Find Civil Court Records in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge civil court records are held at several courts serving Middlesex County, including the Cambridge District Court (physically located in Medford), the Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn, the Middlesex Probate and Family Court at a dedicated Cambridge location on Cambridge Street, and the Eastern Housing Court Cambridge Session on Third Street. This page covers how to find and request Cambridge civil court records, what each court handles, copy fees, and how to search online through MassCourts.
Cambridge District Court Civil Records
The Cambridge District Court is the Third District Court of Middlesex County. One important detail to know up front: the physical courthouse is not in Cambridge. It is in Medford, at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155. The phone is (781) 306-0805, and the fax is (781) 306-0801. You can reach the clerk by email at cm3rddistrictdc@jud.state.ma.us. Clerk-Magistrate Kara A. Johnson and First Justice Hon. Robert A. Brennan lead the court. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court serves Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont, and handles civil claims up to $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000.
Despite the Medford address, all Cambridge civil court records from cases filed in this court use the Cambridge District Court designation. If you search MassCourts for Cambridge cases, they will appear under the Cambridge District Court, and the file is physically held at the Medford location. This trips up a lot of people who expect to find a courthouse in Cambridge itself. There is no District Court building in Cambridge. Plan your in-person visit to the Mystic Valley Parkway address in Medford. From Cambridge, the easiest route depends on whether you're driving or using the MBTA. The Orange Line to Wellington and then a bus connection is one option, though driving is often simpler for this particular location.
The Cambridge District Court page on mass.gov lists current hours, clerk contact details, and the Medford address for civil cases served under the Cambridge District Court jurisdiction.
The Cambridge District Court is physically located in Medford but handles civil court records for Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont, covering claims up to $50,000 and small claims up to $7,000.
Note: The Cambridge District Court courthouse is at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford, not in Cambridge, so plan travel accordingly when requesting civil court records in person.
Middlesex Superior Court Cambridge Civil Cases
For Cambridge civil cases involving amounts over $50,000, the Middlesex County Superior Court is the right venue. The Superior Court is located at 200 Trade Center, 2nd Floor, Woburn, MA 01801. The phone is (781) 939-2700. This court handles the larger civil suits for all of Middlesex County, including Cambridge. That includes major personal injury claims, complex contract disputes, and civil litigation that exceeds the District Court threshold. Cambridge civil court records from Superior Court filings are held at the Woburn courthouse and are accessible to the public through the clerk's office during business hours.
The Woburn location is a consideration for anyone who needs to visit in person. From Cambridge, the drive to 200 Trade Center in Woburn takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. The MBTA does not serve Woburn directly from Cambridge with a quick connection, so most people drive. If you can handle your request by mail or through MassCourts online, that is usually faster than an in-person trip for Superior Court civil records. Mail requests to the Middlesex Superior Court clerk at 200 Trade Center, 2nd Floor, Woburn, MA 01801 are accepted, and the clerk can confirm what information to include. For most Cambridge civil court records searches tied to Superior Court cases, MassCourts at masscourts.org lets you see docket entries, case status, and party names without traveling to Woburn at all.
The Middlesex County Superior Court page on mass.gov provides clerk contact details, directions to the Woburn courthouse, and filing guidance for Cambridge civil cases over $50,000.
The Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn handles Cambridge civil court records for cases exceeding $50,000, including major contract disputes and personal injury claims filed in Middlesex County.
Note: Middlesex Superior Court is in Woburn, not in Cambridge, so for in-person Cambridge civil court record requests at the Superior level, plan for a trip north to 200 Trade Center.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court in Cambridge
Unlike the District Court and Superior Court, the Middlesex Probate and Family Court has a dedicated Cambridge location. The address is 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141. The phone is (617) 768-5800, and the email is middlesexprobate@jud.state.ma.us. Register Tara E. DeCristofaro leads the court. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This court handles divorce filings, child custody and support matters, guardianship petitions, conservatorship, and estate administration for Middlesex County. Cambridge civil court records from probate and family law proceedings are maintained here at the Cambridge Street address.
Having the Probate and Family Court in Cambridge itself is a real advantage for residents. The 208 Cambridge Street location is accessible by public transit. The MBTA Red Line stops at Kendall/MIT and Central Square, both within reasonable walking distance. The court is also near the Lechmere area and served by multiple bus routes. For Cambridge residents dealing with estate matters, divorce proceedings, or guardianship cases, you do not need to leave the city to access this court. Cambridge civil court records from probate and family proceedings can be requested in person at this location, and staff can help you identify which documents are part of the public file and which are restricted.
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court page on mass.gov covers the Cambridge location at 208 Cambridge Street, including clerk contact details and filing information for civil cases involving family law and probate in Middlesex County.
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court at 208 Cambridge Street is the most accessible Cambridge civil court location, reachable via the Red Line and handling estate, divorce, and guardianship civil court records.
Note: The Middlesex Probate and Family Court at 208 Cambridge Street is the only major civil court physically inside Cambridge, making it the most convenient in-person option for Cambridge civil court records related to family law and probate matters.
Eastern Housing Court Cambridge Session
The Eastern Housing Court has a Cambridge session at 285 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. The phone is (617) 494-4790. This court covers housing-related civil matters for Cambridge and surrounding communities. The Eastern Housing Court Cambridge session page has current contact details and jurisdiction information. Cambridge civil court records from housing proceedings are held at this Third Street address, which is a separate location from the Probate and Family Court on Cambridge Street and from the District Court in Medford.
The Third Street location is accessible from several parts of Cambridge. It is close to the Kendall Square area and near the Red Line. If you are searching Cambridge civil court records involving housing disputes, this is the right office. Keep in mind that the Housing Court is at a distinct address from all the other Cambridge-area courts, so a visit here requires a separate trip from any other court stop you may need to make.
How to Search Cambridge Civil Court Records Online
MassCourts at masscourts.org is the best starting point for Cambridge civil court records online. Select "Middlesex County" from the location filter when you load the search interface. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. The system covers District Court and Superior Court civil records for Cambridge and all of Middlesex County. Probate records are also accessible in the probate section of the same platform. For most active and recent Cambridge civil court records, MassCourts shows docket entries, case status, hearing dates, and party names without requiring an in-person visit to any courthouse.
When you search Cambridge civil court records through MassCourts, keep in mind the court geography described throughout this page. District Court cases filed under the Cambridge District Court will be in the system under that name, even though the courthouse is in Medford. Superior Court cases will show under Middlesex County Superior Court with the Woburn address. Probate records will be under Middlesex Probate and Family Court. Knowing which court holds the record helps you match search results to the right clerk office if you need to follow up in person or by mail. If a case does not appear in MassCourts, contact the relevant clerk to check whether it was filed before the system's coverage period or has a restricted access status.
Note: MassCourts shows publicly available Cambridge civil court records only and will not return results for sealed, impounded, or otherwise restricted case files.
Cambridge Civil Court Records Fees and Copy Requests
Copy fees for Cambridge civil court records follow the Massachusetts court standard. Standard copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. These fees apply at the Cambridge District Court in Medford, the Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, the Middlesex Probate and Family Court at 208 Cambridge Street, and the Eastern Housing Court on Third Street.
For in-person copy requests, visit the clerk's office at the relevant court during business hours, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Bring the case number, names of the parties, and approximate filing year if you have them. For the Middlesex Probate and Family Court at 208 Cambridge Street, you can visit during those same hours and request Cambridge civil court records from probate and family proceedings directly. For District Court records, travel to the Medford address. For Superior Court records, the Woburn courthouse clerk is where you go in person.
Mail requests are accepted at all Middlesex County courts. Send a written request with the case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment by check made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For probate records, address mail to the Middlesex Probate and Family Court at 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141. Email questions to middlesexprobate@jud.state.ma.us before submitting. For the Cambridge District Court, use the email cm3rddistrictdc@jud.state.ma.us to confirm what information to include with a mail request.
Middlesex County Civil Court Records
Cambridge is in Middlesex County. All civil court records for the county flow through the Middlesex county court system. For county-level records, fees, and additional resources, visit the Middlesex County civil court records page.