Bristol County Court Docket
Bristol County court docket records cover cases filed at courts in New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Attleboro. The county has multiple Superior Court and District Court locations spread across southeastern Massachusetts, which means knowing the right courthouse is the first step before you search. You can look up most civil case dockets for free through the state's eAccess portal. This page explains how to find Bristol County court records, which courts hold which cases, and how to get copies of documents you need.
Bristol County Overview
Bristol County Courts
Bristol County is large enough that the state operates two Superior Court locations here. The Bristol Superior Court in New Bedford and the Fall River Superior Court each handle major civil and criminal cases for their parts of the county. This split is uncommon among Massachusetts counties and it matters when you search for a docket. A case filed in Fall River will not appear in the New Bedford docket index, so you need to check both if you are unsure where the case was filed.
The Bristol County Probate and Family Court is centralized in Taunton at 11 Court Street. All divorce, guardianship, adoption, and estate cases for the whole county go through this one location. The District Courts are split by city. Attleboro District Court handles the northern part of the county, while Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton each have their own District Court for local criminal and civil matters. Clerk offices at all locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Court | Address |
|---|---|
| Bristol Superior Court (New Bedford) | 441 County St, New Bedford, MA 02740 |
| Fall River Superior Court | 441 N Main St, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Bristol Probate & Family Court | 11 Court St, Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Attleboro District Court | 88 N Main St, Attleboro, MA 02703 |
| Fall River District Court | 186 S Main St, Fall River, MA 02721 |
| New Bedford District Court | 75 N 6th St, New Bedford, MA 02740 |
| Taunton District Court | 120 Cohannet St, Taunton, MA 02780 |
Searching Bristol County Court Dockets Online
The Massachusetts Trial Court's eAccess portal at masscourts.org is the main tool for looking up court dockets in Bristol County. It is free to use and does not require you to create an account. You can search by party name for civil cases or by case number for any case type. The system covers Superior Court, District Court, Probate and Family Court, and other Trial Court departments across the county.
One thing to keep in mind: criminal case name searching is not available through the public eAccess portal. If you are looking for a criminal case and do not have the case number, you will need to contact the clerk's office at the relevant courthouse directly or visit in person. Public access terminals at the courthouses give broader search options than what the internet portal offers, including some record types that are restricted from remote access.
The state also provides guidance on how to search court dockets and a general court dockets overview. These pages walk through the search steps and explain what information you can find for each case type. If you run into trouble with the online portal, the clerk's office can run a search for you by phone or in person.
The New Bedford District Court page on mass.gov shows what a typical Bristol County court location looks like online. The screenshot below was captured from the official court directory for that location.
The New Bedford District Court listing on mass.gov includes address, phone, hours, and department information for one of the busiest courts in the county.
The court directory page is a good starting point when you need to confirm which location to contact or visit before requesting docket records.
Note: The eAccess portal uses a name-based search for civil cases. Searching by exact last name and first name gives the most accurate results.
Getting Copies of Bristol County Court Records
You can get copies of court docket documents in Bristol County by visiting the clerk's office in person, mailing a written request, or in some cases downloading electronic documents through eAccess. The fee schedule is set by the Massachusetts Trial Court and applies at all locations in the county.
Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page for non-certified copies and $2.50 per page for certified copies. Certificates of orders or decrees cost $20.00 each. Electronic documents accessed through the eAccess portal cost $5.00 per document. If you need audio recordings of hearings, the fee is $50.50 per 90 minutes, plus a $4.00 mailing charge if you want a CD. Mail requests are generally processed within 5 to 10 business days. For large requests or older cases stored off-site, processing can take longer.
When you write or visit the clerk's office, you will need to provide the full case name or case number, the type of document you want, and the year the case was filed. Having the case number speeds up the process significantly. You can usually find the case number using the eAccess portal before you make your in-person or mail request.
Massachusetts public records law under M.G.L. c. 66, ยง 10 gives the public the right to access court records. Agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 business days. Court records are generally open to anyone, not just the parties in the case. Some records, such as certain juvenile or sealed filings, have restricted access under court rules.
Note: Bring a valid ID when visiting any Bristol County courthouse. Staff may ask for it when processing copy requests or allowing access to terminal search stations.
Types of Cases in the Bristol County Court Docket
The Bristol County court docket covers a wide range of case types spread across its seven court locations. Superior Courts in New Bedford and Fall River handle major felony criminal cases, large civil lawsuits, and jury trials. Cases where the dollar amount in dispute exceeds $50,000 typically land in Superior Court. Smaller civil disputes and most misdemeanor criminal matters go to District Court.
The Probate and Family Court docket in Taunton covers divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, conservatorship, and estate administration. Probate cases often have multiple docket entries over months or years as the case moves through each step. The eAccess portal covers Probate and Family Court filings, so you can search divorce and estate cases by name for free.
Common case types you will find in the Bristol County court docket include:
- Civil lawsuits (contract disputes, personal injury, small claims)
- Criminal cases (arraignments, hearings, sentencing)
- Divorce and family law filings
- Probate and estate cases
- Restraining orders and protective orders
- Housing court matters (evictions, code enforcement)
- Appeals from lower court decisions
Each court location maintains its own docket index. If you are searching for a case and do not know which court it was filed in, start with the eAccess portal and search both the Superior Court and District Court indexes. The court system's public records guidelines under Trial Court Rule VIII spell out what information is available and how to access it.
Legal Help and Self-Help Resources in Bristol County
If you need help understanding a court docket entry or navigating the court system, several resources are available in Bristol County. The Massachusetts Trial Court's self-help centers provide free assistance to people who do not have a lawyer. Staff at these centers can explain what a docket entry means, help you find the right form, and point you to the right court department for your type of case.
South Coastal Counties Legal Services serves Bristol County and provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents. They handle family law, housing, and other civil matters. The Massachusetts Bar Association's lawyer referral service can connect you with a local family law or civil attorney. The first consultation is typically available at a reduced rate. MassachusettsCourtRecords.org provides additional background on how the court record system works statewide.
For federal cases filed in Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court handles matters in the Bristol County area. You can search federal case dockets through the PACER system. The U.S. District Court for Massachusetts website explains how to access federal dockets. Federal cases are separate from state court dockets and will not appear in the masscourts.org portal.
The Boston Bar Journal's article on public access to electronic judicial records gives useful context on how Massachusetts handles public access to court data compared to other states. It covers the history of the eAccess system and ongoing policy questions around remote access to court records.
Cities in Bristol County
Three cities in Bristol County have individual court docket pages. All file cases through the Bristol County court system, with the specific courthouse depending on case type and city location.
Other communities in Bristol County such as Attleboro, North Attleborough, and Dartmouth access court dockets through the same courthouse network but do not have separate city pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Bristol County. If you are not sure which county court has jurisdiction over a case, the filing address and the residence of the parties usually determines the correct court location.