Rutland County Court Records

Rutland County court records are legal documents that contain information about all civil and criminal cases filed in the county courts. Court clerks create these records when cases are filed and update them as cases progress through hearings. The maintenance of court records serves vital functions, such as creating legal precedence for future cases and providing interested persons with information about court actions.

Generally, Vermont court records include all documents, regardless of form, filed with or created by court clerks. When perusing court records, one can expect to find the following: dispositions, petitions, pleadings, motions, summonses, transcripts, subpoenas, and orders.

Are Court Records Public in Rutland County?

Yes. Per the Vermont Public Records Act, Rutland County court records are public. Under this Act, interested parties can obtain, inspect, or copy court records. Likewise, record custodians are legally required to fulfill requests for records within reasonable time frames and fees. Provisions under this Act also authorized record custodians to deny public access to certain records if their disclosure overrides a person's privacy rights or endangers any person or entity.

Portions of records or entire records are typically sequestered from public access if they include any of the following:

• Sealed records
• Expunged records
• Juvenile records
• Mental health information
• Adoption, delinquency, and guardianship records
• Proprietary information
• Records that reveal investigative techniques used by law enforcement
• Information about ongoing investigations or litigation that may threaten the credibility of their outcome.

Rutland County Court Records Search

Interested parties may obtain Rutland County Court records in person at the court clerk's office, by mail, and online via third-party websites. In any case, a record seeker should identify the court where a case was filed and possess sufficient case information to determine the case of interest, such as the case number, party names and dates of birth, filing date, and attorney name.

Rutland County Courts

Rutland County has a superior court with several divisions responsible for various case types. The divisions are civil, probate, family, and criminal. Find their respective addresses and contact information below:

Vermont Superior Court - Rutland Civil Division
83 Center Street
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 775-4394

Vermont Superior Court - Rutland Criminal Division
9 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 786-5880

Vermont Superior Court - Rutland Family Division
9 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 786-5856

Vermont Superior Court - Rutland Probate Division
83 Center Street
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 775-0114

Rutland County Criminal Records

Rutland County criminal records document crime activities for residents of the County. Documents obtained during a criminal record check typically contain docket and conviction information, sentencing and parole information, and Rutland County arrest records. The Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) is responsible for storing and disseminating conviction criminal records in the state. This entity is a division of the Vermont Department of Public Safety.

Records maintained by this agency are publicly available online via the Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS) at $30.00 per request. Certified copies are unavailable online, as requests must be written and submitted to the agency. Fees are non-refundable. Inquirers may verify records obtained online using the Online Validation Service.

Get Rutland County Civil Court Records

The different court divisions in Rutland County, except the criminal division, have distinct jurisdictions over specific case types. As such, persons looking for a court record should know the case type and the court where the case was filed before starting their search. In addition, they need the full name of case participants and other known case specifics to aid their search.

The next step is to fill out the Request for Access to Court Records form and send it to the relevant court. Request forms may be submitted in person, by email, or by mail. For requests sent by mail, requesters should call the court after a few days to confirm receipt of the request. Applicable fees depend on the number of copies and the type of record copy requested.

Generally, a copy of a certified document costs $5.00, while each page of plain documents costs $0.25 (minimum of $1.00). Payment options include cash, check, or money orders payable to the Vermont Superior Court. If the sought record is confidential and access is denied, fill out the Notice of Appeal of Decision on Access to Court Records form and file it in person with the court.

Rutland County Marriage Records

The Probate Division of the Vermont Superior Court issues marriage licenses and records every marriage for which it issued a license. Interested parties should visit the courthouse during business hours with case particulars to request records. Alternatively, one may request documents from the Vermont Department of Health in person or via mail. Records cost $10.00 per copy. Payment methods are cash, money order, and check.

Record seekers should complete an Application for a Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution Certificate and submit it with a valid means of identification, proof of payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (for requests sent by mail) by mail to
Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402

In-person requesters should contact:

Rutland County Town Clerk
181 Business Route 4
Center Rutland, VT 05736-0102
Phone: (802) 773-2528
Fax: (802) 773-7295.

Rutland County Divorce Records

The Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Family Division, handles divorces and other family-related legal matters. Record seekers should complete a request form and submit it to the courthouse via mail, email, or in person, along with the applicable fees. The court also sends copies of divorce certificates to the Vermont Department of Health for filing.

Interested parties may request records from the health department in person or by mail when they complete the Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution Certificate form. The completed form should be submitted with the applicable fees ($10.00 per certified copy) and a copy of a valid photo I.D. by mail to

Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402.

To obtain records in person, contact:

Rutland County Clerk of Courts
83 Center Street
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 775-4394

Rutland County Birth and Death Records

The Vermont Department of Health issues certified and non-certified copies of records for births and deaths in the state from 1909 to the present. Certified copies cost $10.00 per certificate. Birth and death records are classified as Rutland County vital records. An additional $2.00 fee is required for records ordered online. For expedited deliveries, an extra $2.50 applies. Payments for records ordered online may be made using credit cards. Birth and death records are also available at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Rutland County Town Clerk
181 Business Route 4
Center Rutland, VT 05736-0102
Phone: (802) 773-2528
Fax: (802) 773-7295

Rutland County Probate Court Records

The Probate Division of the Vermont Superior Court handles guardianship, adoptions, estate administration, trusts, wills, name changes, and all other matters of probate filed in the County. The court clerk keeps these records and allows members of the public to access them. Researchers must complete a Request for Access to Records Form and submit it at the clerk’s office. The form must include relevant information about the case of interest and be accompanied by any applicable fees.

More importantly, note that probate case records are largely confidential, and can only be released to case parties, their attorney, and parties specifically authorized by the court.

Rutland County Property Records

Property records contain information about real property ownership, taxation, sales, and valuation, and include various documents, such as deeds, plats, mortgages, and liens. These records are classified under Rutland County public records, meaning that they are available for public perusal and copying. Like every other County in Vermont, Rutland County does not have a county seat for recording land documents.

Cities and towns file documents independently for properties situated in them. Town clerks provide various means for residents to access property records, including online and in-person, at their office location. For instance, the Rutland City Clerk’s Office provides an online index for property searches. Users may create an account on the platform or log in as a guest.

Rutland County Court Records Online

Many courts offer online services on their websites as an alternative to in-person and mail record requests. Third-party online resources like vermontcourtrecords.us also exist for this purpose. Information provided on these websites is obtained from official resources. Despite gathering information from government sources, third-party websites operate independently and are not affiliated with the government. Significant delays may occur before updates about ongoing litigation are reflected on these websites. Consequently, information obtained from these sources may vary in accuracy or completeness.