Hampden County Court Records
Hampden County court records are public documents filed across multiple courts in Springfield and surrounding cities. This page helps you find case filings, docket entries, and court documents from the Superior, District, Probate, and Housing courts that serve the county.
Court System Overview
Hampden County has one of the busiest court systems in Massachusetts. Springfield District Court handles over 28,500 total filings per year and processes nearly 11,000 criminal defendants annually. The Superior Court carries the highest criminal caseload of any county in the state, with over 885 cases in a single year. Most court activity is centered at the Hampden County Hall of Justice at 50 State Street in Springfield, which houses several courts under one roof.
The county has seven district courts spread across its cities and towns. Each handles different geographic areas. If you are not sure which court has your case, the free statewide search portal at www.masscourts.org lets you look up civil cases by name or case number. Public access terminals are also available at the courthouse itself.
The Hampden County Superior Court sits at 50 State Street and handles serious civil and criminal matters. The clerk's office can be reached at (413) 735-6016 or by email at hampden.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us. A Court Service Center is also located in the building, offering free walk-in help for people who do not have an attorney. Staff can assist with forms, procedures, and basic questions about the court process.
The Hampden County court records portal provides a useful overview of what each court handles and how to find records in the county.
The Hampden County Superior Court at 50 State Street handles the most serious criminal and civil cases in western Massachusetts.
Hampden County Superior Court
The Superior Court handles major felony criminal cases and large civil matters. It is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the county. The clerk's office manages all filings and docket records for cases at this level.
| Court | Hampden County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01102 |
| Phone | (413) 735-6016 |
| hampden.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us | |
| Fax | (413) 737-1611 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the public has the right to inspect court records. Most civil case records are open for public review. Some records, including those involving juveniles, sealed cases, or protected parties, may be restricted. If a record is sealed, the clerk will tell you it exists but cannot provide access. Criminal records are generally public at the Superior Court level unless sealed by a judge.
Probate and Family Court
The Hampden Probate and Family Court is also located at 50 State Street. It handles wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, divorce, and child custody matters. The main phone number is (413) 748-7760 and email is hampdenprobate@jud.state.ma.us.
A satellite office operates at Chicopee City Hall, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013, with limited services available from 9 AM to 5 PM. This location is useful for residents in the northern part of the county who want to avoid a trip to Springfield for basic filings.
The Virtual Registry offers remote services Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM via Zoom (Meeting ID: 1600424858) or by phone at 1 (646) 828-7666. The virtual option is helpful for people who live far from the courthouse or cannot appear in person. For archived or older records in storage, call (413) 748-7758.
The Hampden Probate and Family Court handles estates, guardianships, and family law matters at 50 State Street in Springfield.
District Courts in Hampden County
Several district courts serve different parts of the county. Each covers a specific set of cities and towns.
| Court | Springfield District Court (Roderick J. Ireland Courthouse) |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01102 |
| Phone | (413) 748-8600 |
| Court | Chicopee District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 30 Church Street, Chicopee, MA |
| Phone | (413) 598-0099 |
| Court | Holyoke District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 Court Plaza, Holyoke, MA |
| Phone | (413) 538-9710 |
| Court | Palmer District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 235 Sykes Street, Suite 3, Palmer, MA |
| Phone | (413) 283-8916 |
| Court | Westfield District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 224 Elm Street, Westfield, MA |
The Western Housing Court also holds sessions in Springfield at 37 Elm Street, (413) 748-7838. This court handles landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, and housing code cases for the western region of the state.
Specialty Court Programs
The Hampden Probate Virtual Registry allows remote access to probate services via Zoom, reducing the need to travel to the courthouse.
Hampden County courts run several specialty programs not found in most other Massachusetts counties. The Adult Drug Court and Mental Health Court offer treatment-based alternatives to traditional prosecution for eligible defendants. The Veterans Treatment Court (Western Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court, or WMVTC) serves military veterans facing criminal charges.
One program unique to Springfield is the Emerging Adult Court of Hope (EACH). It focuses on young adults ages 18-25 and works to address root causes of criminal behavior rather than relying solely on incarceration. A Lawyer for the Day Program operates at the courthouse to help people without attorneys navigate basic court proceedings. These resources make Hampden County's court system more accessible, especially for people who face complex situations without legal representation.
Note: Court Service Center staff at 50 State Street can help self-represented parties with forms and procedure questions at no charge.
Getting Court Records
The Hampden County court records portal provides a directory of online and in-person access options for cases throughout the county.
The free online portal at MassCourts.org allows name-based searches for civil cases only. You can also search by case number, case type with a 30-day date range, or citation number. Criminal cases cannot be searched by name through the public portal due to privacy protections. Document images are generally not available through MassCourts - you get docket summaries only. For full documents, you need to contact the clerk's office directly.
Copy fees throughout the Massachusetts court system are set by statute. Unattested copies cost $0.05 per page. Attested (certified) copies cost $2.50 per page. A certificate of orders or judgments is $20. Summons cost $5 and citations cost $15. Make checks payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attorney's checks, money orders, and certified checks are accepted. Personal checks may not be accepted at all locations.
For mail requests, send a written letter to the clerk's office with the case name, docket number, party names, filing date, and a list of the specific documents you need. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and the appropriate payment. Allow 7 to 14 business days for processing. For archived records, call (413) 748-7758 first to confirm what is available and where it is stored.
Criminal record sealing is available under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A for eligible offenses after the required waiting period. Expungement of certain records is also available under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. For help with either process, contact MassLegalHelp.org or the Court Service Center at the Hampden County Hall of Justice.
Public terminals at the courthouse allow free access to MassCourts during court hours. Staff cannot conduct searches for you, but they can help you use the terminal. The Court Service Center at this location is one of the busier ones in the state given the volume of cases in Hampden County.
Note: If you are unsure which court holds your case, call the Superior Court clerk at (413) 735-6016 for guidance before making a trip to the courthouse.
Cities in Hampden County
The following cities in Hampden County have dedicated court records pages.
Other cities and towns in Hampden County include Holyoke, Westfield, Agawam, Palmer, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Southwick, Granville, Brimfield, and others. These communities do not have separate city pages but are served by the district courts listed above.