Boston Court Records Search
Boston court records cover a wide range of case types filed across several distinct court systems. The city is served by the Boston Municipal Court, multiple Superior and Probate courts, the Eastern Housing Court, and a Juvenile Court, all accessible through the MassCourts public portal at masscourts.org. Whether you need a civil case docket, a criminal case number, or a housing court filing, this guide walks you through each court, its location, and how to get records.
Quick Facts
| City | Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk |
| Population | Approx. 673,000 |
| Primary Courts | Boston Municipal Court (BMC), Suffolk Superior Court, Eastern Housing Court |
| BMC Central Division | 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114 |
| BMC Phone | (617) 788-8600 |
| Court Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | masscourts.org |
Boston Municipal Court
Boston has its own court system unlike any other city in Massachusetts. The Boston Municipal Court (BMC) operates eight divisions, each serving a different set of Boston neighborhoods. No other city in the state has this kind of standalone municipal court structure. The BMC handles criminal, civil, small claims, summary process (eviction), and motor vehicle cases for residents across the city.
The eight BMC divisions are: Central, Roxbury, South Boston, Charlestown, East Boston, West Roxbury, Dorchester, and Brighton. Each division uses a case number format that includes a two-digit year, a court code, a case type abbreviation, and a six-digit sequence number. For example, a civil case from the Central Division might look like 1401CV001026. Court codes run from 01 (Central) through 08 (Brighton). Case type codes include CV for civil, CR for criminal, SU for summary process, SC for small claims, and MV for motor vehicle.
The BMC Central Division sits at 24 New Chardon Street inside the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse. First Justice Hon. Thomas C. Horgan and Clerk Magistrate Daniel J. Hogan oversee the Central Division. The Central Division covers Downtown Boston, Chinatown, the North End, South End, West End, Beacon Hill, Allston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury. Note that the Brighton Division has been temporarily relocated to Brookline District Court during ongoing renovations.
The BMC offers several specialty programs. These include a Drug Court, a Mental Health Court, a Veterans Treatment Court, a Lawyer for the Day program, and a Housing Specialist Department. These programs provide alternative paths for eligible defendants and help connect people to services. If you need case records from any of these programs, the clerk at the relevant division can assist.
The BMC forms page lists all standard forms used in civil, criminal, and small claims matters. If you plan to file something or need to respond to a filing, check this page first to make sure you use the right form. Most forms are available as PDF downloads. You can also get printed copies at the clerk's office during business hours.
For more detail on how BMC case numbers work, see the official guide at Boston Municipal Court Get to Know the Case Number Format. Knowing your case number format matters when you search on MassCourts or request records from the clerk.
The BMC's official page at mass.gov provides division addresses, forms, phone numbers, and program details. The image below gives a look at the court's public-facing portal.
The BMC serves hundreds of thousands of Boston residents across all eight divisions.
Eastern Housing Court
Housing cases in Boston go through the Eastern Housing Court, located at 24 New Chardon Street, the same building as the BMC Central Division and other courts. The phone number is (617) 788-8486. Clerk-Magistrate Alex Valderrama oversees the court's operations.
The Eastern Housing Court serves a large geographic area that includes Allston, Boston proper, Brighton, Brookline, Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, and West Roxbury. If you have a landlord-tenant dispute, a housing code case, or an eviction matter in any of these neighborhoods, this is the right court. The court also runs a Housing Specialist Department and a Tenancy Preservation Program for eligible parties.
The Eastern Housing Court's location page at mass.gov lists session times, services, and how to reach the clerk's office.
Housing court records for the Boston area are maintained at 24 New Chardon Street in downtown Boston.
Suffolk County Superior Court and Other Courts
The Suffolk County Superior Court handles more serious civil and criminal matters, including cases where damages exceed $50,000 and felony jury trials. It is located at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston. For civil records, you can search by name on MassCourts. Criminal records at the Superior Court level require a case number to search.
Several other courts are also located at 24 New Chardon Street. The Suffolk Probate and Family Court handles divorce, guardianship, estate, and related matters and can be reached at (617) 788-8300. The Land Court hears title and property boundary cases. The Boston Juvenile Court, reachable at (617) 788-8525, handles matters involving minors. All of these courts are public record holders, and most records can be requested through the clerk's office at the relevant court.
Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, public records must be produced within ten business days of a written request. Court records that are not sealed or impounded are public by default. Copy fees are $0.05 per page for unattested copies and $2.50 per page for certified (attested) copies. A certificate costs $20, and a summons costs $5. Payments go to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Mediation Works Inc. page on BMC Central provides additional context on alternative dispute resolution programs available at the court.
The BMC Central Division at the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse handles a large volume of cases each year across multiple departments.
How to Search Boston Court Records Online
The main free tool is MassCourts. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Civil case records can be searched by party name. Criminal case records require a case number. You can also search by case type, though results are limited to a 30-day window for that method. Public access terminals are available at all Boston courthouses if you prefer to search in person.
To search by name, go to masscourts.org and select the court (BMC Central, Roxbury, Dorchester, etc.) from the dropdown. Enter a last name, then refine results by date range or case type. The system shows docket entries, party names, hearing dates, and dispositions for most civil cases. Criminal record searches by name are not available through the public portal. For criminal records, you need the case number or must visit the clerk in person.
If you need a certified copy of a record, you must contact the clerk at the specific court division. Requests can be made in person or by mail. Include the case number, the names of the parties, and the type of record you need. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Processing times vary but most requests are fulfilled within a few days to a few weeks depending on the volume at the clerk's office.
Record sealing is also relevant for some searches. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, certain criminal records may be sealed after a waiting period, making them unavailable through standard public searches. If a record appears missing, it may have been sealed. The clerk can tell you if a case exists but is sealed, though they cannot share the contents.
Note: MassCourts shows civil case records by name search. For criminal cases, you need the case number. Public terminals at all Boston courthouses let you search on site during court hours.
Legal Help in Boston
Boston has strong legal aid resources. Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) at (617) 371-1234 serves low-income residents in Suffolk County with civil legal matters including housing, family, and benefits cases. MassLegalHelp.org provides plain-language guides on how Massachusetts courts work, what forms to use, and what to expect at hearings.
Court Service Centers are free walk-in help desks available at many Massachusetts courthouses. They can help you find the right form, understand the court process, and know where to file. Check mass.gov/court-service-centers for locations and hours. The BMC Central Division also has a Lawyer for the Day program where attorneys volunteer to give brief advice to unrepresented parties on their scheduled court date.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities near Boston with their own court records pages:
For county-level court records information, visit the Suffolk County court records page.