Find Court Records in Plymouth
Plymouth court records are kept at the Plymouth County courthouse complex at 52 Obery Street. All five major courts serving Plymouth are at this one address, which makes accessing records simpler than in many other Massachusetts cities. Criminal, civil, probate, juvenile, and housing court cases are all processed here. This page covers what each court handles, how to search online, and how to get copies of the records you need.
Quick Facts
| City | Plymouth |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth |
| Main Court | Plymouth District Court |
| Court Address | 52 Obery Street, Plymouth MA 02360 |
| Phone | 508-747-8400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | masscourts.org |
The Plymouth Courthouse Complex
Plymouth is unusual among Massachusetts cities in that all major courts are housed at one address: 52 Obery Street, Plymouth MA 02360. The Plymouth District Court, Plymouth Superior Court, Plymouth Probate and Family Court, Plymouth Juvenile Court, and the Southeast Housing Court Plymouth session are all located here. Free parking is available at the site, which is a real advantage over courthouses in larger cities where parking can be both scarce and expensive.
The Plymouth District Court page on mass.gov has current hours, contact information, and details about what cases this court handles.
The main phone number for most courts at this address is 508-747-8400. If you're calling about a probate matter, you can also reach the Probate and Family Court directly at 508-747-8488. For juvenile matters, call 508-747-0858. If you're not sure which number to use, the main line will direct you to the right place.
Transit options to 52 Obery Street include Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway Co. bus service, as well as GATRA (Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority). If you're coming from out of the area, check the schedules in advance since service frequency varies. The courthouse is also accessible by car from Route 3.
Plymouth District and Superior Courts
The Plymouth District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $25,000, small claims, restraining order applications, and initial hearings on felony charges. The court covers a large geographic area. Communities in its jurisdiction include Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Kingston, Plympton, and Plymouth itself. Many of these are smaller towns that depend on the Plymouth courts for all their local court matters.
The Plymouth Superior Court, also at 52 Obery Street, handles serious felonies and large civil cases. Jury trials for major crimes take place in superior court. Civil cases where the damages sought are above the district court limit also go to superior court. Records from both courts are generally open to the public, though some filings may be restricted by court order.
Plymouth County courts serve a wide area. The full list of communities includes Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. If a person from any of these communities has a court record, it likely lives somewhere in the Plymouth County court system.
Plymouth Probate and Family Court
The Plymouth Probate and Family Court is one of the more frequently used courts in the complex. Register Matthew J. McDonough oversees this court. The fax number is 508-747-6846. The general email for inquiries is plymouthprobate@jud.state.ma.us. This court handles divorce cases, legal separation, custody and support disputes, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, wills, estates, and adoptions. All of these proceedings generate public records unless the court orders otherwise.
The Plymouth County court records directory covers all five courts at 52 Obery Street, including probate and family court records for the entire county.
One thing to know about the Probate and Family Court: there are limits on same-day record review. Staff can review up to three files on the same day without an appointment. If you need to look at four to twelve files, you'll need to submit a Research Request Form in advance. Off-site records, which generally means records from before 1970, require additional processing time and advance notice. Plan ahead if you're researching older estate or divorce records.
The ADA Coordinator for this court is Brett Ribeiro, reachable at 508-747-8488 or brett.ribeiro@jud.state.ma.us. If you need accessibility accommodations to access court records or attend a proceeding, contact the coordinator before your visit.
Online Search and the Plymouth Law Library
The Massachusetts Trial Court's online portal covers Plymouth County courts. You can search by name or case number at masscourts.org. Select Plymouth County and the specific court division from the dropdowns. Most district and superior court records from recent years are searchable online. Older records and some restricted case types won't appear in the online results.
The MassCourts portal provides free online access to basic case information for Plymouth District Court and Plymouth Superior Court cases.
The Plymouth Law Library is right in the courthouse complex at 52 Obery Street, Suite 0117, Plymouth MA 02360, phone 508-747-4796. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The library provides public access to computers with Westlaw and LexisNexis, two major legal research databases that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per month. This is a real resource for anyone doing self-represented litigation or background research on a legal matter. Staff can guide you to materials but cannot give legal advice.
The law library is a good place to research how court procedures work before you file anything. Understanding the rules for small claims, the process for serving a defendant, or what forms you need for a probate petition can save you trips back to court to correct mistakes.
Legal Aid and Getting Copies
South Coastal Counties Legal Services offers free civil legal help to income-eligible Plymouth residents. Their office is at 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 326, Plymouth MA 02360, phone 508-747-0086. They handle civil matters including housing, family law, and public benefits. They don't handle criminal defense. Call to find out if you qualify and what types of cases they're currently taking.
To get copies of court records, the easiest approach is to visit the clerk's office at 52 Obery Street in person. Bring the case number if you have it, or the names of the parties and approximate dates if you don't. Fees apply for printed copies. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call ahead to check payment methods and fee amounts.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the appropriate clerk with identifying details about the case, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, and send payment if you know the amount. Response times vary. Some mail requests take a few days; others can take a couple of weeks depending on volume and whether the records need to be retrieved from storage.
For online access, masscourts.org provides free basic case information. You won't get full documents through the online portal, but you can confirm a case exists, see the case status, and find relevant dates and parties. That information often tells you whether it's worth making a trip to the clerk's office for the full file.
Nearby Cities
Other Massachusetts cities with court record pages:
Plymouth court records fall under Plymouth County. Visit the Plymouth County court records page for superior court, probate court, and housing court information.