Barnstable County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Barnstable County, Massachusetts, is home to over 229,400 residents and the iconic summer destination, Cape Cod. Its county seat is in Barnstable. Superior, District, Probate and Family, as well as, Juvenile courts make up the trial court system in Barnstable County. The highest court in the county, the Superior Court, generally handles criminal cases that are considered serious felonies or have a possible sentence of more than five years; although some jurisdiction is shared with other courts. District Courts have limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The county's Probate and Family Court has limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases, including domestic relations, abuse prevention, probate matters, adoption, and guardianship.

Although some authority is shared with other courts, severe offenses or cases with a potential sentence of more than five years are typically handled by the Barnstable County Superior Court, which is situated in Barnstable. Except for cases that result exclusively from a dating or engagement relationship, it manages the majority of abuse prevention proceedings. While financial restrictions may differ, it also manages civil proceedings involving general civil claims for money damages exceeding $25,000. The district courts in the county, Barnstable District Court, Orleans District Court, and Falmouth District Court handle felony cases carrying a maximum five-year prison sentence, as well as other felonies and preliminary hearings for all felonies. The majority of crimes and infractions of municipal and town laws, including traffic infractions, are also handled by district courts. These District Courts review civil matters involving general claims valued at less than $25,000. Barnstable Probate and Family Court and the county's three juvenile courts handle family and juvenile-related matters.

The Barnstable County Court System handles about 7,908 criminal and civil cases annually to lower the county's crime rate of 3453.40 incidents per 100,000 people. Court records in Barnstable County are managed by the Massachusetts government electronically. To access these records, use the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access platform. These records can still be accessed at a public terminal computer at any Barnstable County courthouse. Note that certain cases like abuse prevention and harassment orders and proceedings, and sexually dangerous person proceedings are closed to the public.

In summary, the Barnstable County judicial system is committed to delivering justice covering a broad range of legal issues and is an essential part of the county's administration. The county is able to effectively handle the wide variety of cases it receives thanks to its legal system, which is concentrated on the Superior Courts, District Courts, Probate and Family Courts, and Juvenile Courts.