Norfolk County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located in eastern Massachusetts, southwest of Boston, Norfolk County spans a total area of 444 square miles and was named after a county of the same name in England. Over 722,100 people live in Norfolk County, the majority of whom identify as White (caucasian), Asian, or Black/African. The town of Dedham serves as the county seat. The county court system administers justice through trial courts such as Superior Courts, District Courts, Probate and Family Courts, Juvenile Courts, and Housing Courts.

The Norfolk Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters and is located in Dedham. It has original jurisdiction over civil actions where the parties involved seek equitable or injunctive relief. The Superior Court also presides over first-degree murders and other felonies. Equally, District Courts hear criminal and civil cases but are limited to general civil claims under $25,000 and felony cases punishable by up to five years of incarceration. They also handle most misdemeanors and certain juvenile cases, including traffic violations. Norfolk County District Courts are situated in Wrentham, Stoughton, Dedham, Brookline, Milford, and Quincy. Furthermore, the Probate and Family Court focuses on probate proceedings, general equity, and most family-related cases. Juvenile Courts in Norfolk County are located in Dedham, Stoughton, and Quincy. These courts have jurisdiction in guardianship and juvenile delinquency cases. Lastly, the Housing Courts deal with all housing-related matters and zoning decisions affecting residential housing.

The Norfolk District Courts collectively handle approximately 40,000 cases annually, according to Annual Trial Court Statistics. The Probate and Family Court administers roughly 10,000 cases, while the Superior Court and Juvenile Courts handle approximately 2,500 cases and 2,000 cases annually, respectively. Court records in Norfolk County are in the custody of the clerks of the respective courts where they were filed. These records are accessible in person at the clerk's office or online through the Trial Court Case Access website. However, it is important to note that some records are exempt from public disclosure by state law, such as:

• Expunged records
• Sealed records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records (excluding those in which the young offender was charged with a crime through a formal accusation)

The Norfolk County court system consists of Housing, Superior, Juvenile, District, and Family Courts. It strives to uphold the law, ensure justice, and earn the public's trust by granting remote access to court records and publishing its annual caseload data.