Franklin County Court Records
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Franklin County occupies the northwestern corner of Massachusetts and encompasses 26 towns, with Greenfield as the county seat. The county's court system processes a wide range of legal matters — from felony prosecutions in the Superior Court to family disputes in the Probate and Family Court — and maintains records spanning criminal, civil, domestic, and estate proceedings. Knowing how each court operates and where its records are held is essential for anyone who needs to look up case information, verify a legal proceeding, or research court history in this part of the state.
You can search Franklin County court records using official clerk offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and online tools maintained by the state judiciary. The Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal lets you search dockets by case number, party name, or case type across multiple court departments, including those serving Franklin County. Additional court information and resources are available through MassachusettsCourts.us. For records not indexed electronically, or when you need certified copies, contacting the appropriate clerk's or register's office directly is the most reliable approach.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Franklin County?
Franklin County is served by several Trial Court departments, most housed at the Franklin County Justice Center in Greenfield. Each court handles distinct categories of cases, so records requests need to go to the department where a case was actually filed.
Franklin County Superior Court
Address: 43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 775-7400
Fax: (413) 774-4770
Email: Franklinclerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Clerk: Benjamin D. Simanski
Greenfield District Court
Address: 43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-5533
Fax: (413) 774-5328
Email: cmgreenfielddc@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Orange District Court
Address: 1 Court Square, Orange, MA 01364
Phone: (978) 544-8277
Fax: (978) 544-5204
Email: cmorangedc@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Franklin Probate and Family Court
Address: 43 Hope Street, P.O. Box 590, Greenfield, MA 01302
Phone: (413) 774-7011
Fax: (413) 774-3829
Email: franklinprobate@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Register: John F. Merrigan
Greenfield Juvenile Court
Address: 43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01302
Phone: (413) 775-0014
Fax: (413) 775-9201
Email: franklin-hampshire-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
Western Housing Court — Greenfield Session
Address: 43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 748-7838
Fax: (413) 732-4607
To search for a case, you have three options:
- Online docket search. The Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access site lets you search by docket number, party name, or case type and date range for cases in the District Court, Superior Court, Probate and Family Court, and Housing Court. It shows basic docket information and scheduled court dates, but it is not the official court record and may not reflect the most recent case activity.
- In-person inspection. You can review public case files at the clerk's or register's office during business hours. Public-access terminals at the Franklin County Justice Center also provide electronic access to docket entries and filings.
- Written or email request. Send a request to the clerk or register of the relevant court department, specifying the case number, party names, and the type of document you need. The Probate and Family Court accepts its Request for Copies form (PFC 18) by mail. Make checks payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?
Court records in Franklin County are presumptively public. The Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. c. 66, §10) gives the public a general right to inspect and copy government records, including court filings. Massachusetts common law independently recognizes public access to judicial records, and the Supreme Judicial Court has repeatedly confirmed that court documents remain open unless there is a specific legal basis for withholding them.
That said, certain categories of records are excluded from public inspection by statute, court rule, or court order:
- Adoption records
- Juvenile delinquency and child-in-need-of-services (CHINS) proceedings
- Grand jury minutes and related materials
- Records protected by attorney-client privilege
- Medical, psychiatric, and psychological records submitted under privilege
- Pre-adoption birth records (accessible only to the adoptee, adoptive parent, or authorized representatives)
- Sealed or expunged criminal records
- Records involving confidential informants or witness safety
- Materials a court has ordered impounded
The Uniform Rules on Impoundment Procedure (Trial Court Rule VIII) govern when otherwise public case records may be withheld. Under URIP Rule 1, impoundment is always the exception — a party seeking to impound must demonstrate good cause. Impounded records remain accessible to the court, attorneys of record, and parties, but not to the general public. Sealed records go further and are available to the court only. Any impoundment or sealing order must be entered by a judge, and interested nonparties — including media representatives — may file motions seeking access to impounded materials.
Copy fees vary by court department. In the Probate and Family Court, attested copies cost $2.50 per page and unattested copies cost $0.05 per page. Certificates of court orders or decrees are $20 plus $1 per page beyond the first. District Court and Superior Court copy fees follow the Uniform Schedule of Fees published by the Massachusetts Court System.
Franklin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in Franklin County are split between the Superior Court, which handles felony cases and indictments, and the two District Courts — Greenfield and Orange — which adjudicate misdemeanors, motor vehicle violations, and preliminary felony hearings.
Searching criminal case dockets. Criminal docket information can be searched online through Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access by selecting the relevant court and entering a docket number or party name. The online system displays charges, hearing dates, and disposition status, but does not include full documents such as police reports or witness statements.
Requesting records from a court. For copies of complaints, dispositions, or other filings, contact the clerk's office at the court where the case was filed. In the Superior Court, the Clerk of Courts at (413) 775-7400 handles criminal record requests. For District Court matters, reach the Greenfield office at (413) 774-5533 or the Orange office at (978) 544-8277.
Statewide criminal history (CORI). The Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) maintains Criminal Offender Record Information for the entire state. You can request your own CORI or another person's open-access CORI through the iCORI system:
| Request Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Personal CORI request | $25 |
| Open-access CORI request | $50 |
| Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) | $0 |
Online iCORI registration requires a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state ID. If you don't have a Massachusetts ID, submit the Personal Request Form by mail to DCJIS. The DCJIS office is located at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150, and can be reached at (617) 660-4613.
Sheriff's Office records. Arrest reports, incident records, and process service documents are maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office:
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Address: 160 Elm Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
Mailing: P.O. Box 868, Greenfield, MA 01302
Phone: (413) 774-4014
Fax: (413) 774-3525
Email: process@fcso-ma.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
When submitting a request to the Sheriff's Office, include the incident date, the names of parties involved, and the report number if you have it.
Franklin County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Franklin County is divided across court departments based on the nature and dollar amount of the dispute. The Superior Court has jurisdiction over larger damage claims, equity matters, and injunctions. The District Courts handle civil complaints, small claims, summary process (eviction) proceedings, and supplementary process actions.
Filing fees for District Court civil matters (per M.G.L. c. 262):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Complaint or Petition | $195 ($180 + $15 surcharge) |
| Summary Process (eviction) | $195 ($180 + $15 surcharge) |
| Small Claim $500 or less | $40 ($30 + $10 surcharge) |
| Small Claim $501–$2,000 | $50 ($40 + $10 surcharge) |
| Small Claim $2,001–$5,000 | $100 ($90 + $10 surcharge) |
| Small Claim $5,001–$7,000 | $150 ($140 + $10 surcharge) |
| Supplementary Proceedings | $45 ($30 + $15 surcharge) |
| Application for Criminal Complaint (private) | $15 |
Filing fees for Superior Court (per M.G.L. c. 262, §4A): A civil complaint or third-party complaint costs $240 per plaintiff, plus a $20 security fee and a $15 surcharge, totaling $275 for the initial filing.
Civil case dockets can be searched through Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access. For certified copies of judgments or other filings, contact the clerk at the appropriate court. Payments are accepted in cash, check, money order, or — at most locations — credit card. Checks must be payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
If you can't afford filing fees, you may request a waiver by filing an Affidavit of Indigency with the court. The Massachusetts Court System provides information on indigency procedures and applicable forms.
Property and land records. Real estate documents in Franklin County — deeds, mortgages, liens, plans, and easements — are recorded and maintained by the Franklin County Registry of Deeds, located at 43 Hope Street, P.O. Box 1495, Greenfield, MA 01302. The Registry can be reached at (413) 772-0239, and its office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Recorded documents from 1900 to the present can be searched online through the Massachusetts Land Records portal at no charge.
Franklin County Family Court Records
The Franklin Probate and Family Court handles all domestic relations matters for the county — divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, separate support, annulment, and abuse prevention orders. The Juvenile Court departments in Greenfield and Orange adjudicate cases involving juvenile delinquency, children requiring assistance, and care-and-protection proceedings.
Divorce records. To get a copy of a divorce decree or Certificate of Divorce Absolute, complete the Request for Copies form (PFC 18) and submit it by mail or in person to the Franklin Probate and Family Court Register's Office at 43 Hope Street, P.O. Box 590, Greenfield, MA 01302. A Certificate of Divorce Absolute costs $20 per copy. Attested copies of other court documents are $2.50 per page. Payment must be made by attorney's check, money order, bank certified check, or bank cashier's check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Key Probate and Family Court filing fees for domestic matters:
| Action | Filing Fee | Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce Complaint | $200 | $15 |
| Custody-Support-Parenting Time Complaint | $100 | $15 |
| Parentage Complaint | $100 | $15 |
| Modification (child-related) | $50 | None |
| Modification (non-child-related) | $150 | None |
| Abuse Prevention Petition | No fee | None |
| Adoption Complaint | No fee | None |
Marriage records. Marriage certificates in Franklin County are primarily maintained by the city or town clerk where the license was issued. Contact the local clerk's office — for example, the Greenfield City Clerk at (413) 772-1560 — to request certified copies. Town clerks typically charge $10 per copy. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics also issues certified copies statewide at the following rates:
- In person: $20 per copy
- By mail: $32 per copy
- Online or by Phone: (via VitalChek): $54 for the first copy, $42 per additional copy
Requests require the subject's name, date of the event, place of the event, and a valid photo ID. For mail requests, send a completed vital records mail order form and a check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to: Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. Phone inquiries can go through VitalChek at (866) 300-8535.
Birth and death records. Each municipality in Franklin County maintains its own birth and death records. The statewide Registry holds records for events from 1936 forward, with the same fee structure and ordering methods described above. Access to birth records of children born to unwed parents and pre-adoption birth records is restricted to specific individuals, including the subject, parents, legal guardians, and authorized representatives.
Juvenile records. Proceedings in the Greenfield Juvenile Court and Orange Juvenile Court are confidential by statute. Access to juvenile case files is limited to parties, their attorneys, and authorized agencies. Public docket information for juvenile matters is not available through the online case access system.
Franklin County Probate Court Records
Estate administration, will probate, guardianship appointments, conservatorship proceedings, and trust matters for Franklin County are all adjudicated by the Franklin Probate and Family Court. Massachusetts does not have a separate probate court — the Probate and Family Court department combines jurisdiction over both family law and estate matters.
How to access probate records. Probate case dockets can be searched through Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access by selecting Probate and Family Court and entering the docket number or party name. For copies of wills, estate inventories, accounts, guardianship orders, or letters of appointment, submit a Request for Copies form (PFC 18) to the Register's Office by mail or in person.
Selected probate filing fees (per M.G.L. c. 262, §40):
| Filing Type | Fee | Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Informal Probate of Will / Appointment of Personal Representative | $375 | $15 |
| Formal Probate of Will / Adjudication of Intestacy | $375 | $15 |
| Appointment of Guardian | No fee | None |
| Appointment of Conservator | $240 | $15 |
| Voluntary Administration Statement | $100 | $15 |
| General Petition (Probate) | $150 | $15 |
| General Petition (Trust) | $375 | $15 |
| Allowance of Account | $75 | $15 |
| Filing a Will for Safekeeping | $75 | None |
| Closing Statement / Small Estate Closing Statement | $75 | None |
There is no separate fee for the initial appointment bond or initial letters of appointment. Each citation issued carries an additional $15 fee and each summons an additional $5 fee.
Copy fees for probate records:
- Attested copies: $2.50 per page
- Unattested copies: $0.05 per page
- Certificate of an order, decree, or judgment: $20 plus $1 per page beyond the first
- Subsequent letter of authority or appointment: $25
- Exemplified copies: $50 plus $1 per page beyond the first
- Audio recording of proceedings: $50.50 per 90-minute segment, plus postage
All payments should be made by check, money order, or bank check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Contact the Register's Office at (413) 774-7011 or franklinprobate@jud.state.ma.us with questions about specific filings or to confirm current fee amounts before submitting a request.