Fall River Court Records

Fall River court records come from several courts serving Bristol County's second largest city, including the Fall River District Court at 186 South Main Street, the Southeast Housing Court and Probate Court both at 289 Rock Street, and the Bristol County Superior Court at 186 South Main Street. Civil case records are searchable for free at MassCourts any time of day or night.

Fall River District Court

The Fall River District Court at 186 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02721 handles criminal, civil, small claims, summary process, and motor vehicle cases for the area. First Justice Kevin J. Finnerty and Clerk John C. O'Neil lead the court. It serves Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. The Bristol County Superior Court for the Fall River area is also at 186 South Main Street, reachable at (508) 491-3300.

The Fall River courthouse is accessible by Southeast Transit Authority (SRTA) buses, which serve the downtown area. Metered street parking and paid garages are available nearby. Public Wi-Fi is available at the courthouse. If you need to review documents or search for information while waiting for your case to be called, the Wi-Fi connection makes it easy to do that from your own device.

Fall River District Court operates an Adult Drug Court. This program provides an alternative path for eligible defendants. Records from the Drug Court are maintained by the clerk and are generally public unless specifically sealed or impounded by a court order. For any records request, contact the clerk's window at 186 South Main Street or send a written request by mail.

Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, public records must be produced within ten business days of a written request. To search civil case records online, go to masscourts.org and select Fall River District Court. Enter a party name to search civil cases. Criminal records require the case number. A public access terminal at the courthouse is also available for free in-person searches during business hours.

Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Unattested copies are $0.05 per page. A certificate of disposition is $20. A summons costs $5. Payments go to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by check or money order.

Southeast Housing Court - Fall River Session

Housing matters in Fall River go through the Southeast Housing Court, Fall River Session, located at 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720. The phone is (508) 677-1505. This is a different address from the District Court at 186 South Main Street. Make sure you go to 289 Rock Street for eviction cases, housing code disputes, and other residential landlord-tenant matters.

Housing court records are public in Massachusetts. Civil housing case records can be searched by party name on MassCourts. Summary process (eviction) cases use the code SU in the docket system. Use date range filters to find specific cases more quickly when party names are common. Certified copies of housing court records can be requested from the clerk at 289 Rock Street.

The Southeast Housing Court has a Housing Specialist Department and other support services. A Lawyer for the Day program may be available on certain session days. If you are going to a housing court hearing without an attorney, asking about these free services when you arrive can help you understand the process and present your case more effectively.

When criminal records are sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, they will not appear in standard name searches. The clerk can confirm a sealed case exists without sharing its contents. If a record you expect to find is missing from MassCourts, it may have been sealed or impounded by court order.

Fall River Probate Court and Other Courts

The Fall River Probate and Family Court is at 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 (the same building as the Southeast Housing Court), reachable at (508) 672-1751. This court handles divorce, guardianship, adoption, wills, and estate matters for the Fall River area. Probate records are generally public and searchable on MassCourts by party name. Some sensitive family court files may be impounded. The clerk can tell you if a case is restricted and what the process is for requesting access as a party.

The Fall River Juvenile Court is also at 289 Rock Street. Juvenile records are generally confidential, and access is limited to parties and their attorneys. If you believe a case you are looking for has been filed as a juvenile matter, contact the clerk to understand what information is available to you.

Legal help for Fall River residents is available through MassLegalHelp.org, which has plain-language guides on how Massachusetts courts work, what rights you have as a party, and how to navigate the filing process. Court Service Centers at mass.gov/court-service-centers provide free walk-in help at many courthouses across the state.

How to Get Fall River Court Records

Go to masscourts.org to search for free. The portal runs 24/7. Pick the court you need from the dropdown, then search by party name for civil cases. Criminal cases need the docket number. In-person searches at the courthouse are free during business hours at the public access terminal.

For certified copies, visit the clerk at the relevant court or send a written request by mail. Include the case number, party names, case year, and what document you need. Enclose a check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mail requests take more time than in-person visits. Fall River has courts at two different addresses (186 South Main Street and 289 Rock Street), so confirm which court handles your case type before going.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Fall River with court records pages:

For county-level court records, visit the Bristol County court records page.