Medford Court Records

Quick Facts

Cambridge District Court is in Medford

One unusual fact about Medford's court system is that Cambridge District Court, despite its name, is actually located in Medford at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway. It is the district court that serves Medford, Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont. So if you are a Medford resident with a district court matter, you go to this courthouse in your own city.

Cambridge District Court sits at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford and handles district-level civil and criminal cases for Medford residents.

Cambridge District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $50,000, small claims, restraining orders, and summary process (eviction) cases. Phone: 781-306-2710, fax 781-395-2035. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. One advantage for Medford residents is free parking at the courthouse, which is unusual for the metro Boston area.

Getting there by transit is also practical. The MBTA Orange Line stops at Wellington Station, which is walking distance from the courthouse. MBTA bus routes 94, 95, 96, 99, 100, 101, 104, 105, 106, 108, 134, and others serve the area around Mystic Valley Parkway. If you are coming from Somerville, Cambridge, or other nearby cities, several routes connect directly to this location.

To search Medford cases through MassCourts.org, select Cambridge District Court under Middlesex County. Cases appear by party name, case number, or attorney. The online system shows docket entries, scheduled hearings, and case status for most cases filed in recent years.

Housing Court in Medford

Medford housing matters are covered by two housing courts depending on the type of case and location. The Eastern Housing Court Middlesex Session is at 175 Fellsway in Somerville and holds sessions on Fridays. Phone: 617-788-8485. This is the primary housing court for Medford eviction and housing code cases.

The Eastern Housing Court Middlesex session, located in Somerville, handles Medford housing cases and holds weekly sittings on Fridays.

The Northeast Housing Court in Woburn at 200 Trade Center may also serve certain Medford area cases. Phone: 978-689-7833. If you are not sure which housing court covers your specific address, call the clerk at either location and they can confirm. Housing court records are generally public and searchable through MassCourts.org. Select the Eastern Housing Court or Northeast Housing Court under the housing court division.

Eviction cases, also called summary process, move quickly in Massachusetts. A hearing is typically set within two to three weeks of the filing. If you are a Medford resident who has received a notice to quit or a summons, the housing court clerk can explain what documents you need and when to appear. The court also has a mediation program that gives both sides a chance to work out a resolution before going before a judge.

Middlesex Superior Court

Serious civil cases and felony criminal matters from Medford go to Middlesex Superior Court at 200 Trade Center in Woburn. Phone: 781-939-2700. Superior Court handles civil disputes over $50,000, felony trials, and appeals from lower courts. If you need records from a major lawsuit or a felony case with a Medford address, check Middlesex Superior Court.

Woburn is about 10 miles from Medford. Parking is free at 200 Trade Center. Superior Court records are searchable through MassCourts.org by selecting Middlesex County and Superior Court. Some older case files may not be in the electronic system and require a written request to the clerk's office. The clerk can search paper indexes and provide copies by mail or in person.

Grand jury proceedings at the Superior Court level are not public. Certain civil filings, including those with sensitive financial or personal information, may be impounded by court order. If you cannot find a case you expect to exist, call the clerk's office and ask whether it might be restricted or sealed before concluding it doesn't exist.

Middlesex Probate and Family Court

Probate and family court cases for Medford go to Middlesex Probate and Family Court at 208 Cambridge Street in Cambridge. Phone: 617-768-5800. This court covers divorce, custody, adoption, guardianship, conservatorship, and the probate of estates for all of Middlesex County. Cambridge is close to Medford, about 10 to 15 minutes by car or transit.

Divorce records are part of the probate court's public index. You can search case status and basic information through MassCourts.org. For certified copies of divorce decrees or other documents, contact the clerk's office at the Cambridge courthouse. Some records involving minors are sealed and require a formal request to access. The clerk can tell you what is open and what is restricted for any given case.

Online Case Search and Middlesex Law Library

MassCourts.org covers all Middlesex County courts and is the quickest way to look up any Medford-area court record.

MassCourts.org is the main online tool for searching Massachusetts court records. To find Medford cases, search under Cambridge District Court for district-level matters, Middlesex Superior Court for serious civil and criminal cases, or the probate and housing court divisions as needed. You can search by full name, partial name, case number, or attorney name. Results show the case type, filing date, docket entries, and current status.

The Middlesex Law Library is at 200 Trade Center in Woburn, phone 781-939-2920. Free parking is available there. The library offers Westlaw and Lexis access, Massachusetts court rules, practice guides, and research help from trained staff. If you need to do deeper research on a case, a statute, or court procedure, this is a good place to go. It's about 15 to 20 minutes from Medford by car.

Juvenile Court and Legal Aid

Cambridge Juvenile Court at 121 Third Street in Cambridge handles cases involving minors from Medford. Phone: 617-494-4100. Juvenile records are confidential by default under Massachusetts law. Access to these records is restricted to the parties and their attorneys in most cases. Court orders are needed to unseal juvenile files.

Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income Medford residents. Address: 197 Friend Street, Boston MA 02114. Phone: 617-371-1234. They help with housing, family law, immigration, and other civil matters. If you are facing a court case and cannot afford a lawyer, call their intake line to check if you qualify. The Massachusetts Bar Association also has a lawyer referral service at 617-338-0500 that can connect you with a private attorney.

The Massachusetts Trial Court's self-help materials are available at Cambridge District Court in Medford. Common forms for restraining orders, small claims, and civil summonses are available at the clerk's counter. Staff can answer procedural questions and point you to the right form, though they cannot give legal advice. The mass.gov court website has downloadable forms and plain-language guides for people who are handling their own cases.

Nearby Cities

Other Massachusetts cities with court record pages:

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