- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
What are Connecticut Court Records?
Connecticut has over 3.6 million residents, ranking it 29th among the most populated states in the country. The state's court system has four tiers: probate court, superior court, appellate court, and supreme court.
Court records in the state refer to all documents created and maintained by the court and participants during court proceedings. They include:
Docket Sheets
A docket sheet is a chronological record of all actions taken in a case, including filings, court dates, and orders.
Pleadings
These are formal documents filed by parties outlining their legal positions, such as complaints, answers, and counterclaims.
Motions
Motions are formal requests made to the court seeking specific actions or rulings.
Orders
Orders are court decisions or directives instructing specific actions.
Judgments
Judgments are final court decisions resolving a case.
Transcripts
These are verbatim records of court proceedings, including testimony and arguments.
Exhibits
Exhibits are physical evidence presented in court.
Briefs
These are written legal arguments submitted to the court by attorneys.
Types of Court Cases
Although a wide range of cases are heard in Connecticut courts, they can be broadly separated into civil and criminal cases.
Civil Cases
Civil cases in Connecticut involve legal disputes between individuals, organizations, or government entities. These cases typically do not involve criminal charges but rather issues like:
- Small claims
- Family law cases
- Landlord-tenant disputes
- Probate cases
Criminal Cases
Criminal cases in Connecticut are prosecuted by the government and involve actions considered offenses against the state or the public. These cases include:
- Infractions and Misdemeanors: These are less severe offenses, such as traffic violations, petty theft, or disorderly conduct.
- Felonies: Serious crimes like robbery, assault, murder, and drug trafficking.
What Are the Different Courts in Connecticut?
Connecticut has a unified state court system run by the Judicial Branch, which received about $640 million in General Fund appropriations for fiscal year 2026. Cases are tried in the Superior Court and reviewed by the Appellate and Supreme Courts, while Probate Courts operate separately.
| Court Level | Court Name | Jurisdiction | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appellate | Connecticut Supreme Court | Statewide; seven justices | Hears appeals from the Appellate and Superior Courts, including death penalty and constitutional questions |
| Appellate | Connecticut Appellate Court | Statewide; nine judges | Reviews most appeals from Superior Court judgments in three-judge panels |
| General Jurisdiction | Superior Court: Judicial District Courts | 13 judicial districts | Handle major civil cases, serious felonies and family matters as the state's single trial court |
| General Jurisdiction | Superior Court: Juvenile Matters | Court locations statewide | Decide delinquency, child protection and related juvenile cases |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Superior Court: Geographical Area Courts | 20 geographical areas | Hear misdemeanors, motor vehicle offenses and less serious felonies |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Superior Court: Small Claims | Statewide, by geographical area | Resolve money disputes up to $5,000 in an informal setting |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Superior Court: Housing Sessions | New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and Norwalk areas | Handle landlord-tenant, eviction and housing code cases |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Probate Courts | 54 probate districts | Handle wills, estates, conservatorships, adoptions and some guardianship matters |
How Many Federal Courts Are in Connecticut?
Only one federal district court exists in Connecticut, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Six active judges serve in the court, and appeals of its decisions go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
The federal court in Connecticut handles matters about federal law and:
- Cases brought by the United States
- Admiralty and maritime cases
- Cases between two states or citizens of two separate states
- Cases between a state and a foreign state or its citizens
- Cases affecting ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel
How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Connecticut?
Connecticut's Superior Court and Probate Courts handled about 375,766 new matters in fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), counting new and reopened cases but not infractions or payable violations. Superior Court clearance rates compare disposed cases with added cases, and the Probate Court clearance rate is estimated.
| Case Type | Annual Filings | % of Total | Common Offense/Subtype | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic | 32,876 | 8.7% | Motor vehicle offenses such as driving under the influence and driving without a license | 103.9% |
| Criminal | 61,264 | 16.3% | Felonies and misdemeanors prosecuted in the geographical area courts | 99.0% |
| Civil | 78,554 | 20.9% | Contract, tort and property cases plus eviction (summary process) cases | 99.8% |
| Small Claims | 52,878 | 14.1% | Non-housing money claims handled without lawyers | 95.6% |
| Domestic Relations | 23,615 | 6.3% | Divorce, custody, support and protective orders in family cases | 102.4% |
| Juvenile | 15,007 | 4.0% | Delinquency and child protection petitions | 101.3% |
| Other | 111,572 | 29.7% | Probate Court matters such as estates, conservatorships and name changes | ~100% |
| Total | 375,766 | 100% | — | ~99.7% |
How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Connecticut?
The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch provides online access to searching and accessing case information for Supreme and Appellate Court, Superior Court, Civil, Family, Housing, and Small Claims, Criminal and Motor Vehicle, Housing Session, and Centralized Small Claims cases. The public may access case information via these portals using case name, docket number, party name, or attorney information.
Similarly, the Connecticut Probate Courts website provides a case lookup resource for the public to access case data for probate court records from January 5, 2011, to the present. While searches may yield cases before 2011, the database on the case lookup resource is incomplete before that time.
Alternatively, you may be able to use online commercial databases via third-party websites to access Connecticut court records for a fee. Note that case information accessed via third-party sites that are not approved by the state may be unreliable.
To obtain actual copies of court records in Connecticut, contact the office or the clerk of the court or visit the local courthouse where the case was filed. The clerk of the court offices are authorized to provide access to copies of public court records for a fee.
Number of Active Judges — State & Federal
Connecticut's judges serve on the Supreme, Appellate and Superior Courts, in locally elected Probate Courts, and on the federal district court. The Superior Court count is the number of authorized judgeships.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Active Judges | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Supreme Court | Statewide appeals | 7 | Nominated by the Governor from a Judicial Selection Commission list; confirmed by the General Assembly; eight-year terms |
| Connecticut Appellate Court | Intermediate appeals | 9 | Nominated by the Governor from a Judicial Selection Commission list; confirmed by the General Assembly; eight-year terms |
| Superior Court | Statewide trial court for civil, criminal, family, juvenile and housing cases | ~185 | Nominated by the Governor from a Judicial Selection Commission list; confirmed by the General Assembly; eight-year terms |
| Probate Courts | Estates, conservatorships, guardianships and adoptions in 54 districts | 54 | Elected by voters in each probate district to four-year terms |
| U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut | Federal civil and criminal cases | 7 | Nominated by the President; confirmed by the Senate; life tenure |
| Total Active Judges | — | ~262 | — |
What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Connecticut?
While the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act provides access to government records, such as court records, some records or portions of court records may be redacted for specific reasons in line with a federal regulation, state law, or court order. This is typically done to maintain the privacy rights of the parties in a case. To access restricted records, you may need to obtain a court order. Examples of court records not open to the public in Connecticut are:
- Juvenile Records: These are cases involving minors and are generally not accessible to the public to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
- Adoption Records: Information related to adoption proceedings is kept confidential to protect the privacy of the adoptive families and the children.
- Certain Family Court Records: Some family court records, especially those involving sensitive matters like domestic violence or child custody disputes, may be restricted to protect the parties involved.
- Mental Health Records: Records related to mental health commitments or conservatorships may be kept confidential to protect the privacy of individuals.
- Sealed Records: Certain cases may be sealed by the court order for specific reasons, such as ongoing investigations or sensitive information that should not be publicly disclosed.
Average Case Processing Time & Clearance Rates
Processing times in Connecticut vary by case type: motor vehicle and small claims matters usually conclude within months, while contested civil and felony cases take a year or more. The durations are estimates of typical handling, and clearance rates compare dispositions with filings.
| Case Type | Court Level | Average Processing Time | Description | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic & Parking | Limited Jurisdiction | ~2–5 months | Most motor vehicle cases end in a plea or dismissal at an early court date; contested cases are set for trial | 103.9% |
| Small Claims | Limited Jurisdiction | ~3–6 months | Heard by a magistrate or judge in an informal setting; many claims settle or end by default | 95.6% |
| Misdemeanor Criminal | Limited Jurisdiction | ~6–10 months | Most are resolved by plea, diversion programs or dismissal in geographical area courts; few go to trial | ~99.0% |
| Civil Cases | General Jurisdiction | ~12–24 months | Cases move through pleadings and discovery, then settle or go to trial; housing and eviction cases move faster | 99.8% |
| Domestic Relations | General Jurisdiction | ~6–12 months | Divorces need a 90-day waiting period; uncontested cases finish soon after, contested custody cases take longer | 102.4% |
| Felony Criminal | General Jurisdiction | ~12–24 months | Cases are bound over to judicial district courts and mostly end in plea agreements; trials add many months | ~99.0% |