Norwich Court Docket Records

Norwich court docket records are filed and managed through the Connecticut Judicial Branch at the Norwich Judicial District courthouse on Courthouse Square. Unlike many Connecticut towns that rely on courts in other cities, Norwich has its own JD courthouse and GA court right in town. This makes searching for a Norwich court docket more direct. The state's free online tools let you look up civil, criminal, family, and probate docket records from any computer. You can also walk into the clerk's office to check on a case or request copies in person.

Norwich Judicial District Court

The Norwich Judicial District courthouse is at 1 Courthouse Square, Norwich, CT 06360. Call (860) 887-3515 for the clerk. This court handles civil lawsuits, family cases, and serious criminal matters for the district. Every case filed here gets a docket number at the time of filing. That number follows the case through every motion, hearing, and order until the court enters a final disposition. The Norwich JD serves not just the city but several surrounding towns in New London County.

Civil cases at the Norwich JD include contract disputes, personal injury suits, foreclosures, and other lawsuits. Family cases cover divorce, custody, visitation, and support matters. Serious criminal charges like felonies also come through this court. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can visit in person to check on a docket, request copies, or file new papers. Staff at the window can look up any active case if you have the name or docket number ready.

The Judicial Branch has a directions page for the Norwich JD courthouse that shows how to get there and where to park.

Check this page before your visit to plan your route and find nearby parking options.

Norwich Criminal Docket Records

Criminal cases from Norwich go through two courts. G.A. 21 handles arraignments, misdemeanors, motor vehicle violations, and lower-level criminal charges. This court is also at 1 Courthouse Square. Call (860) 889-7338. Felonies and more serious charges move to the Norwich JD level. Both courts create docket records for every case. The docket shows the charges, hearing dates, motions, pleas, and final result.

You can search Norwich criminal docket records through the criminal case search tool on the Judicial Branch website. This tool covers convictions, pending cases, and daily court schedules. The criminal case lookup page explains how the search works and what information is available.

Conviction records stay online for up to 10 years after sentencing. Pending cases remain visible until resolved. The daily docket feature lets you see which cases are set for a given day at G.A. 21 or the Norwich JD.

Under C.G.S. 54-142g, criminal records may be erased if a case ends in dismissal, acquittal, or pardon. Once erased, the docket record is removed from both the court system and law enforcement databases. Practice Book 11-20 sets out the rules courts follow for handling criminal case files and docket entries throughout the life of a case.

Note: Not every past arrest in Norwich will show up in the online search if the case was later erased under state law.

Search Norwich Court Dockets Online

The Civil/Family Case Look-up tool is the main way to search Norwich civil, family, small claims, and housing docket records online. Type in a party name and the system pulls results from every court in Connecticut. You can filter by the Norwich Judicial District to find local cases. Each result shows the docket number, case type, parties, court, and status. Under C.G.S. 1-200, the Freedom of Information Act gives anyone the right to search these records. You do not need to be a party to a case.

Housing docket records from Norwich are also searchable through this tool. Small claims cases appear here too. The system covers active and recently disposed cases. For older cases that are no longer in the online system, contact the clerk at the Norwich JD courthouse or reach the Superior Court Records Center in Enfield at SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov. Staff there can pull closed files from storage and let you know how to get copies.

Norwich Probate Court Dockets

Norwich has its own probate court. The Norwich Probate Court, District 20, is at 100 Broadway, Room 122, Norwich, CT 06360. Call (860) 887-2160. This court handles estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Every probate filing creates a docket that tracks each document and order. Probate records are generally public, though cases involving minors or protected persons may have restricted access.

Search probate docket records online through the Connecticut Probate Court Case Lookup tool. The database covers cases from 2011 forward. Older Norwich probate records need a direct request to the court. Under C.G.S. 51-36a, the Judicial Branch sets rules for how courts maintain and share records, including retention schedules and storage procedures.

Getting Copies of Norwich Docket Records

You can get copies of Norwich court docket records at the clerk's office at 1 Courthouse Square. Ask for the case by name or docket number. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $2.00 per document plus the page fee. Bring a photo ID. For disposed cases that have moved to storage, email the Superior Court Records Center in Enfield. Include the case name and docket number. Staff will pull the file and contact you about copies. This usually takes a day or two.

Court transcripts are a separate request. Audio recordings of proceedings cost $25 per day per docket number for hearings from November 2018 forward. Written transcripts run $3.00 per page for regular service. Contact Court Transcript Services at 90 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106 for those requests.

Note: Always have the docket number ready when requesting records, as it speeds up the search considerably.

Norwich City Offices

The Norwich Mayor's office is at (860) 823-3742. The City Clerk can be reached at (860) 823-3731. The Norwich Police Department number is (860) 886-5561. City offices handle municipal records, not court docket records. The clerk manages land records, vital records, and city meeting minutes. Police maintain arrest reports and incident files. Court docket records are kept by the state Judicial Branch at the courthouse or the records center in Enfield.

People sometimes mix up city records with court records. They are managed by different agencies. If you need a court filing, go to the courthouse or use the online tools. If you need a municipal document like a property transfer or a vital record, contact the Norwich City Clerk.

New London County Court Resources

Norwich is part of New London County. All Norwich Superior Court docket records fall under the county's court system. For a broader look at courts across the county, visit the New London County court docket page. That page covers the Judicial Districts and GA courts that serve all of New London County.

Nearby Cities

Other cities in southeastern Connecticut also file docket records through New London County courts. Check these pages for location-specific court information.