Plymouth County Civil Court Records
Plymouth County civil court records are spread across two main courthouse locations: one in Plymouth and one in Brockton. Superior Court civil sessions run out of the Obery Street complex in Plymouth, while Brockton handles criminal sessions and also serves as a hub for the county's busiest District Court. This guide covers how to find Plymouth County civil court records through the free MassCourts online portal, in person at clerk offices in both cities, and through related court systems that handle family law, housing, and probate matters in the county.
Plymouth County Overview
Plymouth County Superior Court Civil Records
Plymouth County Superior Court is split between two locations, and which one handles your case depends on the type of proceeding. Civil sessions are held at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth, where the main courthouse complex is located. The phone number for the Plymouth location is (508) 747-8400. If you have a civil case pending in Plymouth County Superior Court, you will file and access records at this address. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and there is free parking on site, which makes in-person visits straightforward.
The Superior Court has original jurisdiction over civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000. This includes contract disputes, tort claims, and major civil matters that go beyond what the District Court can hear. If you are not sure whether your case is at the Superior Court or District Court level, the clerk's office at Obery Street can help you check. You can also search the MassCourts system at masscourts.org and select Plymouth County to see which court holds the record you need.
The Brockton location at 72 Belmont Street handles criminal sessions for Plymouth County Superior Court. Clerk Robert S. Creedon Jr. is based there, and free parking is available across the street from the courthouse. The Brockton courthouse phone is (508) 583-8250. While civil sessions run out of Plymouth, some administrative matters may involve the Brockton office depending on the case.
The Plymouth County Superior Court page on mass.gov has current contact details, parking information, and directions for both courthouse locations.
| Court | Plymouth County Superior Court (Civil Sessions) |
|---|---|
| Address | 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 |
| Phone | (508) 747-8400 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov - Plymouth Superior Court |
Plymouth Probate and Family Court Civil Filings
The Plymouth Probate and Family Court at 52 Obery Street handles civil matters in the family law and estate area. This includes divorce proceedings, guardianship petitions, adoptions, conservatorship cases, and the probate of wills and estates. Register Matthew J. McDonough oversees the clerk operations. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and the court shares the Obery Street building with the Plymouth District Court and Superior Court civil sessions. The phone number is (508) 747-8300.
Plymouth County civil court records from the Probate and Family Court are part of the state trial court system and can be searched online through the MassCourts portal. When you search at masscourts.org and select Plymouth County, you can filter by court type to narrow results to Probate and Family Court filings. This covers divorce cases, estate matters, and other civil family actions. The system shows party names, filing dates, docket entries, and current case status at no cost.
Visit the Plymouth Probate and Family Court page on mass.gov for directions and the most current contact information.
| Court | Plymouth Probate and Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 |
| Phone | (508) 747-8300 |
| Register | Matthew J. McDonough |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov - Plymouth Probate Court |
Note: Plymouth Probate and Family Court shares the 52 Obery Street complex with Superior Court civil sessions and Plymouth District Court, so you can handle multiple court visits in one trip.
Plymouth County District Court Civil Cases
Plymouth County has several District Courts, each serving a distinct set of towns. District Courts handle civil cases up to $25,000, small claims, and summary process matters. The Plymouth District Court at 52 Obery Street, reachable at (508) 747-8400, serves Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Plympton. This court shares an address with the Probate Court and Superior Court civil sessions, which makes it one of the more convenient locations in the county to access multiple types of civil court records.
The Brockton District Court at 215 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301, phone (508) 587-8000, is the largest and busiest District Court in Plymouth County. It serves Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. Beyond standard civil cases, Brockton District Court also runs a Veterans Treatment Court, an Adult Drug Court, and a Mental Health Court. Civil records for cases filed here are available at the clerk's office at 215 Main Street. The Brockton District Court page on mass.gov has hours, contact information, and directions.
Two other District Courts cover the remaining parts of Plymouth County. The Hingham District Court at 28 George Washington Boulevard in Hingham, phone (781) 749-8580, handles civil cases for Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Norwell, Rockland, and Scituate. The Wareham District Court at 2200 Cranberry Highway in West Wareham, phone (508) 295-5200, serves the southern part of the county including Carver, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Rochester, and Wareham. Civil records for cases in those communities are held at the respective local courthouse, not at Plymouth or Brockton.
See the Plymouth District Court page on mass.gov for hours and contact details for the Plymouth location.
Note: The Brockton District Court at 215 Main Street also hosts the Southeast Housing Court Brockton session at (508) 894-4170 for civil housing matters in that part of Plymouth County.
Plymouth County Housing Court Civil Records
The Southeast Housing Court serves Plymouth County from two sessions. The Plymouth session is located at 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, phone (508) 747-8550. The Brockton session is at 215 Main Street, Brockton, phone (508) 894-4170. Housing Court handles civil cases involving residential property, including code enforcement actions and related civil housing complaints. Both sessions are part of the Massachusetts Trial Court system, and their civil records appear in MassCourts searches.
Housing Court civil records in Plymouth County are separate from District Court civil records even when they are housed in the same building. When you search at masscourts.org, make sure you select the correct court type to find housing cases rather than District Court cases. Housing Court records show the same information as other civil case records: party names, case numbers, filing dates, docket entries, and current status. If you need certified copies of housing civil case documents, contact the clerk at the relevant session location.
Searching Plymouth County Civil Court Records Online
The main tool for searching Plymouth County civil court records online is the free public portal at masscourts.org. Select "Plymouth County" and then choose the specific court you want, such as Superior Court, District Court, Probate Court, or Housing Court. You can search by party name or case number. Results show docket entries, key dates, case status, and party information. There is no charge to search or view docket information through this system.
For a broader search that includes some civil case information alongside other public records, plymouthrecords.us/court-records provides an additional resource for Plymouth County. This can be useful as a starting point if you are not sure which court division holds the record you need.
Federal civil cases involving Plymouth County parties are not in the MassCourts system. For those, use PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. Federal civil matters in this region are generally handled by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. PACER charges a small per-page fee for document downloads, though low-usage accounts can qualify for quarterly fee waivers.
Getting Copies of Plymouth County Civil Court Records
Copy fees at Plymouth County courts follow the Massachusetts Trial Court schedule. Standard uncertified copies run $0.05 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 to $4.50 per page. Bring the case number and party names when you go in person. Clerk staff can pull the file and make copies while you wait for most requests. Larger or archived cases may take additional processing time, so arriving before 3:30 PM gives you the best chance of getting what you need on the same visit.
Both the Plymouth and Brockton courthouse locations offer free parking, which makes in-person visits easier compared to some other Massachusetts county courthouses. If you are not sure which location holds the records you need, call the main Superior Court number at (508) 747-8400 or (508) 322-4500 for Plymouth, or (508) 583-8250 for Brockton, before making the trip. Staff can confirm the correct location and whether the file is available or needs to be retrieved from a records center.
Cities in Plymouth County
Plymouth County has two cities that qualify by population. Brockton is the largest city in the county and the home of the busiest District Court in Plymouth County. Plymouth is the county seat and holds the Superior Court civil sessions, Probate Court, and Plymouth District Court at the Obery Street complex.
Other communities in Plymouth County include Marshfield, Middleboro, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, and many smaller towns. Civil cases from those communities are filed at the District Court serving their area.
Nearby Counties
Plymouth County borders four other Massachusetts counties. If you are trying to figure out which county court has the case you need, think about where the parties live or where the events in the case occurred.