Norfolk County Court Records

Norfolk County court records are official documents and materials that are created and filed in relation to legal proceedings handled by the county courts. These records are significant in keeping the courts in Norfolk County accountable to the public and providing them with information about ongoing and concluded cases. In addition, anyone can conduct background checks or verify legal information with Norfolk County court documents. Some examples of information found in Norfolk County court records include:

• Witness statements
• Pleadings and Motions
• Case dockets
• Attorney information
• Jury verdicts
• Judgments and Orders
• Filing date
• Case status

Are Court Records Public in Norfolk County?

In Norfolk County, court records are accessible to members of the public as stipulated in Massachusetts Public Records Law. Norfolk County courts are statutorily obligated to provide records they create or maintain, except those exempted by law. Custodians may withhold the following court records in whole or part due to statutes that limit or restrict their public disclosure:

• Juvenile court records
• Financial documents
• Adoption and child welfare records
• Medical and mental health records
• Plaintiff’s residential address and contact information
• Abuse prevention case records

Norfolk County Court Records Search

The custodians of court records in Norfolk County make them available for inspection on multiple platforms. Custodians typically operate online databases that enable users to search for Norfolk County court records in their custody. If available, public terminal computers at the county courthouse can also be used to search for court records in Norfolk County.

On the other hand, physical copies of court records in Norfolk County can be obtained from the Clerk of the court that created the records. The Clerks usually provide paper court records in person or by mail.

Norfolk County Court Records Search by Name

Interested individuals can perform name-based searches for court records in Norfolk County. The Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal facilitates name-based searches for anyone seeking court records maintained by all Norfolk County trial courts. Follow these steps to search the county court records by name on the portal:

• Click the search public records tab
• Select Norfolk County as the Court Department and the Court Division in custody on the records
• Select the Court location you wish to search in Norfolk County
• Choose the number of search results to view per page
• Search by inputting the last and first name of the individual in the required fields (Initial capital letter followed by lowercase letters)
• For businesses, enter the company name instead in the required field
• Click the Search button at the bottom left corner for search results

Norfolk County Courts

Norfolk County court’s system comprises the Superior Court, District Court, Housing Court, Probate and Family Court, and Juvenile Court. The Superior Court holds the highest authority within the county's judicial system, while the lower trial courts exercise limited jurisdiction over legal matters in the county. These courts conduct legal proceedings from different locations listed below:

Superior Courts in Norfolk County

Norfolk County Superior Court
650 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026
Phone: (781) 326-1600

District Courts in Norfolk County

Brookline District Court
360 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445
Phone: (617) 232-4660

Dedham District Court
631 High Street,
Dedham, MA 02026
Phone: (781) 329-4777

Milford District Court
161 West Street
Milford, MA 01757
Phone: (508) 473-1260
Fax: (508) 634-8477

Quincy District Court
1 Dennis Ryan Parkway
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: (617) 471-1650
Fax: (617) 472-1924

Stoughton District Court
1288 Central Street
Stoughton, MA 02072
Phone: (781) 344-2131
Fax: (781) 341-8744

Wrentham District Court
60 East Street
Wrentham, MA 02093
Phone: (508) 384-3106
Fax: (508) 384-9454 (Civil)
Fax: (508) 384-5052 (Criminal)

Probate and Family Courts in Norfolk County

Norfolk Probate and Family Court
35 Shawmut Road
Canton, MA 02021
Phone: (781) 830-1200
Fax: (781) 830-4310

Housing Courts in Norfolk County

Central Housing Court - Worcester Session
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 831-2050

Eastern Housing Court
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-6233

Juvenile Courts in Norfolk County

Dedham Juvenile Court
55 Allied Drive
Dedham, MA 02026
Phone: (781) 329-1500

Quincy Juvenile Court
1 Dennis Ryan Parkway
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: (617) 376-7505

Stoughton Juvenile Court
1288 Central Street
Stoughton, MA 02072
Phone: (781) 329-1500
Phone: (781) 341-9162
Fax: (781) 341-9161

Norfolk County Superior Court Case Search

The Superior Court in Norfolk County exercises jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters brought before the court. The Clerk is responsible for keeping court records related to the following Superior Court cases:

• Felonies
• Eminent domain matters
• Appeals
• Non-criminal disputes with claims over $50,000
• Medical malpractice tribunals

Individuals can also use the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal to conduct Norfolk County Superior Court case searches. To find such case information, users can follow these steps:

• Open the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal
• Click the search public records tab
• From the dropdown menu, select the Superior Court as the Court Department and Norfolk County as the Court Division
• Choose the number of search results to view per page
• Select the search criteria tab (name, case number, case type, or ticket/citation number)
• Click the Search button at the bottom left corner to view the search results

Record seekers can also utilize public terminal computers at the Norfolk County Superior Court location to search for different cases.

Norfolk County District Court Records

Norfolk County District Court records are the files and documents relating to the legal proceedings handled by the District Courts within the county. The District Courts in Norfolk County have jurisdiction in the following types of cases:

• Felonies and misdemeanors
• Violations of city or town ordinances
• Summary process
• Administrative appeals
• Civil actions with claims of $50,000 or less
• Small claims matter with claims of $7,000 or less
• Traffic violations

To access Norfolk County District Court records, individuals can use Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access. Users can access the portal and select the District Court location in the custody of the documents they wish to find. They can also access District Court records through various search criteria, including names, case numbers, ticket or citation numbers, and case types.

In Norfolk County, the Clerk of the District Court serves as the custodian of court records within their jurisdiction. Hence, anyone seeking access to these records may visit the court to inspect them or contact the Clerk via phone or mail. Some courthouses provide public terminal computers to access court documents generated at Norfolk District Courts.

Norfolk County Criminal Records

Norfolk County criminal records include documents and files created from the activities of law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice agencies while discharging their duties within the county. Norfolk County city/town police departments maintain Norfolk county arrest and criminal information within their jurisdictions alongside state-wide criminal records kept by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS).

The Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office also maintains criminal records, such as inmate records from the county’s House of Corrections. Record seekers can send email requests to access public criminal records maintained by the Sheriff’s Office. They may also request such records physically or send a mail to Probate and Family Court:

200 West Street
P.O. Box 149
Dedham, MA 02026

Norfolk County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Norfolk County, individuals can look up criminal case information using the following options:

Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access

This is a searchable online database where people may access criminal case information maintained by the Norfolk County trial courts. Users can choose the court that handled the case and search criminal court cases by case numbers, citation/ticket numbers, case types, or names of the involved parties.

Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS)

The DCJIS manages the Massachusetts iCORI Service, a database for criminal offender record information and arrest records in Massachusetts, including Norfolk County. However, users must create an account and log in to search for criminal cases.

Clerks of the County Courts

Norfolk County criminal case information can be accessed through the Clerks of the courts that adjudicated the criminal case. The Clerk’s Office may accept in-person or mail requests for criminal court records. Alternatively, some courthouses have public access terminals that allow users to look up criminal records in their custody.

Get Norfolk County Civil Court Records

In Norfolk County, civil court records are created during non-criminal legal proceedings. The Clerks of the courts where the cases were filed serve as the records custodians. Examples of such civil cases that the county courts adjudicate include:

• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Small claims matters
• Contract disputes
• Damage to personal property
• Personal injury
• Breaches of contract
• Divorces
• Property disputes
• Consumer complaints

Norfolk County civil court records are available at the courthouses where the cases were heard. They are maintained at the Clerk’s Office, and record seekers may visit in person or send mail requests to obtain these records. In addition, anyone can access civil court records in Norfolk County on the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal. Users can search the database by name, case type, and case number.

Norfolk County Family Court Records

In Norfolk County, family-law cases are handled by the Probate and Family Court. Norfolk County Family Court records contain case information and documents related to domestic relation cases in the county. The Probate and Family Court in Norfolk County handles the following cases:

• Adoptions
• Guardianships
• Paternity establishment
• Child support and custody
• Annulment
• Termination of parental rights
• Child Abuse
• Divorces

Norfolk County Family Court records may be accessed on the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal. Individuals can also request such court documents in person from the Clerk of the Probate and Family Court at the courthouse or send mail to the Probate and Family Court.

Although most family court records are public, some information and documents are restricted and inaccessible to the general public. Such records are either confidential by law or sealed by the court because they contain sensitive information, such as domestic abuse or child welfare records.

Norfolk Dissolution of Marriage Records

Norfolk County dissolution of marriage records are official documents created when couples formally dissolve their marital unions in accordance with the law. These records include dissolution petitions, divorce decrees, separation agreements, parenting time, child custody arrangements, and property division plans. The Clerk of the County Probate and Family Court maintains dissolution of marriage records. Interested individuals can visit the Clerk’s Office to request paper copies or send an email to inquire about such records. The Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access also provides convenient electronic access to case information related to the dissolution of marriage.

Norfolk County Marriage and Divorce Records

Norfolk County marriage records are the official documents related to the matrimony of partners, while divorce records encompass documents concerning the termination of marriages under the law. To obtain Norfolk County divorce records, complete the Request for Copies form and mail or submit it to the Norfolk Probate and Family Court.

On the other hand, the town or city Clerks in Norfolk County serve as custodians for marriage records. Record seekers can visit the Clerk’s Office in the town/city where they applied to get married to obtain certified copies of Norfolk County marriage certificates. The Clerks may require payment of fees to inspect or obtain certified copies of these records.

Norfolk Birth and Death Records

Norfolk County birth and death records are available at the town/city Clerk's Office or can be ordered from Massachusetts’s Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Norfolk County vital records, like birth and death certificates, document the life events of their owners and are important for genealogical research.

To obtain a Norfolk County birth or death record, contact the Clerk's Office of the town or city where the individual resided at the time of the event to verify if they have custody of the records. Requests for such documents can be in person or by sending the request to the Clerk’s Office.

Alternatively, record seekers can order Norfolk birth and death records (1931 to present) from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS). To make orders, complete the vital records mail order forms and submit them physically or mail them to:

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125

Individuals submitting their forms over the counter at the RVRS office must do so on weekdays between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. The office may require IDs to prove requesters’ relation to the subjects of such records.

Norfolk County Probate Court Records

Norfolk County Probate Court records include information concerning the administration of decedent estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. Probate Court records are maintained by the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court Clerk, and they provide paper copies to interested persons at the office location.The courthouse may also have public terminal computers for visitors to search and print copies of probate court records.

Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access also allows users to look up Norfolk County probate court records through the following steps:

• Open the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal
• Select the search public records button
• From the dropdown menu, select Probate and Family Court as the Court Department and Norfolk County Probate and Family Court as the Court Division
• Choose the number of search results to view per page
• Select your search criteria and input the details
• Click the Search button at the bottom left corner to view the search results

Norfolk County Property Records

Norfolk County property records are official documents containing ownership details and other essential information related to properties in the county. Such documents include:

• Homestead Declaration
• Recording of Plans
• Sewer Assessment Certificates
• Declaration of Trust
• Property Deeds
• Foreclosure Deed and Affidavit
• Discharge/Release of Mortgage
• Uniform Commercial Code documents
• Federal Tax Liens and Releases

Norfolk County property records can be obtained by visiting the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or sending mail requests to:

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
649 High Street
Dedham, 02026

Copies of property documents cost $1 per page for in-person requests, while mail requests cost $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. The Registry charges for certified copies of documents. Record seekers can also search for property deeds in Norfolk County online.

Norfolk County Court Records Online

Third-party resources like Massachusettscourtrecords.us offer convenient and easy access to Norfolk County court records online. Typically, independent platforms provide users access to several aggregated court records in one tool. However, they come with limitations, such as the inability to ensure the records’ accuracy. Users may also need to pay certain fees on third-party platforms to access the court records.