Access East Hartford Court Records

Court records for East Hartford residents are managed through Connecticut Superior Court facilities in Hartford County. Civil and family cases get filed at the Hartford Judicial District courthouse in downtown Hartford. Criminal matters from East Hartford are processed at Geographical Area No. 12 in Manchester. Connecticut operates a unified state court system that serves all towns and cities. Residents can search court records online using the Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup portal or visit courthouses to get copies of files. Online searches are free and provide basic case information including docket entries and party names.

East Hartford Court Locations

East Hartford is part of Hartford County and uses multiple court facilities. The Hartford Judicial District at 95 Washington Street in Hartford handles civil and family matters. Call the clerk's office at (860) 548-2700 for questions about these case types. Criminal cases from East Hartford go to Geographical Area No. 12, located at 410 Center Street in Manchester. The Manchester clerk's office phone is (860) 647-1091.

This court also serves Glastonbury, South Windsor, Manchester, and Marlborough. Where you file depends on the type of case and where parties live or where the legal matter occurred. The clerk's office can tell you which courthouse to use if you are not sure.

Court staff help with filing new cases, paying fees, and getting copies of documents. They can tell you court dates and case status. They cannot give legal advice about your case or tell you what to do.

Search Connecticut Court Records

Use the free online case lookup at civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov to find East Hartford civil, family, housing, and small claims cases. Criminal and motor vehicle cases have their own lookup page on the Connecticut Judicial Branch site. Search by person's name or case number to find records.

Search results show case numbers, parties, filing dates, and case status. Click a case to see the full docket with all court events listed chronologically. The system updates each night. Recent filings may take a day to appear online.

Complete case files are not available online in most situations. You see docket information but need to visit the courthouse to read actual court documents like complaints, motions, and orders. For disposed cases no longer at local courts, email the records center at SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov.

Some criminal records have restricted access. Dismissals and acquittals become non-disclosable 20 days after disposition under state law. These cases will not show up in searches after the time period passes.

Types of Court Records

Civil court records include lawsuits for money, property disputes, contract cases, and personal injury claims. Case files contain complaints, answers, discovery materials, motions, and final judgments. You can read these documents to see what each party claimed and how the court ruled.

Criminal records show charges filed against people in East Hartford. The docket lists arrest dates, charges, court appearances, plea agreements, and sentences. Conviction records stay public. Non-conviction records like dismissals get erased from public view after waiting periods set by Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-142a.

Family cases handle divorce, custody, child support, and protection orders. These records are mostly public but some documents stay sealed. Custody evaluations and pre-sentence reports do not get released to the public under Connecticut law.

Housing court deals with evictions and landlord-tenant matters. Small claims court handles smaller money disputes. Both types appear in the civil case lookup system on the state website.

How to Get File Copies

Visit the courthouse where your case was heard to get copies of court records. The clerk's office pulls files and makes copies. Court records cost one dollar per page. Certified copies have extra fees. Payment methods include cash, check, or money order. Bring a case number if you have it.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter with the case name, docket number, and which documents you need. Include payment for estimated copy costs. Mail to the appropriate courthouse based on case type. Hartford Judicial District cases go to 95 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Criminal cases handled in Manchester go to 410 Center Street, Manchester, CT 06040.

The Centralized Services Unit in Wethersfield handles disposed cases. Email them with case details. Files should be ready in one to two business days. They send small files by email at no cost or arrange courthouse pickup for larger files. Some records require ID before release.

Note: Transcripts must be ordered separately through the Court Reporter's Office or online transcript system.

East Hartford Police Records

Police records are kept separate from court files. The East Hartford Police Department maintains incident reports, arrest records, and accident reports. Contact the department at (860) 528-4401 to request police records. Most Connecticut police departments charge about 50 cents per page for copies.

Reports involving pending criminal cases may not be available until the court case concludes. This protects the legal process. Juvenile records and sensitive investigations have access restrictions under state law. Allow five to ten business days for reports to be ready after an incident occurs.

Public Access to Court Files

Connecticut court records are generally open to the public. Anyone can request files during courthouse business hours. You do not need to be involved in a case or explain why you want records. The Connecticut Practice Book and state statutes set rules for access.

Certain records stay confidential by law. Juvenile matters are sealed under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-124. Youthful offender files are closed unless the person is found ineligible for that status. Family abuse cases may redact names and addresses to protect victims.

Judges can seal files when public access would cause harm. A party must file a motion showing good cause. The court holds a hearing before deciding whether to seal records. This happens rarely but does occur in cases with very sensitive facts.

Court Forms for East Hartford Residents

Free court forms are available at jud.ct.gov/webforms. Download templates for starting cases, filing motions, and other legal actions. Choose forms that match your case type. Fill them out completely before filing.

Many Connecticut cases use electronic filing. The eServices portal lets you file documents and view case status online. Register for an account to get started. Attorneys must e-file for most case types. Self-represented parties can choose electronic or paper filing.

Filing fees vary by case type. Ask the clerk's office about fees before you file. People with low income may qualify for fee waivers. Complete an application and provide financial details. The court reviews applications and grants waivers to eligible people.

Legal Resources

Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut provides free legal assistance to low-income residents. They handle civil matters like housing, family law, and public benefits. Call to see if you qualify. The Connecticut Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service that connects people with attorneys in their practice area.

Private lawyers charge fees for their services. Ask about costs during consultations. Some offer payment plans or sliding scale fees based on income. Law school clinics at Connecticut universities may provide free help with certain case types under attorney supervision.

The Judicial Branch self-help section has guides for people representing themselves. These resources explain court procedures in plain language. Court staff can answer process questions but cannot give legal advice about your case.

Hartford County Court Resources

Other Hartford County cities include Hartford, Manchester, West Hartford, and Bristol. Residents of these cities use the same county court system. The Connecticut Judicial Branch operates courts that serve all municipalities in Hartford County.