Find Massachusetts Public Records
Massachusetts public records are open to any person who asks. Government documents made or received by state and local agencies are presumed public unless a specific exemption applies. You can search property records, court cases, vital records, criminal information, and much more through state and local databases. City and town clerks, registries of deeds, courts, and police departments all hold public records in Massachusetts. This guide covers where to find them, how to submit a request, and where to look in each of the 14 counties and major cities across the state.
Massachusetts Public Records at a Glance
Massachusetts Public Records Law
The main law governing public records in Massachusetts is MGL Chapter 66, Section 10. This statute has been part of state law since 1851. A major update took effect on January 1, 2017. The reforms added new rights for people making requests and placed firm duties on agencies. Every government body in Massachusetts must now have a designated Records Access Officer, or RAO, as the first point of contact for all records requests.
Public records are defined broadly under the law. Any book, paper, map, photo, tape, financial statement, or other documentary material made or received by a government officer or employee qualifies as a public record. This covers state agencies, cities and towns, courts, school districts, police departments, and all other public bodies. The rule applies regardless of format: paper, digital, video, audio, or otherwise.
There are 22 specific exemptions listed under MGL c.4, ยง7(26). Common ones cover active law enforcement investigations, personnel files, attorney work product, and trade secrets. Agencies carry the burden of proving any exemption applies. You do not have to prove you have a reason for asking. If an agency denies your request, you have the right to appeal that decision.
The Secretary of Commonwealth's office at mass.gov oversees the Division of Public Records. This division handles appeals, issues guidance, and holds agencies accountable under the law.
The Supervisor of Records within this office reviews appeals from people whose requests were denied. You can reach them at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108, or by phone at (617) 727-2832.
Where to Find Massachusetts Public Records Online
Several free state databases let you search public records from your computer. Which one you use depends on the type of document you need. Property records, court files, vital records, and criminal history each live in a different system.
Court case records are searchable through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access system. Go to masscourts.org for free access. The portal covers all trial court departments: District Court, Superior Court, Housing Court, Land Court, Probate and Family Court, and Boston Municipal Court. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney BBO number. The system shows docket entries, case status, party information, and scheduled hearings. Document images are generally not available online. For copies of actual filings, contact the clerk's office at the relevant court.
This free tool works for most civil and probate cases. Criminal name searches are not available online through MassCourts. Searching requires selecting a court department, then a division, then entering your search criteria. You can search by case type with a 30-day date range if you do not know the case number.
The Secretary of Commonwealth runs the statewide land records portal. MassLandRecords.com covers all 21 registry of deeds districts across the state. Search by owner name, property address, document type, or book and page number. Records go back to the 1600s in some counties. You can view, print, and download documents at no cost. Deeds, mortgages, discharges, liens, plans, homestead declarations, and UCC filings are all searchable through this portal.
Some county registries have their own separate websites. The Southern Essex District Registry uses salemdeeds.com. Bristol County's Fall River and New Bedford districts use fallriverdeeds.com. Barnstable County uses barnstabledeeds.com. All are free to search.
Note: MassCourts does not show document images for most case types. Contact the clerk's office directly to get copies of filings, orders, or judgments.
Vital Records in Massachusetts
Birth, death, and marriage records from 1931 to the present are held by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Their office is at 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. You can reach them by phone at (617) 740-2600. Records can be ordered in person, by mail, or online. In-person copies cost $20. Mail orders cost $32. Online or phone orders start at $54 for the first copy.
Historical vital records before 1931 are at the Massachusetts Archives. Records from 1841 to 1925 are indexed and searchable online for free. Visit the archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston, or call (617) 727-2816. Certified copies from the archives cost $3.00 each and can take four to six weeks to process. For records between 1926 and 1930, contact the archives directly as these are not fully online.
City and town clerks keep local copies too. If you know the city or town where the birth, death, or marriage took place, the local clerk is often faster and less expensive. Most city clerks charge $15 per certified copy. You can visit in person or send a mail request with a copy of your ID. Some communities have records going back hundreds of years. Boston's City Clerk holds birth and death records from as early as 1630.
Criminal History and Public Safety Records
Criminal records in Massachusetts are managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, known as DCJIS. The agency operates the iCORI system at icori.chs.state.ma.us for authorized Criminal Offender Record Information requests. Access to criminal history is restricted. Standard CORI checks cost $25 each. Contact DCJIS at (617) 660-4600 or at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150 with questions.
Court records of criminal cases can be searched through MassCourts, though party name searches for criminal cases are not available in the online system. For docket information or copies of criminal case files, contact the clerk at the court where the case was heard. District Courts handle most misdemeanors and lower-level felonies. Superior Courts handle serious felonies and jury trials.
The Sex Offender Registry Board maintains a public search tool at mass.gov/sorb. Level 2 offenders classified after July 12, 2013 and all Level 3 offenders are publicly searchable. You can search by name, community, county, or zip code. Level 1 offenders are not public. The search is free. Contact the registry at P.O. Box 4547, Salem, MA 01970 or by phone at (978) 740-6400.
Note: The SORB public search at mass.gov/sorb is free and does not require creating an account to search Level 2 and Level 3 registered sex offenders.
Property and Land Public Records
Property records in Massachusetts are public and searchable online at no cost. Each county has a registry of deeds that holds deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plans, and related documents. Most counties use MassLandRecords.com as their primary search portal. Others have dedicated websites. All registries are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours for in-person research.
The Division of Local Services at the state level tracks property tax data and municipal finance information for all 351 cities and towns. Cities and towns also maintain their own assessor databases. Most local assessor databases are searchable online and show ownership, assessed values, and tax bills. These are separate from the registry of deeds records but together give a full picture of a property's public record. Standard recording fees apply at all registries: a deed costs $155, a mortgage costs $205, and certified copies cost $1 per page.
UCC financing statements and security interests can be searched through the Secretary of Commonwealth's office. These records affect personal property and business assets rather than real estate. Search instructions and forms are available at mass.gov.
How to Request Massachusetts Public Records
To get records from any Massachusetts government agency, submit a written request to that agency's Records Access Officer. No specific form is required. Email, letter, fax, or online form all work. Describe what you want clearly. Include the type of record, date range, and any names or identifiers that help narrow the search. The more specific you are, the faster the agency can respond.
The agency must respond within 10 business days. It can ask for a five-day extension if the request is complex. The response will either provide the records, give you a fee estimate, or explain in writing why the records are being withheld. If the agency says nothing for 10 business days, that counts as a constructive denial and you can appeal right away.
You have two appeal options. First, you can file an appeal with the Supervisor of Records at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108. Email pre@sec.state.ma.us or call (617) 727-2832. Appeals must be filed within 90 days of the denial. The Supervisor can order the agency to release records and refer non-compliant agencies to the Attorney General. The process is free and does not require a lawyer.
Fees are capped by law. The first four hours of search and preparation time are free for state agencies. For cities and towns with more than 20,000 residents, the first two hours are free. After that, the maximum charge is $25 per hour. Black and white copies cost $0.05 per page. Electronic records cannot carry additional format conversion fees if the file already exists in the requested format. If you want the records in a specific electronic format, the agency must provide them that way if it already has them in that format.
Note: For most records from local city and town clerks, calling ahead to ask about their specific request process can save time and help you get what you need faster.
Browse Massachusetts Public Records by County
Each of the 14 counties in Massachusetts has its own registry of deeds and local offices that hold public records. Pick a county below to find contact information, online search portals, and local resources for public records in that area.
View All 14 Massachusetts Counties
Public Records in Major Massachusetts Cities
Major cities in Massachusetts each have their own city clerk, police department, and assessor office holding local public records. Pick a city below to find local contact information, online portals, and resources for public records in that city.