Bristol County Court Records
Bristol County is located in southeastern Massachusetts and includes 20 cities and towns, among them Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton. The county is notable for having three Superior Court locations and three Probate and Family Court locations. This guide covers how to search, request, and access court records from the various court divisions operating across the county.
Bristol County Court Overview
| Cities and Towns | 20 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Taunton |
| Superior Court Locations | Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford |
| Probate Court Locations | Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford |
| Probate Filing Location | All divorce/probate actions filed in Taunton |
| Research Request Limit | Up to 12 cases per email request |
How to Search Bristol County Court Records
Use MassCourts for online case searches. The free portal covers civil cases and lets you search by name, case number, case type, or citation. Criminal case name searches are not available online. For criminal matters, you must contact the clerk's office or go in person. Public access terminals at all Bristol courthouses are available during business hours for free viewing of case information.
One thing that sets Bristol County apart from most other Massachusetts counties is the Research Request Form. This allows you to request information on up to 12 cases by email. It is a useful option if you need to check multiple case numbers or need a quick status check without making the trip to a courthouse. Contact the specific clerk's office for the current email address and form.
For probate and family law matters, all divorce actions and probate filings in Bristol County must be filed at the Taunton office, even if hearings eventually take place in Fall River or New Bedford. This is an important distinction. If you are looking for a probate or divorce record and are not sure which office holds it, start with Taunton.
The image below is from the official mass.gov page for Bristol County Superior Court.
The Taunton location serves as the main administrative hub for Bristol County court records across all divisions.
Bristol County Superior Court
Bristol Superior Court operates from three locations: Taunton (main criminal), New Bedford, and Fall River. The Taunton location handles criminal Superior Court matters. Civil cases may be heard at any of the three locations depending on assignment. All three locations are part of the same Bristol Superior Court division, and the main clerk contact point is the Taunton office.
| Superior Court (Taunton - Main) | 9 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780 |
|---|---|
| Phone (Taunton) | 508-823-6588 |
| Bristol.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us | |
| Superior Court (New Bedford) | 441 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 |
| Phone (New Bedford) | 508-996-2051 |
| Superior Court (Fall River) | 186 S. Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Phone (Fall River) | 508-491-3300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Copy fees follow the statewide schedule: $0.05 per page for unattested copies, $2.50 per page for certified copies, and $20 or more for certificates of orders and judgments. Pay by money order, certified check, or attorney's check to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Processing by mail takes 7 to 14 business days.
Bristol Probate and Family Court
The Bristol Probate and Family Court is spread across three locations, one in each of the county's main cities. However, as noted above, all actual filings for divorce and probate actions must be submitted to the Taunton office. Hearings may be scheduled at Fall River or New Bedford, but the records are centralized in Taunton.
| Probate (Taunton Main) | 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780 |
|---|---|
| Phone (Taunton) | 508-977-6040 |
| bristolprobate@jud.state.ma.us | |
| Probate (Fall River) | 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Phone (Fall River) | 508-672-1751 |
| Probate (New Bedford) | 505 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 |
| Phone (New Bedford) | 508-999-5249 |
The image below is sourced from the official mass.gov page for Bristol Probate and Family Court.
The Taunton Probate office is the central filing point for all Bristol County probate and family law matters, including divorce and estate records.
The image below comes from the mass.gov page for the Fall River Probate and Family Court location.
Hearings for some Bristol County probate matters are scheduled in Fall River, though filings originate in Taunton.
Bristol County District Courts
Bristol County has four main District Courts serving the various parts of the county. These courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, small claims, and restraining orders. Each has its own clerk's office for records requests.
| Fall River District Court | 186 South Main Street, Fall River | 508-491-3200 |
|---|---|
| New Bedford District Court | 75 North Sixth Street, New Bedford | 508-999-9700 |
| Taunton District Court | 40 Broadway, Taunton | 508-977-6000 |
| Attleboro District Court | 88 North Main Street, Attleboro | 508-222-5900 |
The Southeast Housing Court holds sessions at two Bristol County locations. The Fall River session is at 289 Rock Street (phone 508-677-1505), sharing the building with the Fall River Probate office. The New Bedford session is at 139 Hathaway Road (phone 508-990-3227). The New Bedford District Court page on mass.gov has current hours and contact information for that location.
Accessing Bristol County Court Records
Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, court records in Bristol County are open to the public. Any person can inspect them. You can review records for free at the courthouse on a public access terminal, or you can pay copy fees to get documents. If you need records from a specific court division, contact that court's clerk office. For probate and family law matters, the Taunton office holds the records regardless of where hearings took place.
For the Research Request Form, the clerk's office can provide up to 12 case lookups per email request. This is a practical option for attorneys, researchers, or anyone who needs to check multiple case numbers at once. Include as much identifying information as you can: case name, docket number, filing date, and the type of record you need.
Some Bristol County court records are not public. These include juvenile cases, adoptions, sealed criminal records, and impounded matters. Criminal records may be sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A. Expungement for certain offenses became available in 2018 under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. Expunged records are removed entirely from the system.
The image below comes from massachusettscourtrecords.us/bristol/, which provides a breakdown of Bristol County court resources and access options.
This page summarizes the court structure in Bristol County and can help you identify the right court to contact for a specific type of record.
Legal Help in Bristol County
If you need help with a court matter in Bristol County and cannot afford legal representation, free resources are available. MassLegalHelp.org provides plain-language guides on many common legal topics. You can also find legal aid organizations near you using the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder at masslrf.org. Court Service Centers at nearby court locations can help with forms and procedures at no cost. Staff there can direct you to the right office and help you understand what documents to bring.
Note: All divorce and probate filings in Bristol County must be submitted to the Taunton office at 40 Broadway, even if your hearing is scheduled in Fall River or New Bedford.
Cities in Bristol County
The following cities in Bristol County have dedicated court records pages: