Fairfield County Court Records
Fairfield County court records refer to official documents generated from judicial proceedings in the county's courts. These include written transcripts of hearings, electronic materials pertaining to the court cases, and other case data preserved by the courts in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
The documentation of legal proceedings is important because it serves as a reference for subsequent cases. In other words, court records make it easy for courts to establish and adhere to legal precedents and for judicial officials, attorneys, and other parties to interpret case law accurately. This ensures that legal decisions are consistent and the justice system is transparent. Court records are also necessary for appealing court decisions, educational research, and background checks. Hence, they are considered part of Fairfield County Public Records.
The Fairfield County Clerk of Court is the county's official custodian of court records. Per CT Gen Stat § 51-52, the office of the court clerk is responsible for a wide range of functions, including:
- Receiving court files, processes, and documents
- Recording proceedings
- Taking custody and storing all court records and files
Are Court Records Public in Fairfield County?
Yes. Per the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), court records are publicly available. This means any interested member of the public can request to inspect or copy these records without stating any purpose.
However, the public's right to access court records is not absolute and is subject to FOIA exemptions. To this end, there are restrictions on access to confidential, sealed, and expunged court records.
For example, per CT Gen Stat § 46b-124, court records pertaining to juvenile matters are considered confidential. These records can only be inspected by parties to the case and a few authorized individuals. Other non-public court records include trade secrets, financial statements, records that present a potential security risk, home addresses, sexual assault information, and adoption records.
What Do Fairfield County Court Records Contain?
Fairfield County court records contain information about legal proceedings in the Fairview County courts. The records include:
- Details of litigants (names and addresses)
- Docket numbers
- Pleadings
- Exhibits
- Orders
- Affidavits
- Motions
- Witness statements
- Executed arrest warrants
- Official receipts
- Judgments
Note that the specific contents of a court record depend on whether the associated case is a civil or criminal matter.
Where to Conduct a Fairfield County Case Lookup
Individuals who wish to look up a Fairfield County case can:
- Schedule a visit to the appropriate courthouse
- Search the case management system on the state's judiciary website
- Request case records via email
- Visit the Connecticut State Library (older records)
How to Conduct a Fairfield County Case Records Search
Requesters can conduct a Fairfield County case records search as follows:
In-Person Search
Any member of the public can request Fairfield County court records at the courthouse where a case was filed or heard. Visits can be made during normal business hours at the clerk's office. Requesters must have sufficient details about the record they seek to enable retrieval—for example, a case party's name, the case number, or the filing date.
Note that copying or certifying case records at the clerk's office may attract fees.
Remote Case Records Search
Requesters who cannot visit the presiding court can view or copy them remotely by accessing the Case Lookup system on the Connecticut Judicial Branch's website. Users can select "Superior Court Case Lookup" to search Fairfield County court records by party name, docket number, attorney/firm juris number, or property address (if the case is a summary process or foreclosure).
For remote access to Fairfield County probate court records, requesters should visit the Connecticut Probate Courts Case Lookup page. On the page, they can search court records by case type, case party name, district, and case type.
Note that most case records on the probate case lookup database are from January 5, 2011, to the present date. Although individuals may find older records, those records may be incomplete. For more information on how to find court records, individuals can contact the clerk of the probate court where a case was filed or heard.
Email Search
Members of the public can obtain copies of disposed Fairfield County Superior Court records by calling (860) 263-2750 to reach the Centralized Services Unit or sending a case records search request via email to SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov.
The email should contain relevant information about the case to facilitate the search, such as a case party's name or case/docket number. Typically, the requester will receive an email containing the requested records within one or two business days. Alternatively, one can pick up the records at any courthouse or the Centralized Services Unit for a fee.
Connecticut State Library Search
Connecticut's State Library maintains a court index that enables individuals to access records of Fairfield County court cases for earlier cases (1841 to 1932).
Interested parties may visit the state library during open hours to search or view older Fairfield County court records. Reference staff are available to assist requesters.
Individuals who wish to reproduce an original record can email the Connecticut State Library's History and Genealogy Unit or call (860) 757-6580. Note that copies from the library attract stipulated fees based on the reproduction format and number of pages.
Fairfield County Civil Court Case Records
Fairfield County civil court case records are official documents from civil court proceedings. Civil court cases are disputes between two or more private parties where no one is being charged with a crime. Examples of Fairfield County civil court case records include pleadings, settlement agreements, motions, discovery documents, and judgments. The clerk of the court where a case was heard is responsible for keeping the resultant records.
Besides visiting the courthouse where a case was heard to request case records, one can access the Civil/Family/Housing/Small Claims case search tool on the Connecticut Judicial Branch's website. The website is accessible by party name, docket number, attorney/firm juris number, or property address (for foreclosure or summary process).
One can also access the Centralized Small Claims Session Search Help page for information on how to look up records of small claims cases filed before September 1, 2017, but not transferred to the small claims docket in the appropriate court.
Fairfield County Criminal Court Case Records
Fairfield County criminal court case records include all documents or written information generated from criminal court proceedings. These include arrest warrants, indictments, plea agreements, court dockets, and convictions. The clerks of the courts are responsible for maintaining these records.
Anyone wishing to conduct a Fairfield County criminal court case record lookup can access the Criminal/ Motor Vehicle Case Lookup on the State Judicial Branch's website. There, they can search criminal convictions, daily dockets, and pending cases by defendant name, docket number, and court.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The only way to access court records from court or third-party websites for free is by viewing available case information. Typically, printing or obtaining certified copies of court case records comes with charges.
Courts in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield Judicial District
1061 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 207-8600
Fax: (203) 207-8642
Danbury Judicial District
146 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: (203) 579-6527
Fax: (203) 382-8406
Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District
123 Hoyt Street
Stamford, CT 06905
Phone: (203) 965-5208
Fax: (203) 965-5355
Geographical Area 2 at Bridgeport
172 Golden Hill Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 579-6568
Fax: (203) 382-8408
Phone: (203) 579-6562 (Small Claims)
Geographical Area 3 at Danbury
146 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: (203) 207-8600
Fax: (203) 207-8666
Geographical Area 20 at Norwalk
17 Belden Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
Phone: (203) 849-3580
Fax: (203) 847-8710
Phone: (203) 846-4206 (Small Claims)
Housing Session at Bridgeport
1061 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 579-6936
Fax: (203) 579-7291
Housing Session at Norwalk
17 Belden Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
Phone: (203) 846-4332
Fax: (203) 750-0881
Juvenile Matters and Detention Center at Bridgeport
60 Housatonic Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 579-6544
Fax: (203) 382-8430
Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District
123 Hoyt Street
Stamford, CT 06905
Phone: (203) 965-5308
Fax: (203) 965-5370
Phone: (203) 965-5708 (Juvenile Matters)
Fax: (203) 965-5785 (Juvenile Matters)
Bridgeport Probate Court
Probate District 48
City Hall Annex
999 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 576-3945
Fax: (203) 576-7898
Danbury Probate Court
City Hall Building
155 Deer Hill Avenue
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: (203) 797-4521
Fax: (203) 796-1563
Darien - New Canaan Probate Court
Probate District 52
Town Hall
2 Renshaw Road
Darien, CT 06820
Phone: (203) 656-7342
Fax: (203) 656-0774
Fairfield Probate Court
Probate District 49
Independence Hall
725 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (203) 256-3041
Fax: (203) 256-3044
Greenwich Probate Court
Probate District 54
Town Hall
101 Field Point Road
P.O. Box 2540
Greenwich, CT 06836
Phone: (203) 622-7879
Fax: (203) 622-6451
Northern Fairfield County Probate Court
Probate District 45
1 School Street
Bethel, CT 06801
Phone: (203) 794-8508
Fax: (203) 778-7517
Norwalk - Wilton Probate Court
Probate District 51
City Hall
125 East Avenue
P.O. Box 2009
Norwalk, CT 06852
Phone: (203) 854-7737
Fax: (203) 854-7825
Shelton Probate Court
Probate District 42
40 White Street
P.O. Box 127
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone: (203) 924-8462
Fax: (203) 924-8943
Stamford Probate Court
Probate District 53
888 Washington Boulevard
P.O. Box 10152
Stamford, CT 06904
Phone: (203) 323-2149
Fax: (203) 964-1830
Stratford Probate Court
Probate District 47
468 Birdseye Street
2nd Floor
Stratford, CT 06615
Phone: (203) 385-4023
Fax: (203) 375-6253
Trumbull Probate Court
Probate District 46
Town Hall
5866 Main Street
Trumbull, CT 06611
Phone: (203) 452-5068
Fax: (203) 452-5092
Westport Probate Court
Probate District 50
Town Hall
110 Myrtle Avenue
Room 100
Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 341-1100
Fax: (203) 341-1102
