Boston Court Docket Records
Boston has one of the most complex court systems in Massachusetts, with multiple courts handling different case types across several locations. This page explains how to find and access Boston court docket records, which courts serve the city, and what tools are available for searching civil, criminal, and family court cases online or in person.
Boston Overview
Courts That Handle Boston Court Dockets
Boston is home to more courts than any other city in Massachusetts. The Boston Municipal Court (BMC) system operates separately from the standard District Court network. It has seven neighborhood divisions spread across the city, each with its own docket. Criminal cases, civil claims under $25,000, and small claims all pass through BMC. No other city in Massachusetts has this kind of local court structure.
Suffolk Superior Court sits at 3 Pemberton Square in downtown Boston and handles serious criminal cases and civil matters over $25,000. The Suffolk Probate and Family Court is at 24 New Chardon Street and handles divorce, custody, adoption, and estate cases. At the top of the court pyramid, the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court both operate out of the John Adams Courthouse at One Pemberton Square.
The seven BMC divisions are: Central (24 New Chardon St), Charlestown (3 City Sq), Dorchester (510 Washington St), East Boston (37 Meridian St), Roxbury (85 Warren St), South Boston (535 E Broadway), and West Roxbury (445 Arborway, Jamaica Plain). Each division maintains its own case files and docket. If you are not sure which location handled a case, start with the Central division or search by name through the statewide eAccess system.
| Court | Address |
|---|---|
| BMC Central | 24 New Chardon St, Boston, MA 02114 |
| Suffolk Superior Court | 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 |
| Suffolk Probate & Family Court | 24 New Chardon St, Boston, MA 02114 |
| Appeals Court / SJC | One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 |
Hours at all clerk offices are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Courts close on state holidays. If you need to visit in person, plan to arrive before 4:00 PM to give yourself enough time with the clerk.
How to Search Boston Court Docket Records Online
The main tool for searching Boston court docket records online is eAccess at www.masscourts.org. The system is free and does not require an account. You can search by party name for civil cases or by case number for all case types. Results show docket entries, filing dates, party names, and scheduled hearings.
There is one important limit to keep in mind. Criminal case name searches are not available through public eAccess. You can pull up a criminal docket if you already have the case number, but you cannot find criminal cases by searching a person's name from home. This rule applies statewide, including all Boston courts. For more complete criminal docket access, public terminals at the courthouse allow broader searching.
The Massachusetts official court dockets and calendars page also links to court schedules and additional search tools beyond eAccess. The how to search court dockets guide at mass.gov walks through steps for using eAccess and explains what each field means. These guides help if you are new to searching.
The Massachusetts eAccess portal covers all Trial Court locations, including every BMC division and Suffolk Superior Court. The probate court docket for Boston is also accessible through eAccess, though some family court records may have restricted fields to protect sensitive information.
The screenshot below shows the eAccess portal homepage, the starting point for all online docket searches in Boston.
Once on the eAccess site, select the correct court from the dropdown before entering your search terms. Choosing the wrong court will return no results even if the case exists.
Note: Case number formats vary by court type. BMC cases, Superior Court cases, and Probate cases all use different numbering systems.
The Boston Municipal Court System
The BMC is unique in Massachusetts. It was created to serve the City of Boston specifically and has jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, felony arraignments, civil cases up to $25,000, and small claims up to $7,000. When someone is arrested in Boston, their first court appearance almost always happens at a BMC location, not a district court. This makes BMC dockets a key source for criminal case records in the city.
One notable feature of the BMC system is the Clerk Magistrate Hearing, also called a show-cause hearing. These are private proceedings held before a clerk magistrate to decide if a criminal complaint should issue. Because they are private, no public docket entry is created unless a complaint actually gets issued. This means some early-stage criminal matters in Boston do not appear in any public court docket. If a complaint is issued, the case then enters the public docket and becomes searchable through eAccess by case number.
The BMC also has specialized sessions for certain case types. The Business Litigation Session handles complex commercial disputes. The Housing Court, a separate division, specializes in cases between property owners and occupants over code enforcement and other residential matters. Housing Court dockets are part of the Trial Court system and are searchable through eAccess.
For docket records from a specific BMC neighborhood location, visiting in person is sometimes more efficient than searching online. Clerks at each division can pull case files directly and provide copies on the spot. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page, and non-certified copies are $0.50 per page.
More information on the BMC Central division is available at mass.gov/locations/boston-municipal-court-bmc-central.
Suffolk Superior Court Dockets
Suffolk Superior Court at 3 Pemberton Square handles the most serious civil and criminal matters in Boston. Civil cases with a dollar amount over $25,000 start here. Felony criminal trials also happen in Superior Court after arraignment at the BMC. Jury trials for both civil and criminal matters are held in this court.
Superior Court dockets contain records of pre-trial motions, scheduling orders, jury verdicts, and final judgments. These are often more detailed than district-level dockets. If you are researching a high-value civil case or a serious felony, the Superior Court docket is where you need to look. Search by case number through eAccess or visit the clerk's office at the courthouse. More information is at mass.gov/locations/suffolk-superior-court.
The court's docket search overview at mass.gov includes links to hearing calendars for Superior Court sessions in Boston. These calendars list upcoming hearing dates by case number and can help you track a pending matter without having to call the clerk.
Note: Superior Court dockets are part of eAccess, but some sealed or impounded case records may not appear in online search results.
Appeals Court and SJC Case Information
Boston is also home to the two highest courts in Massachusetts. The Appeals Court hears appeals from trial courts across the state. The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is the court of last resort. Both sit at the John Adams Courthouse at One Pemberton Square.
Appeals Court case records and opinions are available through a dedicated search tool at mass.gov/info-details/appeals-court-case-information. SJC opinions and dockets are also searchable through the court's official page. These are appellate records, not trial-level dockets. If you are looking for the original trial docket, you need to search the lower court that heard the case first.
Researching an appeal can sometimes reveal details about a trial that are harder to find in the original lower-court docket. Appellate records often include briefs, decisions, and a summary of what happened below. They are public and free to access through mass.gov tools.
Getting Copies of Court Docket Records in Boston
You can get copies of court docket records in Boston by visiting the clerk's office at the relevant courthouse, sending a mail request, or downloading electronic documents through eAccess where available.
Standard copy fees set by the Massachusetts Trial Court apply at all Boston courts. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. Court orders and decrees require a $20.00 certification fee. Electronic documents downloaded from eAccess cost $5.00 per document.
Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days on average. Include the case number, the names of the parties, and the type of record you need. Enclose a check or money order made out to the court. Call ahead to confirm the current fee before sending payment.
Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10, public records requests must receive a response within 10 business days. Court records are governed by Trial Court Rule VIII, which sets rules for public access. Most docket entries and case documents are public. Impounded records, records involving minors, and sealed cases are not available to the public. For questions about what is available in a specific case, contact the clerk's office directly.
The City of Boston Law Department at boston.gov/departments/law handles city-related legal matters but is separate from the court clerk offices. For court records, go directly to the clerk at the relevant courthouse.
The screenshot below from the eAccess how-to guide explains the search docket process step by step.
Following the steps in that guide will help you find Boston case records more efficiently, especially if you are searching for the first time.
Suffolk County Court Docket Records
Boston is the county seat of Suffolk County. All trial court locations in Boston are part of the Suffolk County court system. For a full overview of courts, clerk offices, and docket search options across Suffolk County, including Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, visit the Suffolk County court docket records page.