Find Court Records in Somerville
Somerville court records are filed and maintained through several courts in Middlesex County. The Somerville District Court at 175 Fellsway handles the bulk of local cases, and the Eastern Housing Court's Middlesex Session shares the same building. For larger civil matters and felony criminal cases, residents deal with Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. This page covers each court, how to search records online, and how to get copies or in-person access.
Quick Facts
| City | Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex |
| Main Court | Somerville District Court |
| Court Address | 175 Fellsway, Somerville, MA 02145 |
| Phone | (617) 666-8000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | masscourts.org |
Somerville District Court
The Somerville District Court is at 175 Fellsway, Somerville, MA 02145. The main phone is (617) 666-8000. The court's TTY number for the hearing impaired is (617) 776-5645. The probation department can be reached at (617) 666-4361. Fax is (617) 776-2111. The email address for general inquiries is cmsomervilledc@jud.state.ma.us. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Somerville District Court handles criminal misdemeanor cases, civil suits under the district court threshold, small claims, restraining orders, and motor vehicle matters. It serves Somerville and the communities in its division. Arraignments for local criminal cases happen here. For small claims, you can file for amounts up to $7,000 without a lawyer.
Parking is available in a free lot behind the courthouse. The court is accessible by MBTA buses. Route 90 and Route 92 both serve the Fellsway area. If you take the MBTA Orange Line, Sullivan Square Station is close enough to reach by bus or a short ride. The ADA Coordinator at the Somerville District Court is Donna Langill, reachable at (617) 666-8000 extension 758 or at donna.langill@jud.state.ma.us. If you need accessibility accommodations for a hearing, contact the ADA coordinator in advance.
The court handles virtual hearings by videoconference. If you have been given a videoconference option for your case, the dial-in number is (866) 808-2716 and the passcode is 8234702#. Check your notice or call the clerk to confirm whether your hearing will be in person or remote. Not all case types are eligible for virtual hearings.
To search Somerville District Court records online, go to masscourts.org and select Middlesex County, then the Somerville division. Civil cases can be searched by party name. Criminal cases need a docket number. Most docket entries are visible in the public system unless a case has been sealed. The clerk can confirm whether a sealed case exists if you ask directly.
The court also has a public access page for district court events in the Somerville division. You can check scheduled hearing dates and session information at mass.gov. This is useful if you need to know when a specific session is scheduled or whether a hearing date has changed.
Eastern Housing Court - Middlesex Session
The Eastern Housing Court's Middlesex Session also operates at 175 Fellsway, Somerville. The housing court phone number is (617) 788-8485. This court shares the Fellsway courthouse with the Somerville District Court. It handles eviction cases (summary process), housing code enforcement actions, and rent escrow disputes for communities in its district including Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Medford, and Newton.
Because the housing court and the district court share the same building, it's easy to confuse them. Make sure you know which court your case is in before you arrive. Housing cases are filed with the housing court clerk. District court cases go to the district court clerk. Both are at 175 Fellsway but are separate courts with separate clerks and session schedules.
Housing court records in Somerville are searchable at masscourts.org. Eviction cases appear under the summary process code in the docket system. Search by party name to find cases where you or someone else is listed. Results show parties, case status, hearing dates, and any judgments entered. If you are a tenant facing eviction, ask the clerk whether a Lawyer for the Day program is available for your session date. These programs are free and provide brief legal help before a hearing.
The Eastern Housing Court also handles housing code enforcement cases. If a city inspector has cited a property for code violations, the city can bring an action in housing court to force repairs. These cases are public and searchable like any other case type in the system. Tenants can also bring code enforcement actions if a landlord refuses to make needed repairs.
Middlesex Superior Court
The Middlesex County Superior Court at 200 Tradecenter Drive, Woburn, MA 01801 handles major civil and felony criminal matters for Somerville residents. The phone is (781) 939-2700. This court handles cases above the district court's dollar limit for civil matters, and it handles serious felony charges on the criminal side. Jury trials for major crimes happen here.
Superior court civil records are searchable on masscourts.org under the superior court division for Middlesex County. Search by party name to pull up a case list. You'll see docket entries, case types, attorney names, and scheduled hearing dates. Criminal records in the superior court are searchable by docket number. If you don't have the number, try a name search to find it.
Cases originating in Somerville may be assigned to the Woburn superior court location or to the Cambridge location, depending on the case type and court assignment. Search masscourts.org first to confirm which location is handling a specific case before making a trip. The clerk at either location can also help by phone.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court
Probate and family matters for Somerville residents go through the Middlesex Probate and Family Court at the Cambridge location, 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141. The phone is (617) 768-5800. This court handles divorce, child custody, adoption, guardianship, and estate administration for Middlesex County residents including those in Somerville.
Divorce cases filed by Somerville residents go through the Cambridge location of the Middlesex Probate and Family Court. Both contested and uncontested divorces are handled here. If there are children, custody, child support, and parenting plans are also addressed in this court. Modifications to existing orders go back to the same court that issued the original order.
Probate cases for Somerville residents, including estate administration and will contests, are also filed at the Cambridge location. When someone dies and their estate needs court oversight, a petition is filed here. The resulting probate record is public and searchable on masscourts.org under the Middlesex Probate and Family Court division. For certified copies of probate orders or divorce decrees, contact the clerk directly.
Guardianship and conservatorship cases for Somerville residents are filed at the same Cambridge location. Adoption records are sealed under Massachusetts law and are not part of the public search system.
Searching Somerville Court Records Online
The free public tool is masscourts.org. It runs around the clock and covers all trial court divisions. You don't need an account to run a basic search. Select Middlesex County and then the right court division. Civil cases are searchable by party name. Criminal cases need a docket number to search effectively.
Public access terminals at 175 Fellsway are available during business hours for free on-site searches. If you need to search and don't have your own device, the public terminal at the courthouse is the easiest option. Court Wi-Fi may also be available for use on personal devices while inside the building.
Some records are not online. Juvenile court records are sealed and not accessible through the public system. Very old records may not be in the electronic database and would require a request to the clerk. If you search and don't find what you're looking for, contact the clerk before concluding the record doesn't exist. It may be in paper files or in a sealed portion of the system.
For certified copies, go to the clerk at the relevant court in person or mail a written request. Include the case number, names of the parties, the case year, and what document you need. Send a check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. Unattested copies are $0.05 per page. A certificate of disposition is $20. A summons is $5.
Legal Aid in Somerville
Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible Somerville residents. Their office is at 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114. The phone is (617) 371-1234. They handle housing cases, family law matters, benefits disputes, and more. Visit gbls.org to apply or check eligibility.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing is another resource in the area, located at 47 Thorndike Street, Cambridge, MA 02141. Their phone is (617) 661-1010. Visit denovojustice.org for more information on what services they provide. For general legal information without representation, masslegalhelp.org covers most court topics in plain language, including eviction, divorce, small claims, and record sealing. Court Service Centers at mass.gov/court-service-centers offer free walk-in guidance at select Massachusetts courthouses.
Nearby Cities
Other Massachusetts cities with court record pages:
Somerville court records fall under Middlesex County. Visit the Middlesex County court records page for superior court, probate court, and housing court information.