Access Framingham Public Records
Framingham public records are available to any person under Massachusetts open records law. Since becoming a city in 2018, Framingham's City Clerk handles vital records, City Council documents, business certificates, and meeting minutes from the Memorial Building at 150 Concord Street. Property records go to the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds in Cambridge. This page walks you through where to find Framingham public records, how to submit a request, and which online tools work for property and court searches.
Framingham Overview
Framingham City Clerk Records
The City Clerk serves as the Records Access Officer for Framingham. All public records requests for city documents go through this office. The clerk holds vital records, business certificates, dog licenses, meeting minutes, and City Council files. The office is in the Memorial Building at 150 Concord Street.
| Office | Framingham City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 150 Concord Street Framingham, MA 01702 |
| Phone | (508) 532-5510 |
| cityclerk@framinghamma.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | www.framinghamma.gov |
To request records, email cityclerk@framinghamma.gov or send a letter to 150 Concord Street. You do not need a reason for asking. Describe the records you want with as much detail as you can. Under MGL Chapter 66, Section 10, Framingham has 10 business days to respond. Since the city has more than 20,000 residents, the first two hours of staff time are free. After that, the rate tops out at $25 per hour. Copies are $0.05 per page.
If your request is denied or you get no response within 10 business days, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108. Email pre@sec.state.ma.us. The appeal is free and must be filed within 90 days of the denial or non-response. The Supervisor can order records released and refer the city to the Attorney General for failure to comply.
The screenshot below comes from the Framingham city website, where you can look up city departments and contact information for public records requests.
The site lists all city departments, agendas, and forms useful for finding Framingham public records.
Vital Records in Framingham
Birth, death, and marriage records for events in Framingham are kept at the City Clerk office. Certified copies cost $15 each. You can visit in person at 150 Concord Street or send a mail request. For mail, include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to the City of Framingham.
The state holds vital records from 1931 onward at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester. State copies cost more. If the event took place in Framingham, the City Clerk is usually the faster and lower-cost option. For records before 1931, the Massachusetts Archives in Boston holds indexed statewide records going back to 1841.
Note: Framingham became a city in 2018. Before that it was a town. Records from the town period are still held by the City Clerk office.
Framingham Property and Land Records
Property records for Framingham are held at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds. This district covers Framingham, Newton, Waltham, and several surrounding communities. The registry records deeds, mortgages, liens, homestead declarations, and plans. It is located in Cambridge but all Framingham records are searchable online for free.
| Office | Middlesex South Registry of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 208 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA |
| Phone | (617) 679-6300 |
| Online Search | masslandrecords.com/MiddlesexSouth/ |
Search Framingham property records at no cost through MassLandRecords.com. Choose the Middlesex South district and enter an owner name, address, or document type. Records go back decades. Document images are free to view and print. Deeds, mortgages, discharges, liens, and subdivision plans are all available.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth at mass.gov oversees the registry system. Standard recording fees apply for new filings: $155 for a deed, $205 for a mortgage, $1 per page for certified copies. For current property assessed values in Framingham, the city Assessor's office keeps that data separate from the registry.
Court Records for Framingham
Framingham is served by the Framingham District Court for most local civil and criminal matters, including small claims. Middlesex County Superior Court in Cambridge or Woburn handles serious felonies and larger civil cases. The Middlesex Probate and Family Court handles probate, guardianship, and family law cases for the county.
Court case records are searchable online at no cost at masscourts.org. You can search civil and probate cases by case number or party name. The portal shows docket entries, hearing dates, party names, and case status. Document images are not available online for most case types. For copies of actual filings, contact the clerk at Framingham District Court directly.
Criminal name searches are not available through the MassCourts online system. Contact the Framingham District Court clerk for criminal docket information. The clerk can look up cases and provide printouts. Superior Court filings for Framingham cases are handled at the Middlesex County courthouse.
How to Get Framingham Public Records
Send a written request to the City Clerk. Email is the fastest method. Use cityclerk@framinghamma.gov and describe what you want: record type, date range, any names or case numbers that help narrow the search. The more specific you are, the quicker the city can locate the records and respond.
The city must respond within 10 business days. It can ask for a 5-day extension on large requests. The response will provide the records, give you a fee estimate, or give a written reason for any denial. No response within the deadline is treated as a denial and gives you the right to appeal right away.
If you appeal, go to the Supervisor of Records. File within 90 days of the denial. The process is free and does not require a lawyer. The Supervisor reviews the agency's decision and can order records to be released. The office at One Ashburton Place has handled many appeals and issues guidance that shapes how the law is applied across the state.
For records spread across multiple departments, it helps to identify the right office before submitting. The City Clerk handles most central city records. Planning and building records go to their departments. Police department records are handled by the police. Each city office in Framingham is its own Records Access Officer for documents it creates or keeps.
Middlesex County Public Records
Framingham is in Middlesex County, which spans from the Boston suburbs to the New Hampshire border. County resources include the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds and courts serving Framingham. For county-level public records contacts and resources, see the Middlesex County page.
Nearby Cities
Look for public records in cities near Framingham in Middlesex County.