Suffolk County Court Records

Suffolk County court records are official documents, exhibits, transcripts, and files generated for and during court trials in the county. They contain the following:

• Case details: Case number, names of parties involved, and case type
• Pleadings: Complaints, answers, motions, and responses
• Evidence: Exhibits, witness statements, and transcripts
• Orders and judgments: Court decisions, sentences, and fines
• Trial records: Verbatim transcripts of court proceedings
• Docket entries: Chronological list of events and filings in a case

The availability of court records is crucial to justice administration in Suffolk County. Court records can be used when conducting background checks for potential business partners, employees, or tenants. It can also be used by legal practitioners to understand certain case laws and as legal precedents for future judgments. In addition, it helps to uphold the integrity and transparency of the judicial system in Suffolk County.

Are Court Records Public in Suffolk County?

Suffolk County court records are public. The Massachusetts Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records grants access to the public to view and request court records in the custody of the clerk of court, provided such records are not sealed by law or court order. Certain Suffolk County court records are also exempt from public access to protect sensitive information or preserve privacy. Typically, court records exempted from public access in the county include the following:

• Medical and mental health records
• Records protected by state or federal laws
• Adoption records
• Confidential information such as Social Security Number and driver’s license number
• Financial account numbers
• Juvenile records
• Identifying information about jurors and confidential informants

Suffolk County Court Records Search

Suffolk County court records can be accessed online and offline. Anyone can search for public court records in the county using the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal. They can also use reliable third-party websites to access court records from the county. In addition, Non-confidential court records may also be accessed through telephone, mail, or in-person visits to the clerk of the court where the cases were heard. However, confidential court records in Suffolk County cannot be accessed without authorization.

Suffolk County Court Records Search by Name

In Suffolk County, a name-based court records search involves using the name of a party in a civil case or a defendant in a criminal case as the search parameter. Record seekers can search for court records by name using the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform.

Suffolk County Courts

The Suffolk County court system comprises superior, district, juvenile, probate and family, and municipal courts. The Suffolk County Superior Court is the principal court in the county, and it typically handles cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. It has exclusive jurisdiction over major felonies, medical malpractice matters, and civil cases with claims above $50,000. Lesser felonies, misdemeanors, and civil cases with claims under $50,000 are handled by the Chelsea District Court. The Suffolk County Probate and Family Court hears probate and domestic relations matters, such as annulment, divorce, maintenance, paternity, commitment to mental health institutions, wills, and estates. The Juvenile Courts handle juvenile matters, such as child protection, delinquency, and dependency, while the Eastern Housing Court deals with housing-related matters, such as residential property issues and landlord-tenant disputes. The Boston Municipal Court deals with traffic offenses and municipal ordinance violations within the municipality.

The following are the various Suffolk County courts and their contact information:

Suffolk County Superior Court

Suffolk County Superior Court
Suffolk County Courthouse
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-8175 (Civil)
Phone: (617) 788-8160 (Criminal)
Fax: (617) 788-7798 (Criminal)

Suffolk County District Court

Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9200
Fax: (617) 660-9215

Suffolk County Probate and Family Court

Suffolk Probate and Family Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8301
Fax: (617) 788-8962

Suffolk County Housing Court

Eastern Housing Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8485

Suffolk County Juvenile Court

Boston Juvenile Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8525
Fax: (617) 788-8991

Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9225

Dorchester Juvenile Court
510 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
Phone: (617) 288-9500 ext. 400

West Roxbury Juvenile Court
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 971-1154

Suffolk County Municipal Court

Boston Municipal Court has eight locations in Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, West Roxbury, and South Boston.

Suffolk County District Court Records

Suffolk County District Court records refer to files and documents relating to legal prosecutions within the county's District Court. Under the Massachusetts court system, the Superior Court handles cases under the jurisdiction of district courts in other states. Records generated in Suffolk County Superior Court include those of the following cases:

• Felony cases
• Civil Lawsuits, including labor disputes, matters seeking equitable relief, and cases with claims over $50,000
• Abuse prevention proceedings
• Medical malpractice tribunal

Persons interested in accessing Suffolk County Superior Court civil case records should do the following:

• Visit the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform
• Select ‘The Superior Court’ from the list of Court Department
• Choose Suffolk County Civil under Court Division
• Select the criteria for searching: name, case type, case number, or ticket/citation
• Provide the required details, including case type, city, case status, and party type
• Click search

To access Suffolk County Superior Court criminal case records, take the following steps:

• Open the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform
• Choose ‘The Superior Court’ from the list of Court Department
• Select Suffolk County Criminal under Court Division
• Select the criteria for searching: name, case type, case number, or ticket/citation
• Provide the relevant information, including case type, city, case status, and party type
• Click search

Superior Court record seekers can contact the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office by fax, telephone, or in person at:

Suffolk County Courthouse

3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-8175 (Civil)
Phone: (617) 788-8160 (Criminal)
Fax: (617) 788-7798 (Criminal)

Suffolk County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Suffolk County are records of a person's criminal activities and prosecutions within the county. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and clerks of courts maintain these records. Criminal records maintained by the county’s sheriff’s department typically include Suffolk County arrest records, arrest warrants, mugshots, jail, and other pretrial crime records. Eligible record seekers can request an individual’s Suffolk County criminal records by contacting the department at:

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department
20, Bradson Street
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 635-1000

They can also visit the clerks of court offices to request criminal records. Similarly, certain criminal records can be obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.

Suffolk County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Anyone can look up specific criminal cases from Suffolk County through the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform. The Suffolk County Superior, Chelsea District, and Boston Municipal Courts maintain criminal court records on the platform.

Get Suffolk County Civil Court Records

Suffolk County civil court records include summons, case filings, motions, writs, settlement agreements, civil complaints, pleadings, judgments, court orders, and appeals from civil adjudications within the county. They comprise documents generated from cases such as the following:

• Divorce Proceedings
• Libel and slander
• Family Law
• Contract Disputes
• Property Disputes
• Personal Injury Lawsuits
• Employment Discrimination
• Probate and Estate
• Torts
• Consumer Protection
• Professional Malpractice

In Suffolk County, general civil cases are heard in the Superior and District Courts. Specialized courts like the Probate and Family, Housing, and Juvenile Court hear probate, family law, housing, and juvenile matters, respectively. Clerks of each court maintain and store civil court records in the county.

Anyone can find civil court records via the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform. They can search by party name, case number, and case type. In addition, record seekers can visit court clerks in the County to examine or request copies of public civil court records. Portions of certain public civil court records may be redacted to protect sensitive information or preserve the privacy of persons involved.

Suffolk County Family Court Records

Suffolk County Family Court records are files, documents, and information on family law cases adjudicated by the county’s Probate and Family Court. These are records generated from the prosecution of the following types of cases:

• Divorce
• Legal Separation
• Child Support
• Domestic Violence Cases
• Paternity
• Spousal Support
• Adoption cases
• Protection Orders

Although family court records are public in Suffolk County, some records cannot be accessed without the necessary approval or court order. In addition, portions of public family court records containing sensitive information can be redacted to preserve the privacy of the record owners. Eligible persons can contact the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office to request family court records. They can also view some family law cases via the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform.

Suffolk County Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Suffolk County, dissolution of marriage records are official documents relating to the termination of marriages in the county. These records include:

• Petition for Marriage Dissolution
• Decree of Dissolution of Marriage
• Marriage Settlement Agreement
• Child Custody and Support Orders (where applicable)

The Clerk of the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court maintains dissolution of marriage records in the county. Marriage dissolution records are open to the public except those portions that are sealed by the court. Persons interested in accessing marriage dissolution records can contact the Clerk of the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court.

Suffolk County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage records are documents and information about the legal union of two persons, while divorce records typically contain information and files relating to the legal separation of two married individuals. Most marriage and divorce records are open to the public in Suffolk County. Marriage records can be obtained from the municipality’s clerk’s office where the marriage occurred while divorce records can be obtained from the Suffolk County Family and Probate Court. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics under the Department of Public Health can also provide access to records of marriages in the county.

Suffolk County Birth and Death Records

Suffolk County birth and death records are official documentation of the birth and death of individuals within the county. Birth and death records are public records in Massachusetts and can be accessed by the general public. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics under the Department of Public Health maintains both records for Suffolk County. Anyone can request birth or death records via mail or in person from the RVRS Office at a fee. They can contact their municipality’s clerk's office for death records.

Suffolk County Probate Court Records

Suffolk County Probate court records detail the management of an incapacitated or deceased person's estate. Probate court records in the county include documents on guardianship, conservatorship, wills, assets Inventory, trusts, and administration of estates. The Suffolk County Probate and Family Court oversees probate matters for county residents. Probate court records in Massachusetts are public records and can be accessed by any interested person. Anyone interested in the county’s historic probate records can fill out the Court Archives Information Request Form and submit it online. For other probate records, interested persons can visit the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court to inspect or obtain them.

Suffolk County Property Records

Suffolk County property records are official documents on real estate activities within the county, such as mortgages, deeds, property ownership, parcel numbers, property sales history, tax records, and liens. The Suffolk County Registry of Deeds Office is responsible for maintaining the county’s property records. Record seekers can use the Massachusetts Land Records website to search for property records in Suffolk County. They can also obtain the records in person by visiting their office at:

24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-6221

Suffolk County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources like Massachusettscourtrecords.us provide easier and more convenient access to Suffolk County court records. However, they can be more expensive, and their records may not be up-to-date.