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Massachusetts Public Records Resources & Searches

What are public records? The exact definition varies but is generally referred to as government records that hold valuable public information and are available to the public under the notion of open government. Said public records may include birth records, death records, marriage records, military records, court records and so forth.

Many people have some interest in public records. Some people require a certain state record for a specific need, for example, a copy of a death certificate to prove a person has deceased. Others wish to make a search record to find out about an individual, for example a concerned father may want to look into the criminal record of the person dating his daughter. Others simply wish to obtain information regarding their ancestry research.

Most people obviously are interested in free public records, however, certain agencies and online services may charge a small fee to obtain the public record. Some states add some limitations on which public records can be obtained in the even where there is reason to believe the public record's exposure will lead to a violation of privacy of an individual or may lead to actual harm to an individual or the general public.

The Guide for Massachusetts Public Records Law states that all non-confidential government records must be available to the public during working hours. The public has a right to either examine the records or obtain copies of them. The Secretary of the Commonwealth explains that any public records in Massachusetts may be requested verbally in person but that it is always best to request Massachusetts public records in writing to avoid any confusion as well as to create a record of the documentation you are looking for.