Massachusetts court records are filed with the Clerk of Courts. The Superior Court / District Court / Probate & Family Court handles trial-level cases. Massachusetts offers a statewide court search through MassCourts, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: Massachusetts state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use MassCourts for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Clerk of Courts in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: MassCourts covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in Massachusetts (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
Massachusetts Court Records — Key Numbers (FY2025)
What Massachusetts court records actually cost
Masscourts.org searching is free statewide. Clerks bill copies per page with a certification charge, and Massachusetts sealing petitions are free to file — the commonwealth removed cost as a barrier for most sealing routes.
Exact amounts are set by each court's current fee schedule — check the official source before you order.
What Changed in 2026 — Massachusetts Court Records
The 4-Step Massachusetts Court Records Pathway
Five Things People Get Wrong About Massachusetts Court Records
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.mass.gov — Massachusetts Trial Court — Main judicial-branch portal for Massachusetts
- Massachusetts case access — Public case-search portal
- Massachusetts court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- Massachusetts annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- Massachusetts Criminal Records →
- Massachusetts Property Records →
- Massachusetts Vital Records →
- Massachusetts Voter Records →
- Massachusetts Wants & Warrants →
- Massachusetts Licenses →
- Massachusetts Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
7 official Massachusetts court records sources.
Court Records
Massachusetts Counties
All 14 Massachusetts counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Massachusetts court cases online?▼
Massachusetts's trial courts publish case lookups through the Massachusetts Trial Court. Start at www.mass.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Massachusetts?▼
The Massachusetts Trial Court operates Massachusetts's official statewide judicial portal at www.mass.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Massachusetts residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Massachusetts?▼
Trial courts in Massachusetts handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Massachusetts Trial Court publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.mass.gov.
How far back do Massachusetts court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Massachusetts county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Massachusetts Trial Court portal at www.mass.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Massachusetts cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Massachusetts courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Massachusetts Trial Court portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.