Newport County Court Records

Court records refer to official documents generated by the courts during civil and criminal case prosecutions. In Newport County, court records encompass trial documents from the county's Superior, District, Family, Probate, and Municipal Courts. Generally, Newport County and other Rhodes Island court records contain a wide range of information relating to specific cases; these include

• Docket sheets
• Case files
• Judgments
• Transcripts
• Appellate information.

Newport County court records play crucial roles in dispensing justice; they showcase the judiciary's impartiality in prosecutions of civil and criminal cases. Also, they are precedential documents for future trials within the various Newport County courts.

Are Court Records Public in Newport County?

Yes, Newport County court records are public. Title 38, Chapter 2 Section 2(a) of the Rhodes Island General Laws stipulates that all records in the possession of public agencies are public, and any individual or entity has the right to access or copy them.

However, not all Newport County court records are accessible to the public. Per Rhodes Island laws, the public cannot access Newport County court records if they relate to

• Minors
• Adoption
• Sealed or Expunged cases
• Confidential Business or Trade Secrets
• Family Court cases
• Mental Health and Competency Proceedings
• Grand Jury Proceedings
• Personal Identifying Information (PII)
• Victim of a crime
• Active judicial or law enforcement investigations.

Newport County Court Records Search

Newport County court records are searchable using several online and offline options. Information seekers may search for Newport County court records through the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal or private online repositories. Also, per the Rhodes Island Access to Public Records Act, the Newport County Clerk's Office and the clerk's offices of the various local courts must provide public access to records in their possession upon request if a record seeker is eligible to access them.

Newport County Courts

The Newport County judicial structure comprises the county's Superior, District, Family, Probate, and Municipal Courts. In Newport (and other Rhodes Island counties), the Superior Court is the apex local court. In Newport County, the Superior Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal trials. It presides over cases beyond the authority of the lower courts. These include felonies and misdemeanor jury trials.

Per the Rhodes Island judicial structure, the Newport County District Court handles non-jury criminal trials and municipal ordinance violations. In addition, it has exclusive authority over civil claims where the disputed amount is less than $5,000 and shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court for general claims between $5,000 and $10,000.

The Newport County Family, Probate, and Municipal Courts presides over a wide range of cases. In Rhodes Island (including Newport County), family courts have original jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile cases. Also, they handle juvenile delinquency cases, parental or guardian abandonment, threat against immediate family, and desertion. On the other hand, the Newport County Probate Court presides over probate cases and shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court on cases such as name changes for convicts and trustees of certain trusts.

The Newport County Municipal Court oversee most cases relating to municipal ordinance violations.

Individuals who seek to contact the various Newport County courts, can do so with the contact information below.

Newport County Superior Court
Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square, Newport,
RI 02840
Phone: (401) 841-8330
Phone: (401) 846-1673

Second Division District Court
Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square, Newport,
RI 02840
Phone: )401) 841-8350
Fax: (401) 841-8394

Newport County Family Court
Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 841-8340
Fax: (401) 848-5185

Newport County Probate Courts

Jamestown Probate Court
93 Narragansett Avenue, Jamestown,
RI 02835
Phone: (401) 423-7282

Little Compton Probate Court
Town Hall,
55 West Main Road,
Little Compton,
RI - 02837
P.O. Box 226, Little Compton,
RI 02837
Phone: (401) 635-8800

Middletown Probate Court
350 East Main Road, Middletown,
RI 02842
Phone: (401) 847-6500

Newport Probate Court
43 Broadway,
Newport,
RI 02840
Phone: (401) 845-5349

Portsmouth Probate Court
2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth,
RI 02871
Phone: (401) 683-2101

Tiverton Probate Court
343 Highland Road, Tiverton,
RI 02878
Phone: (401) 625-6703
Fax: (401) 625-6705

Newport County Municipal Courts

Middletown Municipal Court
350 East Main Road, 1st Floor, Middletown,
RI 02842
Phone: (401) 847- 5549, (401) 847-0009

Newport Municipal Court
15 Washington Square,
Newport,
RI 02840
Phone: (401) 845-8350

Tiverton Municipal Court
Tiverton Public Library,
34 Roosevelt Avenue,
Tiverton,
RI 02878
Phone: (401) 625-6716 ext. 3.

Newport County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents on criminal activities and prosecutions. In Newport County, these documents comprise Newport County arrest records and files on criminal trials within the county's courts.

The Rhodes Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA) grants public access to Newport County criminal histories. However, some of the county's rap sheets are exempted from public scrutiny due to privacy laws, their sensitive nature, or legal protection. For instance, the public cannot access Newport County criminal records if they relate to minors, active judicial or law enforcement investigations, sealed or expunged cases, victim information, law enforcement informant information, protective orders, confidential agreements, or witness information.

To access Newport County criminal records:

• Visit the Rhodes Island State Police Most Wanted Page and look for the criminal records of individuals wanted for various crimes in Newport County
• Call the Newport Police Department at (401) 847-1306 or visit their office and request access to Newport arrest records at

120 Broadway,
Newport,
RI 02840

• Fill out and submit the City of Newport Police Department's Access to Public Records Online Form.
• Visit local police departments within Newport County and submit APRA requests to access Newport County arrest records and other crime documents in their possession.

Get Newport County Civil Court Records

Newport County civil court records are official documents on the county's non-criminal case trials; these include case files from the Newport County Superior, District, Family, Probate, and Municipal Courts.

Per Rhodes Island laws, some Newport County civil court records (especially those relating to family laws) are not accessible to the public for privacy reasons. These records are accessible to authorized entities and persons with tangible interests only.

To access records of Newport County civil trials:

• Log in to the Rhode Island Judiciary's Smart Search Public Portal and use a case number to access case files relating to Newport County criminal trials.
• Visit the Newport County Courthouse and request access to civil court records through the Clerk's Office. To contact the court clerk's office, call (401) 841-8330 or visit the office in person at

45 Washington Square
Newport,
RI 02840

• Search online for Newport County civil court records; some documents may be available through third-party websites.

For Newport County historical civil court records, contact the Rhode Island State Archives; they may have older records on civil prosecutions within Newport County.

Newport County Marriage Records

Newport County marriage records are official public details of marriage within the county. These documents include Newport County marriage certificates, marriage licenses, marriage applications, affidavits or declarations, and the officiant's statement.

Newport County marriage records are accessible through town and city clerk offices.

To access a specific Newport County marriage certificate, records seekers should visit the city or town clerk's office that issued the marriage license and request access to the marriage record. Alternatively, search for Newport marriage records online through third-party databases; some private websites provide access to Newport County Vital Records for a fee.

Also, applicants for Newport County marriage certificates may download an Application for a Certified Copy of a Marriage or Civil Union Record, fill it out, enclose a check/money order to pay for copies, and mail it to the Rhodes Island Department of Health's Vital Records Office at

Simpson Hall
6 Harrington Road,
Cranston,
RI 02920

Newport County Divorce Records

Newport County divorce records refer to official documents on the dissolution of marriages within Newport County, RI. Divorce records are public in Newport County. However, divorce information relating to minor children, financial accounts, and Social Security are not publicly accessible.

In Newport County, the Family Court oversees divorce cases, and to access them:

• Call or visit the Newport County Family Court Clerk's Office and request access to divorce records.
• Submit an APRA request to access Newport County divorce records to the Rhode Island Judicial Records Center; they may have Newport County divorce records. To contact the Rhode Island Judicial Records Center, call (401) 721-2640, mail or visit their office at

5 Hill Street, Pawtucket,
RI 02860

• Search online for Newport County divorce records. They may be accessible through third-party repositories.

Newport Birth Records

Birth records are official documents that detail the birth of individuals. Per Rhodes Island laws, birth records are confidential documents. They are accessible to their owners, immediate families, authorized legal representatives, and government agencies. However, in Newport County, a birth certificate will become public 100 years after the birth of the record owners.

Birth records are important documents for legal identification and establishing lineage. Also, they are crucial documents for genealogical and ancestry research.

To access Newport County birth records:

• Download an Application for a Certified Copy of Birth Records:
  • Complete the application form
  • Enclose a photocopy of a valid state-issued photo ID and a check/money order to cover the copy fees.
• Mail the order to the Rhodes Island Department of Health Vital Records Division at

Simpson Hall,
6 Harrington Road, Cranston,
RI 02920

• Log in to the Rhodes Island Department of Health's Vital Records Page and order Newport County marriage certificates through an affiliate third-party link.
• Visit any Rhodes Island Department of Health office and request access to Newport County birth records.

Also, Newport County certificates of births after 1960 are accessible through town and city halls at the location where the birth occurred.

Individuals seeking access to Rhodes Island Vital Records should note that they may need to provide identification documents. In addition, the following fees apply to accessing Newport County Vital Records:

Online or by Phone order - $35.00 per copy of document

In-person request at the Vital Records office - $22.00 for the first copy of a document and $18.00 per extra copy purchased the same day

Mail order - $25.00 for the first order and $18.00 for each subsequent copy of the document ordered the same day.

Newport Death Records

A death record provides an official account of the demise of an individual. A typical Newport County death record may include documents such as

• Death certificate
• Medical examiner's or coroner's report
• Funeral or burial permit
• Notification of death (report of death)
• Death registration form
• Obituary (optional).

Newport County death records are confidential documents. They are only accessible to the immediate families of the record owners, authorized legal representatives and government entities, funeral directors, and persons with tangible interests. However, per Rhodes Island laws, these documents will become public 50 years after the demise of its owner.

Death records serve a variety of purposes; they

• Are essential documents for settling estates and obtaining life insurance benefits
• Provide data for health policy formation.
• Provide crucial data for demographic, epidemiological, and historical research.

Eligible persons seeking access to Newport County death records should:

• Download an Application for a Certified Copy of a Death Record, fill it out, and mail it to the Rhodes Island Department of Health at

Room 101, 3 Capitol Hill,
Providence,
RI 02908

• Visit the Rhodes Island Department of Health Office in person and order Newport County death records through their Vital Records Office.
• Order death records through the Newport City Death Records Request Page. Note that there is a standard $5.00 processing cost in addition to $25.00 for the first copy and an extra $18.00 for each additional copy of the same document.

Also, requesters may order Newport County death records online through third-party websites.

Newport County Probate Court Records

Newport County probate court records refer to case files of trials within the Newport County Probate Courts. These records encompass documents relating to cases on decedent persons' estates.

Generally, probate court records include but are not limited to files on

• Will Probates
• Guardianship
• Trust Administration
• Estate management
• Escheat Proceedings
• Conservatorship
• Partition actions
• Intestate succession.

Individuals seeking access to Newport County probate court records should determine the specific Newport County court that handled the probate case and request access to the case file through their clerk's offices.

Newport County Property Records

Newport County property records are official documents on real estate ownership and transactions within Newport County, RI. These documents include:

• Deeds
• Property Titles
• Parcel Numbers
• Zoning information
• Plat Maps
• Lease Agreements
• Property Sales History
• Tax Records
• Building permits
• Lien and Encumbrances.

Several agencies are responsible for maintaining property-related records in Newport County. These include

• Newport County Registry of Deeds Office
• City or Town Clerk's Offices
• Municipal tax assessor offices
• Rhode Island Secretary of State (Online Land Records).

To access a Newport County property record:

• Determine the property's location, visit the town or city clerk's office, and request access to the property records.
• Log in to the Newport City Recorded Land Records Search Portal and use the online search tools to look for land records and plans.
• Log in to the Newport City Assessor's Database and Owner Name, Location, or Plat and Lot numbers to look for property records.
• Visit the Rhodes Island Land Records Page:
  • Click on the Tax Assessment link under the specific Newport County municipality where the property is located to access the online database and look for tax-related property records.

Alternatively, visit the local tax assessor's office and request access to property records.

• Engage the services of title companies or real estate attorneys to look for Newport County property.

Newport County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources may offer a convenient alternative for accessing Newport County court records. Such sites typically offer round-the-clock access to documents and information. For instance, rhodeislandcourtrecords.us provides access to documents compiled from Rhodes Island court records repositories (including those of Newport County). Nonetheless, record seekers should be cautious when using third-party resources to look for official documents. The accuracy of the records obtained on such platforms cannot be guaranteed.