Search Rhode Island court records online. Access criminal cases, civil suits, small claims, family law, probate, and appellate decisions through official Rhode Island court portals.
Access Rhode Island Courts directly. Search court records; from Rhode Island county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Rhode Island dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to Rhode Island probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Rhode Island state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.
Access court case information through official Rhode Island portals and county clerk offices.
Access RI Courts (free) to search statewide case records. You can typically search by party name, attorney, case number, or filing date. Criminal and civil cases are usually searchable without charge.
Rhode Island courts include: Trial Courts (circuit, district, superior), Appellate Courts (Court of Appeals), and the Rhode Island Supreme Court. For local matters — misdemeanors, traffic, small claims — search at the county or municipal court level.
For older records or certified copies, contact the county court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Fees for certified copies vary by county (~$1–$5 per page). Clerks can also confirm whether a case is sealed or restricted.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal criminal, civil rights) are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER charges $0.10/page but the first $30/quarter is free for casual users.
As there may be more one source to obtaining Rhode Island criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.
Rhode Island State Court Structure:
The Rhode Island traffic court has jurisdiction over traffic violations. The traffic court hears no jury trials. The Rhode Island municipal court has jurisdiction over an ordinance violation. The municipal court has exclusive parking jurisdiction. The municipal court has no jury trials. The Rhode Island probate court has exclusive estate jurisdiction. The probate court does not hear jury trials. The Rhode Island workers compensation court hears administrative agency appeals, including workers compensation matters. The Rhode Island district court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights, from $1,500 and $5,000, to $10,000, and appeals of administrative agency cases. The district court has exclusive small claims for claims up to $1,500, and mental health case jurisdiction. The district court also hears misdemeanors, DWI or DUI cases, and ordinance violations. The Rhode Island district court has exclusive moving traffic jurisdiction for those cases not handled administratively. The district court handles preliminary hearings. There are no jury trials at the district court level. The Rhode Island superior court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights, from $5,000 and up, civil appeals, and miscellaneous civil cases. The superior court has exclusive felony, and criminal appeals jurisdiction. The superior court has jury trials. The Rhode Island supreme court maintains mandatory jurisdiction in civil, non capital criminal, juvenile, disciplinary, advisory opinion, and original proceeding cases. The Rhode Island supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction in administrative agency appeals, interlocutory decision, and original proceeding cases.
Most Rhode Island court case information is free to view online through the official court portal: RI Courts (free). Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1–$5 per page when requested from the county clerk. Federal court records through PACER cost $0.10/page after the $30/quarter free threshold.
Public Rhode Island court records include: criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors), civil lawsuits, small claims, family court (divorce, custody, support), probate (wills, estates), traffic cases, and appellate decisions. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and domestic violence protective orders may be restricted.
Request certified copies in person, by mail, or through the court's online portal from the county court clerk where the case was filed. Provide the case number, parties' names, and the type of document needed. Fees typically range from $1–$10 per page plus certification fees. Processing time is usually 1–5 business days.