Rhode Island court records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk (state-run). The Superior Court / District Court (unified, state-run) handles trial-level cases. Rhode Island offers a statewide court search through RI Courts Public Portal, which covers most case types across all municipalities courts.
What this page covers: Rhode Island state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use RI Courts Public Portal for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Superior Court Clerk (state-run) in the specific municipality where the case was filed.
Common mistake: RI Courts Public Portal covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in Rhode Island (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
Rhode Island note: Rhode Island runs all courts at the state level — there are no municipality-level courts.
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Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.courts.ri.gov — Rhode Island Judiciary — Main judicial-branch portal for Rhode Island
- Rhode Island case access — Public case-search portal
- Rhode Island court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- Rhode Island annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- Rhode Island Criminal Records →
- Rhode Island Property Records →
- Rhode Island Vital Records →
- Rhode Island Voter Records →
- Rhode Island Wants & Warrants →
- Rhode Island Licenses →
- Rhode Island Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
6 official Rhode Island court records sources.
Court Records
Rhode Island Counties
All 5 Rhode Island counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Rhode Island court cases online?▼
Rhode Island's trial courts publish case lookups through the Rhode Island Judiciary. Start at www.courts.ri.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Rhode Island?▼
The Rhode Island Judiciary operates Rhode Island's official statewide judicial portal at www.courts.ri.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Rhode Island residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Rhode Island?▼
Trial courts in Rhode Island handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Rhode Island Judiciary publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.courts.ri.gov.
How far back do Rhode Island court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Rhode Island county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Rhode Island Judiciary portal at www.courts.ri.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Rhode Island cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Rhode Island courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Rhode Island Judiciary portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.