Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records detail the legal proceedings within the county. The local judiciary maintains these records by law for several purposes. They mainly serve as evidence that legal proceedings and court cases are fair and follow proper procedures. These records include motions, judgments, rulings, and rulings which can be stored in various forms from written documents, video, and electronic files. Franklin County arrest records may also be found as part of court records.

Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?

Franklin County court records are open to the general public under the Vermont Open Records Law. However, some information is restricted or exempted from general access. Examples of records restricted under the Open Records Law include the following.

• Records that are designated as confidential by law
• Records that, if made public, would violate privileges such as attorney-client privilege
• Records concerning the investigation of a crime that would prevent a fair trial
• Any record that could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or safety of an individual

Franklin County Court Records Search

Record seekers may use the following Franklin County Court Records search options.

• Visit the Division of the Vermont Superior Court in Franklin, which heard the case
• Use any of the online resources offered on the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal
• Try a reputable third-party records website

Franklin County Courts

The Vermont court system consists of several trial courts, including Superior courts and Judicial Bureaus. The Superior Court serves as the main trial court, hearing criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. Below are all the courts located in Franklin County.

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Civil Division
17 Church Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-7993

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Criminal Division
36 Lake Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-7997

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Family Division
36 Lake Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-7997

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Probate Division
17 Church Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-7948

Franklin County Criminal and Civil Records

Franklin County Criminal and Civil Court court records may be obtained from the appropriate divisions of the Vermont Superior Court. Court Record Request Forms can be sent to the division responsible for managing these records. Criminal court records document cases involving felonies and misdemeanor crimes. Their records are maintained by:

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Criminal Division
36 Lake Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-7997

Records seekers may also direct criminal record requests for Franklin County arrest records or criminal history checks to local law enforcement, such as the Franklin County Sheriff or the Vermont Crime Information Center.

Civil court case records detail court cases and legal proceedings between private entities. These records may be requested by submitting the court record request form to:

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Civil Division
17 Church Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-7993

Record copies cost $0.25 per page, with a minimum charge of $1. The form provides full details of copy fees and research fees. For online record searches, requesters may use any of the search tools and resources of the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal.

County Marriage Records

Franklin County marriage records are only partially public information. By Vermont Law, certified copies of marriage records are restricted and only available to specific people, including the couple on the record, immediate family, and authorized legal representatives. Non-certified informative copies are available for request by the general public.

Marriage records in Vermont are maintained at the local and state level. At the local level, they are maintained by the Town/City Clerk where the marriage took place. Record seekers are advised to forward their request to the town clerk directly,

On the state level, marriage records can be obtained in different ways. Certified copies of marriage records from 2022 to the present are requested by mailing an Application for a Certified Vermont Marriage or Divorce Certificate to the Vital Records Office of the Vermont Department of Health. Marriage certificates from 2021 and earlier can be ordered by filling out a Request for a Certified copy of a Marriage/Civil Union or Divorce form to the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. Certified copies of marriage records cost $10 each, payable by checks or money orders in U.S. currency, payable to the Vermont Secretary of State. Mailed requests should include a self-addressed and stamped envelope to return the records.

Free informational copies of marriage records can be requested via a written request bearing the

The request can be delivered by email to vitalrecords@vermont.gov or by U.S. mail to:

Vermont Department of Health
Vital Records
280 State Drive
Waterbury VT 05671-8370

Franklin County Divorce Records

Franklin County divorce records are generated by the Franklin Family Division of the Vermont Superior Court. Interested parties can obtain copies of divorce records from the family division or the Vermont Department of Health.

Record seekers can obtain divorce records by visiting in person or mailing a written request to the family division at:

Vermont Superior Court - Franklin Family Division
36 Lake Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478

For any questions about requesting divorce records, requesters may call the family division at (802) 524-7997.

Certified copies and free informational copies of divorce records are available from the Vital Records Office of the Vermont Department of Health for eligible parties and the general public respectively.

Franklin Birth Records

Franklin County birth records are available from the Town/City Clerk where the birth took place and the Vermont Department of Health. Birth records are important and useful for determining identity, nationality, and genealogy. They are also useful in paternity cases and other probate matters.

Two types of birth records are available upon request: certified copies for eligible persons, such as the subject of the birth records, legal representatives/guardians, and their immediate family, and non-certified copies for the general public.

Requests may obtain Certified Franklin County birth records by filling out an Application for a Certified Copy of Vermont Birth or Death Certificate and mailing it to the vital records address on the form. The completed form should be sent with payment and a copy of a valid identification to the address on the form. Franklin County birth certificates cost $10 each, payable in checks or money orders to the Vermont Department of Health.

The General public may order free non-certified copies of Franklin County birth records by submitting a written request containing the name of the person on the birth certificate and the date and location of the birth to:

Vermont Department of Health

Vital Records
280 State Drive
Waterbury VT, 05671-8370

Requests can also be emailed to the vital records office at vitalrecords@vermont.gov.

Franklin Death Records

Franklin County death records are available in two forms. A certified copy is only available to immediate family or authorized legal representatives, and a non-certified copy is available only to the general public. Record seekers may request these records from the Vital Records Office of the Vermont Department of Health.

To request non-certified informational copies of the death record for free, submit a written request by email to vitalrecords@vermont.gov or regular mail to:

Vermont Department of Health

Vital Records
280 State Drive
Waterbury VT, 05671-8370

The record should state the type of record(death), the name of the deceased, plus the date and location of the event.

Certified copies of the Franklin County death records can be obtained by filling out an Application for a Certified Copy of a Vermont Birth or Death Certificate and mailing it with identification and payment to the Vermont Health Department address on the form.

Franklin County Probate Court Records

Franklin County probate records document probate court cases and legal proceedings involving wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, emancipations, and other probate matters. The Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Probate Division, generates probate court records in Franklin County.

To obtain probate records, requesters may fill out the Request for Access to Public Records form and submit it to the Franklin Probate Division at:

Franklin Probate Division
17 Church Street,
St. Albans, VT 05478

Record seekers may call the probate division at (802) 524-4112 with any questions about requesting records. Copies of records cost $0.25 per page with a minimum of $1. Certification of records will cost $5. Copies can be paid for in person or by mail using checks or money orders made payable to the Vermont Superior Court. There is also the option to search for court records online using the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal.

Franklin County Property Records

Franklin County property records detail property and transactions involving property in the county. These records include plats, mortgages, liens, deeds, trusts, and assessments.

Property records in Vermont are kept at the town level rather than the county level. To obtain property records, requests and inquiries should be directed to the Town Clerk of the exact town within Franklin County where the property is located.

Property records can also be looked up online on the Vermont Land Records website.

Franklin County Court Records Online

For online record searches, requesters may use any of the search tools and resources of the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Third-party sites, such as Vermontcourtrecords.us, may also offer convenient record searches using any internet-capable device. Third-party websites offer simple, user-friendly interfaces where users may search for Franklin County court records and download or print out search results directly. Requesters must simply provide search criteria such as names, dates, and case numbers. Third-party sites have no government affiliation, meaning their records may be outdated or incorrect.