Court records in Bristol County, Massachusetts, are maintained by the clerks of the various courts serving the county and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. BristolCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Bristol County. You can also use the Massachusetts Trial Court portal, visit the clerk's office in person, or contact county and municipal government offices for additional resources.
Bristol County Court System Overview
Bristol County is part of the Massachusetts Trial Court system, which is organized into several court departments rather than a single unified district court. The county falls within the Bristol County Division of each department — including the Superior Court, District Court, Probate and Family Court, and Juvenile Court. The Superior Court handles major criminal and civil matters, while the District Court addresses a broad range of criminal, civil, and housing cases. Bristol County is served by multiple District Court locations, including courts in Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Attleboro.
Superior Court hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Individual District Court locations may vary slightly in hours, so contact the specific courthouse before visiting.
Courts Serving Bristol County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol County Superior Court | 9 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780 | (508) 823-6588 |
| Taunton District Court | 40 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780 | (508) 824-4004 |
| Fall River District Court | 186 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02721 | (508) 672-8931 |
| New Bedford District Court | 75 North Sixth Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 | (508) 999-9700 |
| Attleboro District Court | 88 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703 | (508) 222-5900 |
| Bristol County Probate and Family Court | 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 | (508) 672-1751 |
| Bristol County Juvenile Court | 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 | (508) 677-0955 |
| U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts | 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210 | (617) 748-9152 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts | 12th Floor, 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210 | (617) 748-5300 |
Bristol County residents with federal matters — including federal criminal cases and bankruptcy filings — are served by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, headquartered in Boston. Federal case records can be searched through PACER.
What Types of Cases Bristol County Courts Hear
Bristol County courts handle a wide range of case types across multiple departments:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, OUI/DUI
- Civil: Contract disputes, tort claims, small claims, summary process (evictions)
- Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic relations
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare (Care and Protection)
- Traffic: Motor vehicle violations, civil infractions
- Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights
The sections below explain which court department handles each category.
District Court Cases in Bristol County
The District Courts in Bristol County have broad jurisdiction. They hear misdemeanors, felonies punishable by up to five years in state prison, and certain other felonies. Civil cases with amounts up to $50,000 — as well as small claims up to $7,000 — are also handled at the District Court level. Housing matters, including summary process evictions, fall here too.
More serious felony cases are typically handled by the Superior Court after indictment by a grand jury. Cases arrive at Superior Court either through direct indictment or after a probable cause hearing in District Court. A Superior Court justice presides over jury trials in felony cases, major civil litigation (claims exceeding $50,000), and equity matters. Cases are assigned by the clerk's office based on case type and scheduling.
Magistrate Court Cases in Bristol County
Massachusetts does not use a separate "magistrate court" division in the same way some other states do. Instead, clerk-magistrates in the District Courts conduct certain hearings, including:
- Applications for criminal complaints (show-cause hearings)
- Small claims sessions (up to $7,000)
- Minor traffic and civil motor vehicle infractions
- Initial screenings for harassment prevention orders
Clerk-magistrates in Bristol County's District Courts play a gatekeeping role — they determine whether criminal complaints should issue based on evidence presented at show-cause hearings. For civil disputes under $7,000, small claims sessions offer a simplified, faster process without formal rules of evidence. Traffic violations, including civil infractions and criminal OUI charges, are initially processed through the District Court clerk's office.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Bristol County
Family Law and Probate: The Bristol County Probate and Family Court handles divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic relations, and civil protection orders (abuse prevention under G.L. c. 209A). This court also manages decedent estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. The main office is located at 289 Rock Street in Fall River.
Juvenile: The Bristol County Juvenile Court hears delinquency cases, youthful offender proceedings, and Care and Protection petitions (the Massachusetts equivalent of child protective proceedings). Juvenile records are confidential under Massachusetts law and are not available to the general public. The Juvenile Court is also located at 289 Rock Street in Fall River.
How Cases Move Through the Bristol County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or indictment. Civil cases start with the filing of a complaint and payment of a filing fee. Family and probate matters begin with a petition.
- Service and Response: In civil cases, the defendant must be served and given time to respond. In criminal cases, the defendant is summoned or arrested.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned, where charges are read and bail is set. Civil cases receive a scheduling or case management conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange evidence through discovery. Motions may be filed. In criminal cases, plea negotiations often occur during this period.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or they resolve through plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or dismissal.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing and appeals. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments or appeals to the Appeals Court.
Appeals from the District Court generally go to the Appeals Court of Massachusetts. Appeals from jury-waived sessions in the District Court may go to a jury trial de novo in the Superior Court in certain criminal cases.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Bristol County
Each court department in Bristol County is administered by a first justice (the presiding judge) and a clerk or register. The Probate and Family Court is administered by the Register of Probate. The Massachusetts Trial Court oversees all departments statewide through the Chief Justice of the Trial Court and the Court Administrator.
Local Rules: Each court department publishes standing orders and local rules. You can find these on the Trial Court Rules page on the Massachusetts court website.
Public Access: Under Massachusetts law, most court records are presumed public. However, certain records are impounded, sealed, or confidential — including juvenile records, abuse prevention order files (in some circumstances), and records sealed by court order. The Trial Court Rule VIII governs public access to court records in detail.
Attending Hearings: Most hearings in Bristol County courts are open to the public. Some proceedings are available via Zoom or other remote platforms — check with the specific court clerk's office for current remote hearing options.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Bristol County
- Court Docket Search: Use the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access portal to search for case information online. Not all case types are available electronically.
- Court Calendar: Daily court calendars are generally posted at the courthouse. Some courts publish calendars through the Trial Court website.
- Court Forms: The Trial Court Forms page provides downloadable forms for civil, criminal, family, probate, and housing matters.
- Clerk's Office / Public Records Requests: Contact the clerk or register at the appropriate court to request copies of records. Certified copies usually require a fee. For Bristol County Probate records, contact the Register of Probate in Fall River.
- Criminal History (CORI): The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) manages criminal offender record information in Massachusetts. You can request your own CORI or, in some cases, an employer or organization can request access through iCORI.
- Sex Offender Registry: The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains the Massachusetts sex offender registry, which is searchable online for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.
- Incarceration Records: The Massachusetts Department of Correction provides an inmate search tool for individuals in state custody.
- Self-Help Resources: The Court Service Centers offer free help with court forms, procedures, and general legal information. Bristol County residents can access assistance at designated service center locations or by phone.
For additional Bristol County court record lookups and public information, visit BristolCourt.us.