington Civil Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/bennington-civil-division
- Bennington Criminal Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/bennington-criminal-division
- Bennington Family Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/bennington-family-division
- Bennington Probate Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/bennington-probate-division
- Vermont Judiciary — Organizational Charts — https://www.vtcourts.gov/about-vermont-judiciary/organizational-charts
- Vermont Judiciary Public Portal — https://portal.vtcourts.gov/Portal/?p=0
- Vermont Crime Information Center — Record Checks — https://vcic.vermont.gov/ch-information/record-checks
- Vermont Supreme Court — Published Opinions and Entry Orders — https://www.vtcourts.gov/supreme-court/published-opinions-and-entry-orders
- Vermont Judiciary — Fees — https://www.vtcourts.gov/fees
- Vermont Judiciary — Expunging and Sealing Criminal Records — https://www.vtcourts.gov/criminal/expungement
- 12 V.S.A. § 5 — Dissemination of Electronic Case Records — https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/001/00005
- 13 V.S.A. Chapter 230 — Expungement and Sealing of Criminal History Records — https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/13/230
- 32 V.S.A. § 1751 — Judiciary Record Fees — https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/32/001/01751
- United States District Court for the District of Vermont — https://www.vtd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Vermont counties.