Bristol Court Docket Records

Bristol court docket records go through the Connecticut Judicial Branch system. With a population over 62,000, Bristol is one of the bigger cities in Hartford County and its court cases are handled in nearby New Britain. You can look up Bristol docket records for civil, criminal, and family cases through free online search tools. The state keeps these records on several different websites depending on the case type. Criminal dockets, civil filings, and probate matters each have their own lookup tool. Most Bristol court docket searches can be done from home without spending a dime, though copies of documents will cost a small fee.

Bristol Court Docket at New Britain JD

Cases from Bristol are filed at the New Britain Judicial District courthouse. It sits at 20 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. The phone number is (860) 515-5180. This court handles civil lawsuits, family law cases, and serious criminal matters for Bristol and the towns around it. Every case that gets filed here receives a docket number. That number follows the case from the first filing through motions, hearings, and the final order. The docket is essentially the timeline of everything that has happened in a case.

Bristol does not have its own Superior Court. The New Britain JD is about a 15-minute drive from the center of town. If you need to look at a docket file in person, visit the clerk's office at 20 Franklin Square during regular hours. Bring a photo ID. Staff can pull up active cases and let you view the file or make copies.

Note: G.A. 15 shares the same building at 20 Franklin Square and handles lower-level criminal and motor vehicle cases for Bristol.

Search Bristol Dockets Online

Several free state tools let you search Bristol court docket records from home. The Civil/Family Case Look-up handles most civil and family searches. Type in a name, and the tool shows results from courts across the state. You can narrow it down to the New Britain JD to find Bristol-area cases. Results include the docket number, case type, parties, and status. Under C.G.S. 1-200, the Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to see these records. Anyone can search. You do not need to be a party to a case.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch also runs the E-Services portal for attorneys and some self-represented parties.

Through the E-Services portal, lawyers can file documents online for certain case types. The portal also gives access to case management tools and electronic docket updates. Not every case type supports e-filing yet, but the options keep growing. If you are not an attorney, you can still use the public search tools without an account.

Criminal Docket Records for Bristol

Criminal cases from Bristol start at G.A. 15. This court is at 20 Franklin Square, New Britain. Call (860) 515-5080. Arraignments, misdemeanors, and motor vehicle offenses go here first. More serious charges get transferred to the New Britain JD for trial. Both courts create docket records that track the charges, court dates, pleas, and outcome of each case. Under C.G.S. 51-36a, the Judicial Branch sets rules for storing and sharing these records.

Search criminal docket records for Bristol cases through the Criminal/Motor Vehicle Case Look-up tool.

This tool shows conviction records for up to 10 years past sentencing. Pending cases stay visible until they are resolved. You can search by name or docket number. The daily docket feature shows what cases are scheduled at G.A. 15 on any given day. Keep in mind that some criminal records may be erased under C.G.S. 54-142g after a dismissal or pardon. If a record has been erased, it will not show up in the search results.

Bristol Police handle their own arrest and incident reports. Reach them at (860) 584-3011. Police records are separate from court docket records.

Bristol Probate Court Docket

Probate cases from Bristol go through the Bristol/Plainville/Plymouth Probate Court, which is District 9. This court is at 240 Stafford Avenue, Bristol, CT 06010. The phone number is (860) 584-6230. It handles estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Each probate case gets its own docket. Probate courts in Connecticut are separate from Superior Courts and keep their own records.

You can search probate docket records from 2011 onward through the state probate website. For older records, contact the Bristol Probate Court directly. Probate files are generally open to the public. Some files that involve minors or protected persons may be restricted. The Bristol City Clerk at (860) 584-6160 handles vital records like birth and death certificates but does not manage court docket records.

Family Court Dockets in Bristol

Family law cases from Bristol are filed at the New Britain JD. Divorce, custody, support, and visitation matters all create docket records there. These are searchable through the civil/family case lookup tool. Results show the docket number, parties, case type, and hearing dates. If you need copies of specific filings, visit the clerk at 20 Franklin Square or send an email to SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov with the case name and docket number.

Juvenile cases are confidential. Under C.G.S. 46b-124, juvenile docket records can only be accessed by the parties, their attorneys, and certain agencies. The public cannot search for these online.

Note: Copies of Bristol court docket records cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies are $2.00 per document plus the page fee.

How to Get Bristol Docket Copies

There are a few ways to get copies of Bristol court docket records. The most direct way is to go to the New Britain JD clerk at 20 Franklin Square. Ask for the case by name or docket number. The clerk will pull the file and make copies for you. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $2.00 per document on top of the page fee. Bring a photo ID when you visit.

For cases that have been closed and sent to storage, reach out to the Superior Court Records Center in Enfield. Email them with the case details. Staff will locate the file and tell you how to pick up or receive your copies. Disposed docket records from Bristol cases get moved there after the local retention period ends. Court transcripts are a separate request at $3.00 per page for standard service. Audio recordings of hearings from November 2018 forward cost $25 per day per docket number. The Bristol Mayor's office at (860) 584-6100 can answer general city questions but cannot pull court docket records for you.

Hartford County Court Docket Resources

Bristol is part of Hartford County. All Bristol court docket records sit within the Hartford County court system. Visit the Hartford County court docket page for a broader look at courts and search tools across the county. That page covers the Hartford JD, the New Britain JD, and every GA court in the county.

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Bristol file their court docket records through Hartford County courts as well. Check these pages for location-specific details.