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Cambridge District Court

The Cambridge District Court, officially named the Third District Court, is located at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford, MA 02155. This surprises a lot of people. The court is named for Cambridge but sits in Medford. Phone is (781) 306-2710. First Justice is Hon. David E. Frank. Clerk-Magistrate is Sharon S. Casey. Chief Probation Officer is Damon Banks. The court serves Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont for criminal, civil, small claims, and motor vehicle cases.

The Cambridge District Court location page on mass.gov provides full contact details, directions to 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford, and information on services available at the courthouse.

Parking at this courthouse is free, which is unusual for courts in the Boston metro area. Public Wi-Fi is also available inside. ADA coordinators on staff include Daniel Kallenberg at (781) 306-2728 and Daniel Tabares at (781) 306-2740. Fax is (781) 395-2035.

The Cambridge District Court runs a Homeless Court program, designed to help people experiencing homelessness resolve outstanding cases in a less formal, more accessible setting. It also operates a Mental Health Court for eligible defendants. Records from specialty programs are maintained by the clerk and follow the same public access rules as standard court records, though some portions may be confidential depending on program requirements.

To reach this courthouse by public transit, take the MBTA Orange Line to Wellington Station. Bus routes 90, 97, 99, 100, 106, 108, 110, 112, and 134 also serve the area. For MBTA info call (800) 392-6100. The free parking lot on site makes driving a reasonable option as well.

To search Cambridge District Court records online, go to masscourts.org and select Cambridge District Court from the court dropdown. Civil case records are searchable by party name. Criminal case records require the case number. In-person public terminals at the courthouse are available during business hours.

Eastern Housing Court - Middlesex Session

Housing matters for Cambridge are handled by the Eastern Housing Court, Middlesex Session. This court sits at 175 Fellsway, Somerville, MA 02145. Phone is (617) 788-8485. Sessions are held on Fridays. The court covers Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Medford, Newton, and Somerville.

The Eastern Housing Court Middlesex Session location page on mass.gov lists the Friday session schedule, address at 175 Fellsway in Somerville, and contact details for housing cases from Cambridge and nearby cities.

Landlord-tenant disputes, eviction cases, and housing code violations for Cambridge properties go to this court. Housing court records are public. Civil housing case records can be searched by party name on MassCourts. Summary process (eviction) cases carry the code SU in the system. Use date range filters to narrow results when you are looking for a specific case.

The Eastern Housing Court offers a Housing Specialist Department and a Tenancy Preservation Program. A Lawyer for the Day service runs on certain court dates. If you plan to go to a housing hearing without a lawyer, arrive early and ask the clerk whether these services are available. They are free and can make a real difference in how your hearing goes.

Middlesex Probate and Family Court - Cambridge

The Middlesex Probate and Family Court has a Cambridge location at 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge MA 02141. Phone is (617) 768-5800. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. A virtual registry is also available Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM by calling the same number. This court handles divorce, guardianship, adoption, estate matters, and other family cases for residents in the Cambridge area of Middlesex County. You can reach this location directly by the MBTA Red Line to Kendall/MIT or Central Square stations.

Probate records are generally public and can be searched on MassCourts. Some sensitive family court records may be impounded. If a record you expect to find does not appear, ask the clerk whether it may be impounded and what steps are needed to request access. Cambridge Juvenile Court is located at 121 Third Street, Cambridge MA 02141, and can be reached at (617) 494-4100. Juvenile court records are confidential, accessible only to parties and their attorneys.

Middlesex Superior Court

The Middlesex County Superior Court is at 200 Tradecenter Drive, Woburn, MA 01801. Phone is (781) 939-2700. This court handles major civil matters, felony jury trials, and appeals from lower courts. Cambridge residents with superior court matters need to go to Woburn for in-person filings or hearings. Civil case records from Middlesex Superior Court are searchable by party name on MassCourts. Criminal records at this level require the case number.

The MassCourts portal provides free 24/7 access to civil case records from Cambridge District Court, Middlesex Superior Court, and all other courts serving Cambridge and Middlesex County.

When criminal records are sealed, they do not appear in standard name searches. This can happen after a waiting period when a person applies to have their record sealed. If a case seems to be missing from MassCourts, it may have been sealed. The clerk can confirm a case exists but is sealed without revealing its contents.

Getting Copies and Legal Help

Copy fees are standard across all Massachusetts courts. Unattested copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. A certificate of disposition is $20. Payments are made to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by check or money order.

To request copies, visit the clerk's office at the relevant court in person or send a written mail request. Include the case number, party names, case year, and document type. For mail, attach payment. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, especially at high-volume courts.

Two legal aid organizations serve Cambridge residents. De Novo Center for Justice and Healing is at 47 Thorndike Street, Suite SB-LL-1, Cambridge MA 02141, phone (617) 661-1010. Their website is denovojustice.org. Greater Boston Legal Services is at 197 Friend Street, Boston MA 02114, phone (617) 371-1234. Both provide free civil legal help to income-eligible residents. MassLegalHelp at masslegalhelp.org has plain-language guides on court procedures, tenant rights, and how to read a court record.

Nearby Cities

Other Massachusetts cities with court record pages:

Cambridge court records fall under Middlesex County. Visit the Middlesex County court records page for superior court, probate court, and housing court information.