Plymouth Public Records
Plymouth public records are held by the Town Clerk, the Plymouth Registry of Deeds, local courts, and other town offices. Plymouth is technically a town governed by a Board of Selectmen and Town Manager, but with about 65,000 residents it is one of the largest communities in Plymouth County. Town Clerk records include vital records, Select Board minutes, business certificates, and meeting documents. This page explains how to find and request Plymouth public records from the right office and what to expect when you do.
Plymouth Overview
Plymouth Town Clerk Public Records
The Town Clerk serves as the Records Access Officer for Plymouth. All public records requests for town documents go to this office. The clerk keeps vital records, business certificates, dog licenses, public meeting minutes, and Select Board records. The office is at Town Hall Annex, 26 Court Street, Plymouth.
| Office | Plymouth Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 26 Court Street Plymouth, MA 02360 |
| Phone | (508) 747-1620 ext. 101 |
| townclerk@plymouth-ma.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | www.plymouth-ma.gov |
Contact the Town Clerk by email at townclerk@plymouth-ma.gov or call (508) 747-1620 ext. 101. Under MGL Chapter 66, Section 10, Plymouth has 10 business days to respond to a records request. The first two hours of staff time are free since Plymouth is well over 20,000 residents. After that, the maximum rate is $25 per hour. Paper copies cost $0.05 per page. No reason is needed to request records.
If Plymouth denies your request, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108. File within 90 days of the denial. The appeal is free. You can also email pre@sec.state.ma.us. The Supervisor can order the town to release records and refer cases to the Attorney General for non-compliance.
Plymouth Property and Land Records
Property records for Plymouth are held at the Plymouth Registry of Deeds. This registry covers Plymouth and surrounding communities in Plymouth County. The office is at 50 Obery Street in Plymouth, making it conveniently local for residents.
| Office | Plymouth Registry of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 Obery Street Plymouth, MA |
| Phone | (508) 747-4000 |
| Online Search | masslandrecords.com/Plymouth/ |
Search Plymouth property records for free at MassLandRecords.com. Select the Plymouth district and search by owner name, property address, document type, or book and page number. Records go back many decades. Deeds, mortgages, liens, homestead declarations, and plans are all available to view and print at no cost.
The screenshot below is from the MassLandRecords.com statewide portal, which includes the Plymouth Registry of Deeds district for online property record searches.
This free portal lets you search deeds and land documents for Plymouth going back decades without any cost or login required.
Standard recording fees apply for new filings at the Plymouth Registry. A deed costs $155. A mortgage runs $205. Certified copies are $1 per page. For assessed property values and tax records in Plymouth, the town Assessor's office keeps that data separately. The Secretary of the Commonwealth at mass.gov provides statewide oversight of the registry system.
Court Records Serving Plymouth
Plymouth is served by the Plymouth District Court for most local civil and criminal matters, including small claims. Plymouth County Superior Court handles serious felony cases and larger civil suits. The Plymouth Probate and Family Court handles probate, guardianship, adoption, and family law matters for Plymouth County.
Court case records are searchable online at no cost at masscourts.org. This free portal covers all Massachusetts trial court departments. You can search civil and probate cases by party name or case number. The system shows docket entries, hearing dates, party names, and case status. Document images are not available online. For copies of actual filings, contact the clerk at the court where the case was heard.
The screenshot below shows the MassCourts case access portal, which is the tool to search Plymouth court case dockets online for free.
Use masscourts.org to look up Plymouth civil and probate case dockets. Criminal name searches are not available through the online system.
Vital Records in Plymouth
Birth, death, and marriage records for events in Plymouth are held at the Town Clerk office at 26 Court Street. Certified copies cost $15 each. In-person requests are handled during office hours. Mail requests are accepted with a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to the Town of Plymouth.
State-level vital records from 1931 onward are held at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester. State copies cost more. For events that happened in Plymouth, the Town Clerk is the faster and less expensive first stop. For records before 1931, the Massachusetts Archives in Boston holds indexed records going back to 1841. Plymouth's records are notably old given the town's founding; the archives hold some of the earliest local records in the country.
Note: Plymouth holds some of the oldest public records in Massachusetts given its 1620 founding, though formal civil vital records registration began much later.
How to Request Plymouth Public Records
Send your public records request by email to townclerk@plymouth-ma.gov or call (508) 747-1620 ext. 101. You can also send a letter to 26 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360. No special form is required. Describe the records you want, including a date range and any names or identifiers that help narrow the search.
Plymouth has 10 business days to respond. It can request a 5-day extension for complex or large requests. The response will either provide the records, give you a fee estimate, or explain in writing why records are being withheld. If you get no response within 10 business days, that counts as a denial and you can appeal immediately.
Fees are set by state law. The first two hours are free. After that the rate tops out at $25 per hour. Copies are $0.05 per page. Electronic records must be provided in the format you ask for if the town already has the file in that format. Asking for electronic delivery by email often avoids copy fees entirely.
If you are not sure which department holds the records you need, start with the Town Clerk. For police records, contact the Plymouth Police Department directly. For planning and zoning records, try the Planning Department. Each Plymouth department is its own Records Access Officer for documents it creates and maintains.
Plymouth County Public Records
Plymouth is the county seat of Plymouth County. County resources include the Plymouth Registry of Deeds on Obery Street, Plymouth Probate Court, and Plymouth District Court. Visit the Plymouth County public records page for a complete county overview.
Nearby Cities
Find public records in nearby cities in Plymouth County and the South Shore region.