Mansfield Civil Case Records

Mansfield civil court records are kept at the Tolland Judicial District Superior Court in Rockville, Connecticut. Mansfield is a town in Tolland County with about 28,000 residents, including a large number of students at the University of Connecticut main campus. All civil cases involving Mansfield residents and businesses go through the Tolland court system in nearby Rockville. This includes lawsuits, contract disputes, property claims, landlord-tenant matters, and other non-criminal legal proceedings. The Superior Court maintains detailed files on all cases from filing through final disposition and makes them available to the public for search and review online or in person.

Tolland Superior Court

All civil cases for Mansfield residents are filed at the Tolland Judicial District Superior Court. The court is in Rockville at 69 Brooklyn Street. Rockville is the county seat of Tolland County. The courthouse handles civil matters for 13 towns in northeastern Connecticut. Mansfield is one of them. The others include Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Coventry, Ellington, Hebron, Somers, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon, and Willington.

The Rockville courthouse is about 15 miles northwest of Mansfield. You can drive there in about 20 minutes. Parking is available near the courthouse. Public transit options are limited, so most Mansfield residents drive when they need to visit the court. When you go, bring a valid photo ID. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. The courthouse is closed on weekends and legal holidays.

Note: Rockville is part of the town of Vernon, which consolidated with the city of Rockville in 1965.

Search 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. This includes cases filed in Rockville for Mansfield residents. You can search by party name, docket number, or attorney name. The system shows case details, docket entries, and upcoming court dates for civil, family, housing, and small claims matters.

To search for a case, go to the case look-up page and enter the name of a person or business. You can also search by case number if you know it. The system returns all matching cases with the filing date, case type, and current status. Click on a case to see more details like docket entries and scheduled events. Most Mansfield 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 summaries and docket text. If you need copies of actual court filings from a Mansfield case, you must contact the Chief Clerk's office at (860) 896-4920. The clerk can provide plain copies for $1.00 per page or certified copies with a raised seal for a higher fee. Some records may be available by email if the file size is small.

You can also use the Attorney/Firm Look-up tool on the Judicial Branch website. This shows all cases where a specific lawyer or law firm appears. It helps if you want to track cases handled by a particular attorney in Mansfield or Tolland County.

Court Service Center

The Tolland 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. Mansfield residents can visit this center to get help with their civil court matters.

The Court Service Center at Rockville 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 Tolland Court Service Center at (860) 896-4945. The center does not give legal advice, but staff can help you find the right forms and explain court procedures for civil cases in Mansfield.

Getting Copies of Court Files

If you need copies of civil court records from a Mansfield case, you have a few options. For active cases, contact the Chief Clerk's office at the Rockville 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 Mansfield or anywhere in Connecticut.

Court Forms

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 Mansfield. 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, call the Chief Clerk's office at (860) 896-4920 to ask which forms are required for your type of civil case. The staff can point you to the right forms for filings in Mansfield.

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 Court Service Center at the Rockville courthouse or contact a legal aid group in Tolland 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 Rockville courthouse where Mansfield 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 Mansfield. 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 without paying the fee up front. Ask the clerk's office for the waiver application or find it on the court forms website.

Legal Help for Mansfield Residents

Several groups offer free or low-cost legal help to people in Tolland 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 Mansfield 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. 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 Mansfield residents who meet income guidelines.

Connecticut Legal Services also offers free legal aid to people with low income. They serve all eight counties, including Tolland. 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 Mansfield and Tolland County.

For general questions about court procedures in Mansfield, call the Chief Clerk's office at (860) 896-4920 or visit the Court Service Center at (860) 896-4945. The staff cannot give legal advice, but they can explain filing rules and help you find court forms for civil cases.

Law Library at Rockville

The Rockville courthouse has a law library open to the public. The library has legal reference books, court rules, statutes, and other research materials. You can use the library to research legal issues for your civil case. Library staff can help you find resources but cannot give legal advice. Call the law library at (860) 896-4955 for hours and more info.

The law library has computers with internet access and legal research databases. You can use these tools to look up case law, statutes, and court rules. Some materials are available in print and online. The library is free to use and no appointment is needed. Mansfield residents can visit the library during courthouse hours to research their civil cases.

Public Access to Court Records

Most civil court records in Connecticut are open to the public. This includes files from cases in Mansfield. 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 Mansfield, 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 Mansfield and other towns in Connecticut.

University of Connecticut Students

Mansfield is home to the University of Connecticut, which has more than 20,000 students on its main campus. UConn students who live in Mansfield during the school year may file civil cases at the Rockville courthouse. Students who are not Connecticut residents may still file civil cases here if the dispute involves a Mansfield property or a local business.

Students can use the same online search tools and court resources as other Mansfield residents. The Court Service Center at Rockville can help students understand court procedures and find the right forms. UConn also has legal resources on campus, but those are separate from the court system. For civil court matters, students should contact the Chief Clerk's office or visit the courthouse in Rockville.

Tolland County Civil Court Records

Mansfield is part of Tolland County, and all civil cases go through the Tolland Judicial District Superior Court in Rockville. The county court handles cases for 13 towns in northeastern Connecticut. For more on the county court system, courthouse locations, and record access options, visit the Tolland County page.

View Tolland County Civil Court Records