Berkshire County Court Records

Berkshire County Court Records are official reports and documents created, entered, or filed from the time a complainant/prosecutor files a suit until the judge enters a verdict. They include case files, orders, exhibits, dockets, pleadings, summons, and other information derived from a legal proceeding.

Massachusetts Court Records generally provide valuable information about a case, such as the party names, claims/charges, and verdicts. They also serve as historical legal documents and may be helpful to judicial officers, legal professionals, and members of the public in making certain legal and personal decisions.

Are Court Records Public in Berkshire County?

Yes. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Act and the Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records, anyone may access records of court cases regardless of the form in which they were created or stored.

Per Massachusetts law, certain case information is exempt from public access. Some of the court records and case information not available for public disclosure include:

• Sealed or expunged criminal records
• Some information contained in criminal offense records
• Personal information and security numbers/ codes
• Proceeding and court records of juveniles unless otherwise stated in General Laws Chapter 119
• Records of proceedings connected to mental health conditions
• Grand jury proceeding records
• Records of adoptions
• Records of domestic violence and restraining orders.

Certain government entities, employers, or persons with court approval may have access to the aforementioned exempt records.

Berkshire County Court Records Search

A Berkshire County Court Records Search is possible at any of the following places:

• The Clerk of the Superior Court’s Office
• Public access counters at the clerk's office in the courthouse of origin
• Computer kiosks provided by the clerk of a court
• The online case management system of the Massachusetts Judiciary, Masscourt
• Third-party record providers or aggregate sites.

Berkshire County Court Records Search by Name

Anyone interested in conducting a Berkshire County Court record search by name may do so using remote or physical options provided by the record custodian. Interested persons may visit the counters in the clerk’s office with a name to be researched. They may also send mail or fax requests contacting the name, adequate description of the desired records, and other requirements.

The Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access portal is a remote option for searching court records by name in Berkshire County. To search using this portal, one may follow the outlined steps:

• Launch the MA Trial Court Electronic Case Access website
• Read and understand the instructions provided
• Click on the “Search public records” button
• Select the appropriate courthouse or division
• Choose the “name search tab” from the options provided
• Input a business name or case party’s last name
• Select the case type and add more search parameters if available
• Click the “search” button to review and inspect the desired case information.

Case information generated by the appellate courts is available for public access online via the Public Case Search tool. Interested persons may search for court records by entering a name on this public search portal.

Regardless of the search option explored, requestors performing a Berkshire County Court record search by name are to note the following:

• Fees may apply to copying requested records
• Providing additional search criteria may expedite and narrow down the search
• Sealed records can only be accessed with court authorization
• Some Clerks' offices may require scheduled appointments for in-person requests.

Berkshire County Courts

The Berkshire County Court system consists of the Superior Court, the District Courts, the Juvenile Courts, and a Probate and Family Court. These courts have varying jurisdictions to handle specific cases for instance, the District Courts handle cases of felonies, small claims, and violations of bye-laws. The locations and contact information of the courts in Berkshire County are listed below:

Berkshire County Superior Court
76 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Fax: (413) 442-9190
Email: Berkshire.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us.

Southern Berkshire County District Court
9 Gilmore Avenue
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Phone: (413) 528-3520
Fax: (413) 528-0757
Email:cmsouthernberkshiredc@jud.state.ma.us.

Northern Berkshire County District Court
111 Holden Street
North Adams, MA 01247
Phone: (413) 663-5339
Fax: (413) 664-7209
Email:cmnorthernberkshiredc@jud.state.ma.us

Pittsfield District Court
24 Wendell Avenue
P.O. Box 875
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Phone: (413) 499-0558
Fax: (413) 499-7327
Email: cmpittsfielddc@jud.state.ma.us.

Western Housing District Court - Pittsfield Session
76 East Street
Room 2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 748-7838
Fax: (413) 732-4607
Email: WesternHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us.

Great Barrington Juvenile Court
9 Gilmore Avenue
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Phone: (413) 528-3520
Email: berkshire-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us

North Adams Juvenile Court
111 Holden Street
2nd Floor
North Adams, MA 01247
Phone: (413) 664-8700
Fax: (413) 664-7788
Email: berkshire-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us.

Pittsfield Juvenile Court
190 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 443-8533
Fax: (413) 443-8672
Email: berkshire-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us.

Berkshire Probate and Family Court
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 442-6941
Fax: (413) 443-3430
Email: berkshireprobate@jud.state.ma.us.

Berkshire County Superior Court Case Search

The Berkshire County Superior Court is the trial court that serves all the cities and towns under Berkshire County. It has general jurisdiction to hear civil suits with claims above $50,000, severe offenses, labor disagreements, and felonies. The Clerk of the Superior Court in Berkshire County preserves records and case information filed and generated by the court in both paper and electronic forms.

Residents of Berkshire County may visit the counters at the Clerk's office within regular hours to inspect and copy public case files and court records. The clerk's office also provides computer kiosks to the public for reviewing and copying case files. Descriptions of the requested records, search criteria (such as name, case number, and filing date), and research fees are the typical requirements needed to begin a search. Requesting parties may send their requests via mail, fax, or in-person to:

Berkshire County Superior Court
76 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 499-7487
Fax: (413) 442-9190

Interested persons may remotely access Berkshire County Superior Court Records via the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Access Platform. One may search case files by name, case/docket number, attorney name, or filing date.

Berkshire County District Court Records

Berkshire County District Courts hear misdemeanors, some felonies, civil claims below $50,000, domestic violence prevention, and issue of restraining orders. Court records generated from sessions held in District Courts are maintained by the clerk of the court handling the case.

To access these records, one may visit the clerk of the originating court in person within business hours, send mail/fax requests, or search the Massachusetts case management system, Masscourt.

Berkshire County Criminal Records

Berkshire County criminal records are publicly available on the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Records Information (iCORI) webpage. Interested persons may perform a name-based search on the database by registering and paying the search fee of $25 per name. Persons who do not wish to register on the platform may complete and submit a Criminal Records Open Access Form. The search fee for this option is $50, payable by money order or check made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Residents of Berkshire County may also query the Berkshire County Sheriff's office to request copies and inspect Berkshire County arrest records and police reports. The record subject’s name, birth date, incident/ arrest date, and booking number may be demanded by the Sheriff's office to retrieve criminal records. Request forms and search fees may be sent using the following information:

Berkshire County Sheriff's Office
467 Cheshire Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 443-7720
Fax: (413) 499-7200
Email: info@sdb.state.ma.us.

Berkshire County Criminal Court Case Lookup

A criminal court case lookup in Berkshire County may be conducted physically or remotely. The requestor will however need to ascertain the court handling the case and whether the desired record is publicly available. A walk-in visit to the clerk’s office in the originating court or the use of the computer kiosks provided at the courthouse may furnish the requestor with the requested criminal case records. Alternatively, one may search for criminal case files by case number via the online MassCourt database.

How to Get Berkshire County Civil Court Records

Berkshire County Civil court records are generated from proceedings of civil cases involving two parties with one party being an individual, a public body, or a corporate entity. Civil court records in Berkshire County include records of divorces, restraining orders, mental health, evictions, and contract disputes. The custodian of civil court records in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may vary depending on the amount of claim involved in the case.

To obtain civil court records, the clerk of the Superior or District Courts may be queried in person. The party names, case number, filing number, or judgment entered may be required to ease the search. Certain search and copy fees may also be requested by the staff in the clerk's office. One may search for civil court records on the state’s online case management portal, MassCourt, or send mail/ fax requests to the clerk's office.

Berkshire County Family Court Records

Family law issues such as domestic violence prevention, divorce, spousal, and child support are heard by the Berkshire County Probate and Family Court. To request family court records, fill out a Request for Copies form, pay the required fees, and submit the completed form in person or by mail to:

Berkshire Probate and Family Court
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 442-6941
Fax: (413) 443-3430
Email: berkshireprobate@jud.state.ma.us.

Alternatively, one may access family court records remotely using the MassCourt database. A case or docket number is the basic search requirement for retrieving family court records.

Berkshire County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Berkshire County Dissolution of Marriage records are filed under family court records in the clerk's office of the Berkshire county Probate and Family Court. They are records related to divorce, separations, and marriage annulments hence they may be requested with the same procedures required for requesting family court records. One may be able to access these records by visiting the clerk's office in person, sending mail requests, or searching the online case management system(Masscourt).

Berkshire County Marriage and Divorce Records

Berkshire County Marriage records are preserved by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics while the Clerk of Court manages divorce records. To request Berkshire County Marriage certificates, an eligible person may submit a completed vital records request form, specified fees, and a valid identity card to the Registry. The requestor will be required to supply the names of the couple, the place and date of the event, and other details needed to identify the marriage record. For mail requests, a fee of $32 applies while in-person requests cost $20. Mail and in-person requests may be sent to:

Berkshire County Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
Phone: (866) 300-8535

Persons interested in inspecting and copying Berkshire County divorce records may query the clerk of the Probate and Family Court. To request a certified copy of a divorce record/ decree, one must have the docket number attached to the case. If the docket number is unknown, the requestor may search for the docket number on MassCourt or contact the Probate and Family Court clerk. Upon receipt of the docket number, the inquirer may complete a request form and submit it alongside a fee of $20 per copy to the clerk's office. Additional information, such as the divorcee's name, date, and place of divorce, may facilitate the search.

Berkshire County Birth and Death Records

Berkshire County vital records, including birth and death records, are maintained by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Vital records are only available to the record subject, an immediate family member, and persons or entities with notarized authorization. The Registry maintains Berkshire County birth records as well as death records from 1931 to present.

To request a certified copy of a Berkshire County birth certificate or death certificate, eligible individuals may fill out a vital records request form and submit alongside a fee of $32 (for mail requests) or $20 (for in-person requests) to the Registry. Acceptable payment means include money order, business check, or attorney check.

Berkshire County Probate Court Records

Berkshire County Probate Court records include case files and information generated from proceedings related to the administration of wills, trust, guardianship, change of name, parental obligations and rights, conservatorship, and child support. The clerk of the Probate and Family Court is the custodian of Probate court records in Berkshire County.

Interested persons may submit completed request forms and appropriate fees to the clerk's office at:

Berkshire Probate and Family Court
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 442-6941
Fax: (413) 443-3430
Email: berkshireprobate@jud.state.ma.us.

One may also search for Probate court records online on the State's judiciary case management system. The requestor will be required to enter a docket number, case number, or any other required search criteria.

Berkshire County Property Records

Berkshire County Property records include maps, deeds, ownership information, liens, taxes, mortgages, assessments, and improvements. The Registry of Deeds maintains records of real estate and properties registered in the county. Berkshire County has three Registry of Deeds - the North, South, and Middle.

Residents of Berkshire County who wish to obtain property records may visit the relevant Registry of Deeds office in person or send mail requests using the following information:

Berkshire County North Registry of Deeds
65 Park Street
Adams, MA 01220
Phone: (413) 743-0035
Fax: (413) 743-1003
Email: nbrd@sec.state.ma.us.

Berkshire County Middle Registry of Deeds
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 443-7438
Fax: (413) 448-6025

Berkshire County South Registry of Deeds
334 Main Street
Suite 2
Great Barrington, MA 01230-1894
Phone: (413) 528-0146
Fax: (413) 528-6878
Email: sbrd@sec.state.ma.us.

Berkshire County Property records and information are also publicly accessible online on the Massachusetts Land Records website. The requestor will be required to enter a book or page number into the search fields to turn out property information filed under the assigned number.

Berkshire County Court Records Online

Berkshire County Court Records are publicly available online via the state's judicial web portal. Similarly, residents of Berkshire County may freely access court records on third-party websites like Massachusettscourtrecords.us. These independent record providers provide members of the public with court records and case information that have been widely sourced, cutting across various jurisdictions. The minimum search requirement for using a third-party site is typically the case party's last name, and identity verification is not a prerequisite. However, the records provided by third-party websites are informational only and not suitable for official or legal purposes.