Dukes County Court Records

Court System Overview

Dukes County is an island county. All courts are located at or near 81 Main Street in Edgartown, on Martha's Vineyard. To access the courts in person, you need to reach the island by ferry. The Steamship Authority operates from Woods Hole and the Island Queen sails from Falmouth. The crossing takes between 45 and 60 minutes depending on which ferry you take. Call ahead and check schedules before making the trip, especially in winter when service can be reduced or affected by weather.

Dukes County has a small court operation relative to most Massachusetts counties. The permanent population is only about 20,600, though the island sees a much larger seasonal influx. Staff handle a limited volume of cases, so complex requests may take longer than standard processing times. Calling ahead is always a good idea, especially for older or archived records.

Historic court records for Dukes County date back to 1695. FamilySearch has digitized several collections, including Court of General Sessions records from 1730 to 1757, Court of Common Pleas records from 1783 to 1839, and Probate records from 1690 to 1938. For more recent records, contact the court directly. The Dukes County court records portal has a directory of contacts and access options.

The Dukes County court records portal provides contact details and access information for courts on Martha's Vineyard.

Dukes County Superior Court

The Superior Court handles major civil and criminal matters for Martha's Vineyard. It is a low-volume court compared to mainland counties, but it handles the full range of Superior Court case types.

Public records access in Massachusetts is guaranteed under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, which gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public court records. Most civil and criminal case files are open. Restricted records include sealed cases, juvenile matters, and certain domestic cases. The clerk will tell you what is available when you call or write.

Probate and Family Court

The Dukes Probate and Family Court is also at 81 Main Street. It handles wills, estates, guardianships, divorce, and custody matters for Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands.

Estate and probate records for Dukes County are held locally. FamilySearch offers digitized access to Probate records from 1690 through 1938. For more recent records, you will need to contact the probate court directly. The court handles a small volume of cases, so staff are generally accessible by phone. For complex estate matters or historical research, calling before you make the trip to the island is wise - especially if records might be in off-site storage.

All Dukes County courts are located in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, accessible only by ferry from the mainland.

District and Juvenile Courts

The Edgartown District Court also operates at 81 Main Street and handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters, small claims, and restraining order applications for the island communities. The Edgartown Juvenile Court is at a separate location: 12 Mariner's Way, Unit 4, Edgartown, (508) 627-8983.

Juvenile court records are generally confidential. Access is restricted by statute. If you have a matter involving a juvenile, you will need to speak directly with the juvenile court clerk about what is and is not accessible to you.

Getting Court Records

The Massachusetts court department email directory lets you contact any court by email, which is especially useful for island courts where in-person visits require ferry travel.

For case searches, use the free portal at MassCourts.org. Civil cases can be searched by party name, case number, or case type. Criminal cases are not searchable by name through the public system. Document images are not available online - you get docket summaries only. Public access terminals at the Edgartown courthouse provide free access to MassCourts during court hours.

Given the island location, mail requests are the most practical option for many people. Write to the relevant clerk's office with the case name, docket number, party names, filing date, and a specific list of documents. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment. Allow extra time for mail, since island mail travels by ferry. Standard mainland processing of 7 to 14 business days can be longer for Dukes County. Plan for 10 to 20 business days for mail requests if you are not on the island.

Copy fees are the same throughout Massachusetts. Unattested copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. A certificate of a judgment or order costs $20. Make payment to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by money order, certified check, or attorney's check.

Criminal record sealing under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A is available for eligible offenses after the required waiting period. Expungement is available under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U for qualifying records. MassLegalHelp.org has free plain-language guidance on both. For court archive information, see the Massachusetts court archives page for details on what is held off-site and how to request it.

Cities in Dukes County

No cities in Dukes County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Communities on Martha's Vineyard include Edgartown, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. The Elizabeth Islands are part of the town of Gosnold. All communities are served by the courts at 81 Main Street in Edgartown.

Nearby Counties