The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.
Court Records
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I order a transcript of a court hearing?
- What does the term "court file" mean?
- What information is contained in a court file pertaining to a criminal or motor vehicle matter?
- What information is contained in a court file pertaining to a civil or family matter?
- Are records of juvenile matters open to the public?
- What becomes unavailable to the public when a file is sealed by the court?
- When do sealed materials become available to the public and how will news professionals or members of the public know when a sealed file becomes disclosable?
- What items are automatically sealed by statute?
- Is there an expedited process to review orders to seal court documents?
- When must court records be erased?
- Under what circumstances would a clerk respond that there is no public record of a case?
- How do I get a copy of my divorce decree (or other document filed in my divorce case)?
- Access Guidelines to Court Records
- Services
- Copy Charges
1. How do I order a transcript of a court hearing?
Requests for written transcripts of any court proceeding must be made in writing and submitted to the Court Reporter's Office at the judicial district where the case was heard. E-mailed orders cannot be accepted. The letter must include:
- the case name (or caption)
- the docket number
- the judge's name
- where the case was heard
- the date(s) the case was heard
- your name, address and telephone number
- brief description of the proceeding (or section of the proceeding) you are ordering (for example, the testimony of a specific witness, the court's order, etc.)
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2. What does the term "court file" mean?
The term, court file, refers to the official record of the court and includes all the pleadings, exhibits, orders and word for word testimony that took place during the trial. (Not every court file contains each and every item cited herein.)
Members of the public have the right to see any document in any court file, unless a court has sealed the file, or statute has rendered the contents of the file confidential.
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3. What information is contained in a court file pertaining to a criminal or motor vehicle matter?
The contents of a file depend on the nature of the case and the charges (see Connecticut Practice Book Section 7-13 for more detailed information). The file's contents may include, inter alia, the following documents:
- executed arrest warrant;
- original affidavit in support of probable cause;
- summons and complaint;
- infraction/violation complaint;
- uniform arrest report (UAR);
- information or indictment and any substitute information;
- written plea of nolo contendere;
-
documents
relating to programs for:
a) Youthful Offender (Y.O.)
b) Accelerated Rehabilitation (A.R.)
c) Alcohol Education Program (A.E.P.)
d) Drug Education Program
e) Family Violence Education Program
f) determination of competency to stand trial or suspension of prosecution; - official receipts;
- judgment mittimus;
- notice of rights;
- orders regarding probation; and,
- transaction sheet.
4. What information is contained in a court file pertaining to a civil or family matter?
The contents of a civil or family file depend on the nature of the case and the allegations. The file's contents may include the following documents:
- The complaint, amendments to the complaint, a substituted complaint or an amended complaint;
- Orders of notice, appearances and officers' returns;
- Military or other affidavits;
- Cross complaints, third-party complaints and amendments;
- Responsive pleadings;
- Memorandum of decision;
- Judgment file or notation of the entry of judgment and all modifications of judgment; and,
-
Executions issued
and returned.
(Specific Connecticut statutes and court rules permit particular documents in a civil or criminal case to be sealed. This means that specific records cannot be inspected by members of the public except by order of the court.) See Connecticut Practice Book Sec. 11-20, 42-49, 25-29 and 35-5 for more detailed information.
5. Are records of juvenile matters open to the public?
Generally, all records of cases of juvenile matters are confidential. Certain exceptions apply. For example, the record of the case of a juvenile matter involving delinquency proceedings or any part thereof, shall be available to the victim of the crime committed by such child to the same extent as the record of the case of a defendant in a criminal proceeding in the regular criminal docket would be available. (See C.G.S. 46b-124).
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6. What becomes unavailable to the public when a file is sealed by the court?
Only those portions of the file that the judge has ordered sealed. In the event of a partial sealing, certain information in the court file will continue to be available for public inspection.
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7. When do sealed materials become available to the public and how will news professionals or members of the public know when a sealed file becomes disclosable?
Materials ordered sealed by the court are disclosable once the sealing order expires. News professionals or members of the public should make note of the date when the sealing order will expire. Please be aware that, in many cases, the information may not be disclosable at any point in the future.
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8. What items are automatically sealed by statute?
Generally, communications and records of a party to the action between the following individuals are sealed:
- psychologist and patient;
- psychiatrist and patient;
- battered women's or sexual assault counselor and victim;
- Judicial Branch employee and employee assistance program counselor;
- physician, surgeon or health care provider and patient;
- marital and family therapist and person consulting such therapist; and,
- social worker and person consulting such social worker.
9. Is there an expedited process to review orders to seal court documents?
Yes, anyone impacted by court orders to seal or limit disclosure of materials on file in connection with a court proceeding may petition the appellate court for review of that order within 72 hours of its issuance, EXCEPT that the following types of matters will not be reviewed:
- orders under the family matters or search warrant statutes;
- any statutory provision authorizing the court to seal or limit disclosure of materials at a pretrial or trial stage; or,
- a court rule that seals or limits disclosure of affidavits in support of arrest warrants.
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10. When must court records be erased?
Generally, police, court and prosecutorial records must be erased when:
- More than 20 days have elapsed after a defendant is acquitted or the dismissal of a criminal case, unless an appeal is taken, or 13 months have elapsed after a nolle is entered;
- A defendant is granted an absolute pardon;
- The offense for which the defendant was convicted is later decriminalized; or,
- The matter pertains to a person who has been adjudicated a youthful offender and has been discharged from the supervision of the court.
11. Under what circumstances would a clerk respond that there is no public record of a case? Generally, where:
- A criminal case was dismissed more than 20 days ago;
- A nolle was entered more than 13 months ago;
- More than 20 days ago, the case either ended in a finding of not guilty or a judgment of acquittal; or
- The records of a case have been erased.
12. How do I get a copy of my divorce decree (or other document filed in my divorce case)?
A copy of a document filed in your divorce case can generally be obtained from the Judicial District Clerk's Office in the court location where the divorce took place. Your divorce decree is referred to as the "Judgment File." The Clerk's Office will need your case name and docket number (the number that was assigned to the case), and there are fees for copying and certifying. Judgment Files have a flat fee, other documents have a per page copying fee with a certification fee, if needed.
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