Springfield Court Docket Records
Springfield is the county seat of Hampden County and the largest city in western Massachusetts. Court docket records for Springfield cases are filed at three courts, all located at 50 State Street in downtown Springfield. This page explains how to search Springfield court dockets, which courts handle which types of cases, and how to get copies of records by mail or in person.
Springfield Overview
Courts That Handle Springfield Court Dockets
All three trial courts for Springfield cases share one address: 50 State Street in downtown Springfield. This single-building setup makes in-person visits straightforward. Whether you need a civil docket from Superior Court, a criminal docket from District Court, or a family case from Probate Court, all three clerk offices are in the same location. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102.
| Court | Address |
|---|---|
| Hampden Superior Court | 50 State St, Springfield, MA 01103 |
| Springfield District Court | 50 State St, Springfield, MA 01103 |
| Hampden Probate & Family Court | 50 State St, Springfield, MA 01103 |
Clerk offices are open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Plan to arrive before 4:00 PM. Courts close on state holidays. The Springfield District Court is the first stop for most criminal cases in the city. Arraignments, bail hearings, and misdemeanor trials all happen here. Civil cases under $25,000 and small claims also go through District Court.
Hampden Superior Court takes over for felony trials and large civil matters. Probate and Family Court handles divorce, guardianship, adoption, and estate cases for all of Hampden County. All three court dockets are part of the statewide eAccess system.
More information on each court is at the official mass.gov pages: Hampden Superior Court, Springfield District Court, and Hampden Probate and Family Court.
How to Search Springfield Court Docket Records
The free eAccess portal at www.masscourts.org is the main tool for searching Springfield court dockets online. No account is needed. You can search by party name for civil cases or by case number for any case type. The system shows docket entries, party names, hearing dates, and case status for District Court, Superior Court, and Probate Court cases.
Criminal name searches are not available through public eAccess. If you need to find a criminal case and you do not have the case number, visit the courthouse in person. Public terminals at 50 State Street allow more complete criminal docket access than what is available from a home connection. This is standard practice at all Massachusetts trial courts, not just Springfield.
The how-to-search guide at mass.gov walks through the eAccess process and explains what each search field means. The main court dockets and calendars page also links to hearing schedules for Springfield courts, which can be useful for tracking an active case without having to call the clerk.
The image below shows the Springfield District Court page, which is the source for Springfield court docket records at the district level.
This official court page provides contact information, hours, and links to the eAccess search portal specific to Springfield District Court.
Note: Springfield court dockets are indexed separately by court type in eAccess. Make sure you select the right court from the dropdown menu before running your search.
Hampden Superior Court Dockets
Hampden Superior Court is the top-level trial court for the Springfield area. Felony criminal trials, civil cases over $25,000, and jury trials in both categories all happen here. If you are researching a serious criminal case or a large civil dispute that originated in Springfield or anywhere else in Hampden County, this is the court whose docket you need.
Superior Court dockets are more detailed than district-level dockets. They include motion filings, scheduling orders, pre-trial conference records, jury selection records, verdicts, and final judgments. You can search by case number through eAccess, or visit the clerk's office at 50 State Street in person. Clerks can retrieve files and make copies on request.
Copy fees are set statewide by the Massachusetts Trial Court. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. Certification of court orders and decrees carries a $20.00 fee. Electronic documents through eAccess cost $5.00 per document. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102, and take 5 to 10 business days to process. Include the case number, party names, and a check or money order.
Western Massachusetts Federal Court in Springfield
Springfield also has a federal court presence. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court Springfield Division is at 300 State Street, Springfield, MA 01105, phone (413) 785-6900. The federal courthouse is also at 300 State Street, phone 413-785-6800. Federal court dockets are not part of the Massachusetts eAccess system.
Federal civil and criminal dockets are on the PACER system, the federal courts' online access tool. Bankruptcy cases are searchable through the federal bankruptcy court's own portal. If you are looking for a federal case that passed through Springfield, PACER is the right tool. It charges per page for document downloads but does allow free browsing of docket entries up to a small dollar threshold each quarter.
For state court dockets in Springfield, stick with eAccess. For federal cases, use PACER. The two systems are completely separate, and state dockets will not show up in PACER and vice versa.
Western Massachusetts Law Library
The Western Massachusetts Law Library is located at 50 State Street, right inside the courthouse. It is open to the public and gives free access to legal research materials including Massachusetts statutes, case reporters, practice guides, and online legal databases.
Library staff can help you find relevant statutes and court rules. They cannot give legal advice, but they can point you to the right section of the Massachusetts General Laws or help you understand how a particular rule works. For Springfield residents who want to research their own case or understand a docket entry, this is a valuable free resource available right at the courthouse.
Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10, public records requests require a response within 10 business days. Trial Court Rule VIII governs access to court records. Most docket entries are open to the public. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and impounded documents are not publicly available. Contact the clerk's office to find out what is accessible in a specific case.
Note: The Western Massachusetts Law Library is a good first stop before visiting the clerk's office, since it can help you understand what type of case record you are looking for and which court holds it.
Getting Copies of Springfield Court Records
You have three ways to get copies of Springfield court docket records. Visit the clerk's office in person at 50 State Street during business hours. Send a mail request to P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102. Or download electronic documents through eAccess where available.
In-person visits are the fastest way to get copies. Bring the case number and party names. The clerk can pull the file and make copies while you wait. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page, and non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Pay by cash or check at the window. If you need a court order or decree certified, the fee is $20.00 separate from the per-page cost.
Mail requests work well if you already know the case number and do not need copies the same day. Send a written request with the case number, names of the parties, and the specific documents you need. Include a check for the estimated fee. The clerk will send copies back by mail, usually within 5 to 10 business days. If the fee is wrong, they may contact you before processing the request.
Electronic documents are available through eAccess for some case types. The fee is $5.00 per document. Not all case records are available electronically. Older cases filed before courts were fully digitized may require an in-person or mail request to access physical paper files. The court dockets overview at mass.gov explains what is available online and what requires a visit.
Hampden County Court Docket Records
Springfield is the county seat of Hampden County. The county court system also includes district courts serving Chicopee, Holyoke, Palmer, and other nearby communities. For a complete overview of all Hampden County courts, docket search tools, and records offices, visit the Hampden County court docket records page.