Norfolk County Court Records Search

Searching Norfolk County Court Records Online

The main portal for online searches is MassCourts. You can search civil cases by party name, case number, case type, or citation. It is free and available 24 hours a day. Criminal cases cannot be searched by name through the public system. If you need a criminal case, contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person.

Public access terminals at the Dedham courthouse and at the Canton probate court let you view case information for free during business hours. There is on-site parking at the Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham. The Probate Court in Canton also has free parking, which makes both locations easier to reach than many other Massachusetts courthouses.

The Norfolk County Law Library is inside the Superior Court building at 650 High Street in Dedham. It is open to the public at no cost. If you need to research legal questions, review statutes, or find case law related to your Norfolk County court records matter, the law library is a good resource to know about.

The image below is from the official mass.gov page for Norfolk Probate and Family Court.

The Canton location at 35 Shawmut Road handles all probate and family law filings for Norfolk County and offers free parking on-site.

Norfolk County Superior Court

The Norfolk Superior Court handles the most serious civil and criminal matters in the county. This includes felony criminal cases, large civil claims over $25,000, and jury trials. The court is in Dedham, just across High Street from the District Court and near the Juvenile Court on Allied Drive.

Civil dockets from Norfolk Superior Court are searchable through MassCourts. To get copies of documents, you can visit in person during business hours or submit a written mail request. Mail requests should include the case name, docket number, filing date, the names of all parties, and a specific list of documents you need. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Pay by money order or certified check to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Standard copy fees apply: $0.05 per page for unattested copies, $2.50 per page for certified copies.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is at a separate location: 649 High Street, Dedham, phone 781-461-6105. The Registry handles property records and is distinct from the court clerk's office, but both are on High Street in Dedham.

Norfolk Probate and Family Court

The Norfolk Probate and Family Court in Canton handles wills and estates, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, and family law including divorce and child custody. It is the only major Norfolk County court not located in Dedham. The Canton location has free parking and is a single building, which makes it straightforward to navigate.

The Metro South Housing Court also holds sessions at 35 Shawmut Road in Canton, phone 781-830-0025. This court handles evictions and housing code matters for parts of Norfolk County.

The image below comes from massachusettscourtrecords.us/norfolk/, which provides a summary of Norfolk court divisions and resources.

This page covers all Norfolk County courts and is a useful starting point for determining which division to contact for a specific type of case.

Norfolk County District Courts

Several District Courts serve different parts of Norfolk County. These courts handle misdemeanor and lower-level felony criminal cases, civil matters under $25,000, and small claims. Each court has its own clerk's office and records for cases filed in that geographic area.

The Dedham District Court is just down the street from the Superior Court at 631 High Street. The Norfolk Juvenile Court is at 55 Allied Drive in Dedham, phone 781-329-1500. The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office is at 200 West Street in Dedham, phone 781-329-3705, and can be a useful contact for information about civil process, summons service, and related matters.

The image below is from the mass.gov courthouse directory, which lists current addresses for all Norfolk County courts.

The courthouse directory is maintained by the Trial Court and is the most reliable place to confirm current court addresses and contact information.

Public Records Access Rights

Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, any person has the right to inspect public court records in Norfolk County. You can do this for free at the courthouse on public access terminals, or you can pay copy fees to get paper copies. The right to inspect is broad, but certain records are restricted. Juvenile cases, adoption records, sealed criminal records, and impounded files are not available to the public.

Criminal records can be sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A after a waiting period tied to how the case was resolved. If a case is dismissed, the waiting period differs from a conviction. Expungement of criminal records became possible in 2018 under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. Expunged records are completely removed. If a record has been expunged, the clerk's office will not confirm it ever existed.

If you need help understanding your rights or navigating the request process, MassLegalHelp.org and the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder at masslrf.org both offer free information and referrals to legal aid organizations in Norfolk County.

Cities in Norfolk County

The following cities in Norfolk County have dedicated court records pages:

Nearby Counties