Access Nantucket County Court Records

Court System Overview

Nantucket County is the smallest county by population in Massachusetts and has the smallest court operation in the state. The town and county share the same name and borders. All court functions are handled at one location: 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. The historic courthouse building on Broad Street has records dating back to 1721. That is a long history for such a small court.

Getting to the Nantucket courthouse requires ferry travel from Hyannis. The Steamship Authority runs both a fast ferry and a traditional ferry. The fast ferry takes about an hour; the traditional boat takes around two hours. Reservations are essential, especially in summer. Weather can affect service in any season, so check conditions before planning an in-person visit. You can also reach the island by small plane if ferry service is not running.

Because this is a very small court operation, calling ahead before making the trip is strongly recommended. A single Register, Sarah Maxwell, handles all probate matters. Staff are accessible, but there is limited capacity for walk-in requests during busy periods. The best approach for most records is to call first, confirm what is available, and then decide whether to visit in person or request by mail.

Nantucket Probate and Family Court at 16 Broad Street handles all estate and family law matters for the island county.

Nantucket District Court

The Nantucket District Court handles criminal cases, civil matters, small claims, and restraining order applications for the island. All probation matters for Nantucket are actually handled by Barnstable Probate and Family Court on the mainland rather than by the local court. This is worth knowing if you need to contact the probation department for a Nantucket case.

Note that Nantucket courts close at 4:00 PM, thirty minutes earlier than most Massachusetts courts. Plan your in-person visits accordingly. Parking near the courthouse is limited and time-restricted, so check signs when you arrive.

Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the public has the right to inspect court records. Most civil and criminal files are open to the public. Restricted records include sealed cases, juvenile matters, and certain domestic cases. The clerk can tell you what is available and whether any restrictions apply to the records you are looking for.

Probate and Family Court

The Nantucket Probate and Family Court is at the same address on Broad Street. Register Sarah Maxwell handles all probate matters. She is also the court's ADA Coordinator. This is a one-person operation for probate, so patience and advance planning are important.

Probate records for Nantucket County are available locally from 1721 onward. FamilySearch has digitized some historical collections, including court records from 1721 to 1816 and Court of Common Pleas records from 1721 to 1859. For records in that older range, FamilySearch may save you a trip. For anything more recent, contact the probate court directly.

All probation matters, as noted, are handled by Barnstable Probate and Family Court. If you need to reach Nantucket's probation department, contact Barnstable County on the mainland rather than calling the Nantucket courthouse. This is an unusual arrangement but it is how Nantucket court services are structured given the island's small size.

The Nantucket County courthouse at 16 Broad Street contains court records dating to 1721, making it one of the oldest court record collections in Massachusetts.

Town Clerk and Local Records

The Nantucket Town Clerk maintains digital archives for the town. Since Nantucket is both a town and a county, some records that would be held by separate offices in other parts of the state are consolidated here. The Town Clerk handles vital records, town meeting minutes, and some historical municipal records. For court case records specifically, contact the courthouse directly rather than the Town Clerk.

If you need to research property records, town meeting decisions, or historical town records, the Town Clerk office at the Nantucket Town and County Building is the right place. It is a separate office from the court and handles a different set of records. For genealogical research combining court and town records, you may need to visit both offices.

Getting Court Records

The Nantucket Town Clerk maintains digital archives for town records and can direct you to the right office for court filings or historical documents.

For case searches, the free portal at MassCourts.org is the best starting point. Civil cases can be searched by name, case number, or case type. Criminal cases are not searchable by name through the public system. Document images are generally not available online - you get docket summaries only. Public access terminals at the Broad Street courthouse allow free access to MassCourts during court hours.

Mail requests are the most practical option for many people who do not live on the island. Write to the appropriate clerk's office at 16 Broad Street with the case name, docket number, party names, filing date, and the specific documents you need. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment. Allow extra time for island mail. Standard processing of 7 to 14 business days can stretch to 15 or more for Nantucket. Plan accordingly if you are working on a deadline.

Copy fees are set statewide. 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. Personal checks may not be accepted.

Criminal record sealing under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A is available for eligible offenses after the required waiting period. Expungement of qualifying records is available under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. For free guidance, visit MassLegalHelp.org. The Massachusetts court archives page explains what historical records are held off-island and how to request them, which can be relevant for Nantucket's older case files.

Given the small size of the operation, the Nantucket court does not have a dedicated Court Service Center. The nearest one is on the mainland. For complex procedural questions, MassLegalHelp.org and masslrf.org (Legal Resource Finder) can both point you to legal help that does not require visiting a courthouse in person.

Cities in Nantucket County

No cities in Nantucket County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. The entire county consists of the town of Nantucket. All court records for the island are held at 16 Broad Street in Nantucket town.

Nearby Counties