OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. Because Massachusetts has abolished county government in eight counties, many services that go through county government in other states are run by the state here.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through MassCourts across seven Trial Court departments
🔍 Arrest records from sheriffs' offices and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through DCJIS via iCORI
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county or city where the record was created

How Records Work in Massachusetts

Massachusetts's court and arrest records run across state, municipal, and — where they still exist — county levels. The state judiciary under the Supreme Judicial Court maintains court records through MassCourts. DCJIS holds statewide criminal history through the iCORI/CORI system. Local records — vital records, deeds, municipal court files — often live with city and town clerks rather than county clerks, because Massachusetts is structured differently from most states.

Massachusetts has 14 counties, but eight of them (Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Worcester) have had their county governments abolished over the years. In those counties, services that would normally be county-run are handled by state agencies. Counties still exist as judicial districts and for sheriff's jurisdiction over correctional facilities, but not as general-purpose local governments. The six still-functioning counties (Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth) retain traditional county government structure.

Counties in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 14 counties. 8 counties have been abolished as functional units of government; their government services are provided directly by the state. Counties remain as judicial/sheriff districts. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. Vital records often sit with city and town clerks in addition to the state registry. Older court records may require a clerk's office visit. Because Massachusetts has unusual county structure, records you'd expect at a county office may actually be held by the state. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026