To search for court records in Rutland County, Vermont, start with RutlandCourt.us — a resource that allows you to find publicly available information about county court cases. Additionally, records can be searched through the state's official online court systems, clerk's offices, and public terminals installed directly in court buildings. Below is a practical guide to the county's court system, hearing calendars, obtaining documents, and fee amounts.
Rutland Court System & Jurisdictions
Vermont does not use District Courts in the same way as other states. Instead, there is a single Superior Court system, which is divided into divisions. In Rutland County, the Rutland Superior Court operates with the following divisions:
- Criminal Division — criminal cases: from misdemeanors to felonies. This is where charges prepared by the Rutland County Prosecutor's Office are filed.
- Civil Division — civil lawsuits, including contract disputes and damage claims. Small claims up to $5,000 are also heard here.
- Family Division — divorces, child custody, protective orders, paternity establishment.
- Probate Division — estate cases, guardianship, name changes, powers of attorney.
- Environmental Division — land and environmental disputes, appeals of local land use decisions.
Traffic tickets are usually handled by the Judicial Bureau — a separate administrative entity, not the Criminal Division. The driver receives a summons with the hearing date specified in this bureau.
Federal cases — bankruptcy, federal law claims — are handled by the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, which has locations in Rutland and Burlington. Bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Rutland Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The Rutland Superior Court calendar is published through the Vermont Judiciary system. To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week:
- Visit the official Vermont Judiciary website (vermontjudiciary.org) and go to the calendars section.
- Select "Rutland" as the court location and the desired division (Criminal, Civil, Family, or Probate).
- Set the date range — the system will show scheduled hearings with case numbers, party names, and judge's name.
Public terminals in the courthouse also provide access to the current schedule. If you need a specific hearing date for your case, call the court clerk's office.
Rutland Superior Court — Clerk's Office
Note: According to Vermont's public access to court records rules, the court does not provide online access to criminal, family, and probate cases over the internet. Therefore, some calendars may only be available by visiting in person or by phone.
How to Get a Copy of a Rutland Court Document
There are several ways to obtain a copy of a court document — and the type of copy determines the procedure.
Certified vs. Uncertified Copies
A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature, confirming its authenticity. It is needed for official purposes: filing in another court, immigration procedures, real estate transactions. An uncertified copy is a regular printout for informational purposes.
Methods of Obtaining
- In Person — visit the Rutland Superior Court clerk's office at the address above. The clerk will locate the case by number or party name and make a copy on-site.
- By Mail — send a written request with the case number, party names, document type, and return address. Include a check or money order for the appropriate fee.
- Online — for most case categories (criminal, family, probate), direct online access to documents is limited. Civil cases are sometimes available through the eCabinet electronic filing system, but full file review usually requires an in-person visit.
For state-level criminal records, you can use the Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS), maintained by the Vermont Crime Information Center. This database contains convictions, not full court files.
Police reports related to the case are ordered separately through the police report request service of the Department of Public Safety.
Mailing Address for Requests
Rutland Court Records Fees & Payment
Fee amounts are set by Vermont Judiciary administrative orders and may change. Before sending payment, confirm the current amount with the court clerk's office by calling (802) 775-4394.
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Uncertified copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified document copy | $5.00 — $10.00 |
| Case register search (per request) | Depends on search type; check with the clerk |
| Criminal history check via VCCRIS (online) | $30.00 |
| Criminal history check (in person via VCIC) | $30.00 |
| Police report (Vermont State Police) | $5.00 — $20.00 depending on volume |
Acceptable Payment Methods:
- In Person — cash, check, money order. Some clerk's offices also accept credit and debit cards.
- By Mail — check or money order payable to "Vermont Superior Court."
- Online (for VCCRIS) — credit card through a secure portal.
Fees for federal cases (U.S. District Court, Bankruptcy Court) differ from state fees. Federal documents are available through the PACER system, which charges $0.10 per page.