Plymouth Court Docket Records
The Plymouth court docket covers cases filed at Plymouth District Court, Plymouth Superior Court, and Plymouth Probate and Family Court, all three of which are located at the same address in Plymouth. Plymouth is a coastal city and the county seat of Plymouth County, with about 60,000 residents. Unlike most Massachusetts cities, Plymouth residents do not need to travel to a separate county seat to reach Superior Court or Probate and Family Court hearings. All three courts share the same Obery Street address. This page explains how to search Plymouth court docket records, what each court handles, how to get copies of documents, and where to find legal help.
Plymouth Overview
Plymouth District Court
Plymouth District Court is at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth. It shares this address with the Superior Court and Probate and Family Court, which makes Plymouth one of the few cities in Massachusetts where all three trial court levels are in the same complex. The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $25,000, small claims, housing disputes, and restraining orders. It is the starting point for most legal matters that arise in Plymouth and the surrounding towns it serves.
| Court | Plymouth District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov - Plymouth District Court |
The Obery Street complex has parking on site. Bring a valid photo ID and allow time to clear security at the entrance. The clerk's office opens at 8:30 AM and handles docket lookups, copy requests, and new filings. Because three separate courts share the address, make sure you go to the right clerk's window when you arrive. Each court has its own clerk's office, and they are not interchangeable. Signs in the building direct visitors to the correct location for each court type.
The Plymouth District Court docket is searchable online through the Massachusetts eAccess portal at masscourts.org. Civil cases are publicly available. Search by party name or case number. Results show party names, case type, filing date, and current status. Docket entries appear in date order and show each action in the case. Some entries link to PDF documents you can view directly from the portal without a trip to the courthouse.
The image below is from the official Plymouth District Court page at mass.gov, which provides current address and hours for the Obery Street location.
The Plymouth District Court page at mass.gov lists the Obery Street address, phone number, and current business hours for the courthouse.
Plymouth Superior Court
Plymouth Superior Court is also at 52 Obery Street, sharing the complex with the District Court and Probate and Family Court. This arrangement is unusual for Massachusetts. In most counties, the Superior Court is in a separate building from the District Court. In Plymouth County, residents have the convenience of accessing all three court levels at the same address. The Superior Court handles felony criminal matters, civil cases above $25,000, and all jury trials. Cases transferred from the District Court or from other lower courts in Plymouth County also come here.
Plymouth Superior Court civil dockets are searchable through masscourts.org. Select Plymouth Superior Court from the court list when running a search. The clerk's office at 52 Obery Street handles all records requests for Superior Court cases in Plymouth County. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For full contact details and location information, see mass.gov/locations/plymouth-superior-court.
Having the Superior Court in Plymouth itself is a practical benefit for residents. There is no need to travel to a different city for a felony hearing or a major civil jury trial. Parking, security, and court facilities are all in the same place. If you have a matter pending in both the District Court and the Superior Court, both clerk's offices are in the same building, making it easier to manage paperwork and deadlines for both cases in a single visit.
Note: The Superior Court and District Court are separate court divisions with separate dockets, even though they share an address. A case number from one court does not cross to the other.
Plymouth Probate and Family Court
Plymouth Probate and Family Court is the third court at 52 Obery Street. This court handles divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, guardianship, adoption, and the probate of estates for Plymouth County residents. As with the Superior Court, having the Probate and Family Court in Plymouth itself rather than a different county seat is convenient for residents. All three major trial court levels are accessible from the same parking lot and entrance.
Probate and Family Court docket records are generally public in Massachusetts. Some case types, especially those involving minor children or protective proceedings, may be sealed or impounded. The eAccess portal at masscourts.org includes Probate and Family Court civil dockets, searchable by name or case number. The clerk's office at Obery Street handles all records requests for Plymouth County family and probate matters. Staff can answer questions about filing requirements and procedures, but they do not give legal advice. For people handling their own family court matter, a self-help center is available at the Plymouth courthouse.
For full contact details and location confirmation, see mass.gov/locations/plymouth-county-probate-and-family-court. The court's page confirms the Obery Street address and provides the current phone number and hours for the clerk's office.
Note: Adoption records and child welfare filings are sealed under Massachusetts law and are not accessible through either the online portal or in-person requests from the general public.
How to Search Plymouth Court Docket Records
Searching Plymouth court docket records is free. The state's eAccess portal at masscourts.org is the main online tool. It covers civil cases at the District Court, Superior Court, and Probate and Family Court. No account or login is required. Search by a party's name or by the case number. When searching by name, include a partial first name if the last name is common. The portal returns a list of matching cases with party names, case type, filing date, and current status.
Criminal case dockets are not available for public name searches online. This is a statewide policy in Massachusetts. If you need criminal case information, visit the Plymouth District Court clerk's office at 52 Obery Street in person. Public terminals in the courthouse provide broader search access. If you have the exact case number, searching by case number sometimes returns criminal docket information that a name search would not. Bring the full legal name and a general time range when visiting in person. Staff at the clerk's counter can run searches and confirm whether a case exists in the system.
The state's guide on how to search court dockets explains the eAccess process step by step. It covers name search formatting, case number structures for each court type, and how to read a docket sheet once you find a case. The court dockets overview at mass.gov describes what each court division's docket contains. Both pages are worth reading before you start a search if you are not familiar with the Massachusetts court system.
Copy fees are consistent across all Massachusetts courts. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. Certified orders and decrees are $20.00 each. Electronic documents obtained through the clerk cost $5.00 per document. Mail requests for copies take 5 to 10 business days. In-person requests are typically completed the same day.
Public Records Law and Court Access in Plymouth
Massachusetts court records are public under M.G.L. c. 66, section 10. Any person can request access to court docket records. The right is broad, but sealed files, impounded cases, and juvenile records are not open to the public. For most civil and criminal matters, the docket sheet and the documents filed in the case are available to anyone who visits the clerk's counter and asks. You do not need to state a reason or show a connection to the case.
Trial Court Rule VIII sets how courts in Massachusetts handle public access to records. Clerk's offices must make docket entries available for inspection. Copies can be made during business hours at established rates. Bring the case number or the party name you are searching. Staff at the clerk's counter will pull the file or print the docket. Certified copies take a bit more time because the court seal must be applied. Most in-person requests are completed the same day, and the process is straightforward at Plymouth's combined courthouse complex.
For formal written public records requests, the procedure is at the Secretary of State's public records page. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. Court clerks handle most routine requests informally in person. A formal written request is more relevant when you need a large volume of documents or when you are dealing with an agency other than the court clerk. The Massachusetts court records site provides additional background on the state court structure and what records each division maintains.
Legal Help in Plymouth
Plymouth residents who need legal help have several options. South Coastal Counties Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to income-eligible residents of Plymouth County. They handle family, housing, and benefits cases. MassLegalHelp.org has plain-language guides on common court issues and a directory of legal aid organizations by county. Court forms are available free at the Plymouth clerk's office or at mass.gov. The Plymouth courthouse also has a self-help center that can assist people navigating family court procedures without a lawyer.
The Massachusetts Bar Association's lawyer referral service is at (617) 654-0400. The first 30-minute consultation costs $25. The MBA's free Dial-A-Lawyer program runs on the first Wednesday of each month at (617) 338-0610. Plymouth County has private attorneys who practice across all three court divisions at the Obery Street complex. The Plymouth County Bar Association can provide referrals. Because Superior, District, and Probate courts all share the same location, Plymouth-based attorneys can manage cases across all three court levels without traveling to separate courthouses, which can benefit clients seeking local representation.
Note: Legal aid eligibility is generally set at 200% of the federal poverty level, but each organization determines its own income threshold, so it is always worth calling to ask whether you qualify.
Plymouth County Court Docket Records
Plymouth is the county seat of Plymouth County, and all three major trial courts for the county are located in the city. The Plymouth County page covers the full court system, docket search options, and resources for all cities and towns in the county.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in Plymouth County and the South Shore also have court docket pages with local courthouse details and search guides.