Washington County Court Records

Washington County court records are essential documents that provide a detailed account of criminal and civil proceedings within the county. These records, part of the broader Rhode Island court records system, contain case summaries, judgments, filings, and party details. They are crucial for legal research, background checks, and verifying legal outcomes.

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. Title 38 of the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA) grants public access to records maintained by public bodies. However, certain court documents are considered confidential and restricted from public access. They include child custody and adoption records, juvenile proceedings, records of illegitimate births, and records relating to active criminal investigations. Due to their sensitive nature, these records are not part of Washington County's public records.

For example, sharing details of an ongoing criminal investigation could disrupt the process, affect the trial, or invade the personal privacy of those involved.

Washington County Court Records Search

Individuals looking to access Washington County court records have several options available. Searchers can contact the clerk of the court in charge of the specific case file in person, by mail, or through phone. It is important to determine what court records one hopes to view to know which office to contact. Another option is using the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal. This online system allows interested parties to run searches using different parameters like name and case number.

Individuals can also use third-party platforms to search Washington County court records. These services provide a convenient way to view records available for public view. However, one may have to verify the accuracy of such sources as private vendors do not control data collected from official sources.

Washington County Court Records Search by Name

Members of the public can search Washington County court records using a person’s or business’s name. This process, known as a name search, can be conducted by visiting the office of the clerk at the appropriate court.

Alternatively, one can use the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal to access court records with party names. Interested persons can use this resource for free and without needing to set up an account on the platform. To continue with a name search, one should choose the “Smart Search” option for court records. Once here, one can input the relevant party name in the search field before submitting their request.

Further, individuals can click the “Advanced Filtering Options” link and scroll down to include other name alternatives. This feature makes it possible to run a name search using the party’s nickname, business name or similar-sounding names. Interested persons can further advance the search by the party’s date of birth range and other criteria.

The public can also run quick name searches for free using the search bar on the Rhode Island Judiciary’s website.

Washington County Courts

The addresses and contact information of Washington county courts are as follows:

Washington County Superior Court
McGrath Judicial Complex
4800 Tower Hill Road, 
Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-782-4121
Fax: 401-782-4190

Fourth Division District Court
McGrath Judicial Complex
4800 Tower Hill Road, 
Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-782-4131
Fax: 401-782-4109

Washington County Family Court
McGrath Judicial Complex
4800 Tower Hill Road, 
Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-782-4111
Fax: 401-789-7204

Charlestown Probate Court
4540 South County Trail, 
Charlestown, RI 02813
Phone: 401-364-1200
Fax: 401-364-1238

Exeter Probate Court
675 Ten Rod Road, 
Exeter, RI 02822
Phone: 401-294-3891
Fax: 401-295-1248

Hopkinton Probate Court
1 Town House Road, 
Hopkinton, RI 02883
Phone: 401-377-7777
Fax: 401-377-7788

Narragansett Probate Court
25 5th Avenue, 
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-0621
Fax: 401-783-9637

New Shoreham Probate Court
PO Box 220, 
Block Island, RI 02807
Phone: 401-466-3200
Fax: 401-466-3219

North Kingstown Probate Court
100 Fairway Drive, 
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: 401-268-1550
Fax: 401-294-2437

Richmond Probate Court
5 Richmond Townhouse Road, 
Wyoming, RI 02898
Phone: 401-539-9000 ext. 9
Fax: 401-539-1089

South Kingstown Probate Court
Town Hall
180 High Street, 
Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-789-9331 ext. 1236
Fax: 401-789-5280

Westerly Probate Court
45 Broad Street, 
Westerly, RI 02891
Phone: 401-348-2500

Hopkinton Municipal Court
1 Town House Road, 
Hopkinton, RI 02833
Phone: 401-377-7759
Fax: 401-377-7788

Narragansett Municipal Court
25 5th Avenue, 
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-0655

North Kingstown Municipal Court
100 Fairway Drive, 
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: 401-268-1557

Westerly Municipal Court
45 Broad Street, 
Westerly, RI 02891
Phone: 401-596-7374

Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal - Satellite Location
Oliver Stedman Government Center
4800 Tower Hill Road, 
Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-275-270

Washington County Superior Court Case Search

The Washington County Superior court has jurisdiction over all equity matters, civil suits where the amount is above $10,000, felony cases, and appeals from district courts. It also presides over appeals resulting from divorce, annulment, zoning board, probate and agency matters.

Interested persons can search for cases in-person at the office of the clerk of the Superior court during business hours. Searchers are encouraged to handle case files carefully and maintain the original order of the pages. Individuals are allowed to make copies of case files including Washington criminal records open to the public. Printable court records on legal-sized paper cost 15 cents per page. If court staff assist with the search, the fee is $15 per hour, although the first hour of search and retrieval is free. Additionally, any subsequent search requests made by the same person to the same court clerk's office within a 30-day period are treated as a single request and charged accordingly.

Alternatively, individuals can conduct searches of Washington County Superior Court records through the Rhode Island Judiciary electronic case management system. There are computer terminals installed at court clerk offices across the state including Washington county. Superior court case files are available here to the public with the exception of sealed records and those exempted from the public such as mental health certification cases, paternity, adoption, and child custody cases.

While viewing electronic documents through these terminals are free, there may be some charges associated with printing or certifying case copies from the system. The clerk's office will notify searchers of the fees incurred.

Washington County District Court Records

The Washington County District Court in Rhode Island primarily handles civil cases with disputes under $5,000 and shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court for cases involving amounts between $5,000 and $10,000. It also has authority over all eviction actions and petitions for domestic restraining orders. Appeals from this court are reviewed by the Superior Court.

Accessing court records maintained by the district court requires contacting the Clerk’s office. One can also use the channels provided by the Rhode Island Judiciary such as electronic case information terminals andthe Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal. The latter can provide details such as relevant dates, case type, offense, location, party information, and case events.

Washington County Criminal Records

Criminal records maintained by law enforcement agencies primarily contain Washington County arrest records, such as charges, arrest date, bail information, booking details, and arrest history. These records are crucial for various purposes, including background checks, employment verification, and legal research.

Individuals can request their Washington County criminal records through the Rhode Island Sheriff’s office as the state does not have county Sheriffs. This process requires requesters to visit or send written records requests to:

Rhode Island Department of Public Safety Legal Office,
311 Danielson Pike,
North Scituate, RI 02857
Fax: (401) 444-1105
Email: records@risp.gov

One can also request Washington arrest records under the Access to Public Records Act through the Rhode Island Sheriff’s office. Individuals opting for this method will complete the Public Records Request Form and mail to the above address for processing. The same process and details apply when individuals make criminal record requests through the Rhode Island State Police Department for Safety. Various town police precints under Washington County also maintain criminal records. Some of these are available to public access.

Further, Washington County Criminal records are available to searchers from the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) through the office of the Attorney General. Such requests are conducted either in-person or by mail. In-person background checks require valid identification and a $5 fee per request at the following address:

Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson
Customer Service Center
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

The BCI requires individuals requesting background checks by mail to provide valid release forms, photo identification, self-addressed stamped return envelopes, and $5 fees issued to BCI (check only).

Washington County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Washington County, all felony prosecutions are handled by the Superior Court. Individuals seeking information on these cases can visit the office of the clerk at the Superior Court to make inquiries. The clerk’s office can provide access to case details and help guide the process of obtaining specific public criminal records.

Alternatively, criminal court case information can be accessed online through the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal.

Additionally, people seeking traffic and town ordinance violations can visit municipal courthouses or contact the town's municipal clerk. For example, if a criminal incident occurred with the Town of South Kingstown, the town's police department will charge the case with the Municipal Court clerk. Individuals can contact that office for information.

Get Washington County Civil Court Records

Civil court records include legal disputes between individuals or businesses. The Washington County Superior and District courts handle civil cases with varying jurisdictional authority. Civil suits involving monetary values of up to $5,000 are heard in the district court while the superior court adjudicates suits of up to $10,000. The Workers’ Compensation court handles legal disputes between an injured employee and their employer regarding compensation benefits.

Individuals interested in civil court records can request access by visiting the appropriate courts depending on the type of civil case involved. Interested persons can also mail their requests to the clerk's office. Moreover, civil court files are available online for free through the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal.

Washington County Family Court Records

The Family Court in Washington County focuses on issues related to families and children, with the primary goals of protecting, assisting, and restoring families facing challenges when it can. This court handles a range of family-related cases including divorce, child custody, support, visitation, and domestic abuse matters. The court also ensures that children under its jurisdiction receive care and guidance that serve their best interests, stepping in to provide necessary care when parental control falls short.

Individuals may obtain family court records held by the clerk by visiting the courthouse and requesting for copies if they are eligible. It should be noted that most of the cases handled by the Family court are limited from public access under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2. This includes adoption records, juvenile proceedings, and child custody hearings.

Washington Dissolution of Marriage Records

Divorce records in Washington County contain crucial details about the dissolution of a marriage, including the final divorce decree, terms of property division, alimony, and child custody arrangements. These records also document the date of the divorce, names of the parties involved, and any modifications to the original agreement. Washington County divorce records are available to eligible requesters at the Family court. Individuals can also request certified copies of divorce decrees from the Judiciary Records Center.

Washington County Marriage and Divorce Records

Washington County vital records such as marriage and divorce records are not immediately open to the public in the state of Rhode Island. Individuals interested in obtaining divorce records can visit the clerk of the family court for either certified or non-certified copies of divorce records if they are eligible.

For Washington County marriage records, interested parties can obtain a copy by visiting or writing to the town clerk’s office where the marriage took place, where either party resides, or through the Rhode Island Center for Vital Records. Certified copies may be issued to either person named on the record or to individuals with a legal right to access them, such as immediate family members.

To request a copy in person through the Center for Vital Records, the applicant must present a government-issued photo ID, such as a state ID, driver’s license, or passport. If none of these are available, the requester may submit any two of the following: a utility bill, income tax return, bank statement, or a letter from a government agency requiring the marriage certificate to process benefits.

Each initial copy of a marriage record costs $22, with additional copies of the same record priced at $18. For mail-in requests, the first copy is $25, and additional copies remain $18. Mail-in requests must include a bank check or money order for the total amount, a stamped, self-addressed envelope, and a completed Marriage Certificate Request Form. One should note that it takes one to two weeks to process mail-in Washington County Marriage certificate requests and they are to be sent to:

Center for Vital Records,
Simpson Hall, 6 Harrington Rd,
Cranston, RI 02920

Individuals can also order their marriage records alongside other vital records through the State of Rhode Island's Vital Records Online Request Service. They can start by selecting the town where they reside or where the marriage took place, and then choosing “marriage” under the certificate type. They will need to provide required information, such as their personal details and specific information about the marriage certificate they are requesting. If a relative is requesting the record, they must state their relationship to the person on record and the reason for the request before proceeding with the order.

Marriage certificates from January 1, 1960, onward are available for request, while records older than 100 years are considered public records in Rhode Island. The cost for a marriage certificate requested online is also $25 for the first copy and $18 for each additional copy. However, there is a standard $5 processing fee for each order.

Washington Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are official documents that record vital events in a person’s life, including the date and place of birth or death. These records are essential for legal identification, genealogical research, and settling estates. In Washington County, access to these records is regulated by Rhode Island state law, ensuring privacy and security. Typically, only immediate family members and legal representatives are eligible to obtain these records.

Eligible persons can obtain Washington County birth records or death records from the city and town clerk’s office that issued the original copy or the Center for Vital Records.

Like marriage records, the center offers in-person, mail-in, and online methods for requesting these documents. Mail-in requests should be accompanied by either the filled-out Washington County birth certificate or death certificate request forms.

One can also order such records through the Vital Records Online Service. Requesters will have to choose “birth” or “death” as their certificate of choice and then follow the same processes as described in the previous section. However, individuals can only order a maximum of 5 certified copies of vital records through this service. Purchase requests submitted here will be sent immediately to one’s chosen municipality. However, the timeframe for reviewing, processing, and delivery will depend on the working hours of the individual town clerk’s office.

Washington County Probate Court Records

Probate courts handle the administration of estates, wills, and guardianships, ensuring the proper distribution of assets and legal matters after a person's death. Each town in Washington County has its own probate court, with judges adjudicating probate issues. Individuals may visit the court or contact the Town Clerk to access records held in these courts.

Washington County Property Records

Washington County property records typically include details about land ownership, transactions, and property boundaries. These records are usually maintained by town clerks, tax collectors, and assessors. They are accessible to the public, often for a feeFor instance, individuals can visit the Westerly Town Clerk's office for land records and documents. The town's assessment department maintains records regarding property assessments, and the tax collection offices can provide information about property taxes and ownership.

Washington County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources like Rhodeislandcourtrecords.us provide convenient digital resources for viewing case details, filings, judgments, and other Washington County public records. These platforms can save time and provide immediate access from any location. However, individuals must note that these records are sourced from official sources and not generated by third-party sites. They must also prepare to pay the fees required to access the services per search or specific time periods. Users are also advised to verify details with official sources when reviewing Washington court records.