Land Court FAQs:

How to?

Go to the “Quick Links to Helpful Resource sites” section of this web site.

How to search for a Land Court case docket
A case docket is the record that the court keeps of the entries the court makes in each case.  This includes the basic case information such as the docket number, names of the parties (ie. plaintiff and defendant), names and contact information of attorneys representing parties, dates for scheduled court events and docket entries.  Docket entries record papers filed with the court, such as answers or motions, as well as the results of events that have taken place.

Land Court case dockets are accessible to the public via the Trial Court’s eAccess internet site at www.masscourts.org.  Contained on that site is a set of detailed instructions on how to conduct a search by case name, case type or case docket number.

Case dockets that are available on the eAccess site date back to:

How to see paperwork filed on a case
Land Court case files contain the paperwork that has been filed in a case and are available to the public for inspection.  They are maintained by the Land Court Recorder’s Office and can be viewed there during the hours that the Recorder’s Office is open to the public.

How to request that an old case file be retrieved from off-site storage
The court maintains more case files than can be stored at the court so many older cases are stored off-site.  Case files currently stored off-site are:

            Tax cases # 1 – 80999
            Miscellaneous cases #1 – 168499
            Registration cases # 1 - 35326

There are two ways to request that a case file be retrieved from storage to allow for your review at the court.  (1) At the Recorder’s Office there is a file retrieval request form that can be filled out and given to the clerk at the public counter, or (2) staff member Robert Marcus can be contacted by phone at (617) 788-7438.  The message to him should include the case type, docket number, and your name and contact number.  Using either method, when the file is delivered to the court, you will receive either an email or telephone call from the court indicating that the file is available for your review at the Recorder’s Office.

How to order a CD copy of an in-court proceeding
All court sessions are recorded by the court.  Copies of in-court proceedings can be obtained my making a request to the Recorder’s Office.  On the Land Court web page is a link for “Forms and Instructions”.  Click on that link and then select the form “CD Copy Request Order Form”.  You can print and then complete the top portion of the form to request a CD copy of the proceeding that you are interested in.  That form can be dropped off or mailed with a check (made out to the Land Court) at 3 Pemberton Square, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.  If you prefer to pick up the CD when it has been copied, the cost is $50.50, and if you prefer to have the court mail the CD to you, the cost is $52.57.

How to find a Land Court case decision
Full Land Court case decisions can be found three ways:          
(1)  On line at the Trial Court Law Library site www.lawlib.state.ma.us (from July 2008 on).  In the “cases” section under Land Court decisions.
(2)  In the Land Court Reporter series.  This publication includes all Land Court case decisions and is available both at the Land Court Recorder’s Office and at many Trial Court Law Library sites.
(3)  In the Land Court case file in the Recorder’s Office of the Land Court.

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