Massachusetts Court Records Search

Massachusetts Court Records & Case Lookup

Court records in Massachusetts play a key role in ensuring the state's justice system is fair and efficient, fostering accountability. The records maintained by the court document proceedings, rulings, and evidence from the cases, forming the official records of the judiciary. By providing access to these records, the state allows the public to verify the administration of justice.

Court records are useful in a wide range of situations. For legal professionals, they serve as key tools for case preparation offering insights into precedents and court dispositions. For researchers, court records are a rich source for investigating social trends and issues. Individuals may obtain court records for resolving property disputes or researching genealogy.

Not all Massachusetts court records are public. While most records are public, some may be redacted to protect the identity of victims involved in the cases or made inaccessible in order not to jeopardize ongoing investigations.

State of Massachusetts Court System

The Massachusetts Court system comprises multiple judicial sections to ensure the effective administration of justice in the state. The state's court system comprises the Office of the Jury Commissioner, the Massachusetts Probation Service, seven trial court departments, the Executive Office of the Trial Court, the Appeals Court, and the Supreme Judicial Court.

Although the Office of the Jury Commissioner (OJC), the Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS), and the Executive Office of the Trial Court are not actual courts, they perform vital roles in the Massachusetts court system.

Massachusetts Trial Courts

The Massachusetts trial courts handle civil and criminal cases. While civil cases are initiated by an ordinary person, criminal cases are started by the government and involve an accusation that an individual has violated a state statute enforcing public behavior codes. Cases begin in one of the seven trial courts court types (superior court, probate, and family court, land court, juvenile court, housing court, Boston municipal court, and district court) and are initially decided there. The court with the subject matter and geographic authority over the parties and issues involved is where the case begins.

Superior Courts in Massachusetts

Massachusetts superior courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree cases of murder, civil actions where the amount in dispute exceeds $50,000, and actions involving labor disputes where injunctive reliefs are sought.

The superior court also has original jurisdiction over all crimes and exclusive authority to convene tribunals for medical malpractice. Appellate hearings for some administrative proceedings may also be held in the superior court, while naturalization sittings in the court may be held in any town or city.

District Courts in Massachusetts

In fulfilling its role as the gateway to justice in Massachusetts, the district court provides Massachusetts communities with a safe environment, accessible to all, in dedication to the fair administration of justice in an impartial and timely manner.

The court is located in 62 courts across the state and hears a wide range of criminal, civil, mental health, juvenile, housing, and other case types. The criminal jurisdiction of the court extends to felonies punishable by up to five-year sentences, and other specific felony cases with harsher punishments, all city and town ordinances and by-law violations, and all misdemeanors.

The civil jurisdiction of the court covers cases where damages are not more than $50,000, and small claims cases where the amount in controversy is up to $7,000.

The Boston Municipal Court in Massachusetts

The Boston Municipal Court is a special court serving only the City of Boston and the Town of Winthrop. It handles civil and criminal matters and has 30 judges in eight court divisions situated in Charlestown, East Boston, Brighton, South Boston, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Dorchester, and Central (downtown).

The court has the authority to review appeals of the decisions of certain government agencies on matters such as firearms licensing and unemployment compensation.

Housing Courts in Massachusetts

The housing court's jurisdiction covers matters of residential housing, including small claims cases, eviction matters, property damage, discrimination, breach of contract, civil actions relating to personal injury, code enforcement actions, and appeals of the decisions of local zoning boards.

Juvenile Courts in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Juvenile Court aims to protect minors or children from abuse and neglect. In addition, it was established to promote opportunities for children to live in stable, safe, and permanent family environments to strengthen families when their children require services.

Land Courts in Massachusetts

The jurisdiction of the land court covers matters relating to land use, real estate, and administering Massachusetts's system for the registration of title to real property. The housing court provides accessible fora where specialized expertise may be applied to the resolution of civil disputes involving the development, ownership, and use of real property.

Common land court cases involve land title disputes (ownerships, property boundaries, easements), mortgage title issues, zoning and subdivision appeals, challenges and enforcement proceedings, and cases of equitable and declaratory relief for real estate title interests.

Probate and Family Courts in Massachusetts

The probate and family court hears matters involving families and children, such as divorce, wills, and child support. The court has jurisdiction over familial and probate matters, such as paternity, custody, parenting time, ending parental rights, adoption, abuse prevention, estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes.

What are the Specialty Courts in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts' specialty courts are problem-solving court sessions providing supervised probation and mandated treatments. Specialty courts focus on mental health issues, veterans' issues, and substance use disorders. Specialty courts in the state include:

• Drug courts
• Veterans' treatment courts
• Mental health court
• Homeless court
• Other specialized court sessions

Massachusetts State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Massachusetts State court records are not the same as federal court records. State court records are records of cases heard in the courts within the Massachusetts court system, including the trial courts, appeals courts, and the supreme judicial courts. These cases are related to criminal and civil matters adjudicated according to Massachusetts laws and violations of Massachusetts municipal ordinances.

On the other hand, federal court records are records of cases handled by the federal courts in Massachusetts. These are records of the three federal district courts under the United States district court for the District of Massachusetts: Eastern Division (Boston); Central Division (Worcester); Western Division (Springfield).

The matters handled by the federal courts in the state relate to violations of federal laws in Massachusetts, federal agency actions, and bankruptcy matters. Hence, federal court records are documents relating to the aforementioned matters handled by the federal courts.

Massachusetts State court records may be accessed at the offices of the court clerks and online via the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal. Access to federal court records is available online via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Massachusetts?

Court records are generally public records in Massachusetts following the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Hence, anyone can make access requests to the custodian of the records. However, certain parts of court records and some entire records may be redacted for confidentiality purposes:

How To Seal or Expunge Massachusetts Court Records

Not all court records are eligible for expungement or sealing in Massachusetts. The state sets specific conditions that a record or the individual named on the record must fulfill before it may be sealed or expunged. If your criminal record is expunged in Massachusetts, it means the record is permanently destroyed and no longer accessible by the court, or any county, municipal, or state agency. If your record is sealed, it is not destroyed but placed in a confidential file that is not accessible to the public. However, a sealed record may still be accessed according to a court order or law enforcement agencies.

Massachusetts offers two kinds of expungement:

• Time-set expungement
• Non-time-based expungement

The state's law on time-based expungement is outlined by G.L. c.276, § 100E-100U. Consequently, for a crime to be qualified, it needs to meet certain criteria, such as:

• You have fewer than three records. The state considers multiple crimes arising from one incident as one offense
• Crimes not committed against a disabled or elderly person
• The offense did not lead to serious injury or death and wasn't committed with intent to cause either
• The offense is not sex-related, a sexually violent offense, or a sex crime that involves a child
• The offense was not committed while armed with or carrying a dangerous weapon
• The offense is not operating under the influence
• The offense is not a firearms violation or any crime related to illegally selling a firearm
• The crime is not a felony violation of G.L. c. 265
• The offense is not assault and/or battery on any household member
• The offense is not a violation of any restraining or harassment prevention orders
• If it is a felony you must have finished all parts of your sentence more than seven years prior. If it's a misdemeanor you must have finished all parts of the offense at least three years ago

To be eligible for an expungement that is not time-based, the record you intend to expunge must have been made based on:

• Theft of your identity
• Errors by law enforcement
• Fraud perpetrated upon the court
• Falsely using your identification
• Your identity being wrongly used
• An offense that is not a crime at this point, such as possessing minor quantities of marijuana
• Civilian or witness errors
• Court employee errors

Persons or conviction records that are not eligible for expungement may qualify for sealing under MGL c. 276, § 100A. Any criminal record is eligible for sealing in Massachusetts under the following conditions:

• Felony: Seven years after the record owner was determined as guilty or seven years once jail and prison time is complete. The later option is the one applied.
• Misdemeanor: Three years after the person named on the record was determined as guilty, or when all prison time is complete. That longest option is the necessary option.

How To Seal Court Records in Massachusetts

• To seal your record:
  • complete the petition to seal conviction records form or the petition to seal criminal records for nolle prosequi or dismissal form
  • Include any documents that may be used to support your reason for sealing the record
  • You may need to include the general motion form
  • Submit the completed form and any supporting documentation in person to the:
    • Massachusetts Probation Service (if it is for a criminal conviction); or
    • District court clerk where the case started (for cases without convictions)
    • Boston Municipal Court (for cases with no convictions within the BMC).

How To Expunge Court Records in Massachusetts

To request a time-based expungement of your record, submit a completed Petition to Expunge Form and any additional supporting information or documentation by mail to:

If you want a non-time-based expungement, submit a completed Petition For Expungement Form and any relevant supporting documentation in person to the clerk's office in the court where the case was heard. In addition, a duplicate of the petition and any other relevant documentation must be provided to the District Attorney's office that prosecuted the case on or before the day that you file the expungement petition in court. You may serve the copy of the documents to the DA's Office by mail or provide the documents via an in-person visit to the Office.

How Do You Access State of Massachusetts Court Records?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts court system provides a centralized searchable repository for court records. Access to state court records is also available by visiting the offices of the court clerks where cases are heard.

Online Access to Massachusetts Court Records

Massachusetts courts provide remote access to court records via an internet-based portal and an internet-based attorney's portal for registered attorneys in the state. This access is provided following the Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records Rule 5: Remote access to electronic court records. Note that to use the eAccess Attorney portal, you must have a valid Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers (MA BBO) number. All registered attorneys in the state have accounts on the eAccess Attorney portal based on the email addresses provided to the MA BBO.

Note that to obtain the official public record of Massachusetts trial courts, which includes hard copies of the public case documents, you must contact the clerk, register, or recorder's office where the case was filed.

In-Person Access to State of Massachusetts Court Records

Massachusetts rules on public access to court records provide for in-person inquiries for records of the state's courts. In-person requests may be made to the clerks of the courts in the various courthouses. Courthouses in the state typically accept requests from the clerk at the counter and access via a computer kiosk at the courthouse locations.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Requests for Massachusetts judicial administrative records may be online or by mail. To make an online request, describe the records you want and email them to AdminRecordReq@jud.state.ma.us. To submit a request by mail, describe the records desired and mail them to the appropriate record access officer at:

The administrative records page of the Massachusetts courts website contains a list of the relevant record access officers.

There is a fee of no more than $25 per hour (not charged for the first 4 hours of work) and up to five cents per page for standard black and white paper copies or printouts of judicial administrative records.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Massachusetts

Depending on the type of archived record requested, you may perform a search online via the FamilySearch website or complete a Court Archives Information Request Form. Some historic criminal and civil case records prior to 1860 may be accessed using the FamilySearch website. Using the website for a historical record search is free once you create an account.

For civil and criminal case records after 1860 and paper files of civil and criminal case records before 1860, you must complete the court archives request form. After completing the request form, the Massachusetts judicial archivist may direct you to the appropriate place to obtain the requested record.

For specific steps in obtaining other records, such as a copy of a will, probate record, naturalization record, divorce record, name change records, adoption records, and other historical court records, see the Finding Historic Court Records page of the Massachusetts courts website.