Massachusetts Civil Court Records

Massachusetts civil court records are public documents kept by seven Trial Court departments across all 14 counties. You can search these records online through the MassCourts portal, visit a courthouse in person, or send a written request by mail to get copies of case filings, dockets, and court judgments.

Search Massachusetts Civil Court Records Online

The MassCourts portal is the main tool for searching civil court records in Massachusetts. It is free and open to the public. You do not need an account or a login to use it. The system covers Superior Court, District Court, Housing Court, Land Court, Probate and Family Court, and Boston Municipal Court. Criminal case name searches are not available to the public, but civil case name searches are.

To start a search, go to www.masscourts.org, check the box to confirm you are not a robot, then click the link to search public records. From there, pick the court department and division you want to search. You can look up cases by party name (for civil cases), case type, case number, or ticket and citation number. Each search returns up to 100 results at a time. The official guide on how to search court dockets explains each step in more detail.

The types of cases available to the public online include civil matters in most Trial Court departments. Not every case type is available through name searches, so knowing the case number helps. Case number formats vary by court. For example, a Superior Court case looks like 1473CV00213, while a District Court case looks like 1153CV000005. Housing Court cases use a format like 08H77SP000890.

The MassCourts portal shows the screenshot below when you first arrive. It is a simple entry point with just the robot check and the search link.

The portal is maintained by the Massachusetts Trial Court and updated regularly. It is the fastest way to check whether a civil case exists and get basic docket information without going to a courthouse.

Massachusetts Civil Court Departments

Massachusetts has a unified court system under the Massachusetts Court System. Seven Trial Court departments handle different types of civil matters. Knowing which court handled a case helps you find the right records.

The Superior Court takes civil cases where the amount in dispute is over $50,000. It has 20 courthouses spread across all 14 counties and handles business litigation, contract disputes, tort claims, real property actions, and cases involving state or municipal agencies. Complex commercial disputes often go through the Business Litigation Session. Under MGL c. 212, § 3, the Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil actions where there is no reasonable likelihood of recovery at $50,000 or less.

The District Court handles civil claims up to $50,000 and small claims up to $7,000. There are 62 District Court locations across the state. The civil jurisdiction limit was raised from $25,000 to $50,000 effective January 1, 2020, under MGL c. 218, § 19. District Courts also handle summary process cases (evictions), abuse prevention orders under 209A, and harassment prevention orders under 258E.

The Massachusetts court system homepage gives a full overview of all departments and their roles.

Other departments include the Housing Court, which handles residential housing matters across 6 divisions, and the Land Court, which covers real estate title and registration cases statewide from Boston. The Probate and Family Court has 14 divisions and handles family law, estates, guardianship, and change of name cases. The Boston Municipal Court serves Boston and Winthrop across 8 divisions.

How to Get Civil Court Records in Massachusetts

There are three ways to get Massachusetts civil court records: online through MassCourts, in person at the courthouse, or by mail. The online option is the fastest for basic case information. Copies of documents cost money regardless of which method you use.

For in-person requests, go to the Clerk's Office at the courthouse that handled the case. Most offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring the case number or the names of the parties. You may need to show a valid photo ID. Fill out the request form, pay the applicable fee, and you can often review records the same day. Copies may take more time to process.

Mail requests require a written letter with the case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plan on 10 to 15 business days for processing. Use the court department emails guide to find the right contact for each department.

Under MGL c. 66, § 10, every person has the right to inspect public records. Records access officers must respond within 10 business days. The first 4 hours of labor for a records search are provided at no charge.

The Trial Court website shown here is a helpful starting point if you are not sure which department handled a case.

The Trial Court Help Line is also available at 833-91COURT (833-912-6878) if you need help figuring out which court to contact or how to access a specific type of record.

Copy Fees for Massachusetts Court Records

The Uniform Schedule of Fees sets the copy rates for all Massachusetts courts. Fees are set under MGL c. 262, § 4B. The basic rate for a plain photocopy or printout is $0.05 per page. Certified (attested) copies cost $2.50 per page. If you need a certificate of orders, decrees, or judgments, the fee is $20.00. A transcript of judgment costs $50.00.

Electronic documents are available in some courts for $5.00 per document. Audio recordings of proceedings cost $50.50 per 90 minutes plus postage. These fees apply statewide across all Trial Court departments.

Electronic Filing and Online Access Tools

Massachusetts offers electronic filing through the eFileMA portal. This system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for participating courts. The one-time provider fee for a new electronically filed case is $22.00. Payment options include eCheck at $0.25 per transaction or credit card at 2.89% of the transaction amount.

Not all courts use eFileMA yet, so check whether the court you need accepts electronic filings before you start. The portal is run through Tyler Technologies and requires creating an account before you can file. Once you have an account, you can check the status of filed cases online.

Court Service Centers are another resource worth knowing about. They provide help with court-related questions and can point you toward the right forms and offices. The screenshot below shows the Court Service Centers page on the state website.

Court Service Centers do not provide legal advice, but they can help you understand what records exist and where to find them. They are a good first stop if you are new to the process.

What Massachusetts Civil Court Records Include

Civil court records vary depending on the type of case and the court that handled it. In general, case files include the original complaint or petition, any responses filed by the other parties, motions, court orders, and the final judgment. Financial records and settlement agreements may also be part of the file in civil money cases.

Superior Court civil case files often include administrative civil actions, business litigation filings, contract claims, equitable remedies requests, real property disputes, and tort cases. District Court files include civil claims, small claims, summary process actions, and prevention order records. Probate and Family Court files may include domestic relations matters such as custody, support, and parenting time, as well as estate filings and guardianship petitions. Land Court records include registration cases, tax lien cases, and miscellaneous real property matters.

Certain records are not open to the public. Juvenile records are sealed. Adoption records are not publicly accessible. Cases that have been sealed by court order are not available. Ongoing investigation records and medical or psychological records within a file may also be restricted.

Browse Massachusetts Civil Records by County

Every county in Massachusetts has at least one Trial Court courthouse. Civil records are filed at the county level and held by the clerk of the relevant court department. Browse by county below to find courthouse locations, contact details, and local access information.

Browse Massachusetts Civil Records by City

Major Massachusetts cities are served by one or more local courthouses. Use the links below to find civil court record information for the city you need.