Norfolk County, Massachusetts Court Records

Norfolk County court records consist of legal files and docket entries generated after litigants file cases within the county’s jurisdiction, which is handled by the Massachusetts Trial Court. The objective of these records is to maintain an accurate record of what was filed, which hearings were scheduled, and which orders or judgments the court issued.

In Norfolk County, the "trial-level court" custodian is the clerk or registry office for the specific Trial Court department handling the case, such as the Norfolk County Superior Court (for most civil and felony criminal cases) and the Norfolk Probate and Family Court (for divorce, custody, and probate affairs).

Norfolk County court records are made from party filings (complaints, motions, petitions) and court actions (docketing, orders, judgments).

In Norfolk County and other parts of Massachusetts, the Trial Court Rule XVI (Uniform Rules of Public Access to Court Records) and related record management rules govern access to court records, not the executive-branch public records process. The Massachusetts Public Records Law, as noted in a guide to the Law, does not apply to state or federal court records.

Although court records are connected to other public records, they are not the same. While the state’s Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) handles vital records, law enforcement maintains arrest records, and the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (through the state CORI system) operates the statewide criminal-records check. The U.S. District Court of the District of Massachusetts maintains federal case files, accessible through PACER.

Are Norfolk County Court Records Public?

In Norfolk County, most court records are considered public. However, the Massachusetts Trial Court Rule XIV (Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records) governs access to these records. There are also other statutes and court rules that mandate that certain documents be impounded, sealed, or otherwise excluded from public access. Nonetheless, the basic requirement (under Rule XIV) is that members of the public may access court records maintained by a clerk during regular business hours unless a law, court rule, or an order (impoundment/sealing) states otherwise.

Examples of case types considered public unless restricted by court rule or order include adult civil and adult criminal cases filed in the Massachusetts Trial Court (e.g., Norfolk County Superior Court, District Court, and Probate and Family Court).

In Norfolk County, the state’s Trial Court Rule XIV provides public access to basic case information and scheduled court dates through the MassCourts case access portal. However, information available online differs by case type and court department.

Some case types, documents, and materials typically restricted by law or court order include:

Juvenile court records and reports
Adoption records
Impounded or sealed records (by statute, court rule, or court order)

What Information is Available in Norfolk County Court Records?

Some court records (usually the case file and the docket) that requesters may access from the respective custodian of the Massachusetts Trial Court department handling a case are as follows:

Case identifiers: Case caption (party names), docket number or case number, court department or location
Party and attorney information: Party names, attorneys of record (and sometimes self-represented status)
Event history (the docket timeline): Filed documents, hearings, continuances, notices, returns of service, clerk entries, and key events
Court actions and outcomes: Motions and rulings, orders, judgments or decrees, dispositions (how the case resolved)
Upcoming dates: Scheduled court dates/calendars and session information (when available)

Norfolk County Court Records Search

Online Access

Requesters seeking Norfolk County court documents may access free basic case information and scheduled court dates through the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Case Access (MassCourts) portal. However, they should note that the information available online may vary by case type and court department, as some case types have more limited public access.

An appropriate order of action will be to search MassCourts by name or docket number (where supported) to find the docket entry list and court location. Subsequently, one may use the courthouse location page for the specific court department (e.g., Norfolk Probate and Family Court) to connect services such as the virtual registry and public-access guidance.

In-person Access

In Massachusetts, including Norfolk County, Trial Court Rule XVI guarantees the public in-person access to publicly available court records maintained by a clerk during regular business hours, unless restricted by law, rule, or court order.

Individuals wishing to confirm details or request certified copies of physical court documents maintained by the clerk/registry office may visit the relevant custodian (at the courthouse) to submit a records request. The requester is expected to supply sufficient details to help the clerk identify the requested court record.

To obtain publicly available Probate and Family court records in person, Norfolk County requesters are expected to download, complete a Request for Copies form (PC-18), and submit it to the courthouse from which they are requesting the record. Those seeking certified copies of their court records must include a docket number. Applicants may obtain this by searching the court dockets or contacting the specific Probate and Family Court.

Mail and Phone Requests

Although the process of obtaining plain copies, certified copies, and making payment for court records varies by court department, Massachusetts provides clear instructions for Probate and Family Court records:

Probate and Family Court copies by mail: Interested parties must complete the "Probate and Family Court Request for copies" form. Thereafter, they are expected to mail the request form and payment to the relevant court division (i.e., the Norfolk Probate and Family Court).
Accepted payment methods: According to the Massachusetts government official website, requesters are required to pay by attorney’s check, money order, bank certified check, or bank cashier’s check, payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Given that accepted payment types and payment addresses may differ by court, applicants are advised to contact the specific court to confirm.

Fees for Court Records in Norfolk County

Fees for Norfolk County court records are typically set statewide for the Massachusetts Trial Court, including Norfolk Superior Court, the District Courts, and Norfolk Probate and Family Court.

Standard Massachusetts Trial Court record-copy fees are listed as follows:

Plain copies - $1.00 per page and $0.50 per page for coin-operated copy machines.
Attested/Certified copies (per page) - $2.50 per page for certain certified/attested copy charges.
Certificate of orders, decrees, or judgments (or similar court cases) - $20.00 per certificate

Online access: MassCourts Case Access provides the public with free basic case information and scheduled court dates. As of January 2026, it is not a paid subscription service. However, access to federal cases is often through PACER, a federal fee-based platform separate from state court systems.

Unlike most states, Norfolk County and other counties in Massachusetts do not store and issue vital records through a single county clerk-recorder. Instead, cities and towns are responsible for maintaining and providing certified copies of birth, marriage, and death records that occur within their boundaries. Eligible requesters may also obtain certified copies of these documents via the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. County courts, such as the Norfolk Probate and Family Court, handle documents related to legal proceedings (such as divorce cases, probate estates, and guardianships), not the vital certificates themselves.

Norfolk County Courthouse Locations

Several Massachusetts Trial Court departments serve Norfolk County. Listed below are the contact details of these courts and descriptions of the case types they typically handle:

Norfolk County Superior Court

650 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026

(781) 326-1600

Description: Typically handles serious civil and criminal cases.

Norfolk Probate and Family Court

35 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021

Description: Usually handles divorce, custody/parenting time, child support, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights, wills/estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes.

Norfolk County District Courts

The District Court locations in Norfolk County handle a variety of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other case types. They include:

Quincy District Court

1 Dennis Ryan Parkway, Quincy, MA 02169

(617) 471-1650

Dedham District Court

631 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026

(781) 329-4777

Stoughton District Court

1288 Central St., Stoughton, MA 02072

Clerk’s Office: (781) 344-2131

Wrentham District Court

60 East St., Wrentham, MA 02093

(508) 384-3106

Brookline District Court

360 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445

Clerk’s Office (617) 232-4660

Norfolk County Juvenile Court Locations

Dedham Juvenile Court

55 Allied Drive, Dedham, MA 02026

(781) 329-1500

Description: Generally handles juvenile matters related to care and protection cases involving allegations of abuse or neglect.

Quincy Juvenile Court

1 Dennis Ryan Parkway, Quincy, MA 02169

(617) 984-4198

Description: Typically hears cases involving delinquency or youthful offenders, and some adult criminal cases.

Metro South Housing Court - Canton Session

35 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021

(781) 830-0025

Description: This is the specialized forum for many landlord-tenant/housing disputes.

Criminal Records Access in Norfolk County

In Massachusetts, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS), through the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), handles the official state criminal history check, not the Norfolk County courts. DCJIS is the government agency that maintains criminal records. Consequently, individuals seeking criminal record information and background checks are expected to submit their requests to DCJIS for a CORI system check. A CORI-based criminal history check is a statewide criminal record document. In contrast, court dockets, or case files, come from local case records maintained by Trial Court clerks.

Local Norfolk County case records

The Massachusetts Trial Court clerk’s office maintains local criminal case records for the court department handling the case (e.g., Norfolk County Superior Court or District Court locations).

Online: The Massachusetts Trial Court provides free public access to basic case information and scheduled court dates through its online docket search tools (MassCourts case access).

In person: Under Trial Court Rule XIV, requesters may visit the clerk’s office during regular business hours to access unrestricted (by law, court rule, or court order) court records under the clerk’s custody.

Norfolk County Probate Records

Norfolk County probate records comprise official court files and office records used to manage a deceased person’s estate after death and to safeguard individuals in need of assistance with decision-making. The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court handles estate records, and wills, and probate filings for Norfolk County. These documents encompass issues such as wills, estate administration (opening and settling an estate), trusts, and protective proceedings, such as guardianships and conservatorships.

In Norfolk County, the Norfolk Probate and Family Court in Canton handles such cases. At the same time, the clerk or register’s office serves as the record keeper for the case file and docket.

While some recent case information and calendars may be accessible through the Trial Court’s public access tools, dated and comprehensive paper or electronic filings may require an in-person visit or assistance from the registry, including the court’s virtual registry.

Note: Massachusetts court records are generally public unless restricted, and certain proceedings or documents may be impounded/sealed by law or court order.

Norfolk County Family Court Records

In Norfolk County, the Norfolk Probate and Family Court (Massachusetts Trial Court) handles most family court matters. Per Massachusetts Trial Court Rule XIV, requesters may access court records maintained by the clerk during regular business hours, unless a statute, court rule, or court order (impoundment/sealing) states otherwise.

Divorce and Custody Records

Portal availability: Interested parties may access MassCourts Case Access to obtain free basic information and scheduled court dates. However, online access to information may vary by case type or department.

Courthouse access: Individuals wishing to review comprehensive court documents or make copies are typically required to visit the record custodian (clerk or register’s office). The availability of requested records may, however, be subject to impoundment or sealing under Rule XIV.

Adoption Records

Requesters cannot inspect or view adoption records unless a Probate and Family Court judge orders access for good cause (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 210, § 5C).

Support Matters

Support orders are issued and filed with the court. In contrast, support enforcement services are typically handled by the state’s Child Support Services Division.

In Norfolk County, individuals seeking Probate and Family Court records (including divorce judgments and guardianship decrees) must download, complete, and mail the Request for Copies form (PFC 18) to the relevant court. Payments are to be made by attorney’s check, money order, bank-certified check, or bank cashier’s check, payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The contact address of the Norfolk Probate and Family Court is as follows:

Norfolk Probate and Family Court

35 Shawmut Road, Canton

MA 02021

Federal Court Records in Norfolk County

Norfolk County is under the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. This federal trial court handles most federal civil and criminal court proceedings that originate from the county. The District of Massachusetts maintains divisional offices, including the Boston (Eastern) division, which serves Norfolk County.

Federal legal proceedings typically include cases involving federal law (e.g., civil rights, federal employment statutes, immigration-related federal charges) and certain disputes between parties from different states that meet federal jurisdiction requirements. These cases are different from Massachusetts Trial Court cases, even when they involve the same people or events.

Federal dockets and filings are accessible through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The portal permits registered users to search the court where a case was filed or use a nationwide case locator.

Alternatively, one may visit the clerk’s office at the court where a case was filed to use the available public access terminals. Requesters may contact the clerk’s office (Boston division office) at :

John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse

1 Courthouse Way, Suite 2300

Boston, MA 02210

Phone: (617) 748-9152