Franklin County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Franklin County in 2026
FranklinMARecords.org provides publicly available information and data related to public records in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Members of the public seeking court documents, property filings, vital records, or government meeting minutes may use this resource as a starting point for locating relevant records. Franklin County maintains a range of official records through its courts, registry offices, and municipal agencies, and access to many of these documents is governed by Massachusetts state law.
Record categories that may be available through official channels include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family matters)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments)
- Vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates)
- Business licenses and permits
- Property tax and assessment records
- Voting and election records
- Meeting minutes and agendas
- Budget and financial documents
- Law enforcement records (where permitted by law)
- Land use and zoning records
Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.
Online Access:
The Massachusetts Trial Court's public access portal provides online access to certain court records. The Massachusetts Registry of Deeds offers a searchable database for property-related documents recorded in Franklin County. Some records require registration or in-person verification before full access is granted.
In-Person Requests:
Members of the public may visit the Franklin County Registry of Deeds or the Probate and Family Court to inspect records during regular business hours. Staff at these offices can assist with locating specific documents and explaining the request process.
Written/Mail Requests:
Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the type of record sought, the relevant date range, and the requestor's contact information. Under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, custodians are required to respond within ten business days.
Phone/Email:
Principal offices maintain dedicated phone lines for records inquiries. Contact details are listed in the final section of this article.
What Are Public Records in Franklin County?
Public records in Franklin County are defined by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, which establishes the right of any person to inspect or obtain copies of public records held by government agencies. Under this framework, a broad range of documents created or received by public bodies in the course of their official duties are presumptively open to inspection.
Available record types and the offices that maintain them include:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Franklin County Superior Court, District Court |
| Probate and family court records | Franklin County Probate and Family Court |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Franklin County Registry of Deeds |
| Birth, death, and marriage certificates | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics; local town clerks |
| Business licenses and permits | Local municipal clerks |
| Property tax and assessment records | Local assessors' offices |
| Voting and election records | Local town clerks; Secretary of the Commonwealth |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Franklin County Commission; individual town clerks |
| Budget and financial documents | Franklin County Commission |
| Law enforcement records | Local police departments (subject to exemptions) |
| Land use and zoning records | Local planning and zoning boards |
The Franklin County Registry of Deeds maintains the official repository for real property records in the county.
Is Franklin County an Open Records County?
Franklin County follows Massachusetts state open records law, which applies uniformly to all counties, municipalities, and state agencies across the Commonwealth. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, any person has the right to inspect, copy, or have copies of public records made available by a government custodian.
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office oversees compliance with the Public Records Law and provides guidance to both requestors and agencies. As stated in official guidance from the Secretary of the Commonwealth: "The Public Records Law reflects the Legislature's judgment that the public's right to know about the workings of its government is fundamental to a democratic society."
The law was significantly updated by Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016, which strengthened access rights, established clearer response timelines, and created an appeals process through the Supervisor of Records. The Massachusetts Public Records Law overview published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office outlines these provisions in detail.
Franklin County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; state law governs all public records requests directed to county offices and courts.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Franklin County?
The current fee structure for public records in Massachusetts is governed by the Public Records Law and associated regulations. Standard fees that may apply include:
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Black-and-white paper copies (up to 8.5" x 14") | $0.05 per page |
| Segregation and redaction (for records requiring review) | Actual cost of staff time, subject to limits |
| Certification of copies | Varies by office |
| Electronic records | No charge for delivery by email in many cases |
| Registry of Deeds copies | $1.00 per page (standard document copies) |
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, agencies may not charge for the time spent searching for records unless the request requires more than two hours of work, and even then, charges are subject to regulatory caps. Fees for records held by the Registry of Deeds may differ from those charged by other county offices.
Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the records custodian.
Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at government offices throughout Franklin County. Massachusetts law does not require a fee for in-person inspection of public records; charges apply only when copies are requested.
Free access is available through the following official resources:
- In-person inspection at the Franklin County Registry of Deeds, the Probate and Family Court, and local town clerk offices — no fee is charged to view records on-site
- Online property record searches through the Massachusetts Land Records portal, which allows free searching and viewing of recorded documents
- Court record lookups through the Massachusetts Trial Court's online case search, which provides free access to certain case information
- Vital records indexes through the Massachusetts Vital Records database maintained by the Secretary of the Commonwealth
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may inspect records at no cost, but obtaining paper or electronic copies may incur the fees described in the preceding section.
Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?
Any person may request public records in Franklin County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Massachusetts law does not require a requestor to be a state resident, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for the request when seeking standard public records.
Key eligibility provisions include:
- Residency: Not required. Non-residents have the same access rights as Massachusetts residents.
- Identification: Not required for most public records requests, though some offices may ask for identification when processing requests for certified copies of vital records.
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a reason for their request under the Public Records Law.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking their own records (such as personal vital records or court records) may be required to provide proof of identity to receive certified copies.
- Requesting records about others: Access to certain records about other individuals — such as sealed court records, juvenile records, or records containing personal identifying information — is subject to statutory restrictions regardless of who is making the request.
As noted in guidance from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office: "A person does not need to identify themselves or provide a reason for requesting public records."
What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?
Certain records held by Franklin County agencies and courts are exempt from public disclosure under Massachusetts law. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 4, § 7, Clause 26 enumerates the categories of records that are exempt from the Public Records Law. These exemptions include:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Massachusetts law.
- Ongoing investigation records: Documents related to active law enforcement investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are exempt from disclosure.
- Medical and health records: Records protected under HIPAA and state health privacy laws are not subject to public disclosure.
- Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Massachusetts law.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by the Department of Children and Families are confidential.
- Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies may be withheld.
- Security plans and infrastructure details: Records that could compromise public safety or security infrastructure are exempt.
When a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodian is required to segregate and redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. The Massachusetts Attorney General's office provides additional guidance on the application of these exemptions.
Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Franklin County Registry of Deeds
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 772-0239
Franklin County Registry of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Franklin County Probate and Family Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-7011
Franklin County Probate and Family Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Franklin County Superior Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-5535
Franklin County Superior Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Franklin County Commission
425 Main Street, Suite 1
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-3167
Franklin County Commission
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
Phone: (617) 740-2600
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:45 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays