Find New London County Court Records

Court records for New London County cases are maintained by the New London Judicial District and its geographical area courts. The district serves 21 towns across southeastern Connecticut including New London, Norwich, Groton, and Stonington. Civil and family cases get filed at courthouses in New London or Norwich. Criminal cases go to geographical area courts based on where the alleged offense occurred. You can search most court records online through the statewide case lookup system run by the Connecticut Judicial Branch. Visit a courthouse to get copies of case files or request disposed records from the Centralized Services Unit in Wethersfield. The courts in this county handle thousands of cases each year covering civil disputes, criminal charges, family matters, housing issues, and small claims.

New London Judicial District

The main courthouse sits at 70 Huntington Street in New London. This location processes civil, family, housing, and small claims cases for all 21 towns in New London County. Call the clerk's office at (860) 443-5363 if you need to file a case or ask about existing court records. The staff can explain filing procedures and tell you what forms are needed for your type of case.

Civil cases include lawsuits over money, property disputes, and contract issues. Family cases cover divorce, child custody, support orders, and related matters. Housing cases deal with evictions and landlord-tenant disputes. Small claims handle disputes up to a set dollar amount with simpler procedures than regular civil court. Each case type has its own rules found in the Connecticut Practice Book.

Court records at this location date back many years. Older records exist in paper files stored at the courthouse or in archives. More recent cases have digital files that can be accessed through the online case lookup system. Connecticut General Statutes Section 51-36a establishes policies for access to records maintained by the Judicial Department. The clerk must provide access to public records during business hours.

The Norwich courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square also hears civil and family cases for this judicial district. Their clerk can be reached at (860) 887-3515. Both courthouses serve the same towns but handle different caseloads. Check which location your case was filed at before visiting to get court records in New London County.

Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in New London County get divided between two geographical areas. GA No. 10 at 112 Broad Street in New London handles criminal matters for the coastal towns including New London, Groton, Stonington, and the Lymes. Call them at (860) 443-8343 for questions about criminal dockets. GA No. 21 at 1 Courthouse Square in Norwich processes criminal cases for the inland towns such as Norwich, Colchester, Lebanon, and Lisbon. Their clerk number is (860) 889-7338.

You can search criminal records online using the criminal case lookup portal on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. Type in the person's name and select New London County or the specific geographical area if you know it. Results show case numbers, charges, court dates, and dispositions. Not all records show up online so you might need to contact the courthouse directly for older cases or sealed matters.

Criminal record access follows rules set by Connecticut law. Convictions stay public with no time limits. Dismissals and acquittals are available for 20 days after disposition under Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-142a. After that period passes, the clerk cannot acknowledge the case existed. Nolle prosequi records remain available for 13 months from entry. These rules protect people from having non-conviction records follow them forever in New London County.

Note: Juvenile criminal matters are confidential under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-124 and cannot be accessed by the public.

Searching Court Records Online

Go to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website to search court records from New London County. The site has a case lookup section with links for different court types. Pick civil, criminal, or appellate based on what you need to find. Enter a last name in the search box. Add a first name to narrow results if the last name is common.

Search results show basic case information. Click on a case to view the full docket sheet. The docket lists every court event in order by date. You can see when papers were filed, when hearings occurred, and what the judge ordered at each step. Some documents might be available as scanned PDF files that you can view right on the website from New London County courts.

The online system updates each night with data entered during the previous business day. Very recent filings might not appear yet if the clerk has not processed them into the computer system. Allow time for new entries to show up before calling the courthouse to ask why something is missing. The lookup system is free to use and does not require registration or payment for basic searches in New London County.

If you cannot find a case online, it might be too old to be in the digital system. Some records exist only in paper files stored at the courthouse. Contact the clerk's office to ask about cases that do not appear in the online lookup. They can check their local systems and tell you if records are available for the case you need.

Getting Copies of Court Files

Visit the courthouse to obtain copies of court documents. The clerk's office will pull the case file for you. They make copies while you wait if the file is not too thick. Larger files might take more time so they may ask you to come back later to pick up your copies in New London County.

Copy fees are one dollar per page for court records as established by Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-212. Bring payment with you. Most courts accept cash or check. Some take credit cards but call ahead to confirm payment methods. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and include an official seal. Ask for certified copies if you need them for legal proceedings or official business.

For disposed cases no longer at the courthouse, email the Centralized Services Unit at SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov. Include the case name and docket number in your request. They will retrieve the file from storage and let you know how to get copies. Small files can be emailed at no charge. Larger files need to be picked up at a court location with copy fees charged when you collect them.

Mail requests work too. Write to the courthouse where your case was heard. Include the case number and party names. State what documents you want copied. Send a check or money order for the estimated copy fees. The clerk will process your request and mail copies back to you. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits but work well if you cannot travel to the courthouse in New London County.

Public Access Rules

Most court records are open to the public in Connecticut. You do not need to be a party to the case or have a special reason to view records. The Connecticut Practice Book and state statutes govern access to court files. Walk into any courthouse and ask to see a public case file during business hours.

Some records remain confidential by law. Juvenile matters are sealed under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-124. Family cases involving abuse or protective orders may hide identifying details to protect parties. Youthful offender records stay closed unless the person is found ineligible for the program as stated in Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-76c. Pre-sentence investigation reports are confidential under Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-91b.

Judges can seal files in special situations. A party must file a motion and show good cause for sealing records. The court holds a hearing before deciding whether to grant the motion. Sealed cases are not common. Connecticut law favors public access to court proceedings except where specific statutes require confidentiality to protect important interests in New London County.

Sexual assault victim identities receive protection under Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-86e. Court records in these cases do not disclose the victim's name or address. Search warrants become public after execution and return under Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-33c. These laws balance public access with privacy and safety needs in the court system.

Court Forms and Filing

Free court forms are available on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. The forms section has templates for starting cases, filing motions, and other common court actions. Download the forms you need and fill them out carefully. Read the instructions that come with each form before you complete it.

Many Connecticut courts now use e-filing through the eServices portal. Attorneys and registered parties can file documents online instead of bringing paper to the courthouse. The system sends notices about case activity through email. You need to register for an account to use e-filing. Not all case types use this system yet but most civil and family cases do in New London County.

Bring completed forms to the clerk's office to file them. The clerk will time-stamp your documents and open a new case or add them to an existing file. Filing fees apply for most case types. Ask the clerk how much you need to pay. Some people qualify for fee waivers if they cannot afford court costs. Forms for fee waivers are available at the courthouse or on the judicial website.

Legal Help and Resources

Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut provides free legal help to people with low income. They handle civil matters including housing, family law, and public benefits. Contact their office to see if you qualify for assistance. The Connecticut Judicial Branch self-help section has contact information for legal aid programs serving New London County.

The Connecticut Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with an attorney who practices in your area of need. Private lawyers charge fees so discuss costs before hiring someone. Ask about payment plans if you cannot pay a large amount upfront. Many lawyers offer free consultations to discuss your case before you decide to hire them in New London County.

Self-help guides on the judicial website explain court procedures in plain language. These guides walk you through steps for common case types. Court staff can answer questions about procedures and forms but cannot give legal advice about your specific situation. They cannot tell you what to say in court or help you fill out forms.

Law libraries have resources for legal research. You can look up statutes, court rules, and case decisions. Librarians can help you find materials but cannot give legal advice. Many law libraries now have online resources you can access from home through their websites in New London County.

Cities in New London County

Three cities in New London County have populations over 25,000 and file court cases at the judicial district described above. Each city has local police departments that maintain incident reports and arrest records before cases reach Superior Court.

Nearby Connecticut Counties

New London County borders other counties that have their own judicial districts and court systems. Click below to view court information for neighboring counties.