| Superior Court | Chittenden Superior Court — Civil Division |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 (Civil, Family & Probate Divisions); 32 Cherry Street, Suite 300, Burlington, VT 05401 (Criminal Division) |
| Phone | Civil Division: 802-863-3467; Criminal Division: 802-651-1950; Probate Division: 802-651-1518 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays; closed the second Tuesday of each month, noon–4:00 p.m., 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) |
Chittenden County is Vermont's most populous county, and its Superior Court unit is split across two Burlington addresses. The Civil Division sits at 175 Main Street and is the only division whose case records the Judiciary is allowed to post to the public internet, so it is the most useful starting point for a remote search. The Criminal Division is a few blocks away at 32 Cherry Street; the Family Division shares the 175 Main Street building with Civil; and the Probate Division is also at 175 Main Street but is a separate office with its own Court Operations Manager and Probate Register.
Each division is run day to day by its own Court Operations Manager rather than a countywide "clerk of court," and each keeps its own docket and files — there is no single index that spans all four divisions. Criminal, family, and probate case information cannot be searched online by the general public under state law (12 V.S.A. § 5), so anything other than a civil case requires a phone call, an email, or an in-person visit to the specific division.
Chittenden includes Burlington, South Burlington, Essex, Colchester, and several smaller towns. Because it is Vermont's largest court by volume, expect longer wait times for records requests and in-service training closures (the Civil Division and Probate Division close the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 4:00 p.m.).
Search Chittenden County court records online
Superior Court
Chittenden 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 Chittenden County; the only division here searchable by the public online
- Records
- Civil
Run by a Court Operations Manager rather than an elected clerk. Contact this office for civil, small-claims, and eviction case records.
Other courts
Chittenden Superior Court — Criminal Division
- Coverage
- Felony and misdemeanor criminal case records for Chittenden County
- Records
- Criminal
Not searchable online by the public; contact the Court Operations Manager or visit 32 Cherry St., Suite 300, Burlington.
Other courts
Chittenden Superior Court — Family Division
- Coverage
- Divorce, parentage, custody, relief-from-abuse, and juvenile case records for Chittenden County
- Records
- Family
Confidential by statute; not searchable online by the public.
Other courts
Chittenden Superior Court — Probate Division
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianship, adoption, and name-change records for Chittenden County
- Records
- Probate
Handled by a separate Clerk of Court and Probate Register from the Civil Division at the same address.
What is available online
The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal shows Civil Division docket entries and calendars for Chittenden County. Criminal, family, and probate cases are not shown to the public online under 12 V.S.A. § 5, no matter how old the case is. Registered Vermont attorneys get broader online access to nonconfidential records in those divisions through the same portal. For anything the portal doesn't show, call or visit the specific division; each keeps its own paper and electronic file separately from the others.
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
Chittenden County clerk offices
175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 (Civil, Family & Probate Divisions); 32 Cherry Street, Suite 300, Burlington, VT 05401 (Criminal Division)
Phone: Civil Division: 802-863-3467; Criminal Division: 802-651-1950; Probate Division: 802-651-1518
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays; closed the second Tuesday of each month, noon–4:00 p.m., for in-service training.
Civil Division. Search the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal, or call or visit the Civil Division clerk's office at 175 Main Street. Copies can be requested in person or by mail; certified copies cost $5.00 per document under the statewide fee schedule.
Criminal Division. Contact the Criminal Division directly at 32 Cherry Street, Suite 300, since case information is not online. Bring the docket number if you have it, or the defendant's name and approximate date.
Family Division. Contact the Family Division at 175 Main Street. Because family cases are confidential, only parties, their attorneys, and certain government agencies can obtain copies of most documents; ask the Court Operations Manager what is available to a member of the public.
Probate Division. Contact the Probate Division at 175 Main Street for estate, guardianship, adoption, or name-change records. Adoption files are sealed and generally unavailable except to the parties.
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 Chittenden County court case online?
Only if it's a Civil Division case — those are searchable through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Criminal, family, and probate cases are not posted online for the public under state law.
Where is the Chittenden County criminal court?
The Criminal Division is at 32 Cherry Street, Suite 300, Burlington, a different building from the Civil, Family, and Probate Divisions at 175 Main Street.
Who handles probate matters in Chittenden County?
The Probate Division of the Chittenden Superior Court, at 175 Main Street in Burlington, handles estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes for the county.
How do I get a certified copy of a Chittenden County court record?
Contact the specific division that heard the case (civil, criminal, family, or probate) in person, by phone, or by mail. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus per-page copy fees.
Does Chittenden County have a separate county clerk for court records?
No. Vermont doesn't use a county-clerk system for courts; each Superior Court division has its own Court Operations Manager who runs that division's records.
Sources
- Chittenden Civil Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/chittenden-civil-division
- Chittenden Criminal Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/chittenden-criminal-division
- Chittenden Family Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/chittenden-family-division
- Chittenden Probate Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/chittenden-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.