Fall River Court Docket Search

Fall River court docket records are filed at two courts within the city: Fall River Superior Court and Fall River District Court. The city is in Bristol County on the South Coast with about 94,000 residents. Having both a Superior Court and a District Court in the city means most residents can handle their court matters locally. Probate and Family Court cases go to Taunton. This page covers how to search Fall River court dockets, what each court handles, where to find each one, and how to request copies of court records.

Fall River District Court

Fall River District Court is at 186 South Main Street in Fall River. This court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims, housing disputes, and restraining orders. Most Fall River residents encounter the court system here before any other court. The docket is active and covers a wide variety of case types. The clerk's office can look up any case by party name or docket number.

The courthouse is in downtown Fall River on South Main Street. There is street parking nearby and a city parking lot a short walk away. Plan to arrive early on busy hearing days because the security line can take time. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff at the clerk's office open at 8:30 AM and can help you find a case, understand what forms to file, or request copies of documents. They do not give legal advice, but they will point you to the right form and the right window.

The Fall River District Court docket covers civil and criminal cases filed in this court's jurisdiction. You can search civil dockets for this court through the state's eAccess portal at masscourts.org. Select Fall River District Court from the court list, then search by name or case number. Criminal dockets are not searchable by name through the public internet portal. For criminal case information, visit the clerk's office or use the public terminals inside the courthouse, which provide broader access than the online system.

The Fall River District Court page at mass.gov lists the address, phone number, and hours for the South Main Street courthouse.

Fall River Superior Court

Fall River also has a Superior Court location at 441 North Main Street. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $25,000, and jury trials. The presence of a Superior Court within Fall River is significant. Residents facing serious charges or large civil suits do not need to travel to New Bedford or Taunton for their Superior Court hearings. The Fall River Superior Court is one of two Superior Court locations for Bristol County, along with the one in New Bedford.

Superior Court dockets for civil cases are searchable through masscourts.org. Select Bristol Superior Court (Fall River) or the appropriate Superior Court location for the case you are searching. Civil dockets are public and searchable by name or case number. Criminal dockets at the Superior Court level are also not available through public name search online. Contact the clerk at (508) 491-8300 for criminal case information or to request certified copies of Superior Court records.

The Superior Court building is on North Main Street in Fall River. It is close to the District Court on South Main Street, so people with matters at both courts can handle them in the same area. Parking is available on the street and in nearby municipal lots. Arrive early for any scheduled hearing.

Note: Cases can move between the District Court and Superior Court depending on how charges are amended or how civil matters develop, so check both dockets if you are not sure which court is currently handling a case.

How to Search Fall River Court Dockets

Searching Fall River court docket records starts at masscourts.org. The portal is free. You do not need an account. Pick the court you want to search from the dropdown list. For local civil and misdemeanor matters, choose Fall River District Court. For major civil or criminal cases, select the relevant Bristol Superior Court location. Type in a last name or case number and press search. Results come back quickly and show all matching cases with party names, case type, filing date, and a list of docket entries.

The state's guide on how to search court dockets explains the eAccess system step by step. It covers name search tips, case number formats, and how to read what comes back. If you are new to searching court records, this guide is worth a few minutes of your time. The court dockets overview page explains which case types are in the portal and what to expect from each court division.

Name searches work best with the full last name. If you are not sure of the spelling, try a shorter version and let the system match partial names. First name helps narrow results when many people share a last name. The filing year is useful when searching for older cases. Case numbers are the most precise way to find a specific filing. They include the year, a court code, and a sequential number. The clerk's office can help you read a case number if the format is unclear.

Copies of documents from the Fall River courts follow the standard Massachusetts fee schedule. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. An order or decree with full certification is $20.00. Electronic documents through eAccess are $5.00 each. Pay at the clerk's window for in-person copy requests. Mail requests require a check or money order payable to the court.

Bristol Probate and Family Court

Fall River residents who need to file divorce, custody, guardianship, or probate matters must travel to Taunton. Bristol Probate and Family Court is at 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. Taunton is the county seat. The drive from Fall River to Taunton takes about 20 to 25 minutes. There is no MBTA rail connection between the two cities, so most people drive.

The Probate and Family Court handles all family law and estate matters for Bristol County. This includes divorce proceedings, child custody and support cases, adoption, guardianship, and estate probate. Cases from Fall River and all other Bristol County communities are heard in Taunton. The clerk's phone number is (508) 824-4004. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Probate and Family Court dockets are searchable through masscourts.org for most civil matter types. Some records involving minor children or sensitive family matters are impounded and not accessible online. For those, contact the Taunton clerk directly. If you need certified copies of divorce decrees or custody orders, request them at the Taunton clerk's office in person or by mail.

Your Right to Access Court Records

Court docket records in Massachusetts are public under M.G.L. c. 66, section 10. The law gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records. Government agencies, including courts, must respond to records requests within 10 business days. Trial Court Rule VIII applies specifically to court records and requires clerks to make docket sheets available to the public at the counter during business hours. You do not need to explain why you want to see a record.

At Fall River District Court and Fall River Superior Court, most docket access happens informally at the clerk's window. Walk in, ask for a case by name or number, and staff will pull it up. If the record is sealed or the case involves a juvenile, the clerk will let you know that access is restricted. Sealed records require a court order to open. Juvenile records are not public. Some adult criminal records tied to dismissed or resolved cases may also have access limits depending on the outcome.

If you need a formal public records request in writing, the instructions are at the Secretary of State's public records page. Written requests are usually not necessary for basic docket lookups but are useful when requesting a large volume of records or when informal access has been denied. The Massachusetts court records reference site provides background on the different types of records and what each one typically contains.

Note: The public records law applies broadly, but court records are governed more specifically by Trial Court Rule VIII, which can create different procedures than those used for non-court agencies.

Legal Resources in Fall River

South Coastal Counties Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to income-eligible residents in Bristol County, including Fall River. They handle housing, family, and benefits cases. Call (508) 979-7150 for information and eligibility. Greater Boston Legal Services at (617) 371-1234 may also assist with some Bristol County cases depending on the matter type and income level.

For attorney referrals, contact the Massachusetts Bar Association at (617) 654-0400. A $25 consultation fee covers the first 30 minutes with a licensed lawyer. The MBA also offers a free Dial-A-Lawyer program on the first Wednesday of each month. Call (617) 338-0610 for that program. Self-represented litigants can find plain-language guides at MassLegalHelp.org. Court forms are free at mass.gov or at the clerk's window at Fall River District Court or Fall River Superior Court.

Private attorneys who practice at Fall River courts cover civil litigation, family law, criminal defense, and other matter types. The Bristol County Bar Association can provide referrals. If you are unsure what type of lawyer you need, call the MBA referral line and describe your situation. They will direct you to the right practice area. Appellate case information for cases that go beyond the trial court is at mass.gov appeals court case information.

Bristol County Court Docket Records

Fall River is in Bristol County. Many county-level court matters for Fall River residents are heard at courts within the city. The Bristol County page covers all courts in the county, docket search tools, and records access information for the full county.

View Bristol County Court Docket Records

Nearby Cities

Other Bristol County cities and nearby communities also have court docket pages with local court details and filing guides.

• New Bedford Court Docket Records
• Taunton Court Docket Records
• Brockton Court Docket Records