Franklin County Divorce Records
How To Find a Divorce Record In Franklin County in 2026
FranklinMARecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to divorce records in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Members of the public may find case numbers, filing dates, party names, and final judgment information through official court resources. Available record categories include dissolution petitions, final decrees, parenting plans, property settlement agreements, and post-judgment modification orders. Access and completeness of records may vary depending on the age of the case and any applicable court-ordered restrictions.
Divorce records in Franklin County may be searched through the Massachusetts Trial Court's online case management system, in-person at the Probate and Family Court clerk's office, by mail, or by phone for limited case status information.
Online Searches
1. Clerk of Court Case Search
The Massachusetts Trial Court provides public access to case information through the Massachusetts Court System's online case search portal. Members of the public may search by party name or case number at no charge for basic docket information. Obtaining copies of filed documents requires payment of applicable fees.
2. State Court System Portal
The Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Filing System (eFileMA) allows registered users to search and access case records across jurisdictions statewide. This consolidated database includes Probate and Family Court filings from Franklin County and other Massachusetts counties.
3. State Vital Records
Massachusetts does not issue divorce certificates through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in the same manner as birth or death certificates. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics maintains a divorce index, and members of the public may request a certified divorce record abstract for divorces finalized in Massachusetts. A fee applies to each request.
In-Person Searches
Clerk of Court Family Division:
Franklin County Probate and Family Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-7011
Franklin County Probate and Family Court
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Services available in person include:
- Searching case files by party name or case number
- Viewing filed documents at public access terminals
- Requesting certified copies of final decrees and other documents
- Staff assistance for locating archived or older case files
Records Department:
The clerk's office maintains both active and archived case files. Older paper records may require additional retrieval time. Certified copy requests for historical cases should be submitted directly to the clerk's office with complete party name information and the approximate year of the divorce.
By Mail
Written Request:
Mail requests to:
Franklin County Probate and Family Court – Records
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Include the following with each written request:
- Full legal names of both parties
- Maiden names, if applicable
- Approximate date of divorce or year filed
- Case number, if known
- Requestor's full name and contact information
- Purpose of request, if required
- Payment for applicable copy fees
- Self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents
Processing time for mail requests is at present two to four weeks, depending on case volume and whether records require retrieval from off-site storage.
By Phone
Limited Information:
- Clerk of Court: (413) 774-7011
- Staff may confirm whether a case exists, provide the case number, confirm case status, and provide the filing date.
- Staff cannot provide detailed document contents, copies of filed documents, or confidential case information by telephone.
Through Attorneys
An attorney licensed in Massachusetts may access divorce case files on behalf of a client, request sealed documents upon a proper showing of need, and obtain certified copies through the clerk's office. The Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service connects members of the public with attorneys who handle family law matters.
Information Needed for Search
Essential Information:
- Full legal names of both spouses at the time of filing
- Maiden names, if applicable
- Approximate date or year of divorce
- Case number, if known
Helpful Information:
- Date and location of marriage
- Prior addresses in Franklin County
- Names of attorneys of record, if known
Search in Correct County
Divorce proceedings in Massachusetts are filed in the Probate and Family Court in the county where either spouse resided at the time of filing. Members of the public who are uncertain of the filing county may need to search multiple county courts. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 208, one spouse must have been domiciled in Massachusetts for at least one year before filing, or the cause of divorce arose in Massachusetts while both parties resided there.
Time Considerations
Recent divorce cases may not appear in the online case management system immediately following a final hearing. Members of the public should allow several business days to several weeks for newly finalized cases to be indexed. Older cases, particularly those predating electronic filing, may be stored in paper archives and require additional retrieval time. Cases that have not been digitized may only be accessible through an in-person or written request to the clerk's office.
What If You Cannot Find a Record
Common reasons a divorce record may not appear in a search include:
- The case was filed in a different county
- Name variations between married and maiden names
- Spelling differences in party names
- The case is still pending and has not been finalized
- Very old records stored in off-site archives
- The case has been sealed by court order
Members of the public experiencing difficulty locating a record should contact the clerk's office at (413) 774-7011, attempt alternate name spellings, search under both spouses' names, or submit a written request to the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics for a statewide divorce index search.
What Are Franklin County Divorce Records?
Franklin County divorce records are official court documents generated during and after divorce proceedings filed in the Franklin County Probate and Family Court. These records constitute part of the public court file and are maintained by the clerk of court as the primary custodian. The complete case file includes the petition for dissolution of marriage, the respondent's answer, financial affidavits, parenting plans, settlement agreements, court orders, and the final judgment of dissolution.
The final divorce decree is the official court order that legally dissolves the marriage. It establishes the date of dissolution, the division of marital property and debts, any alimony or spousal support obligations, child custody and parenting time arrangements, child support orders, and any court-approved name changes. Certified copies of the final decree are available from the clerk's office and serve as legal proof of divorce for purposes such as remarriage, name change documentation, immigration proceedings, Social Security benefits, and estate planning.
Supporting documents within the case file may include financial disclosure statements, property inventories, appraisals, parenting plan details, and post-judgment modification orders. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 208, § 34, the court considers numerous factors in dividing marital property, and the financial affidavits and asset inventories filed in support of that determination become part of the permanent court record.
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics maintains a statewide divorce index separate from the court case file. This index provides a limited abstract of the divorce and is distinct from the full case file held by the Probate and Family Court.
Are Franklin County Divorce Records Public?
Divorce records filed in the Franklin County Probate and Family Court are public court records subject to the Massachusetts public records law. Members of the public may access basic case information, docket entries, court orders, and the final judgment of dissolution without demonstrating a specific need or interest. The presumption under Massachusetts law favors public access to court records.
What Is Public:
- Case number and filing date
- Names of the parties (spouses)
- Names of attorneys of record
- Court hearing dates and docket entries
- Court orders and judgments
- Final divorce decree
- Property division orders
- General case status
What May Be Restricted:
Financial information filed with the court, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers, is subject to redaction under the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure and court standing orders. Detailed financial statements and tax returns may be subject to limited access. The Massachusetts Trial Court's Standing Order on Personal Identifying Information requires parties to redact sensitive financial identifiers from publicly filed documents.
Information concerning minor children, including their residential addresses, schools, and medical or psychological evaluations, may be restricted or sealed. Guardian ad litem reports and custody evaluation reports are subject to restricted access under court rules. Domestic violence allegations, protective order information, and related evidence may be sealed to protect the safety of victims.
Cases may be sealed in their entirety by court order upon a showing of good cause. Mediation communications are confidential under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 233, § 23C and are not part of the public court record.
Who Can Access Records:
- The general public may access most case information and obtain copies of public documents upon payment of applicable fees.
- Parties to the case have full access to their own case file, including documents subject to restricted public access.
- Attorneys of record have access to the complete case file and may petition the court for access to sealed materials upon a proper showing.
- Researchers and members of the media may access public portions of the record; access to sealed records requires a court order.
Prohibited uses of divorce records include stalking, harassment, identity theft, fraudulent purposes, and any use that violates an existing protective order.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Divorce Records in Franklin County?
The Franklin County Probate and Family Court charges fees for copies of divorce records consistent with the Massachusetts fee schedule established by the Trial Court. At present, the standard fees are as follows:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce decree | $20.00 per document |
| Non-certified copy (per page) | $0.50 per page |
| Certification of court record | $2.50 per document |
| Docket sheet copy | $0.50 per page |
| Search fee (clerk-assisted) | No separate search fee |
Members of the public may inspect case files at the courthouse at no charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested. The clerk's office accepts payment by cash, check, or money order made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Credit card acceptance may vary; members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods with the clerk's office prior to submitting a request.
Fee waiver provisions are available for indigent parties in active cases upon submission of an affidavit of indigency under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 261, § 27A. Third-party requestors seeking records for genealogical or research purposes are not eligible for fee waivers.
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics charges a separate fee for divorce record abstracts obtained through the statewide vital records index. Members of the public should confirm current fees directly with the Registry.
Electronic copies of documents available through the Massachusetts court's online case management system may be accessed at no charge for basic docket information; fees apply for downloading filed documents through the electronic filing system.
What's Included in Divorce Records in Franklin County
A complete Franklin County divorce case file contains the following categories of documents:
Basic Case Information: Case number, court name and division, names of petitioner and respondent, judge assigned, attorneys of record, filing date, and case type.
Initial Pleadings: The petition for dissolution of marriage sets forth the petitioner's information, the respondent's information, the date and location of the marriage, the date of separation if applicable, the grounds for divorce (Massachusetts is a no-fault state permitting divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 208, § 1A for uncontested cases), information about minor children, property claims, and support requests. The respondent's answer or counterpetition is also included.
Financial Affidavits: Both parties are required to file financial statements disclosing income from all sources, monthly expenses, assets including real property, vehicles, bank accounts, investment and retirement accounts, and personal property, as well as all liabilities.
Discovery Documents: Interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and responses thereto, including tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, investment account statements, retirement account statements, and business financial records where applicable.
Property-Related Documents: Marital asset inventories, debt inventories, real property appraisals, business valuations, and expert reports on asset values.
Children-Related Documents: Parenting plans detailing legal and physical custody, timesharing schedules including regular, holiday, summer, and vacation provisions, child support calculation worksheets, income deduction orders, and any custody evaluation or guardian ad litem reports ordered by the court.
Support Documents: Alimony agreements or orders specifying type, amount, duration, and termination conditions, along with supporting calculations.
Settlement Documents: The marital settlement agreement, if the case is resolved by agreement, comprehensively addresses property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child-related provisions, tax treatment, and attorney fee allocation.
Court Orders and Judgments: Temporary orders, the final judgment of dissolution, and any qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) dividing retirement accounts.
Post-Judgment Documents: Petitions to modify custody or support, court orders on modifications, contempt motions, enforcement actions, and income deduction orders.
What Is Typically Confidential or Sealed:
- Social Security numbers and bank account numbers (redacted from public filings)
- Children's residential addresses and schools
- Domestic violence details and related evidence
- Mental health and substance abuse evaluations
- Mediation communications
- Settlement negotiations not incorporated into filed agreements
How to Get Proof of Divorce in Franklin County
Proof of divorce in Franklin County is obtained through a certified copy of the final judgment of dissolution issued by the Franklin County Probate and Family Court. A certified copy bears the court's official seal and the clerk's certification and is accepted as legal proof of divorce by government agencies, financial institutions, and foreign authorities.
Members of the public may obtain a certified copy through the following methods:
- In person at the Franklin County Probate and Family Court, 425 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301, during regular business hours. Present the case number or full names of both parties and pay the applicable fee.
- By mail by submitting a written request to the clerk's office with party names, approximate divorce date, case number if known, and a check or money order for the applicable fee.
- Online through the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics for a certified divorce record abstract from the statewide index, which serves as proof of divorce for many purposes.
For divorces finalized in Massachusetts, the Registry of Vital Records maintains a statewide index and issues certified abstracts that include the names of the parties, the date of divorce, and the county of filing. This abstract is distinct from the full court-certified copy of the final decree but is accepted as proof of divorce for many official purposes.
Franklin County Probate and Family Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-7011
Franklin County Probate and Family Court
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
Can a Divorce Be Confidential in Franklin County?
Divorce proceedings in Franklin County are presumptively public, but certain cases or portions of cases may be made confidential by court order. The following circumstances may result in restricted or sealed records:
- Domestic violence cases: Information that could endanger the safety of a party or minor child, including residential addresses and contact information, may be sealed or redacted upon motion to the court.
- Sensitive financial information: Social Security numbers, account numbers, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly accessible filings as a matter of standard court practice.
- Children's information: Details identifying the residence, school, or medical condition of minor children may be restricted under court rules designed to protect children's welfare.
- Mental health and substance abuse records: Evaluations and treatment records incorporated into the case file may be sealed upon a showing of good cause.
- Mediation communications: Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 233, § 23C, communications made during mediation are confidential and are not part of the public court record.
- Court-ordered sealing: A party may file a motion requesting that the court seal the entire case file or specific documents. The court applies a balancing test weighing the public interest in access against the privacy interests of the parties and any minor children.
Members of the public seeking access to sealed records must file a motion with the court demonstrating a legitimate legal basis for access.
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Divorce Records?
The Franklin County Probate and Family Court retains divorce records in accordance with the Massachusetts Trial Court Records Retention Schedule established by the Supreme Judicial Court. Retention periods vary by record type:
- Final judgments of dissolution: Retained permanently as part of the permanent court record.
- Complete case files (contested divorces): Retained for a minimum of ten years following the close of the case, after which paper records may be transferred to the Massachusetts State Archives or destroyed in accordance with the approved retention schedule.
- Complete case files (uncontested divorces): Retained for a minimum of ten years following the close of the case.
- Financial affidavits and supporting financial documents: Retained as part of the case file for the applicable retention period.
- Post-judgment modification and enforcement records: Retained as part of the original case file.
- Electronic records: Cases filed electronically through the court's case management system are retained in accordance with the same schedule and remain accessible through the online portal for the duration of the retention period.
Members of the public seeking records from cases that may have been archived or transferred should contact the clerk's office directly. The Massachusetts State Archives maintains older court records transferred from the Trial Court and may be contacted for historical divorce records that are no longer held at the courthouse.
Permanent retention of final judgments ensures that proof of divorce remains accessible regardless of the age of the case.