Edgartown District Court cases in Dukes County, Edgartown, MA
Edgartown District Court is a Massachusetts District Court (District Court Department of the Trial Court) located in Edgartown and serving Dukes County. It is a trial court of limited jurisdiction that handles criminal arraignments, bail and pretrial proceedings, misdemeanor trials, and probable-cause and other preliminary hearings in felony cases. On the civil side, it hears civil actions up to $50,000, small claims (generally up to $7,000), summary process/evictions, civil motor vehicle infractions, and local ordinance/bylaw violations. The court also issues warrants and protective orders, including abuse prevention and harassment prevention orders, and hears certain civil commitment petitions related to substance use. Divorce, custody, and most other family law matters are handled by the Probate and Family Court.
Edgartown District Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | District Court |
| County: | Dukes |
| Street Address: | 81 Main St |
| City: | Edgartown |
| Zip Code: | 2539 |
| Phone: | 508-627-3751 |
| Fax: | 508-627-7070 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm |
| Website URL: | https://www.mass.gov/locations/edgartown-district-court |
| Parking: | There is a free parking lot located behind the courthouse and there is also free street parking |
| Public Transportation: | The Edgartown District Court is accessible by the following routes on the Vineyard Transit Authority: Route 1, Route 6, Route 8 and Route 13 |
| Restrictions: | Using cameras and electronic devices |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Email: | cmedgartowndc@jud.state.ma.us |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edgartown-District-Court/144504052255503 |
| About / Additional Info: | This court serves Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head), Gosnold, and Elizabeth Islands. |
Services and Case Types Handled in Edgartown District Court
Edgartown District Court provides frontline trial services for Dukes County. It handles:
- Criminal cases: complaint filings, show cause hearings, arraignments, bail, warrants, probable-cause hearings, pretrial motions, jury-of-six or bench trials for misdemeanors and some felonies, probation violations.
- Civil matters: claims up to $50,000, small claims (to $7,000), summary process/evictions, supplementary process (judgment enforcement).
- Protective orders: abuse prevention (M.G.L. c. 209A) and harassment prevention (c. 258E), including emergency and after-hours access via law enforcement.
- Motor vehicle/ordinance: civil motor vehicle infractions, criminal traffic, local bylaw/code cases.
- Court services: scheduling and conducting in-person/virtual hearings; juror management for six-person juries; interpreter and ADA accommodations; records access and certified copies; filing intake and forms assistance; fine/fee/restitution payments; probation services; referrals to dispute resolution.
The court's role is to provide accessible filing, timely hearings, fair adjudication, and enforcement of orders for the public.