Chicopee Court Docket Records
Chicopee court docket records span three court levels in Hampden County, with the Chicopee District Court handling local filings and the Hampden Superior Court and Probate and Family Court located in nearby Springfield. This page covers which courts serve Chicopee, how to search court dockets online through Massachusetts eAccess, and how to request copies of case records by mail or in person.
Chicopee Overview
Courts That Handle Chicopee Court Dockets
Chicopee is a city in Hampden County in western Massachusetts. The Chicopee District Court at 30 Church Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 is the local court for district-level criminal and civil matters. This court handles misdemeanor arraignments, civil cases under $25,000, and small claims for the Chicopee area. Having a dedicated District Court in the city gives residents and parties a local venue for routine legal matters rather than traveling to Springfield for initial filings.
More serious cases are handled in Springfield. The Hampden Superior Court at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103 handles felony trials and civil cases over $25,000 for all of Hampden County, including Chicopee. The Hampden Probate and Family Court is also at 50 State Street in Springfield and handles divorce, custody, adoption, guardianship, and estate matters. Both courts are part of the Massachusetts Trial Court system and searchable through eAccess.
| Court | Address |
|---|---|
| Chicopee District Court | 30 Church St, Chicopee, MA 01020 |
| Hampden Superior Court | 50 State St, Springfield, MA 01103 |
| Hampden Probate & Family Court | 50 State St, Springfield, MA 01103 |
Clerk offices at all three courts are open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday and are closed on state holidays. Arriving before 4:00 PM is recommended to allow adequate time with clerk staff.
Searching Chicopee Court Docket Records Online
The free Massachusetts eAccess portal at www.masscourts.org is the main online tool for searching Chicopee court docket records. No registration is required. You can search civil cases by party name or any case type by case number. The portal covers all three courts serving Chicopee: the Chicopee District Court, Hampden Superior Court, and Hampden Probate and Family Court.
Name searches in eAccess return civil cases only. Criminal cases cannot be searched by name through the public portal. This restriction applies statewide and is not specific to Chicopee. If you need to find a criminal case and do not have a case number, visit the Chicopee District Court in person. Public terminals at the courthouse allow broader criminal docket searching than what is available online from home. Clerk staff can also assist with locating specific cases using party names and approximate filing dates.
The mass.gov court dockets search overview explains all available search tools and links to court calendars. The how to search court dockets guide walks through the eAccess system in detail and explains what each search field returns. Both resources help when you are searching for the first time.
The screenshot below shows the Chicopee District Court page, confirming the court's location and contact details.
That page at mass.gov/locations/chicopee-district-court lists the phone number, address, and any current service notices for the Chicopee District Court.
Note: Always select the correct court from the eAccess dropdown before running a search. Searching under the wrong court location will return no results even if the case exists.
Chicopee District Court Docket Details
The Chicopee District Court handles a wide range of local legal matters. Misdemeanor criminal arraignments take place here, as do civil filings under $25,000 and small claims cases under $7,000. Restraining orders and harassment prevention order applications for Chicopee residents are also processed through this court. Once a case is filed and a case number assigned, it becomes searchable in eAccess by that number.
Clerk Magistrate Hearings are a private pre-complaint step in the criminal process. A hearing officer reviews whether there is probable cause to issue a formal criminal complaint. These hearings are not open to the public, and no docket entry is created unless a complaint is actually issued. Once a complaint is issued, the case enters the public docket with its own number. That record is then searchable through eAccess. If a complaint was not issued, no record of the hearing will appear in any public docket.
The Chicopee District Court is located at 30 Church Street in downtown Chicopee. Visiting in person is the most efficient option for accessing public terminals for criminal searches or for requesting copies of documents on the same day. The clerk's office at this location handles both civil and criminal docket records. For cases where you need certified copies quickly, an in-person visit is faster than a mail request.
Note: Chicopee District Court case numbers include a court-specific code in the prefix. If you are unsure how to format the number in eAccess, the clerk can confirm the correct structure before you start searching.
Hampden Superior Court and Chicopee Cases
Chicopee cases involving felony charges or civil claims over $25,000 go to Hampden Superior Court in Springfield. Once a case passes the district-level arraignment and the defendant is bound over for jury trial, the docket continues at Superior Court. Superior Court records include pre-trial motions, evidence decisions, scheduling orders, jury verdicts, and sentencing documents. If you are researching a serious felony or a large civil matter involving a Chicopee party, the Hampden Superior Court docket in Springfield is where to look.
Hampden Superior Court dockets are searchable through eAccess by case number. Civil name searches also work at this level. More information on the court is available at mass.gov through the Hampden Superior Court location page, or visit mass.gov/locations/hampden-superior-court. Appeals from Chicopee District Court decisions go to the Appellate Division, not to the Appeals Court. Only Superior Court decisions move to the Massachusetts Appeals Court, with those dockets available through the Appeals Court case information tool.
Hampden Probate and Family Court for Chicopee
Divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, and estate matters for Chicopee residents are handled by the Hampden Probate and Family Court at 50 State Street, Springfield. The probate and family docket is separate from the District and Superior Court systems. If you need to find a divorce filing or a probate case involving a Chicopee party, the Probate and Family Court docket in Springfield is the correct place to search.
Probate and Family Court dockets are part of eAccess and searchable by case number or party name for civil matters. Some fields in cases involving minors may be restricted in the online portal. Wills and estate inventories admitted to probate are public records and accessible through eAccess. Older probate records that predate eAccess may only be in paper form at the Springfield courthouse. If an online search returns nothing for an older case, contacting the court by phone is a good next step to confirm whether paper records exist.
Mail requests for Hampden Probate and Family Court records go to 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Include the case number, party names, and a description of the documents you need. Enclose the correct fee. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days. Note that both the Superior Court and the Probate and Family Court share the same address at 50 State Street, so clearly label your request with the correct court name to avoid delays.
Note: Guardianship cases involving Chicopee residents are filed in the Hampden Probate and Family Court in Springfield, not in the Chicopee District Court. Confirm the filing court before searching or submitting a request.
Getting Copies of Chicopee Court Docket Records
Copies of Chicopee court records are available by visiting the clerk's office at the relevant courthouse, mailing a written request, or downloading documents through eAccess where available. The right method depends on how quickly you need the records and whether you require certification.
Massachusetts Trial Court copy fees apply at all courts serving Chicopee. 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 available through eAccess cost $5.00 each. Payment at the clerk window is typically by check or money order. Call ahead to the specific court to confirm accepted payment methods before visiting.
For mail requests to the Chicopee District Court, write to 30 Church Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For Superior or Probate and Family Court cases, mail requests go to 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Clearly identify which court department your request is for. Include the case number, party names, and a specific description of what you need. Attach the correct fee. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days. Providing the case number makes processing significantly faster.
Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10, public records requests must receive a response within 10 business days. Trial Court Rule VIII governs access to court records. Most docket entries are public. Sealed cases, impounded files, and records involving minors are not available to the public. The site massachusettscourtrecords.org aggregates publicly available case data and can help you identify case numbers before requesting official records.
Hampden County Court Docket Records
Chicopee is part of Hampden County. All courts serving the city are part of the Hampden County court system. For a complete overview of courts, clerk offices, and docket search resources across Hampden County, including Springfield, visit the Hampden County court docket records page.