Massachusetts Public Records

Massachusetts is rich in history with records that date back to 1635.  A boon for genealogists, Massachusetts is an open records state with few restrictions imposed on records. Most Massachusetts birth records, death, marriage and divorce records are available to anyone, with slight restrictions placed on special types of birth and marriage records. These Massachusetts public records are available through the Department of Health and Human Services. Also available are Massachusetts court records, which include civil, criminal and divorce court records, most of which should be requested from the specific court that handled the case. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) provides an online public search tool for Massachusetts criminal records, which is open to the public. The State Archives provides many Massachusetts public records like vital records, Massachusetts military records and cemetery records.

About Massachusetts Public Records

Massachusetts is truly an open records state with public access to many types of records, including vital records and criminal records. However, Massachusetts birth records for children born out of wedlock are restricted to the person of record or family members. Also, Massachusetts marriage records where the bride or groom was born out of wedlock are also restricted to authorized recipients. Otherwise, Massachusetts death records, birth, marriage and divorce records are considered to be Massachusetts public records.

Vital records are conveniently available from the Department of Health and Human Services. However, the state repository only maintains divorce records from 1952 to the present. Older divorce records should be requested from the Probate Court that handled the case. Massachusetts birth records, death and marriage records are on file from 1921 to the present. Earlier records, prior to 1841, can be found in the local town or city where the event occurred. Otherwise, vital records from 1841 through 1920 are located at the State Archives.

Searching Massachusetts Gov Public Records

Massachusetts court records are mostly open records.  However, any proceedings sealed by a judge or involving juveniles or family matters like adoption or paternity are protected. Unfortunately, there is no online, court-sponsored search tool for Massachusetts court records. There is a central Massachusetts court website that provides an overview of the individual courts in the state and provides contact details. These should be used to contact the specific court that holds any civil, criminal or divorce records you’re interested in viewing.

Accessing Massachusetts gov public records also includes public access to criminal records. These are maintained by the DCJIS. Although only criminal conviction information is a matter of public record, a name-based search on a third party can easily be performed online for instant results. This type of Massachusetts gov public records requires a fee. Another option is to request criminal court records from various state courts.

Performing a Massachusetts Public Records Search

The State Archives is an important facility in Massachusetts, as it holds valuable historic records pertaining to the state’s long past. For instance, anyone may access the vast collection of Massachusetts military records that date back to 1643. These records cover topics like the Civil War, War of 1812, Colonial Wars, Shays’ Rebellion, the garrison on Castle Island, and the Spanish American War. Also available are historic Massachusetts vital records, including historic divorce records from the seventeenth century.

A Massachusetts public records search will yield a plethora of material for those performing genealogy research into Massachusetts ancestors. Some Massachusetts cemetery records exist as well. The State Archives is open to the public, and their Archives Collection offers a searchable database with many possible subjects to help narrow down the types of records of interest. The 100,000 square foot building filled with historic Massachusetts free public records requires no admittance fee. Limited research requests are accepted in person, by mail, email, phone or fax, although staff cannot actively perform research tasks other than copying indexed records upon request for a fee and mailing these.