How to Search Massachusetts Public Records

Massachusetts has no free statewide criminal database. Court records are at the county Superior Court level. Property and recorded documents vary by county - some combine the Assessor and Recorder, others keep them separate.

  • Court cases: each county's Superior Court runs its own case search. No unified statewide portal.
  • Criminal background: Live Scan fingerprint check through CA DOJ is the only comprehensive option.
  • Business entities: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov - Secretary of State business search.
  • Sex offenders: meganslaw.ca.gov - DOJ sex offender database with map search.
  • Property: county-level - each county Assessor/Recorder handles its own records.
Population
7,001,3994M
Households
13.3M
Median Income
$91,905
Median Home Value
$659,300

Statewide Databases

140 official Massachusetts government databases. Click a tab to filter by record type.

Public Records

ST
Massachusetts Judiciary Public Portal
Official Free
Statewide case lookup — civil, criminal, family, probate court records.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
ST
Civil Case Records Portal
Official Free
Search civil case records from Massachusetts Superior Courts.
🌐 portal.vtcourts.gov
OF
Access Civil Court Cases (VTCourtsOnline)
Official Free
Calendar information for District/Family/Superior Courts plus detailed case info.
🌐 www.vermont.gov
CA
Court Calendars
Official Free
Hearing schedules for all Massachusetts courts.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
SU
Supreme Court Calendar
Official Free
Argument calendar for the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
SU
Supreme Court Opinions
Official Free
Published opinions issued on Fridays by the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
OP
All Court Opinions & Decisions Library
Official Free
Searchable library of opinions from all Massachusetts court divisions.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
JU
Judicial Bureau Calendars
Official Free
Judicial Bureau (traffic, civil, fish & game) calendars by attorney name.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
PA
Court Fines Payment
Official Free
Pay traffic, civil, and fish & game court fines online.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
LI
Legal Decisions Library
Official Free
Massachusetts state library legal decisions and government publications.
🌐 libraries.vermont.gov
AR
Supreme Court Decisions Archive
Official Free
Historical archive of Massachusetts Supreme Court decisions.
🌐 libraries.vermont.gov
AG
Attorney General Opinions
Official Free
Formal opinions issued by the Massachusetts Attorney General.
🌐 ago.vermont.gov
FE
U.S. District Court of Massachusetts
Official Free
Federal civil and criminal court records via PACER.
🌐 www.vtd.uscourts.gov
FE
U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Massachusetts
Official Free
Federal bankruptcy court records for Massachusetts.
🌐 www.vtb.uscourts.gov
AR
VT State Archives Judicial Branch
Official Free
Historical court records (civil, criminal, chancery, probate) pre-1945.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AR
VT State Archives Family Court
Official Free
Historical family court cases held in state archives.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AR
VT State Archives Criminal Court
Official Free
Historical criminal court records pre-1945.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AR
VT State Archives Civil Court
Official Free
Historical civil court cases held in state archives.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts Public Records Act
Official Free
Public Records Act statutes and request procedures.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
PR
Appealing to the Supreme Court
Official Free
Procedures for filing appeals to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org

Criminal Records

ST
Massachusetts Crime Information Center (VCIC) Home
Official Free
Official Massachusetts repository for crime data and criminal records.
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
ST
VCIC Criminal History Information
Official Free
Official source for Massachusetts criminal histories.
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts Record Checks
Official Free
Request criminal record checks — name and DOB required ($30 per report).
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
ON
VCCRIS Online Criminal Records
Official Free
Online service to purchase criminal conviction records.
🌐 secure.vermont.gov
HE
VCCRIS Help
Official Free
Help and FAQs for using the online criminal records service.
🌐 secure.vermont.gov
PE
My Own Records
Official Free
Personal records review at VCIC during business hours.
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
FA
VCIC Record Checks FAQ
Official Free
Frequently asked questions about criminal record reports.
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
ST
VCIC Massachusetts Record Checks
Official Free
Massachusetts-specific criminal record check request options.
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts State Police
Official Free
Statewide law enforcement — arrest releases and incident reports.
🌐 vsp.vermont.gov
ST
VSP Public Information
Official Free
Public arrest information — names, charges and incident details.
🌐 vsp.vermont.gov
ST
Department of Public Safety
Official Free
Parent agency for Massachusetts State Police and the Crime Information Center.
🌐 dps.vermont.gov
CO
Department of Corrections
Official Free
DOC home with offender locator, facility info, parole/probation data.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
IN
VT Offender Locator
Official Free
Search incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts DOC custody.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
FA
Correctional Facilities
Official Free
Six state correctional facilities with addresses and contact info.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
SE
Offender Services
Official Free
Risk-assessment, treatment, education and reentry programs.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
PR
Probation and Parole Offices
Official Free
Twelve community-based probation and parole offices statewide.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
RE
Restorative Justice
Official Free
Community-based restorative justice and victim services.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
ED
Community High School of Massachusetts
Official Free
Education program for offenders served by Massachusetts DOC.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
FE
U.S. Marshals Service
Official Free
Federal fugitive apprehension covering Massachusetts.
🌐 www.usmarshals.gov
FE
FBI Crime Data Explorer
Official Free
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data for Massachusetts and the U.S.
🌐 cde.ucr.cjis.gov

Court Records

ST
Massachusetts Judiciary Public Portal
Official Free
Statewide case lookup — civil, criminal, family, probate court records.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
ST
Civil Case Records Portal
Official Free
Search civil case records from Massachusetts Superior Courts.
🌐 portal.vtcourts.gov
OF
Access Civil Court Cases (VTCourtsOnline)
Official Free
Calendar information for District/Family/Superior Courts plus detailed case info.
🌐 www.vermont.gov
CA
Court Calendars
Official Free
Hearing schedules for all Massachusetts courts.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
SU
Supreme Court Calendar
Official Free
Argument calendar for the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
SU
Supreme Court Opinions
Official Free
Published opinions issued on Fridays by the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
OP
All Court Opinions & Decisions Library
Official Free
Searchable library of opinions from all Massachusetts court divisions.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
JU
Judicial Bureau Calendars
Official Free
Judicial Bureau (traffic, civil, fish & game) calendars by attorney name.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
PA
Court Fines Payment
Official Free
Pay traffic, civil, and fish & game court fines online.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
LI
Legal Decisions Library
Official Free
Massachusetts state library legal decisions and government publications.
🌐 libraries.vermont.gov
AR
Supreme Court Decisions Archive
Official Free
Historical archive of Massachusetts Supreme Court decisions.
🌐 libraries.vermont.gov
AG
Attorney General Opinions
Official Free
Formal opinions issued by the Massachusetts Attorney General.
🌐 ago.vermont.gov
FE
U.S. District Court of Massachusetts
Official Free
Federal civil and criminal court records via PACER.
🌐 www.vtd.uscourts.gov
FE
U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Massachusetts
Official Free
Federal bankruptcy court records for Massachusetts.
🌐 www.vtb.uscourts.gov
AR
VT State Archives Judicial Branch
Official Free
Historical court records (civil, criminal, chancery, probate) pre-1945.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AR
VT State Archives Family Court
Official Free
Historical family court cases held in state archives.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AR
VT State Archives Criminal Court
Official Free
Historical criminal court records pre-1945.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AR
VT State Archives Civil Court
Official Free
Historical civil court cases held in state archives.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts Public Records Act
Official Free
Public Records Act statutes and request procedures.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
PR
Appealing to the Supreme Court
Official Free
Procedures for filing appeals to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org

Vital Records

ST
Massachusetts Department of Health Vital Records
Official Free
Official Massachusetts source — births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, divorces.
🌐 www.healthvermont.gov
OR
Order Vital Records
Official Free
Order certified or noncertified copies of vital record certificates.
🌐 www.healthvermont.gov
ON
Massachusetts Vital Records Ordering Service
Official Free
Online portal to request certified vital record certificates.
🌐 secure.vermont.gov
SE
Searchable Index of Massachusetts Births and Deaths
Official Free
Searchable index of births and deaths from 1909 to present (updated weekly).
🌐 secure.vermont.gov
OR
Marriage Certificate Order
Official Free
Order marriage certificates online.
🌐 secure.vermont.gov
AR
Massachusetts State Archives Vital Records
Official Free
Historical vital records at the Massachusetts State Archives.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
LO
Information for Town and City Clerks
Official Free
Town clerks are authorized to issue certified copies of vital records.
🌐 www.healthvermont.gov
RE
Certified Vital Records Request
Official Free
Request certified copies through the Vital Records Request Service.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
MA
Marriages | Historical
Official Free
Historical Massachusetts marriage records.
🌐 www.healthvermont.gov
DI
Divorces Certificates
Official Free
Order Massachusetts divorce decrees and certificates.
🌐 www.healthvermont.gov
FE
CDC Vital Records
Official Free
CDC National Center for Health Statistics — where to write for vital records.
🌐 www.cdc.gov
FE
National Archives Vital Records
Official Free
Federal vital records information and resources.
🌐 www.archives.gov
FE
SSA Death Master File
Official Free
Social Security Administration Death Master File request.
🌐 www.ssa.gov
FE
USCIS Genealogy
Official Free
Immigration and naturalization records for genealogy research.
🌐 genealogy.uscis.dhs.gov
FE
NARA Veterans Records
Official Free
National Personnel Records Center — military DD-214 and burial records.
🌐 www.archives.gov
ST
VT Health Statistics
Official Free
Massachusetts health statistics and data dashboard.
🌐 www.healthvermont.gov
FE
VA Veterans Benefits
Official Free
Veterans Affairs records including burial and benefits.
🌐 www.va.gov
FE
Find a VA Cemetery
Official Free
National Cemetery Administration burial and gravesite locator.
🌐 www.cem.va.gov
LI
VT Library Vital Records Guide
Official Free
Massachusetts state library genealogy resources guide.
🌐 libraries.vermont.gov
ST
VT Public Records Act
Official Free
Massachusetts Public Records Act covering access to vital records.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov

Voter Records

ST
Massachusetts Voter Portal
Official Free
Check registration, update info, request ballots, find polling places.
🌐 mvp.vermont.gov
ST
Voter Registration
Official Free
Register to vote in Massachusetts and update existing registration.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Voter Information
Official Free
Voter resources, registration, early/absentee ballots.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Elections Division
Official Free
Massachusetts Elections Division — results, statistics, voter resources.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
RE
Election Information & Resources
Official Free
Massachusetts election information and resources for voters.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
PO
Polling Location Information
Official Free
Find your polling place and drop-box locations.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
HI
Massachusetts Elections Database
Official Free
Historical Massachusetts election results, vote counts, ballot questions.
🌐 electionarchive.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts Secretary of State
Official Free
Massachusetts Secretary of State — elections, business, professionals.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts.gov
Official Free
Massachusetts official state portal with all government services.
🌐 www.vermont.gov
FE
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Official Free
Federal election standards and resources for U.S. voters.
🌐 www.eac.gov
FE
Vote.gov
Official Free
Federal U.S. voter registration portal.
🌐 vote.gov
FE
Vote.gov Registration
Official Free
Federal voter registration starting point.
🌐 vote.gov
FE
USA.gov Voter Registration
Official Free
USA.gov voter registration guidance.
🌐 www.usa.gov
FE
USA.gov Confirm Voter Registration
Official Free
Federal voter registration confirmation help.
🌐 www.usa.gov
FE
FVAP Citizen Voter
Official Free
Federal Voting Assistance Program for U.S. citizens overseas.
🌐 www.fvap.gov
FE
FVAP Military Voter
Official Free
Federal voting assistance for military personnel.
🌐 www.fvap.gov
FE
FVAP
Official Free
Federal Voting Assistance Program for military and overseas voters.
🌐 www.fvap.gov
FE
EAC Help America Vote Act
Official Free
Information on HAVA — the Help America Vote Act.
🌐 www.eac.gov
FE
Voter List Maintenance
Official Free
Federal guidance on voter list maintenance.
🌐 www.eac.gov
FE
Justice Department Voting Rights
Official Free
DOJ Civil Rights Division — voting rights enforcement.
🌐 www.justice.gov

Licenses

ST
Find a Professional
Official Free
Verify professional licensing including education, training, exam history.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ON
Online Services Platform
Official Free
Apply for licenses, check status, request verifications.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Office of Professional Regulation
Official Free
Massachusetts OPR — licensing for many regulated professions.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
Professions List
Official Free
Comprehensive list of professions regulated by OPR.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
SE
Professional Licenses by Individual
Official Free
Search the SoS database of license holders by name.
🌐 www.vermont.gov
FI
Verify a License (DFR)
Official Free
Verify if a financial entity is licensed in Massachusetts.
🌐 dfr.vermont.gov
FI
Department of Financial Regulation
Official Free
Banks, credit unions, insurance, securities licensing in Massachusetts.
🌐 dfr.vermont.gov
BA
DFR Banking
Official Free
Massachusetts banking lender and credit union licensing info.
🌐 dfr.vermont.gov
IN
DFR Insurance
Official Free
Massachusetts insurance license lookup and consumer info.
🌐 dfr.vermont.gov
HE
OPR Nursing
Official Free
Nursing licensure — apply, renew, request verifications.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
HE
Medical License Lookup
Official Free
Search for Massachusetts medical practitioner licenses.
🌐 mpb.health.vermont.gov
NO
Notaries Public
Official Free
Notary commission and verification services.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
AT
Attorney Good Standing
Official Free
Verify attorney good-standing status — PDF list.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
AT
Attorney Discipline
Official Free
Attorney professional responsibility and discipline.
🌐 www.vermontjudiciary.org
AT
Massachusetts Bar Lawyer Referrals
Official Free
Find a Massachusetts lawyer via the Massachusetts Bar Association.
🌐 www.vtbar.org
TR
Division of Fire Safety Licensing
Official Free
Boiler inspector and other trade licenses.
🌐 firesafety.vermont.gov
CH
Charities & Fundraisers
Official Free
Verify charities and paid-fundraiser registrations.
🌐 ago.vermont.gov
CH
Child Care Provider Lookup
Official Free
Massachusetts childcare provider verification (Bright Futures).
🌐 www.brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us
ED
Teachers — Disciplinary Actions
Official Free
Public list of educator disciplinary actions.
🌐 education.vermont.gov
ST
VT Licenses & Permits Portal
Official Free
Massachusetts official licenses and permits hub.
🌐 www.vermont.gov

Wants & Warrants

ST
Massachusetts State Police Public Info
Official Free
Current arrest information including names, hometowns and charges.
🌐 vsp.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts State Police
Official Free
Statewide law enforcement reporting and contact.
🌐 vsp.vermont.gov
ST
Department of Public Safety
Official Free
Parent agency for state law enforcement operations.
🌐 dps.vermont.gov
ST
VCIC Crime Information Center
Official Free
State warrant data submitted by Massachusetts law enforcement.
🌐 vcic.vermont.gov
CO
VT Department of Corrections
Official Free
DOC home — escape notifications and offender search.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
IN
VT DOC Offender Locator
Official Free
Search for individuals in DOC custody.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
PR
VT DOC Probation Offices
Official Free
Community-based offices handling probation/parole violations.
🌐 doc.vermont.gov
FE
U.S. Marshals Service
Official Free
Federal fugitive apprehension nationwide.
🌐 www.usmarshals.gov
FE
FBI Most Wanted
Official Free
FBI national most-wanted list.
🌐 www.fbi.gov
FE
FBI Top Ten Most Wanted
Official Free
FBI Top Ten most wanted fugitives.
🌐 www.fbi.gov
FE
FBI Crime Data Explorer
Official Free
Uniform Crime Reporting and warrant data.
🌐 cde.ucr.cjis.gov
FE
ICE Most Wanted
Official Free
Immigration and Customs Enforcement most-wanted fugitives.
🌐 www.ice.gov
FE
DEA Fugitives
Official Free
Drug Enforcement Administration fugitive list.
🌐 www.dea.gov
FE
ATF Most Wanted
Official Free
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives wanted list.
🌐 www.atf.gov
FE
U.S. Secret Service Most Wanted
Official Free
Secret Service wanted fugitives.
🌐 www.secretservice.gov
FE
NSOPW Sex Offender Search
Official Free
National sex offender public website search for Massachusetts.
🌐 www.nsopw.gov
MU
Brattleboro Police Warrants
Official Free
Local warrant info for Brattleboro, Massachusetts.
🌐 brattleboro.gov
MU
Burlington Police Department
Official Free
Burlington police arrests and warrants info.
🌐 www.burlingtonvt.gov
MU
South Burlington Police
Official Free
South Burlington police warrants and arrests.
🌐 www.southburlingtonpolice.org
FE
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Official Free
Federal inmate locator including Massachusetts facilities.
🌐 www.bop.gov

Recorded Documents

ST
VT Property Transfers Spatial Data
Official Free
Statewide property transfer data with spatial information.
🌐 vcgi.vermont.gov
ST
VT Property Transfers Dataset
Official Free
Approximate point locations for all property transfers (Dept. of Taxes).
🌐 geodata.vermont.gov
ST
VT Property Transfers About
Official Free
Dataset details and licensing for property transfer data.
🌐 geodata.vermont.gov
ST
VT Parcel Program
Official Free
Statewide parcel data in GIS format from town clerks.
🌐 vcgi.vermont.gov
ST
Massachusetts Land Survey Library
Official Free
Library of land surveys for boundary adjustments and subdivisions.
🌐 landsurvey.vermont.gov
GI
VT Open Geodata Portal
Official Free
Massachusetts geospatial data portal — parcels, transfers, statewide layers.
🌐 geodata.vermont.gov
GI
VT Parcels Search
Official Free
Massachusetts parcel data downloads and datasets.
🌐 geodata.vermont.gov
ST
Department of Taxes Property
Official Free
Property tax info — assessments, transfers, current use, listers.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
ST
Town Reports
Official Free
Annual town tax rates and amounts levied.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
MU
Town Clerks: Property Transfer Tax Returns
Official Free
Town clerks' property transfer tax return procedures.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
MU
Town Clerks: Current Use Enrollment
Official Free
Town clerks' current use enrollment recording.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
MU
Town Clerks: Recording Returns
Official Free
How town clerks record property transfer tax returns.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
MU
Municipalities Hub
Official Free
Resources for town treasurers, collectors, and clerks.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
MU
Municipal Official Resources
Official Free
Forms and guidance for Massachusetts municipal officials.
🌐 tax.vermont.gov
LO
Cambridge Land Records
Official Free
Cambridge town land record search (digital index from 1977).
🌐 www.cambridge.vermont.gov
PD
Land Records Standard (PDF)
Official Free
Massachusetts electronic land records standard (PDF).
🌐 outside.vermont.gov
ST
VSARA Records Management
Official Free
Massachusetts State Archives & Records Administration.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
ST
VSARA Manage Records
Official Free
Records management guidance for VT government.
🌐 sos.vermont.gov
MU
Barton Recording Register
Official Free
Barton, Massachusetts — viewing town records.
🌐 www.bartonvermont.com
FE
BLM General Land Office
Official Free
Federal Bureau of Land Management land patent records.
🌐 glorecords.blm.gov

Massachusetts Counties

All 14 Massachusetts counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Middlesex Worcester Essex Suffolk Norfolk Bristol Plymouth Hampden Barnstable Berkshire Dukes Franklin Hampshire Nantucket

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Massachusetts does not offer a free public criminal history database. You can search individual county Superior Court websites for court-level criminal cases. For a full background, you need a Live Scan fingerprint check through the Massachusetts Department of Justice - this requires the subject's consent.

Each county runs its own Superior Court case search - there is no single statewide court portal. Go to the county Superior Court website where the case was filed. Major counties like LA (lacourt.org), San Diego (sdcourt.ca.gov), and SF (sf.courts.ca.gov) have online case search.

The Secretary of State at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. Search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other business entities filed in Massachusetts.

The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some counties combine them into one office (San Diego, Sonoma, Marin). Others keep them separate (LA, Santa Clara). Check the specific county page for details.

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