Information on historic adoptions in Massachusetts
Many historic adoptions were never recorded legally. Children were frequently sent out of their families to live with other people, including relatives. Other children went to live with neighbors, but were never officially adopted as part of the family.
Pre-1852 adoptions
Some adoptions before 1852 were enacted through the General Court (also known as the legislature). Petitions requesting these adoptions and any related legislative papers are available through the Massachusetts Archives. Other helpful resources for early adoptions are returns of name changes and the List of Persons Whose Names Have Been Changed in Massachusetts (1780-1883), which notes when names were changed as a result of adoptions.
1852-present adoptions
Starting in 1852, responsibility for adoptions was transferred to the Probate & Family Court. Requests to view adoption records for this period require a court order approved by a Probate & Family Court judge. Requests must be addressed to the Probate & Family Court location in the county where the adoption occurred.