Portsmouth, RI Public Records
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, with an estimated population of 17,391 (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2024 estimate) and 23.0 square miles of land. That is down about 476 residents since the 2020 Census base. Local records such as birth, death and marriage certificates and land records start at the Portsmouth Town Hall (2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871). Criminal and small-claims cases from Portsmouth are generally heard at the Rhode Island District Court, 2nd Division – Murray Judicial Complex.
📍 Portsmouth Record Offices & Courts
Town Clerk
Portsmouth Town Hall
2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Hours: 8:30 am-4:30 pm: Mon-Wed 8:30 am-6:30 pm: Thurs. 8:30 am-2:30 pm: Fri.
District Court
Rhode Island District Court, 2nd Division – Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840
Superior Court
Rhode Island Superior Court (Newport County) – Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840
Family Court
Rhode Island Family Court – Murray Judicial Complex
45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840
Land Evidence Records (Town/City Clerk)
Portsmouth Town Hall
2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Probate Court
Portsmouth Probate Court
2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Rhode Island probate courts are municipal and sit at the city/town hall; contact the clerk for session days.
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⚖️ Criminal Records in Portsmouth, RI
Criminal case records for Portsmouth are kept by the Rhode Island Judiciary. Misdemeanors and arraignments are generally handled by the local trial court, and felonies by the Superior Court. Many court records are public and can be viewed or copied at the clerk's office.
⚖️ Where to get criminal records for Portsmouth
| District Court | Rhode Island District Court, 2nd Division – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Superior Court | Rhode Island Superior Court (Newport County) – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840(401) 841-8330 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| State court system | Rhode Island Judiciary |
🔍 Background Check in Portsmouth, RI
A people search for Portsmouth pulls together public records such as court cases, property records and address history. It is for personal use only: under the FCRA it may not be used to screen tenants, employees, or for credit or insurance decisions. The official record sources for Portsmouth are listed below.
🔍 Where to get background check for Portsmouth
| Town Clerk | Portsmouth Town Hall2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871Hours: 8:30 am-4:30 pm: Mon-Wed 8:30 am-6:30 pm: Thurs. 8:30 am-2:30 pm: Fri. Source: elections.ri.gov ↗ |
| District Court | Rhode Island District Court, 2nd Division – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Superior Court | Rhode Island Superior Court (Newport County) – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840(401) 841-8330 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Sex offender registry | Rhode Island Sex Offender Registry (Rhode Island State Police) Source: risp.ri.gov ↗ |
📋 Arrest Records in Portsmouth, RI
Arrest and booking records for Portsmouth are created by the arresting agency — usually the local police department or the Rhode Island State Police. Once someone is charged, the case becomes a court record at the court that handles criminal cases for the area.
📋 Where to get arrest records for Portsmouth
| District Court | Rhode Island District Court, 2nd Division – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Superior Court | Rhode Island Superior Court (Newport County) – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840(401) 841-8330 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| State court system | Rhode Island Judiciary |
🏛️ Court Records in Portsmouth, RI
Court records for Portsmouth include civil suits, small claims, landlord-tenant cases, criminal cases, family matters and probate (estates). Below are the courts that serve Portsmouth, with addresses from the official Rhode Island Judiciary directory.
🏛️ Where to get court records for Portsmouth
| District Court | Rhode Island District Court, 2nd Division – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Superior Court | Rhode Island Superior Court (Newport County) – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840(401) 841-8330 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Family Court | Rhode Island Family Court – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| Probate Court | Portsmouth Probate Court2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871Rhode Island probate courts are municipal and sit at the city/town hall; contact the clerk for session days. Source: elections.ri.gov ↗ |
| State court system | Rhode Island Judiciary |
🏠 Property Records in Portsmouth, RI
Rhode Island has no county registries: land evidence records are kept by each city or town clerk. Property tax assessments are kept by the local assessor's office at the town or city hall.
🏠 Where to get property records for Portsmouth
| Land Evidence Records (Town/City Clerk) | Portsmouth Town Hall2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 Source: elections.ri.gov ↗ |
| Town Clerk | Portsmouth Town Hall2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871Hours: 8:30 am-4:30 pm: Mon-Wed 8:30 am-6:30 pm: Thurs. 8:30 am-2:30 pm: Fri. Source: elections.ri.gov ↗ |
📜 Vital Records in Portsmouth, RI
In Rhode Island, the city or town clerk where the event occurred also keeps birth, marriage and death records. Statewide records can also be ordered from the Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital Records.
📜 Where to get vital records for Portsmouth
| Town Clerk | Portsmouth Town Hall2200 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871Hours: 8:30 am-4:30 pm: Mon-Wed 8:30 am-6:30 pm: Thurs. 8:30 am-2:30 pm: Fri. Source: elections.ri.gov ↗ |
| State vital records office | Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital RecordsSimpson Hall, 6 Harrington Road, Cranston, RI 02920Hours: 7:30am-3:30pm weekdays Source: health.ri.gov ↗ |
🔒 Sex Offender Registry in Portsmouth, RI
The official sex offender registry for Portsmouth is maintained by the state. Search it directly — it is free and updated by law enforcement. Registry information may not be used to threaten, intimidate or harass anyone.
🔒 Where to get sex offender registry for Portsmouth
| Official registry | Rhode Island Sex Offender Registry (Rhode Island State Police) Source: risp.ri.gov ↗ |
📄 Divorce Records in Portsmouth, RI
Divorce cases are heard by the Rhode Island Family Court. The full divorce case file is kept by that court; a divorce certificate (a short summary record) can be requested from the Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital Records.
📄 Where to get divorce records for Portsmouth
| Family Court | Rhode Island Family Court – Murray Judicial Complex45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Source: courts.ri.gov ↗ |
| State vital records office | Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital RecordsSimpson Hall, 6 Harrington Road, Cranston, RI 02920Hours: 7:30am-3:30pm weekdays Source: health.ri.gov ↗ |