Farmington Civil Records
Civil court records for Farmington are filed and kept at the Hartford Judicial District Superior Court in downtown Hartford. Farmington is a town in Hartford County with a population near 28,000 residents. All civil cases involving Farmington residents go through the Hartford court system, which handles lawsuits, contract disputes, property claims, and other non-criminal legal matters. The court keeps detailed files on all cases from start to finish. You can search these records online through the state case lookup system or visit the courthouse in person to get copies of filings and judgments. Most civil records are open to the public under Connecticut law.
Farmington Quick Facts
Where Farmington Civil Cases Are Filed
All civil cases for Farmington residents are filed at the Hartford Judicial District Superior Court. This court is in downtown Hartford at 95 Washington Street. The Chief Clerk's office handles all case filings and record requests. Hartford County covers many towns, and Farmington is one of them. The court serves Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Hartford, Manchester, West Hartford, and other nearby towns in addition to Farmington.
| Court | Hartford Judicial District Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 95 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 |
| Chief Clerk | (860) 548-2700 |
| Fax | (860) 548-2711 |
| Court Service Center | (860) 706-5064 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Doors open at 8:30 AM |
The Hartford courthouse has three buildings. The main entrance is at 95 Washington Street. Small claims and housing cases go to 80 Washington Street. Family Court is at 90 Washington Street. Civil cases filed by Farmington residents use the main building. You can park at nearby garages or use public transit to reach the court from Farmington.
Note: The courthouse is closed on legal holidays and weekends.
Search Farmington Civil Records Online
Connecticut offers free online search tools for civil court records. The Civil Case Look-up system lets you search all Superior Court cases statewide. You can look up cases filed in Farmington or anywhere else in Hartford County. The system shows party names, docket numbers, case status, and court dates. This is the fastest way to find basic info on a civil case in Farmington.
To search for a civil case, you need one of these: the name of a party, the case number, or the name of an attorney. Type it in and the system will show all matching cases. Each result tells you the case type, filing date, and current status. You can also see upcoming court events and past docket entries. Most Farmington residents use this tool to check on their own cases or look up public filings.
The online system does not show full documents. It only shows case details and docket entries. If you need copies of actual court filings, you must contact the clerk's office or visit in person. The clerk can provide certified copies for a fee. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more and include a raised seal.
You can also search by attorney or law firm using the Attorney/Firm Look-up tool on the Judicial Branch website. This shows all civil cases where a specific lawyer or firm appears. It helps if you want to track cases handled by a particular attorney in Farmington or Hartford County.
Court Service Centers in Hartford
The Hartford courthouse has a Court Service Center that helps people with civil cases. The center is open to the public and staffed by Judicial Branch employees. They can answer questions, help with forms, and show you how to use the online filing system. Farmington residents can visit this center to get help with their civil court matters.
The Court Service Center at Hartford offers these services:
- Statewide calendar and docket info for civil and family cases
- Court forms and judicial publications
- Public use computers with internet and word processing
- Help with electronic filing
- Printers, copiers, fax, scanner, and work space
- Staff to answer questions
- Notary public services
Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays except legal holidays. You can email the center at Court.ServiceCenter@jud.ct.gov or call the Hartford Court Service Center at (860) 706-5064. The center does not give legal advice, but staff can help you find the right forms and explain court procedures for civil cases in Farmington.
Getting Copies of Court Records
If you need copies of civil court records from a Farmington case, you have a few options. For active cases, contact the Chief Clerk's office at the Hartford courthouse. For disposed cases, the Judicial Branch has a centralized records center. Both methods can get you the files you need, but the process is different for each.
For disposed Superior Court records, send an email to SuperiorCourtRecordsCenter@jud.ct.gov. Include the name of the case and the docket number in your request. You can also call the Centralized Services Unit at (860) 263-2750. The staff will retrieve the file and make it available within one or two business days. Files can be sent by email at no charge if the size is small. Larger files must be picked up at a courthouse or the Centralized Services Unit. Copy and certification charges may apply.
Some files need proof of ID before the clerk will release them. Call ahead to ask what you need to bring. The clerk can tell you if the file is restricted or open to the public. Most civil cases are public records under Connecticut law, but a few have sealed documents. If a judge sealed part of the file, you may not be able to get those papers without a court order.
More details are on the How to Obtain Court Records page on the Judicial Branch website. The page lists contact info, fees, and the steps to request files from civil cases in Farmington or anywhere in Connecticut.
Court Forms for Civil Cases
The Connecticut Judicial Branch offers all official court forms online at jud.ct.gov/webforms. Forms are divided by case type. Civil forms include complaints, motions, and other filings you might need for a case in Farmington. All forms are free to download and print. You can also fill out some forms online before printing them.
The forms page has a search tool so you can find what you need by form name, number, or keyword. If you are not sure which form to use, the Court Service Center can help. You can also call the Chief Clerk's office at (860) 548-2700 to ask which forms are required for your type of civil case in Farmington.
Some forms are available in other languages. The site has translated forms in Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish. This helps people who speak those languages file civil cases in Connecticut. For help filling out forms, visit the Hartford Court Service Center or contact a legal aid group in Hartford County.
Fees for Civil Cases
Filing a civil case in Connecticut costs money. The fees vary based on the type of case and the amount in dispute. The Judicial Branch sets these fees, and they apply to all Superior Courts, including the Hartford courthouse where Farmington cases are filed. You pay the fee when you submit your complaint or other filing to the clerk.
Copy charges are $1.00 per page for court records. Administrative records cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The clerk can tell you the exact fee when you ask for copies of a civil case file from Farmington. Transcript charges vary based on the type of request and how fast you need the transcript.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may ask the court for a fee waiver. You must fill out an application and show that you have low income or face financial hardship. The judge will review your request and decide if you qualify. If approved, you can file your civil case in Farmington without paying the fee up front.
Legal Aid for Farmington Residents
Several groups offer free or low-cost legal help to people in Hartford County. These organizations focus on civil matters like housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits. If you need a lawyer for a civil case in Farmington but cannot afford one, contact one of these groups to see if you qualify.
Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut provides free legal help to low-income residents. They have offices across the state, including in Hartford. You can reach them by phone or visit their website at slsct.org to apply for help. They handle cases involving housing, public benefits, and other civil matters for Farmington residents who meet income guidelines.
Connecticut Legal Services also offers free legal aid to people with low income. They serve all eight counties, including Hartford. Call their Hartford office or visit ctlegal.org to learn about their services. The Connecticut Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-392-5660. This service can connect you with an attorney who handles civil cases in Farmington.
The Hartford Court Service Center has staff who can help you find legal resources. They do not give legal advice, but they can point you to free legal aid groups and self-help materials. Call (860) 706-5064 or visit the center in person at the Hartford courthouse.
Public Access to Court Records
Most civil court records in Connecticut are open to the public. This includes files from cases in Farmington. Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, any person can inspect public records during regular office hours. The act is found in Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 14, which covers access to public records across the state.
Some records are not open to the public. Sealed files, juvenile records, and certain family court records are restricted. If a judge ordered a file sealed, you need a court order to see it. For most civil cases in Farmington, the file is public and anyone can view it or get copies. The clerk can tell you if a specific case is open or restricted.
The Court Records FAQs page on the Judicial Branch website explains what records are public and how to access them. It covers civil files, docket sheets, and dispositions. The page also lists copy charges and contact info for records requests in Farmington and other towns in Connecticut.
Hartford County Civil Court Records
Farmington is part of Hartford County, and all civil cases go through the Hartford Judicial District Superior Court. The county court handles cases for many towns in central Connecticut, with Farmington being one of them. For more on the Hartford court system, courthouse locations, and record access options, visit the Hartford County page.