Search Springfield Court Records
Springfield court records are filed and maintained at the Hall of Justice on State Street, which houses multiple courts serving Hampden County. The Springfield District Court is the busiest in the state by total filings, and the building also holds the Superior Court, Housing Court, Probate and Family Court, and Juvenile Court. You can search civil case records for free online through the MassCourts portal, or go in person to the clerk's office at 50 State Street during business hours.
Quick Facts
| City | Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden |
| Main Court | Springfield District Court |
| Court Address | 50 State Street (P.O. Box 2421), Springfield, MA 01102 |
| Phone | (413) 748-8600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | masscourts.org |
Springfield District Court
The Springfield District Court at 50 State Street is the highest-volume district court in Massachusetts. In fiscal year 2016 it logged over 28,500 total filings, including nearly 11,000 criminal defendants. That number puts it far ahead of most other courts in the state. First Justice is Hon. Kevin Maltby. The court serves Springfield, Longmeadow, and West Springfield. Civil fax is (413) 747-4841 and criminal fax is (413) 747-4842.
The Springfield District Court location page on mass.gov lists contact details, hours, directions, and services for the court at 50 State Street.
This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $25,000, small claims, and restraining orders. It also runs several specialty programs. The Adult Drug Court and Mental Health Court offer alternatives to standard criminal processing. The Emerging Adult Court of Hope (EACH) is aimed at young adults and focuses on services over punishment. The Western Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court (WMVTC) serves veterans who face criminal charges. A Lawyer for the Day program is also available for self-represented parties on certain court dates. Ask the clerk when you arrive whether this service is running on your date.
Getting to the courthouse by bus is straightforward. PVTA routes Blue 6, Blue 7, Green 1, Green 2, Green 5, and Green 8 all stop near 50 State Street. Call PVTA at (413) 781-7882 for schedules and route details. Street parking and nearby lots are available, though downtown Springfield can be busy during peak court hours. Plan some extra time to get through security if you are visiting in person.
A Springfield Court Service Center operates at the Hall of Justice. Staff can help you find the right form, understand court procedures, and identify where to file your papers. This service is free and open to anyone who needs guidance. It does not replace a lawyer, but it can make a real difference if you are dealing with the courts on your own.
Searching Springfield Court Records Online
Start at masscourts.org. The portal is free and runs around the clock. Select Hampden County and then Springfield District Court from the dropdown menus to narrow your search. Civil cases can be searched by party name. Criminal case records require a case number to access. If you do not have the case number, the clerk can look it up for you during business hours.
The MassCourts portal provides public access to case information from all courts serving Springfield and Hampden County, available at no cost 24 hours a day.
Public access terminals are also available at the 50 State Street courthouse during business hours if you prefer to search in person. Not every record shows up in the online system. Some older paper records may only exist in physical form and will need to be requested directly from the clerk. If a case is sealed, it will not appear in search results at all, though the clerk can confirm the case exists if you ask.
Mail requests go to Hampden County Hall of Justice, 50 State Street, P.O. Box 559, Springfield MA 01102. Include the case name and number if you have it, the names of the parties, the year the case was filed, and a description of the specific documents you need. Ask for a cost estimate before sending payment if you are not sure of the total fees.
Hampden County Superior Court
Hampden County Superior Court shares the Hall of Justice at 50 State Street. Phone is (413) 735-6016, fax is (413) 737-1611, and probation is at (413) 748-7653. The superior court handles felony criminal trials and civil matters above $25,000. Hampden County ranks fifth statewide for total superior court case entries and first for criminal caseload, with 885 criminal cases filed in fiscal year 2016.
If you need records from a major criminal case or a large civil lawsuit in the Springfield area, this is where those records are kept. Civil case records can be searched by name on MassCourts. Criminal records at the superior court level require a case number. The court's page at mass.gov is at mass.gov/locations/hampden-county-superior-court.
Western Housing Court - Springfield Session
The Western Housing Court Springfield Session at 37 Elm Street covers a wide area across Hampden County for landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, and housing code matters.
The Western Housing Court Springfield Session sits at 37 Elm Street, Springfield MA 01102. Phone is (413) 748-7838. First Justice is Hon. Jonathan Kane and the Clerk-Magistrate is Michael Doherty. This session covers a broad area: Agawam, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Springfield, Tolland, Wales, West Springfield, Westfield, and Wilbraham. If your housing case involves a Springfield address, this court handles it.
Housing court records are public. Cases filed here also appear in the MassCourts online portal. Summary process (eviction) cases carry the code SU in the system. Search by party name and filter by date range to find specific filings. If you need certified copies, contact the clerk at 37 Elm Street with the case number and document details.
Hampden Probate and Family Court
The Hampden Probate and Family Court is at 50 State Street, P.O. Box 559, Springfield MA 01102. Phone is (413) 748-7760 and fax is (413) 781-5605. This court handles divorce, child custody and support, guardianship, adoption, and probate of estates. Most probate and family court records are public, though some documents in active family cases may have restricted access. You can search for these records on MassCourts or request copies in person or by mail using the address above. The court's page on mass.gov is at mass.gov/locations/hampden-probate-and-family-court.
The Hampden County Law Library is also located at 50 State Street. It is open Monday through Friday during court hours. Law library staff can help you locate statutes, forms, and legal research materials. They cannot give legal advice, but they can point you to the right resources.
The Springfield Juvenile Court is at 80 State Street, Springfield MA 01103. Juvenile court records are generally sealed or restricted to parties. Contact the court to ask about access rights for specific records you may have a legal interest in.
Getting Copies of Court Records
Standard copy fees apply across all Massachusetts trial courts. Unattested copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. A certificate of a court judgment or order is $20. These fees are the same whether you go to the district court, superior court, or probate court.
To request copies in person, go to the clerk's office at 50 State Street. Bring the case number and party names if you have them. Staff will find the file. For mail requests, write to Hampden County Hall of Justice, 50 State Street, P.O. Box 559, Springfield MA 01102. State what you need and ask for a cost estimate if you are unsure of the fees before sending payment. Make checks payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Legal Help in Springfield
Community Legal Aid serves Western Massachusetts, including all of Springfield. Their phone number is 855-252-5342 and their site is communitylegal.org. They offer free civil legal help to income-eligible residents in areas including housing, family law, and public benefits. Services are available by phone and in person. If you are not sure whether you qualify, call and ask. They can do a quick eligibility check and let you know what help is available.
The MassLegalHelp site at masslegalhelp.org has plain-language guides on court procedures, tenant rights, and how to navigate the Massachusetts court system without a lawyer. Court Service Centers at mass.gov/court-service-centers provide free walk-in help at many courthouses. The Springfield Court Service Center at the Hall of Justice can assist you with forms and procedure questions on-site.
Nearby Cities
Other Massachusetts cities with court record pages:
Springfield court records fall under Hampden County. Visit the Hampden County court records page for superior court, probate court, and housing court information.