Taunton Court Docket Records
Taunton court docket records span three court levels in Bristol County, and the city itself hosts both the Taunton District Court and the Bristol County Probate and Family Court. This page covers how to search Taunton court dockets online, which courts serve the city, where to find Bristol Superior Court records, and how to request certified or plain copies from the clerk's office.
Taunton Overview
Courts That Handle Taunton Court Dockets
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County and serves as a hub for several courts. The Taunton District Court at 120 Cohannet Street, Taunton, MA 02780 handles criminal arraignments, civil cases under $25,000, and small claims for the Taunton area. The Bristol County Probate and Family Court also sits in Taunton at 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. This means residents dealing with divorce, custody, guardianship, or estate matters can file and access those records right in the city without traveling to another town.
For more serious cases, the Bristol Superior Court in New Bedford handles felony trials and large civil matters. That courthouse is at 441 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. When a case starts at the Taunton District Court and gets bound over for jury trial on a felony charge, the docket continues at the Superior Court level in New Bedford. The same applies to civil claims over $25,000 that require Superior Court jurisdiction.
| Court | Address |
|---|---|
| Taunton District Court | 120 Cohannet St, Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Bristol Probate & Family Court | 11 Court St, Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Bristol Superior Court | 441 County St, New Bedford, MA 02740 |
All clerk offices are open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Courts are closed on state holidays. Plan to arrive before 4:00 PM to have adequate time with the clerk staff.
Searching Taunton Court Docket Records Online
Massachusetts eAccess at www.masscourts.org is the main online tool for searching Taunton court docket records. The service is free and requires no login. You can search civil cases by the names of the parties or look up any case type if you already have a case number. The portal covers all three courts serving Taunton: the Taunton District Court, the Bristol Probate and Family Court, and the Bristol Superior Court in New Bedford.
Name searches in eAccess pull up civil cases only. Criminal cases cannot be searched by name through the public portal. This restriction applies statewide and is not specific to Taunton. If you need to find a criminal case and don't have the case number, visit the Taunton District Court in person. Public terminals at the courthouse allow more detailed criminal docket searches. Staff can help you narrow down a case if you know the party names and approximate date the case was filed.
The court dockets overview page on mass.gov explains all the available search tools. The how to search court dockets guide walks through the eAccess system step by step, covering what each search field does and what results to expect. These are useful resources if you are searching for the first time.
The screenshot below shows the Taunton District Court page, confirming the court's address and contact details.
That page at mass.gov/locations/taunton-district-court includes the court's phone number and any current service updates.
Note: Select the correct court from the eAccess dropdown before searching. Entering a search under the wrong court location will return no results even if the case exists.
Taunton District Court Docket Details
The Taunton District Court handles a broad range of case types that affect daily life in the area. Misdemeanor criminal matters, including arraignments for charges like assault, driving under the influence, and shoplifting, all begin here. Civil claims under $25,000 are also filed in this court, covering disputes such as unpaid contracts, property damage, and personal injury matters that fall below the Superior Court threshold. Small claims cases under $7,000 have their own simplified process within the District Court docket.
Clerk Magistrate Hearings at the Taunton District Court are a 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 private, meaning the public cannot attend and no docket entry is created unless a complaint is actually issued. Once a complaint is issued, a case number is assigned and the case enters the public docket. That entry is then searchable through eAccess by case number.
The Taunton District Court also handles applications for restraining orders and harassment prevention orders. Active orders that are not sealed appear in the public docket. If you are researching whether an active order exists for a specific party, eAccess can show the case record by case number. For the most current enforcement status on an active order, contacting the court directly is the best approach.
Note: District Court case numbers in Taunton include a court-specific prefix. If you are unsure of the format, the clerk's office can tell you what to enter in eAccess.
Bristol Probate and Family Court Dockets in Taunton
The Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton handles family and estate matters for all of Bristol County. Divorce filings, child custody and support orders, adoption proceedings, guardianships, and probate of wills all go through this court. Because the court is physically located in Taunton at 11 Court Street, residents do not need to travel to New Bedford or Fall River to access these records or file these types of cases.
Probate and Family Court dockets are part of eAccess and can be searched by case number or by party name for civil matters. Some records in family cases involving minors may have restricted fields in the online system. Wills admitted to probate and estate inventories are public records. Guardianship filings may have limited online visibility, though the case itself will still appear in the docket.
If you are researching a divorce or custody case filed in Taunton, search under the Bristol Probate and Family Court in eAccess. More details about the court are at mass.gov/locations/bristol-county-probate-and-family-court. Older probate records that predate eAccess may only be available in paper form at the courthouse.
Note: Estate cases for Taunton residents are filed in Bristol Probate and Family Court even if the deceased lived closer to a different county's border. The filing location is based on where the person was domiciled at time of death.
Bristol Superior Court and Taunton Cases
Felony trials and high-value civil cases involving Taunton parties are handled by the Bristol Superior Court in New Bedford. Once a felony case moves past the arraignment and probable cause stages at the District Court level, the docket continues at Superior Court. That docket includes pre-trial motions, rulings, witness lists, jury selection records, verdicts, and sentencing entries. These records provide the most complete picture of how a serious case progressed through the courts.
Bristol Superior Court dockets are searchable through eAccess by case number. Civil name searches also work at this level. If you are researching a high-value judgment or a felony conviction involving a Taunton party, the Bristol Superior Court docket in New Bedford is where to look. More information is available at mass.gov through the Bristol Superior Court location page. Appeals from Superior Court decisions go to the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Those appellate dockets are available through the Appeals Court case information tool at mass.gov.
Getting Copies of Taunton Court Docket Records
Copies of Taunton court records are available through three channels: visiting the clerk's office in person, submitting a mail request, or downloading documents through eAccess where the option exists.
The Massachusetts Trial Court sets uniform copy fees for all locations. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Certifying a court order or decree carries a $20.00 fee. Electronic documents available through eAccess cost $5.00 each. Payment at the clerk's window is usually by check or money order. Confirm accepted payment methods with the specific court before visiting, as policies can vary slightly.
Mail requests should be directed to the clerk at the court where the case was filed. For District Court cases, send to 120 Cohannet Street, Taunton, MA 02780. For Probate and Family Court cases, send to 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. For Superior Court cases, send to 441 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. Include the case number, party names, and a description of what you need. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days. Including the case number speeds up every request significantly.
Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10, agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 business days. Court records follow Trial Court Rule VIII. Most docket entries are public. Sealed cases, impounded files, and cases involving minors are not publicly accessible. The site massachusettscourtrecords.org can help you find case numbers before making a formal records request.
Bristol County Court Docket Records
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County. All courts serving Taunton are part of the Bristol County court system. For a complete list of courts, clerk offices, and docket resources across Bristol County, including Fall River and New Bedford, visit the Bristol County court docket records page.