Hartford County Court Records Search

Hartford County court records document legal cases filed in Connecticut's capital region. Superior Courts in Hartford and New Britain handle civil disputes, criminal charges, family law matters, and housing cases for towns across the county. You can search Hartford County court records online for free through the state's case lookup system or request paper copies from courthouse clerk offices. The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs all court facilities in Hartford County and keeps records under state law. Most court files are open to the public, though some case types have restricted access for privacy or safety reasons as set out in Connecticut statutes.

Court Locations in Hartford County

Two judicial districts serve Hartford County. The Hartford Judicial District is the largest. It covers Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford, West Hartford, and many other towns. The New Britain Judicial District handles cases for New Britain, Bristol, Southington, and nearby communities. Each district has a main courthouse where civil and family cases get filed and heard.

Hartford Judicial District operates from 95 Washington Street in Hartford. The clerk's office number is (860) 548-2700. This court serves 21 towns including Hartford, Berlin, Glastonbury, Marlborough, Manchester, East Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Burlington, Canton, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Windsor, South Windsor, East Windsor, Windsor Locks, Granby, East Granby, Suffield, and Enfield. Most civil lawsuits and family matters for these towns go through this courthouse under Connecticut's judicial structure.

New Britain Judicial District sits at 20 Franklin Square in New Britain. You can reach the clerk at (860) 515-5180. Towns served include New Britain, Berlin, Southington, Plymouth, Bristol, Plainville, Newington, Wethersfield, and Rocky Hill. If you live in one of these places, this is where you file most types of court cases in Hartford County.

Both courthouses have staff to help you file new cases or get copies of existing records. Bring a case number if you have one. The clerk can look up cases by party name too. Hours are weekdays during business hours, but call ahead to confirm as court schedules can change.

Criminal and Motor Vehicle Courts

Hartford County has four geographical area courts for criminal cases. These courts handle arraignments, pre-trial hearings, trials, and sentencing. Each covers specific towns based on where the alleged crime took place.

Geographical Area No. 12 in Manchester serves East Hartford, Glastonbury, Manchester, Marlborough, and South Windsor. The court is at 410 Center Street in Manchester. Call (860) 647-1091 for information. Area No. 13 in Enfield handles criminal matters for East Granby, East Windsor, Enfield, Granby, Simsbury, Suffield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks from 111 Phoenix Avenue in Enfield. Their phone is (860) 741-3727.

Area No. 14 in Hartford covers Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, Farmington, Hartford, and West Hartford. That court sits at 101 Lafayette Street in Hartford, phone (860) 566-1630. Area No. 15 in New Britain deals with cases from Berlin, New Britain, Newington, Rocky Hill, and Wethersfield. The address is 20 Franklin Square in New Britain, same building as the judicial district. Call (860) 515-5080 for the criminal clerk. Area No. 17 in Bristol serves Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, and Southington from 131 N. Main Street in Bristol. Their number is (860) 582-8111.

Criminal court records show what someone was charged with and how the case turned out. Convictions are public. Non-convictions become sealed after time passes under Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-142a. Dismissals and acquittals stay available for 20 days, then the clerk cannot acknowledge the case existed. This protects people from lasting harm due to charges that did not stick.

How to Search Records Online

The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs a free online case lookup at jud.ct.gov. Use the civil and family link to search for lawsuits, divorces, custody cases, and housing matters. Enter a last name to start. Add a first name to narrow results. Pick Hartford Judicial District or New Britain from the court list to see only Hartford County cases.

Criminal cases use a separate lookup tool on the same page. Type in a name or docket number. Results show charges, court dates, and current status for cases in Hartford County criminal courts. Click on a case to see the full docket with all court events listed by date.

The system updates overnight with data from the previous day. If a hearing happened today, it might not show online until tomorrow. Records go back many years for most case types. Very old cases may not be in the digital system yet. If you cannot find what you need online, call the courthouse where the case was filed for help.

Note: Some records are confidential and will not show up in online searches even if they exist.

Court Record Types Available

Civil court files in Hartford County include complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments. A complaint starts the case and tells what the plaintiff wants. The answer comes from the defendant. Motions ask the judge to make decisions during the case. Orders show what the judge ruled. The final judgment closes the case and states the outcome. You can review all these documents at the courthouse or online if the case was e-filed.

Family court records cover divorces, legal separations, custody battles, child support orders, and protective orders. These files can be thick with many filings over time as parties work through their issues. Connecticut law generally allows public access to family records, but judges can seal files when needed to protect children or abuse victims under state statutes and the Connecticut Practice Book.

Criminal records list charges, arraignment dates, plea offers, trial results, and sentences. The file may also have pre-trial motions, evidentiary rulings, and appeal notices. Some parts of criminal files are closed to the public. Pre-sentence investigation reports cannot be seen by anyone except the parties and the court as required by Connecticut law. Search warrants become public after they are executed and returned to the court per state statute.

Dockets provide a timeline of all events in a case. Each entry shows the date and a brief note about what happened. Filed a motion, had a hearing, entered a judgment. The docket is often the first thing you look at to understand the history of a case in Hartford County courts.

Get Copies of Court Files

Go to the courthouse where your case was heard to get paper copies. Ask at the clerk's office. Give them the case number or parties' names. They will pull the file and make copies. Connecticut charges one dollar per page for court records. Certified copies cost more. Some files require ID before the clerk will let you see them.

For disposed cases no longer kept at the courthouse, email the Centralized Services Unit at SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov. Include the case name and docket number. They retrieve files from central storage and can email small files at no cost or arrange pickup at any Hartford County court. Files should be ready in one or two business days according to state procedures.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter with the case information and payment to the clerk's office at the courthouse. Make checks payable to the judicial district. Allow extra time for processing and mailing back to you. Include a return address and phone number in case they need to reach you about your request.

Filing New Court Cases

To file a new case, go to the courthouse in the district where you or the other party lives. The clerk's office has forms. Fill them out with all required information. File the original and pay the fee. Fees vary by case type. Ask about fee waivers if you cannot pay. You may need to show your income to get a waiver approved.

Many Hartford County cases now use e-filing. The Connecticut Judicial Branch eServices portal at jud.ct.gov lets you file documents online. You need to register for an account first. Once approved, you can file papers and get notices through the system. Civil and family cases mostly use e-filing now. Check with the clerk if you are not sure.

You must serve the other parties after you file. A marshal or sheriff can deliver papers for a fee. Certified mail works for some case types. File proof of service with the court to show you followed the rules in Connecticut. Cases can get dismissed if you do not serve properly.

Finding Legal Assistance

Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut provides free legal help for people with low income. They handle civil cases like housing, family law, and consumer issues. Call them to see if you qualify. Their lawyers can advise you or represent you in court depending on your case and situation.

The Connecticut Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They match you with a private attorney who handles your type of case. Private lawyers charge fees, so ask about costs first. Many offer a reduced rate for the first meeting. Payment plans may be available if you cannot pay all at once.

Court self-help resources are free on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. Guides and videos explain how to handle common case types on your own. Forms are available to download and fill out. The site has step-by-step instructions for small claims, landlord-tenant matters, and family cases. These materials help people who cannot afford a lawyer or choose to represent themselves.

Record Access Rules

Most Hartford County court records are public under Connecticut law. Anyone can see them. You do not have to be in the case. You do not need a reason. The court must let you inspect public records during business hours as required by state statutes and the Connecticut Practice Book.

Some records stay confidential. Juvenile cases are sealed under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-124. Youthful offender files are closed unless the person is found ineligible for the program per state law. Family cases about abuse or protective orders may hide identifying information to keep people safe. Pre-sentence reports cannot be viewed by the public.

Judges can seal files in rare situations. A party must file a motion asking the court to seal the record. The judge holds a hearing and decides if there is good cause. Sealed files are not common but do happen when sensitive information could harm someone if made public in Connecticut courts.

Hartford County Cities

Hartford County includes several large cities. Hartford is the state capital and county seat with about 122,000 people. New Britain has close to 76,000 residents. West Hartford is home to over 64,000 people. Bristol has about 62,000 residents. Other qualifying cities are Manchester, East Hartford, Enfield, Southington, Newington, Glastonbury, Windsor, Wethersfield, South Windsor, Simsbury, and Farmington. Each city has police records and may have local ordinance enforcement through citation hearing procedures.

Other Connecticut Counties

Hartford County borders other counties in Connecticut. Tolland County is to the east with courts in Rockville. Litchfield County sits to the west with its main courthouse in Litchfield. Middlesex County is south with courts in Middletown. New Haven County borders to the southwest. Cases get filed based on where people live or where events happened under Connecticut court rules.