Situated in northwest Vermont, Chittenden County is popular for its diverse landscape, which includes Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. The county has a population of over 168,000, which is over 25% of the state’s population. The county’s seat is the city of Burlington.

Courts in Chittenden County

The Chittenden County Superior Court tries cases arising from the county through its divisions. The civil division of the court hears all civil cases, including contractual disputes, claims to money or property, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. It also hears applications for prerogative orders and appeals from the probate division. The court also has a small claims division that hears monetary claims involving an amount not exceeding $5,000.

The court’s criminal division handles violations of criminal laws, including felony offenses and misdemeanors. The division also hears certain municipal ordinance violations and forfeiture cases. However, delinquency cases against minors come before the family division. Domestic matters like divorce, dissolution of civil union, support and custody, and domestic abuse fall within the authority of the family division.  The court also hears cases on mental health and commitments.

The probate division of the Superior Court has authority over cases pertaining to wills, trusts, settlement of estates, guardianships, name changes, and adoptions. Environmental law cases come before the environmental division of the Superior Court. 

The Vermont Judicial Bureau also operates in Chittenden County. It hears civil violations, including those relating to motor vehicles, municipal ordinances, marijuana, and fishing.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Chittenden County

Courts in Chittenden County maintain records of the cases they handle. Members of the public can access these records by completing the request for access to the court records form and submitting it to the relevant courthouse. The court also receives record requests via mail and email. Record copies cost 25 cents per page, while certification attracts an extra $5 charge. Chittenden County court records are also accessible online on the Vermont public portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Chittenden County

Chittenden County court records include case filing, parties' pleadings, court dockets, judgment, and other materials relating to a case. Most case records are public in Chittenden County, including:

• Civil case records
• Small claims records
• Felony and misdemeanor records
• Traffic case records

Confidential Court Records in Chittenden County

Confidential court records are case files and court documents that are not open to the public as a result of legal restrictions. Some examples in Chittenden County are:

• Records sealed by court order
• Transcript of confidential proceedings
• Records containing certain health information
• Records relating to the issuance of a search warrant

Juvenile Delinquency in Chittenden, VT

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Chittenden County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Vermont often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 415 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Chittenden County. Of that total, 36% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 148 court cases. Another 64% were dependency cases that accounted for 267 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Chittenden County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Chittenden County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Chittenden County, VT

http://www.vermont.gov/

County Seat:	Burlington
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1787
Total Square Miles:	619
2019 Population:	162,372
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Chittenden County, VT Courts