Cambridge Court Docket Lookup
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, home to roughly 118,000 residents and known for its universities. Court docket records for Cambridge cases are handled by three courts: Cambridge District Court, Middlesex Probate and Family Court, and Middlesex Superior Court. This page covers where each court is located, how to search Cambridge court dockets online, and how to get copies of case records.
Cambridge Overview
Courts That Handle Cambridge Court Dockets
Cambridge cases are spread across three court locations. None of them is in the same building, and one of them is not even in Cambridge itself. Understanding which court handles which type of case is the first step to finding the right docket.
Cambridge District Court is the court that handles most day-to-day Cambridge cases, but it is physically located in Medford at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155. Despite the Medford address, this court's jurisdiction covers Cambridge. Criminal arraignments, bail hearings, misdemeanors, civil cases under $25,000, and small claims for Cambridge residents all appear on the Cambridge District Court docket.
| Court | Address |
|---|---|
| Cambridge District Court | 4040 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford, MA 02155 |
| Middlesex Probate & Family Court | 208 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141 |
| Middlesex Superior Court | 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA 01801 |
Middlesex Probate and Family Court is at 208 Cambridge Street in Cambridge. This is the closest court to central Cambridge. It handles divorce, guardianship, adoption, and estate cases for all of Middlesex County. Middlesex Superior Court is in Woburn at 200 Trade Center. Felony trials and large civil cases involving Cambridge parties are heard there. Clerk offices at all three locations are open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
How to Search Cambridge Court Docket Records
The free statewide eAccess portal at www.masscourts.org covers all three courts that handle Cambridge dockets. No account or registration is needed. For civil cases, search by party name. For any case type including criminal, search by case number. Results include docket entries, hearing dates, party names, and case status.
Criminal name searches are not available through public eAccess. If you are trying to find a criminal case by name and do not have the case number, you will need to visit the courthouse in person. Public terminals at the courts provide broader access than the home-computer version of eAccess. The Cambridge District Court in Medford, the Probate Court in Cambridge, and the Superior Court in Woburn all have public access terminals. The how-to guide at mass.gov explains step by step how to use eAccess and what each search field does.
When searching for a Cambridge case, make sure you select the correct court in eAccess. Cambridge District Court, Middlesex Probate and Family Court, and Middlesex Superior Court are three separate entries in the dropdown. Choosing the wrong one will return no results even if the case exists.
The image below shows the Cambridge District Court page, which is the primary source for Cambridge criminal and civil district docket records.
This page at mass.gov/locations/cambridge-district-court confirms the court's physical location in Medford and links to the eAccess search tool.
Note: Even though Cambridge District Court is in Medford, all Cambridge city cases are filed under that court's docket. Do not search under a Medford-specific court by mistake.
Middlesex Superior Court Dockets for Cambridge
When a Cambridge criminal case involves a felony, it eventually moves to Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. The same is true for large civil disputes where the claimed amount exceeds $25,000. Jury trials for both types are held at the Superior Court. The docket at that level contains motions, scheduling orders, pre-trial conference records, jury verdicts, and final judgments.
Middlesex Superior Court information is at mass.gov/locations/middlesex-superior-court. You can search its docket through eAccess using the case number, or visit the clerk's office at 200 Trade Center, Woburn. Copy fees follow the statewide schedule: $0.50 per page for non-certified copies, $2.50 per page for certified copies, and $20.00 for certification of court orders and decrees. Electronic documents through eAccess cost $5.00 per document.
Mail requests should be sent to the clerk's office at 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA 01801. Include the case number, party names, and the documents you need. Enclose a check for the estimated fee. Mail requests typically take 5 to 10 business days to process.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court in Cambridge
Middlesex Probate and Family Court sits at 208 Cambridge Street in Cambridge. It serves all of Middlesex County, including Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and dozens of other communities. Divorce, guardianship, adoption, name changes, and estate cases all go through this court. Its docket is part of eAccess and is searchable online by party name for civil records.
Some family court filings have restricted access. Cases involving minors may have sealed documents even if the docket entry itself is public. Impounded records will not appear in eAccess results at all. The clerk at 208 Cambridge Street can tell you what is available for a specific case if you call or visit in person.
More information is at mass.gov/locations/middlesex-county-probate-and-family-court. The court's clerk office is on the ground floor and is set up to handle walk-in records requests without an appointment. Bring the case number or the full names of both parties if you are researching a probate or family case.
Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10, public records requests require a response within 10 business days. Trial Court Rule VIII sets standards for public access to court records across the Massachusetts Trial Court system, including all three courts that serve Cambridge.
Cambridge Court Records: Tips for Searching
Searching Cambridge court dockets takes a bit more preparation than in cities where all courts share one building. You may be dealing with records spread across three different locations in three different cities. A few tips can help.
Start with eAccess. Even if you end up needing to visit in person, searching online first tells you which court has the case and gives you the case number. That saves time at the clerk's window. If you do not find what you need online, the courthouse public terminals at each location give broader access.
Know the case type before you search. Criminal and civil cases are at Cambridge District Court. Major civil and felony criminal cases escalate to Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. Divorce, probate, and family cases go to Middlesex Probate and Family Court in Cambridge. Each court's docket is separate in eAccess.
The court dockets and calendars page at mass.gov links to hearing schedules for each court. These calendars can tell you upcoming hearing dates without requiring a call to the clerk. For older cases, some records may be on paper only and not in eAccess. In that case, a mail request or in-person visit is the only way to get them.
The Massachusetts court records information page at massachusettscourtrecords.org also provides guidance on accessing records across the state, including Middlesex County courts.
Note: Cambridge District Court cases that escalate to Superior Court will appear in both systems under different case numbers. The District Court case number and the Superior Court case number are not the same.
Middlesex County Court Docket Records
Cambridge is in Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts. The county court system covers dozens of cities and towns, with multiple district courts and the Superior Court in Woburn. For a full overview of all Middlesex County courts, docket search options, and contact information across the county, visit the Middlesex County court docket records page.