| Superior Court | Washington Superior Court — Civil Division |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 65 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 (Civil & Probate Divisions); 255 North Main Street, Suite 1, Barre, VT 05641 (Criminal & Family Divisions) |
| Phone | Civil/Probate Divisions: 802-828-2091; Criminal/Family Divisions: 802-479-4205 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays; closed the fourth Wednesday 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) |
Washington County, home to the state capital Montpelier, splits its Superior Court unit between two towns. The Civil Division and Probate Division sit at 65 State Street in Montpelier, while the Criminal Division and Family Division are a few miles away at 255 North Main Street in Barre. As elsewhere in Vermont, there is no countywide "county clerk" for court records — each division has its own Court Operations Manager, and probate additionally has a separate Clerk of Court and Probate Register.
The Civil Division is the only division whose case records the public can search online, through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Criminal, family, and probate case information is confidential from the public online under 12 V.S.A. § 5, so requests for those records go through the specific division by phone, email, or an in-person visit to Barre or Montpelier depending on the case type.
Washington County includes Montpelier, Barre, and towns such as Waterbury and Northfield. All four divisions close the fourth Wednesday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon for staff training, in addition to standard state holidays.
Search Washington County court records online
Superior Court
Washington 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 Washington County; the only division here searchable by the public online
- Records
- Civil
Run by a Court Operations Manager. Contact this office for civil, small-claims, and eviction case records.
Other courts
Washington Superior Court — Criminal Division
- Coverage
- Felony and misdemeanor criminal case records for Washington County
- Records
- Criminal
Not searchable online by the public; contact the Court Operations Manager or visit 255 North Main St., Suite 1, Barre.
Other courts
Washington Superior Court — Family Division
- Coverage
- Divorce, parentage, custody, relief-from-abuse, and juvenile case records for Washington County
- Records
- Family
Confidential by statute; not searchable online by the public. Shares the Barre courthouse with Criminal.
Other courts
Washington Superior Court — Probate Division
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianship, adoption, and name-change records for Washington County
- Records
- Probate
Handled by a separate Clerk of Court and Probate Register at 65 State Street, Montpelier.
What is available online
The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal shows Civil Division docket entries and calendars for Washington 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. Note that Civil/Probate sit in Montpelier while Criminal/Family sit in Barre — confirm the address before visiting in person.
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
Washington County clerk offices
65 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 (Civil & Probate Divisions); 255 North Main Street, Suite 1, Barre, VT 05641 (Criminal & Family Divisions)
Phone: Civil/Probate Divisions: 802-828-2091; Criminal/Family Divisions: 802-479-4205
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays; closed the fourth Wednesday of each month, 8:00 a.m.–noon, for in-service training.
Civil Division. Search the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal, or call or visit 65 State Street, Montpelier. 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 at 255 North Main Street, Suite 1, Barre, 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, also in Barre. Because family cases are confidential, ask the Court Operations Manager what is available to a member of the public before visiting.
Probate Division. Contact the Probate Division at 65 State Street, Montpelier, 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 Washington 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 Washington County criminal court?
The Criminal Division and Family Division are both in Barre at 255 North Main Street, a different town from the Civil and Probate Divisions in Montpelier.
Who handles probate matters in Washington County?
The Probate Division of the Washington Superior Court, at 65 State Street in Montpelier, handles estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes for the county.
How do I get a certified copy of a Washington County court record?
Contact the specific division that heard the case in person, by phone, or by mail. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus per-page copy fees under the statewide fee schedule.
Sources
- Washington Civil Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/washington-civil-division
- Washington Criminal Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/washington-criminal-division
- Washington Family Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/washington-family-division
- Washington Probate Division — Vermont Judiciary — https://www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/washington-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.