New Haven County Court Records
Court records are formal documentation of all legal proceedings and filings in a case, usually recorded and maintained by court clerks. New Haven County court records include summons, notice of hearing, trial dates, court dockets, charges, claims, recordings of proceedings, and log notes. Other court records include affidavits taken under oath, pleadings, orders, warrants, exhibits, judgments, and injunctions. Section 51 of the Connecticut General Statutes guides the state's maintenance, retention, reproduction, destruction, disposal, and transfer of court records. The custodian of court records in New Haven County is the court clerk's office in the County that has jurisdiction over the case.
Court records are integral to the Connecticut justice system because they serve as legal precedents for subsequent court cases. By allowing public access to New Haven court records, there is accountability and transparency in legal proceedings. Parties can review their trials and appeals on the grounds of errors in court proceedings or violations of their right to a fair hearing.
Are Court Records Public in New Haven County?
Yes. Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act), government records, which include court records, are part of New Haven Public Records. Court records are accessible to members of the public to promote transparency and accountability and establish trust in the justice system. Members of the public can get access to court records in their local courts and through online registries.
Although court records are generally publically accessible, some records are exempt from public disclosure for the safety and privacy of the record owners. The categories of New Haven court records exempt from disclosure under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act include medical records, adoption records, and court records of law enforcement agencies that are paramount to the victim or culprits' safety. Also, communications between the following parties are exempt: physical and sexual assault counselors and victims, marital and family therapists, and their clients.
What Do New Haven County Court Records Contain?
Court records in New Haven County generally contain information and documentation on legal and judicial proceedings within the County jurisdiction. Documents and information contained in a court record are:
- Court Docket: Legal document containing a chronological history of events related to the case and filings
- Case Information: Details about the parties, their names, information about the attorney, and the judge(s)
- Affidavits of witnesses
- Depositions and Transcripts: Sworn testimony and legal arguments
- The complaint (as well as amendments to the complaints)
- Nature of the case (civil, criminal, family, traffic)
- Charges (as well as amendments to the charges)
- Responsive Pleadings
- Motions
- Exhibit: Any document or tangible object presented as evidence in a court case (photographs, videos, audio recordings, DNA).
- Orders of notice, appearances, and officers' returns
- Appeal Documents
- Jury Records
- Judgment File
- Memorandum of Decision
Where to Conduct a New Haven County Case Lookup
In New Haven, interested persons can conduct a County case lookup through any of the following channels:
- The office of the court clerk where the case was filed
- The official website of the court that holds jurisdiction over the matter in question
- The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup
- Third-party aggregate services.
How to Conduct a New Haven County Case Records Search
Individuals can conduct a court record search at the court clerk's office. Inquirers must identify the court of filing, the geographical court location, and visit during working hours. A simple lookup at the court clerk's office may be free, but there are added charges for copying and certifying. To begin the search:
- Provide details like the name of the parties, docket number (the number assigned to the case), name of the Judge, Magistrate, or attorney, etc.
- Fill out the required request forms
- Pay for a certified copy of the document and any extra copies needed. A certified copy of a judgment file costs $25, certification of a document under seal is $2, and making copies of any documents is $1 per page.
People researching online can find court documents on registries maintained on the courts' website. Connecticut has a case lookup tool for all courts in the state, including those in New Haven County.
For mail requests:
- Identify the presiding court for the record needed.
- Visit the court's website to find their contact information.
- Contact the court clerk and ask if they have a specific mail request form. If they do, complete and submit the form and the required fees.
- If the court does not have a mail request form, ask about the details to include in the request letter.
- County courthouses in New Haven often need request forms for purchasing court records. Write a formal letter to the court clerk's office, stating the request's purpose, details about the case requested, and the requester's personal information( name, mailing address, and contact information).
- Pay the necessary copy and certification fees. The acceptable payment methods are usually check or money order.
- Mail the request letter and await a response from the county clerk's office.
Obtaining Audio Recordings of Court Proceedings
Researchers can send mail requests for audio recordings of trials in New Haven County Superior courts held on or after November 1, 2018. The person requesting the audio court record is required to pay $25 if and after the request is approved. The acceptable modes of payment are money order, cheque, cash, and credit card. To make a purchase, complete the 'Request for Audio Recording' JD-ES-325 form and mail it to:
Court Transcript Services
90 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Fax: (860) 706-5089
Email: audiorequests@jud.ct.gov
New Haven County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are documents and information filed in relation to a civil case. Civil cases are legal disputes on private and property rights. They typically involve claims for personal injury, contract disputes, family relations (inheritance, divorce, and child custody), tenancy issues, class action suits, complaints against the County, medical negligence, and bankruptcy.
In New Haven, the custodian of civil court records is the Superior Court Clerk or the county courthouse where the claim occurred. Interested persons may obtain civil court case records at the district court clerk's office where the case was decided. The Clerk's Office will request the case name and docket number to retrieve the civil case records. Researchers can also use the Connecticut online case management system - "Connecticut Judicial Branch eServices," to get case records on civil claims. Researchers can search by party name, docket number, firm Juris number, and property address (for property claims). This feature allows individuals to access information related to civil cases like pleadings, motions, transcripts, settlement agreements, and judgments.
New Haven County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal case court records are official documents, exhibits, recordings of court proceedings, orders, verdicts, and other attachments related to a criminal case. Much like other court records, the Court Clerk of the relevant court of jurisdiction maintains criminal court case records. Interested persons can find criminal case court records via criminal/motor vehicle case lookup.
This system has four categories:
- Convictions (search by defendant or docket number).
- Daily dockets: Daily dockets are a schedule for criminal cases to be heard daily (search by court or defendant).
- Pending criminal cases (search by defendant or docket number).
- Attorney/Firm Case Look Up (search by juris number)
To find the records sought for, the searcher will need the last name, first initial, and birth year of the defendant, the criminal record's court location, and the type of conviction.
Also, interested persons can visit the office of the court clerk or court location of the criminal record to look up criminal case court records in person. Per state law, individuals who request certified copies of court records are to pay the certification and copy fees.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The Connecticut Judicial Branch allows members of the public to look up court records for free on its website. However, the case information may be limited. For example, centralized small claims case information is only available for legal proceedings filed on or after September 1, 2017. As is the norm, certifying and copying court records cost a fee.
Aggregate third-party websites provide remote access to court records online for free or at a reduced rate. To access electronic case records, the researcher should know the party name, case or docket number, name of the attorney, attorney's firm Juris number, or the hearing date. Providing these details will streamline the search for an accurate selection of results.
Courts in New Haven County
The New Haven County judicial system consists of superior, district, probate, and juvenile courts. They preside on all criminal and civil matters in the County. Below is a list of all courthouses in New Haven, including their address, court clerk contact information, and website links:
Ansonia-Milford District Superior Court
14 West River Street
Milford, CT 06460
Phone: (203) 877-4293
New Haven District Superior Court
235 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: (203) 503-6800
Waterbury District Superior Court
300 Grand Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
Phone: (203) 591-3300
Richard C. Lee U.S District Courthouse
141 Church Street,
New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: (203) 773-2140
Superior Court for Juvenile Matters
239 Whalley Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
Phone: (203) 786-0337
Meriden Probate Court
142 East Main Street
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 630-4150
Wallingford Probate Court
45 South Main Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
Phone: (203) 294-2100
Cheshire-Southington Probate Court
84 South Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: (203) 271-6608
Waterbury Probate Court
49 Leavenworth Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
Phone: (203) 755-1127
Naugatuck Probate Court
229 Church Street
Naugatuck, CT 06770
Phone: (203) 720-7046
Region 22 Probate Court
501 Main Street South (Room 103)
Southbury, CT 06488
Phone: (203) 262-0641
Madison-Guilford Probate Court
8 Meetinghouse Lane
Madison, CT 06443
Phone: (203) 245-5661
Branford Probate Court
1019 Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
Phone: (203) 488-0318
East Haven-North Haven Probate Court
250 Main Street
East Haven, CT 06512
Phone: (203) 468-3895
Hamden-Bethany Probate Court
2750 Dixwell Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
Phone: (203) 287-7082
New Haven Probate Court
200 Orange Street, 1st Floor
New Haven, CT 6504
Phone: (203) 946-4880
West Haven Probate Court
355 Main Street, 2nd Floor
West Haven, CT 6516
Phone: (203) 937-3553
Milford-Orange Probate Court
70 West River Street
Milford, CT 6460
Phone: (203) 783-3205
Derby Probate Court
253 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Ansonia, CT 6401
Phone: (203) 734-1277
New Haven Regional Children's Probate Court
873 State Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Phone: (203) 773-9556
