Franklin County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Franklin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Franklin County, Massachusetts, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. FranklinMARecords.org provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by Franklin County courts and the Massachusetts court system. Court records in Franklin County may include documentation from civil, criminal, probate, family, and juvenile proceedings, though access to specific records depends on case type, court rules, and applicable state law.
Records that may be available through official sources include:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal dockets and disposition records
- Probate and family court orders
- Small claims decisions
- Traffic and motor vehicle citations
- Appellate court decisions
Court records in Franklin County may be searched through the following five methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Clerk of Court maintains the official record for each case. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request case files, docket sheets, or certified copies. Providing the case number, party name, or approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Franklin County courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case information at no charge during regular business hours without requiring a formal written request.
3. Online Court Search The Massachusetts Trial Court provides the Massachusetts Court System case search portal, which allows users to search for case information by party name or case number across participating courts.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Massachusetts Judicial Branch maintains statewide tools for locating court records, including the eCourt and MassCourts systems used by clerk offices throughout the Commonwealth.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public may submit written requests to the clerk's office for specific records. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Fees for copies apply and vary by document type.
Franklin County Courthouse – Clerk of Courts
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-5535
Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Are Court Records Public In Franklin County
Court records in Franklin County are subject to the public access provisions of Massachusetts law and the rules of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, public records are presumptively open to inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies. The Massachusetts Rules of Court further govern access to judicial records, distinguishing between records available for public inspection and those subject to restriction.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names and case numbers
- Filed pleadings, motions, and orders in civil matters
- Criminal complaints, indictments, and disposition records
- Judgments, decrees, and sentencing entries
- Probate inventories and estate filings where not sealed
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and youthful offender records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Mental health commitment records
- Impounded or sealed criminal records
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
- Certain domestic relations filings subject to impoundment orders
As the Massachusetts Judicial Branch states, "The public has a right of access to court records, but that right is not absolute and must be balanced against privacy interests and other considerations recognized by law." Courthouse inspection of physical files may provide broader access than online systems, as some document images are not available through electronic portals due to imaging limitations or court policy.
What Are Court Records in Franklin County?
Court records are the official documents and data generated by judicial proceedings from the moment a case is filed through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal. In Franklin County, court records are created and maintained by the clerk of court for each division of the Massachusetts Trial Court, including the District Court, Probate and Family Court, and Housing Court.
A docket entry is a chronological log of all actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents filed by parties and the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, whereas criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the Commonwealth against an individual charged with a criminal offense. Filed pleadings represent the initial documents submitted by parties, while final judgments reflect the court's ultimate resolution of the matter.
Public filings are accessible to any member of the public under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings require a court order or specific legal authority to access. Trial court records are maintained at the local courthouse level, while appellate records from cases reviewed by the Massachusetts Appeals Court or Supreme Judicial Court are maintained by those respective courts.
Court records are created at the time of filing, updated with each subsequent action such as motions, hearings, and orders, and finalized upon disposition. Records may be transferred to archival storage after a case closes, depending on the applicable retention schedule.
What's Included in a Franklin County Court Record?
A court record in Franklin County may contain a range of documents and data depending on the case type and applicable public access rules. The following information may appear within a court record:
- Case number assigned at the time of filing
- Court name and division, such as Franklin District Court or Franklin Probate and Family Court
- Filing date and case initiation information
- Party names, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, and respondents
- Case type and current status
- Docket entries listing all actions taken in chronological order
- Scheduled and past hearing dates
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, orders, judgments, notices, minute entries, decrees, and similar filings
- Outcome information such as dismissals, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, or appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial information such as filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Certain information is commonly excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile delinquency files, adoption records, and protected personal data such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and home addresses of protected parties are not available for public inspection. Some exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information or proprietary material, may also be withheld from public access pursuant to court order or standing impoundment rules.
Types of Courts in Franklin County
Franklin County is served by several divisions of the Massachusetts Trial Court, each with jurisdiction over specific case types. The Massachusetts Trial Court administers all trial-level courts in the Commonwealth, and the clerk of court for each division maintains the official record for cases heard in that court.
The courts currently serving Franklin County include:
- Franklin District Court – Handles criminal misdemeanors and felonies at the district level, civil claims up to $25,000, small claims, summary process (eviction), and motor vehicle matters.
- Franklin Probate and Family Court – Handles probate of estates, guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, divorce, child custody, and related family law matters.
- Eastern Hampshire District Court – Serves portions of the region for certain district-level matters.
- Massachusetts Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court – Hear appeals from trial court decisions; records are maintained at the appellate court level.
Franklin District Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-5535
Franklin District Court
Franklin Probate and Family Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-7011
Franklin Probate and Family Court
As the Massachusetts Judicial Branch notes, "The Trial Court is committed to fair and impartial administration of justice, protection of constitutional and statutory rights and liberties, and prompt and effective resolution of disputes." The District Court exercises limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters below certain thresholds, while the Superior Court, sitting in Greenfield on a scheduled basis, exercises general jurisdiction over more serious criminal matters and larger civil claims.
How to Search Franklin County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Franklin County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection of case files and docket sheets at the clerk's office is available during regular business hours without charge. Public access terminals located within the courthouse allow users to search the MassCourts case management system at no cost.
The Massachusetts Court System provides online access to certain case information through its public-facing portals, which are available at no charge for basic docket searches.
Fees apply when copies or certified copies of documents are requested. Under the Massachusetts Uniform Schedule of Fees, the following charges are standard:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy (per page) | $0.50–$1.00 |
| Certified copy | $2.50 per document |
| Certification fee | $2.50 |
| Research fee (clerk-assisted) | Varies |
Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 262, § 4B, clerk fees for copies and certifications are established by statute and apply uniformly across Trial Court divisions. Electronic access through third-party aggregators may involve separate subscription or per-search fees not set by the court.
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Court Records?
The retention period for court records in Franklin County is governed by the Massachusetts Trial Court's records retention schedules, which vary by case type and court division. The Massachusetts Secretary of State's office and the Trial Court jointly administer records management policies for judicial records throughout the Commonwealth.
Retention periods by case type include:
- Criminal records – Felony case files are retained for extended periods, with some records kept permanently. Misdemeanor records may be retained for shorter periods depending on disposition.
- Civil records – General civil case files are retained for a minimum of ten years after final disposition in many categories.
- Probate records – Estate and guardianship records are retained for extended periods, with many probate docket books kept permanently.
- Family court records – Divorce decrees and custody orders are retained for significant periods given their ongoing legal effect.
- Traffic and minor civil infractions – Retention periods are shorter, reflecting the limited legal significance of these matters over time.
Some records, including docket books, judgment records, and certain criminal case files, are retained permanently as part of the official judicial archive. Paper files may be destroyed after imaging or microfilming, provided the electronic or film copy meets archival standards. Destruction of a record differs from sealing or expungement: a sealed record still exists but is restricted from public access, while an expunged record is removed from public availability pursuant to a court order under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100C. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives and may require an in-person request to access.
How To Find a Court Docket in Franklin County
A court docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a specific case, distinct from the full case file, which contains the actual documents filed. The docket records each filing, hearing, order, and status change from case initiation through final disposition, providing a procedural history of the matter without necessarily including the full text of every document.
Dockets for Franklin County cases may be accessed through the following methods:
- MassCourts Public Portal – The Massachusetts Trial Court's case management system allows members of the public to search docket information by party name or case number through courthouse terminals and, for participating courts, through online access.
- Clerk's Office In-Person Request – Members of the public may request a printed docket sheet from the clerk of court at the Franklin County Courthouse during regular business hours.
- Hearing Calendars – Daily and weekly hearing calendars may be posted at the courthouse or available through the clerk's office, listing scheduled matters by courtroom and session.
- Written Request – A written request submitted to the clerk's office may be used to obtain a docket sheet by mail.
To locate a docket through the MassCourts system, a user should provide the case number if known, or search by party name and approximate filing year. The system returns docket entries including filing dates, motion activity, hearing dates, continuances, and disposition information.
A docket does not include full document images in all cases, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that have been restricted by court order. The Massachusetts Judicial Branch advises that "access to electronic case records is subject to the same rules governing access to paper records," meaning that restrictions applicable to physical files apply equally to electronic docket entries. Motion calendars and hearing rosters are separately maintained by individual courtrooms and may be obtained from the clerk's session office for the relevant division.