Essex County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Essex County has an estimated population of more than 806,100 residents, making it one of the most populous counties in Massachusetts. The cities of Salem and Lawrence served as the county's seat until their dissolution in 1990. However, government agencies still recognize them as administrative regions for records and statistical purposes. The Essex County court system consists of five Trial Courts: Superior Courts, District Courts, Probate and Family Courts, Housing Courts, and Juvenile Courts.

Essex County Superior Courts are located in Lawrence, Newburyport, and Salem. These courts generally handle all civil and criminal cases outside the jurisdiction of other courts, such as first-degree murder cases, general civil claims involving $50,000 or more, and labor disputes. The District Courts handle misdemeanors, felonies punishable by a sentence of up to five years, civil actions of up to $50,000, and small claims involving $7,000 or less. They also exercise jurisdiction over certain juvenile, housing, and mental health cases. The Probate and Family Courts are next in the hierarchy, and they exercise authority over probate matters, adoption, divorce, domestic relations, child custody, and guardianships. The Housing Courts handle cases relating to residential housing, such as eviction matters, property damage, personal injury, and small claims cases. Finally, the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Courts encompasses several matters involving minors, such as child protection, juvenile delinquency, adoption, and guardianship cases.

The rate of crimes against persons in Essex County was 9 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2021. Additionally, according to the Massachusetts Annual Statistics, the District Courts in Essex County handle approximately 2,000 civil cases and 12,000 criminal cases annually. Likewise, the Probate and Family Courts entertain an estimated 7,000 domestic relations cases and 6,000 probate matters, while the Housing Courts in Essex County record over 6,000 case dispositions annually. Each Court in Essex County has a Clerk's Office that processes and manages all court documents filed in that court. Essex County court records are also available online on the Case Search Portal. This portal grants public access to most Trial Court records, excluding confidential court records like juvenile, adoption, and mental health records.

In summary, Essex County is home to several courts that perform adjudicatory functions in the county. These courts hear and resolve cases brought before them in a fair and equitable manner, promoting peace and order in the county. Essex County ensures transparency in the judicial process by granting the public access to public court records.