Hampshire County Court Records

Court System Overview

Hampshire County courts are centered in Northampton, the county seat. The Superior Court and Northampton District Court are both at 15 Gothic Street, making it convenient to handle multiple matters on the same visit. The Probate and Family Court is a short walk away at 33 King Street. Most court business for the western part of the county is handled in Northampton, while the eastern part of the county uses the Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown.

Hampshire County is home to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of the largest universities in New England. The Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown serves Amherst and surrounding college towns, so it sees a different mix of cases than the Northampton courts. If you are not sure which court has the case you are looking for, start with the free portal at MassCourts.org. Civil cases can be searched by name or case number. Criminal cases are not searchable by name through the public system.

Getting to the Northampton courts is straightforward. Parking is available in the James House lot at 50 Gothic Street and the EJ Gare Parking Garage on Armory Street. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority routes 39, 39E, B43, M40, R42, and R44 all stop near the courthouse. The Hampshire Law Library at 15 Gothic Street, second floor, is open to the public at no charge. Call (413) 586-6970 for library hours. The Hampshire County court records portal has additional access information.

Hampshire County Superior Court at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton handles major civil and criminal cases for the county.

Hampshire County Superior Court

The Superior Court is the trial court for serious felony cases and large civil disputes. All jury trials for Hampshire County are held here. The clerk's office at 15 Gothic Street maintains docket records for all Superior Court filings.

Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, you have the right to inspect and copy public court records. Most civil and criminal case files at the Superior Court level are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile cases, and certain domestic cases. The clerk can tell you what is available and what requires a court order to access.

Probate and Family Court

The Hampshire Probate and Family Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, and family law matters including divorce and child custody. It is located at 33 King Street in Northampton, a few blocks from the Superior Court.

The Virtual Registry is available via Zoom at www.zoomgov.com/my/hampshirepf or by phone at 1 (646) 828-7666, Meeting ID: 16067663380. Using the virtual option can save time, especially if you only need to file or review a document without appearing in person. The virtual option is strongly encouraged for routine matters.

District Courts in Hampshire County

Northampton District Court at 15 Gothic Street handles criminal and civil cases for the western part of Hampshire County.

Two district courts serve Hampshire County. The Northampton District Court is at 15 Gothic Street and covers the western communities including Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Hatfield, Huntington, Northampton, Southampton, and Williamsburg, among others. The Eastern Hampshire District Court is at 205 State Street (Route 202) in Belchertown. It serves Amherst, Belchertown, Granby, Hadley, Pelham, South Hadley, and Ware.

If you are not sure which district court has jurisdiction over a particular case or address, the clerk's office at either location can point you in the right direction. You can also check MassCourts.org to find a case by number or by the name of a civil party.

Getting Court Records

The Hampshire County court records portal provides a directory of courts, contacts, and online access tools for the county.

The free online search at MassCourts.org is the best starting point. Civil cases can be searched by party name, case number, or case type with a 30-day date range. Criminal cases are not searchable by name through the public system. Document images are generally not available online - you get docket summaries and case status. For full documents, contact the clerk's office directly by phone, in person, or by mail.

Copy fees apply to all court document requests. Unattested copies are $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. A certificate of a judgment or court order costs $20. Summons cost $5 and citations $15. Payment should be made to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attorney's checks, money orders, and certified checks are accepted at most locations.

For mail requests, send a written letter to the clerk's office at the relevant court. Include the case name, docket number, party names, filing date, and a specific list of documents needed. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope and your payment. Standard processing is 7 to 14 business days. More complex or older requests may take longer, especially if the records are in off-site storage.

Criminal record sealing is available under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A after the required waiting period. Expungement of certain offenses is available under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. Both processes require filing with the court that handled the original case. MassLegalHelp.org has step-by-step guides for both processes at no cost.

The Hampshire records portal offers additional guidance on accessing court and public records from the county.

For in-person help without an attorney, the nearest Court Service Center is at Springfield Hall of Justice, 50 State Street, Springfield. Staff there can help with forms, procedures, and questions about Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire County courts. No appointment is needed for walk-in assistance.

Cities in Hampshire County

No cities in Hampshire County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Communities served by Hampshire County courts include Northampton, Amherst, Easthampton, South Hadley, Ware, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Pelham, Huntington, Southampton, and others.

Nearby Counties