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County level research is essential in the pursuit of family and local history. The list below highlights the most common county courthouse records used by genealogists, but there are many more record sets available. Use the guides below and explore the specific resources for the counties of interest to assure that you locate all pertinent documents.
When requesting courthouse records, inquire about both docket books and paper files. Often both types of material exist for each record. While the two formats may merely repeat the data, one may be easier to read than the other. And, in many cases, there are further details, unique notations, over-sized pages such as maps, and so on, that are filed in only the docket book or in only the paper file. Seeing both will provide a more complete review of the record.
Adoption Records |
All of the court's adoption paperwork is not available to the public unless a judge orders it to be. Placement agencies can only release certain information to an adopted person, adoptive parent, or biological parent. Includes information on how to apply for a pre-adoption birth record, or gain access to historical adoption records. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics has a procedure for people who have been adopted and want to see their birth records under M.G. L. c. 210, § 5D. Visit the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to apply for a pre-adoption birth record. To see historic adoption records, please see: Get access to historic adoption records. |
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Birth Records |
See the Vital Records section of this guide. |
Civil Lawsuits |
The Guide to the Court Records of Early Massachusetts External, written in the mid-1970s, can be helpful for understanding the early court system, but the details of where records are held are no longer accurate. Early records of Massachusetts Bay Colony courts (up to ~1799) are part of the Suffolk Files Collection of the Judicial Archives of the Massachusetts State Archives. See also this FamilySearch guide to Massachusetts Court Records External. |
Coroner's Inquests |
The Guide to the Court Records of Early Massachusetts External, written in the mid-1970s, can be helpful for understanding the early court system, but the details of where records are held are no longer accurate. Early records of Massachusetts Bay Colony courts (up to ~1799) are part of the Suffolk Files Collection of the Judicial Archives of the Massachusetts State Archives. See also this FamilySearch guide to Massachusetts Court Records External. To better understand the historical background: |
Criminal Court |
The Guide to the Court Records of Early Massachusetts External, written in the mid-1970s, can be helpful for understanding the early court system, but the details of where records are held are no longer accurate. Early records of Massachusetts Bay Colony courts (up to ~1799) are part of the Suffolk Files Collection of the Judicial Archives of the Massachusetts State Archives. See also this FamilySearch guide to Massachusetts Court Records External. |
Death Records |
See the Vital Records section of this guide. |
Deeds |
Deeds are recorded in the earliest records of the counties. Those for Suffolk (1640-97), York County, Maine (1641-1737), and some of the Plymouth Colony (1620-51) have been published. See also: |
Divorce Records |
Early records of Massachusetts Bay Colony courts (up to ~1799) are part of the Suffolk Files collection of the Judicial Archives of the Massachusetts State Archives. |
Marriage Records |
See the Vital Records section of this guide. |
Naturalizations | |
Taxes | |
Will and Probate |
First series probate records are found in the Judicial Archives of the Massachusetts State Archives |
The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.
Using Ancestry Library Edition for Massachusetts
Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as Massachusetts records External.
Using FamilySearch for Massachusetts
FamilySearch provides useful state and county wikis that make excellent starting points for research. The Massachusetts Wiki External includes links to each of its counties.
FamilySearch has digitized many of its microfilms containing county courthouse records. Not all records have been indexed yet, so search engine results may NOT show you the full range of FamilySearch data. You must browse the FamilySearch catalog External listings for each county to view the full set of records available. The vast amount of accessible original records is well worth your time to explore.
There is no fee to use FamilySearch, but you must create a free, personal account to access the databases and digital records.
Below are selected print publications for statewide courthouse records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.
To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published county courthouse records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records at the county level.