| Superior Court Clerk | Essex County Superior Court Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Register of Probate | Essex Probate and Family Court — Register of Probate |
| Clerk address | Superior Court Clerk: 56 Federal St, Salem, MA 01970, and 43 Appleton Way, Lawrence, MA 01841. Probate and Family Court Register: 36 Federal St, Salem, MA 01970 |
| Phone | Superior Court Clerk (Salem): (978) 744-5500; Superior Court Clerk (Lawrence): (978) 242-1900; Probate and Family Court: (978) 744-1020 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.05 per page for an unattested copy or printout of court documents, records, or other papers held by the clerk, register, or recorder |
| Certified copy fee | $2.50 per page for an attested (certified) copy of a document or docket sheet; $20.00 for a certificate of orders, decrees, rulings, or judgments |
Essex County runs its Superior Court out of two locations under one Superior Court Clerk's Office: the main courthouse at 56 Federal Street in Salem and a second sitting at the Fenton Judicial Center in Lawrence. Between them they hold felony criminal cases and larger civil suits for the county. Which location has a given file depends on where the case was assigned, not just where the underlying incident occurred, so check with either office if you are not sure.
Smaller cases go to one of several District Court divisions, including Gloucester, Haverhill, Ipswich (sitting in Newburyport), and Lawrence District Court, each keeping its own file with no separate online portal. Probate, estate, divorce, and custody matters are handled by the Essex Probate and Family Court, based in Salem, run by an elected Register of Probate.
Because Essex County's Superior Court sits in two cities, the most common mistake is mailing a records request to the wrong building. Confirm with the clerk's office by phone which location has the file before sending a request or fee payment.
Search Essex County court records online
Superior Court Clerk
Essex County Superior Court Clerk's Office
- Cost
- Free docket lookup on MassCourts; per-page fee for certified copies from the clerk
- Coverage
- Superior Court felony criminal cases and larger civil suits filed in Essex County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Two sittings: Salem (56 Federal St, Salem, MA 01970, (978) 744-5500) and Lawrence (43 Appleton Way, Lawrence, MA 01841, (978) 242-1900). Mass.gov blocked automated verification with a 403 response; kept because official-domain search results confirm both addresses and phone numbers.
Register of Probate
Essex Probate and Family Court — Register of Probate
- Cost
- Free docket lookup on MassCourts; per-page fee for certified copies from the registry
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianship, divorce, custody, paternity, and adoption cases for Essex County
- Records
- Probate, Family
Located at 36 Federal St, Salem, MA 01970, (978) 744-1020. Mass.gov blocked automated verification with a 403 response; kept on the strength of official-domain search results.
Other courts
MassCourts — District Court case search (Essex County divisions)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor and smaller civil cases from the District Court divisions covering Essex County, including Gloucester, Haverhill, Ipswich (sitting in Newburyport), Lawrence, Lynn, Newburyport, Peabody, and Salem
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
No individual division has its own online docket search; all are searched through the statewide MassCourts portal, filtered by court location.
What is available online
MassCourts covers docket entries for Superior Court, District Court, and Probate and Family Court cases entered electronically. Because the Superior Court Clerk's Office splits its sittings between Salem and Lawrence, a docket search is the fastest way to confirm which location has a specific file before requesting copies in person or by mail.
Which clerk has your record
In Massachusetts, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Massachusetts page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | Felony criminal cases; Civil actions generally above $50,000; Medical malpractice and labor disputes | Superior Court Clerk's Office (Clerk of Courts) for the county |
| District Court | Misdemeanors and lower-level felonies; Civil claims up to $50,000; Restraining and harassment prevention orders | Clerk-Magistrate of the District Court division |
| Boston Municipal Court | Misdemeanors and lower-level felonies in Boston; Civil claims up to $50,000; Restraining orders | Clerk-Magistrate of the Boston Municipal Court division |
| Probate and Family Court | Divorce, custody, and child support; Paternity and adoption; Wills, estates, and guardianship | Register of Probate for the county |
| Housing Court | Eviction (summary process); Code enforcement; Small claims involving housing conditions | Clerk-Magistrate of the Housing Court division |
| Land Court | Title registration; Zoning and land use appeals; Foreclosure of mortgages (servicemembers) | Recorder of the Land Court |
| Juvenile Court | Delinquency; Child welfare (care and protection); Youthful offender cases | Clerk-Magistrate of the Juvenile Court division |
Request records in person or by mail
Essex County clerk offices
Superior Court Clerk: 56 Federal St, Salem, MA 01970, and 43 Appleton Way, Lawrence, MA 01841. Probate and Family Court Register: 36 Federal St, Salem, MA 01970
Phone: Superior Court Clerk (Salem): (978) 744-5500; Superior Court Clerk (Lawrence): (978) 242-1900; Probate and Family Court: (978) 744-1020
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Superior Court (felony and larger civil) records. Call the Salem clerk's office at (978) 744-5500 or the Lawrence clerk's office at (978) 242-1900 to confirm which location holds the case, then request copies by mail or in person with the case number or party names and year.
District Court (misdemeanor and smaller civil) records. Contact the clerk-magistrate's office of the specific division that heard the case — for example Gloucester, Haverhill, Lawrence, or Salem District Court — since each keeps its own file.
Probate, estate, divorce, and custody records. Contact the Register of Probate at 36 Federal St., Salem. Most probate files are public; some family-law filings can be impounded.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.05 per page for an unattested copy or printout of court documents, records, or other papers held by the clerk, register, or recorder |
| Certified copy | $2.50 per page for an attested (certified) copy of a document or docket sheet; $20.00 for a certificate of orders, decrees, rulings, or judgments |
Fees are set in the Trial Court's Uniform Schedule of Fees under General Laws Chapter 262, Section 4B, and apply in every Trial Court department; the schedule was last amended effective November 1, 2016. Other listed items include $50.00 for a transcript of judgment, $5.00 for a PDF or other electronic copy of a document (plus $4.00 if a CD is mailed), and $10.00 per case per day for electronic access to an audio recording of a hearing. Confirm accepted payment methods with the specific clerk's office or registry before mailing a request. Figures confirmed on the Mass.gov Uniform Schedule of Fees page on 2026-09-13.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Most Massachusetts trial-court case records are presumptively open, but several categories are removed from public view:
The Massachusetts guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Essex County have two Superior Court locations?
The Essex County Superior Court Clerk's Office sits in both Salem (56 Federal St.) and Lawrence (43 Appleton Way). Call ahead or search MassCourts to confirm which location holds a specific case before visiting or mailing a request.
Which District Courts serve Essex County?
Several divisions cover different parts of the county, including Gloucester, Haverhill, Ipswich (which sits in Newburyport), and Lawrence District Court, each keeping its own case file with no separate online portal.
Who keeps Essex County probate and divorce records?
The Essex Probate and Family Court, run by the elected Register of Probate, located at 36 Federal St., Salem.
Can I search Essex County court records online for free?
Yes. MassCourts (masscourts.org) covers Superior Court, District Court, and Probate and Family Court dockets for Essex County without registration or a fee.
Sources
- Essex County Superior Court (Lawrence) — Mass.gov location page — https://www.mass.gov/locations/essex-county-superior-court-lawrence
- Essex Probate and Family Court — Mass.gov location page — https://www.mass.gov/locations/essex-probate-and-family-court
- MassCourts / eAccess Public Portal — https://www.masscourts.org/eservices/home.page
- Mass.gov — Massachusetts law about state courts — https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-state-courts
- Mass.gov — Search Court Dockets, Calendars and Case Information — https://www.mass.gov/search-court-dockets-calendars-and-case-information
- Massachusetts Appellate Courts Public Case Search — https://www.ma-appellatecourts.org/
- iCORI (DCJIS) — https://icori.chs.state.ma.us/
- Mass.gov — Request CORI as an individual — https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual
- General Laws, Chapter 6, Section 172 — Availability of criminal offender record information — https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6/Section172
- General Laws, Chapter 276, Section 100A — Sealing of criminal records — https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleII/Chapter276/Section100A
- General Laws, Chapter 276, Section 100E — Expungement of criminal records — https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleII/Chapter276/Section100E
- General Laws, Chapter 262, Section 4B — Uniform Schedule of Fees — https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section4B
- Mass.gov — Trial Court Uniform Schedule of Fees — https://www.mass.gov/info-details/uniform-schedule-of-fees
- United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts — https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Massachusetts counties.