Suffolk County Courts

About 790,000 citizens reside in Suffolk County, representing approximately 11.11% of Massachusetts' entire population of about 7.13 million. The county seat is Boston, which also serves as the state's capital.An average of 98,300 cases are filed in Suffolk County courts each year. These include approximately 19,750 criminal matters, 10,300 civil cases, 5,000 probate matters, 6,600 domestic relations cases, and 1,600 juvenile matters filings.

The trial courts in Suffolk County handle various case types, depending on each court's jurisdiction.

• Suffolk County Superior Court holds general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases.
• Chelsea District Court hears civil cases with less than $25,000 in claims and criminal cases punishable by less than 5-year imprisonment.
• Suffolk Probate and Family Court handles domestic relations, abuse, probate issues, adoption, and guardianship cases.
• Eastern Housing Court oversees issues about real property as well as those related to the safety of residences.
• Boston, Chelsea, Dorchester, and West Roxbury Juvenile Courts judge cases involving juvenile delinquency, child protection, adoptions, guardianships, and similar issues.

There are also six municipal courts serving various towns and neighborhoods in Boston. Boston Municipal Courts exercise a similar limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters as the District Court.

Suffolk County trial courts are situated in various locations across the county. However, the majority of them operate in Boston (the county seat).

How To Access Suffolk County Court Records

Unless prohibited by statute or court order, Suffolk County, MA court records may be publicly accessed by the public, per the Massachusetts Public Records Law and the Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records Rule 1. Records prohibited from public disclosure generally include expunged/sealed court records, alcohol and drug abuse treatment records, and child protection orders. Others, like records of cases involving adoption, juvenile trials, and delinquency proceedings, are prohibited from public disclosure.

Similarly, access to certain information in court records may be restricted. Such details may include financial statements, psychotherapist treatment records, trade secrets, and personal medical information, per the Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records Addendum.

Generally, a person needs a case number and must have a valid government-issued photo ID to find a court record in Suffolk County. The county court records may be accessed in any of the following ways:

Online

Individuals may access Suffolk County court records online through the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access Portal. This portal allows members of the public to look up trial court case information using case number, case type, or name (civil cases only) as the search criterion. The MA Court system provides detailed instructions on how to search court dockets on the Trial Court Case Access Portal.

Interested persons may also search for available Suffolk County Court case files on CourtCaseFinder. The website aggregates publicly available court records across all courts in every county in the United States.

Furthermore, anyone looking to access case records for federal cases heard in Suffolk County may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records service (PACER). PACER generally maintains federal case files electronically, which may be accessed by registering for an account. While account registration is free, users are typically required to pay certain fees to access court records.

In-Person

Suffolk County, MA court records may be accessed in person by visiting the relevant courthouse in custody of the sought records. Typically, each court has a clerk whose responsibilities include keeping records of cases heard by the court. Before visiting, interested persons may contact the clerk's office of the relevant court to inquire about the requirements for accessing court records in person. Depending on the court, a requester may be asked to submit a written request or an application form.

Alternatively, some courthouses in Suffolk County have public-access computers where anyone may access court case information or records. Anyone who intends to obtain copies of court records is typically required to pay a fee. Each court charges $2.50 per page for attested copies prepared by the clerk and $0.05 per page for unattested copies.

Old and Archived Court Records

Persons who wish to find historic Suffolk County court records may consider looking up records maintained by the Massachusetts Archives. These are records that are no longer available online or in the custody of court clerks. To obtain such court records, interested individuals may contact the State Archives at:

Alternatively, old court records in Suffolk County may be accessed by submitting requests to the Trial Court Record Centers through the courts of origin. The Trial Court Record Centers generally hold court records created after 1860, but the collections of the Records Center include certain records dating to the mid-1700s

How To File a Case in Suffolk County

Before filing a case in Suffolk County, a person must identify the relevant court that has jurisdiction to hear the case. In addition to determining the court, it is also important that the plaintiff contacts the clerk of the court to ascertain whether the court is authorized to handle the case they intend to file. Afterward, the person will have to decide how to file the case.

In Suffolk County, an interested individual may file a case in person at the relevant courthouse clerk's office or file it electronically with the participating courts in the county through eFileMA. Also, certain cases, like small claims, may be filed with the appropriate courts by mail. Each court in the county may have varying case filing requirements, so it is important to make thorough inquiries with the clerk's office.

Filing a court case in the county may attract some fees. Generally, these fees vary by court and the type of case, as outlined in the Court Filing Fees and Payment Information. However, individuals who need to be in court but cannot afford court costs and fees may have such costs waived.

To qualify for a waiver, a person will have to file a completed Affidavit of Indigency and Supplement to Affidavit of Indigency (if applicable) with the clerk of the court. The clerk will typically approve it immediately for normal costs and grant a fee waiver. They may also approve it if the request is for extra costs. However, the clerk must present any request not approved to a judge within 5 days, after which the judge may approve the request without a hearing. Nevertheless, the applicant may get a hearing if the judge needs to review the Affidavit of Indigency.

The following steps are generally required to file a case in Suffolk County:

• Determine the case type.
• Draft the petition or complaint, depending on the case type. The complaint or petition must clearly describe the account of events that necessitated the lawsuit and identify the parties involved (plaintiffs and defendants). Available evidence, affidavits, exhibits, and any documents to support the case should also be attached to the complaint or petition. Note that the District Attorney's Office is largely responsible for taking up criminal cases on behalf of county residents.
• Identify any court-specific requirements and fulfill them. This may include using court-approved forms.
• File the petition or complaint with the relevant court.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Generally, state agencies cannot serve as personal attorneys or give legal advice. Litigants who cannot afford to hire legal representation for lawsuits in Suffolk County may find legal help and self-help resources from local aid societies, county courthouses, and local pro bono panels. Legal help and self-help resources offered to people who do not have enough money for legal representation in the county include the following:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (Law student program with attorney supervision)
• Greater Boston Legal Service
• Volunteer Lawyers Project
• Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School (Law student program with attorney supervision)
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• Middlesex County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
• Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

Furthermore, interested individuals may turn to self-help resources and legal help offered at the state level, which generally include the following:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Individuals
• Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder
• Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime (CLAVC)
• Free Legal Services for Low-income Landlords
• Volunteer Lawyers Project - Landlord Advocacy Program
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• Massachusetts Chapter, Lawyer Referral Service
• Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service - May offer reduced-fee referrals in some areas of law
• Free Small Claims Court Advice
• Harvard University Small Claims Advisory Service (Student program)

Other legal aid services and self-help resources available to Suffolk County residents include the following:

• EdLaw Project - Provides direct educational advocacy for the highest-risk youth.
• Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) - Provides legal representation for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer in all legal matters that require the appointment of counsel.
• Mass Legal Help - A good resource for information on legal issues like domestic violence, child welfare, housing, and mental health.
• Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) - Provides legal advice and representation to low-income persons in Boston and other cities and towns in the Greater Boston area free of charge.
• Dial-A-Lawyer: Free Legal Advice by Phone - Individuals may call the hotline for free legal advice.
• Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder - Helps people find attorneys who may be able to assist for free or at a low cost in their community.

Types of Courts in Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Suffolk County residents and the businesses within the county are served by multiple courts, which generally include county courts, municipal courts, and federal courts. The jurisdiction of each court and contact information are listed below:

Boston Juvenile Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Harassment, delinquency, and criminal cases as well as cases involving a child requiring assistance (CRA), care and protection, and jury trials.
• Address and Contact Information -

Suffolk County Superior Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases, original jurisdiction of every other crime, matters where parties seek equitable relief, civil actions over $50,000, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, and actions including labor disputes in which parties seek injunctive relief.
• Address and Contact Information -

Suffolk County Juvenile Court - Dorchester

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Harassment, delinquency, and criminal cases for areas covered by the Boston Police's Dorchester Division, as well as cases involving CRA, all care and protections, and jury trials. Mental illness and substance abuse cases are also handled by the court.
• Address and Contact Information -

Chelsea District Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - A broad range of civil, criminal, mental health, juvenile, housing, and other kinds of cases. In civil matters, the court handles small claims cases up to $7,000 and cases in which damages may not exceed $50,000. On the other hand, the court's criminal jurisdiction covers all felonies punishable by at most a 5-year prison sentence, all misdemeanors, several other felonies with greater potential punishments, and all bylaws and ordinance violations.
• Address and Contact Information -

Chelsea Juvenile Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Harassment, delinquency, and criminal cases as well as cases involving child requiring assistance (CRA), care and protection, and jury trials. Substance abuse and mental illness cases are also handled by the court.
• Address and Contact Information -

Suffolk County Juvenile Court -West Roxbury

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Harassment, delinquency, and criminal cases as well as cases involving a child requiring assistance (CRA), care and protection, and jury trials. Substance abuse and mental illness cases are also handled by the court.
• Address and Contact Information -

Suffolk Probate and Family Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Family-related and probate matters like paternity, divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, parenting time, wills, abuse prevention, ending parental rights, conservatorships, trusts, estates, name changes, and guardianships.
• Address and Contact Information -

Eastern Housing Court - Boston Session

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - All cases relating to residential housing, such as small claim cases, eviction cases, and civil actions involving breach of contract, personal injury, and property damage.
• Address and Contact Information -

Land Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - A wide range of matters involving land use and real estate.
• Address and Contact Information -

Eastern Housing Court - Chelsea Session

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - All matters involving residential housing, such as small claim cases, eviction cases, and civil actions involving breach of contract, personal injury, and property damage.
• Address and Contact Information -

Boston Municipal Courts

Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Civil and criminal cases, as well as jurisdiction to review appeals of decisions made by certain government agencies on matters like firearm licensing and unemployment compensation.

The Municipal Court locations in Suffolk County are listed below:

Dorchester Division, Boston Municipal Court

Brighton Division, Boston Municipal Court

West Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court

East Boston Division, Boston Municipal Court

Central Division, Boston Municipal Court

South Boston Division, Boston Municipal Court

Charlestown Division, Boston Municipal Court

Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court

Federal Courts in Suffolk County

The following are the federal courts in the county:

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Eastern Division)

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Matters that raise a federal question involving the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Government, and other federal laws. These generally include civil and criminal cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court - District of Massachusetts

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Suffolk County Courts

The following are answers to some of the commonly asked questions about Suffolk County, MA, courts: