Find Civil Court Records in Bristol County

Bristol County civil court records are held at multiple court locations across Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford. The county has three Superior Court locations, three Probate and Family Court sites, four District Courts, and multiple Housing Court sessions. This guide explains where each type of civil court record is kept in Bristol County, how to search them through the state's MassCourts system, and what to expect if you need to get copies in person.

Bristol County Superior Court Civil Records

Bristol County is unusual among Massachusetts counties because its Superior Court has three physical locations: Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford. However, when it comes to civil court records, there is one key fact to know: all civil Superior Court cases for Bristol County are handled at the New Bedford courthouse at 441 County Street, 1st Floor. The Taunton and Fall River courthouses handle criminal matters only. If you are searching for a Bristol County civil court record from the Superior Court, New Bedford is the place to go.

The New Bedford location can be reached at (508) 996-2051. This is where you will find civil complaints, motions, judgments, and all other Superior Court civil case filings for the county. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you are looking up a large civil matter, like a contract dispute or tort case over $25,000, the New Bedford courthouse holds those records. The Taunton courthouse at 9 Court Street handles criminal filings and can be reached at (508) 823-6588. The Fall River courthouse at 186 South Main Street handles criminal matters and is reached at (508) 491-3300.

The official state court page covers all three Bristol County Superior Court locations with contact details and directions.

Visit the Bristol County Superior Court page on mass.gov for the full list of all three locations and current contact information.

Bristol County Probate and Family Court Records

The Bristol Probate and Family Court is one of the few probate courts in Massachusetts with three active locations. Register Thomas C. Hoye, Jr. oversees operations at all three sites. The main registry for email contact is bristolprobate@jud.state.ma.us. Civil court records handled by this court include divorce cases, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, adoptions, and probate of wills. All of these case types are civil matters that the public can request. If you are searching for a civil case involving family law or an estate in Bristol County, the probate court is likely the right starting point.

The three Bristol Probate and Family Court locations are: Taunton at 40 Broadway, Suite 240 (phone (508) 977-6040); Fall River at 289 Rock Street (phone (508) 672-1751); and New Bedford at 505 Pleasant Street (phone (508) 999-5249). Which location holds your case depends on where it was originally filed. The MassCourts system shows which site has the records. One important note: the New Bedford registry is closed on Wednesdays, so plan your visit accordingly. The Taunton and Fall River locations follow normal Monday through Friday hours.

Bristol Probate also offers a virtual registry. It runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. You can join by video at the Zoom link provided or by phone at 1-646-828-7666 using meeting ID 1612606196. The virtual registry is useful for asking questions about records, getting guidance on how to request copies, or checking on a case status without making the trip to the courthouse. More details on the virtual service are at mass.gov virtual registry page.

The Bristol Probate and Family Court page on mass.gov lists all three locations with phone numbers, hours, and links to the virtual registry service.

Bristol County District Court Civil Records

Bristol County has four District Courts that handle civil cases up to $25,000, including small claims. Each one serves a specific set of cities and towns, so where you file depends on your address and the other party's location. Civil records at each court are held only for the communities in that court's jurisdiction. The MassCourts system will show you which court has a specific case if you search by party name or docket number.

The Fall River District Court at 186 South Main Street, 5th Floor in Fall River serves Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. Call (508) 491-3200 for civil record inquiries. The New Bedford District Court at 75 North 6th Street in New Bedford serves Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, New Bedford, and Westport. Reach them at (508) 999-9700. The Taunton District Court at 120 Cohannet Street in Taunton serves Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Taunton; call (508) 977-6000. The Attleboro District Court at 88 North Main Street in Attleboro serves the northern part of the county and can be reached at (508) 222-5900.

See the New Bedford District Court page on mass.gov for the full list of communities served and contact details for civil record requests in that part of Bristol County.

The Fall River District Court page on mass.gov has the address, phone number, and jurisdiction information for civil cases filed in Fall River and nearby towns.

Bristol County Housing Court Civil Cases

The Southeast Housing Court has three sessions in Bristol County. The Fall River session is at 289 Rock Street in Fall River and can be reached at (508) 677-1505. The New Bedford session is at 139 Hathaway Road in New Bedford with a phone number of (508) 994-0156. The Taunton session is at 120 Cohannet Street in Taunton and can be reached at (508) 977-4950. Housing Court handles civil cases involving residential property disputes, code enforcement actions brought by municipalities, and related matters. These cases have their own docket system separate from regular District Court civil records.

Housing Court civil records in Bristol County are searchable through the MassCourts system the same way as other civil courts. Just select the relevant Housing Court division when searching. The court name and docket number appear in your results so you can confirm which session holds the case you need.

Bristol County Civil Court Record Copy Fees

Copy fees at Bristol County courts follow a set schedule. Regular (plain) copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $4.50 per page. A name search costs $5.00 per name searched. These fees apply across the Bristol Probate and Family Court locations. The Superior Court in New Bedford follows the state schedule for Superior Court copies: certified copies cost $12.00 per document plus $0.50 per page plus a search fee. Always call ahead to confirm fees before you go, since fee schedules can change.

Same-day file review at Bristol courts is limited to three files per visit. If you need to review between four and twelve files, you must submit a Research Request Form in advance. This is worth knowing if you are doing significant research into civil court records across multiple cases. Archive files from 1931 to 1970 are stored off-site, which means those older civil case records will take more time to retrieve. Call the relevant court before visiting to arrange access to older files.

Court Service Centers in Taunton and Fall River can help you find civil court records, get forms, and understand the process without needing a lawyer. These centers are free and walk-in friendly. They are a good starting point if you are new to the court system or need help figuring out which court handles your type of case.

Searching Bristol County Civil Court Records Online

The Massachusetts Trial Court provides free public access to civil case dockets through masscourts.org. Go to the site, select "Bristol County" and the specific court you want to search. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or case type. Results show names, filing dates, docket entries, and current status. The system covers the Bristol County Superior Court, all District Courts, Housing Court sessions, and the Probate and Family Court across all three Bristol locations.

For most civil cases, the online docket gives you what you need to get started: who filed, when, what motions were made, and what the court decided. If you need actual documents, like a complaint or a judgment, you have to request those from the clerk at the court where the case is held. Copies can sometimes be mailed after you submit a written request and pay the applicable fee. The Bristol Probate court website at bristolcountyprobate.org also has some useful guidance on accessing records and court procedures.

Cities in Bristol County

Bristol County's three largest cities each have District Courts and Probate sessions handling local civil cases. Large civil matters for all Bristol County residents go to the Superior Court in New Bedford.

Other communities in Bristol County such as Attleboro, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, and Seekonk file civil cases at the District Court serving their area. All large civil matters go to the New Bedford Superior Court location.

Nearby Counties

Bristol County shares borders with three other Massachusetts counties. If you are not sure which county handles a civil case, check the addresses of the parties and where the dispute took place. Filing in the right county is important for the court to have jurisdiction over your case.