Get access to historic adoption records

Find out which types of historic adoption records are available through the court archives and how to access them.

Judicial Archives for the Supreme Judicial Court Archives

The Details   of Get access to historic adoption records

What you need   for Get access to historic adoption records

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.

Some adoptions before 1852 were enacted through the General Court (also known as the legislature). The 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 note when names were changed as a result of adoptions.

Starting in 1852, responsibility for adoptions was transferred to the Probate & Family Court. Adoption records dated 1852 and later are either held by the Judicial Archives or by the Probate & Family Court. In most cases, records less than 100 years old are still managed by the Probate & Family Court, and requests for these records must be sent directly to the court where the adoption occurred. Please see the “How to get” section below for additional information on requesting adoption records.

Fees   for Get access to historic adoption records

Fees for adoption records vary depending on the date of the record, the county, and other factors.

How to get   Get access to historic adoption records

Access to adoption records may be restricted. Judicial Archives staff are happy to discuss your records request over the phone and provide guidance on where to submit your request. The Judicial Archives can be reached at (617) 557-1087. In most cases, requests for court adoption records less than 100 years old must be sent directly to the court where the adoption occurred.

If you are looking for birth records related to your own adoption, please see Apply for a pre-adoption birth record for more information. Requests for pre-adoption birth records are managed by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Pre-adoption birth records are not stored at the Judicial Archives.

Access to adoption records may be restricted. Please fill out and submit a Court Archives Information Request Form, and Judicial Archives staff will respond with guidance on where to submit your request for records. In most cases, requests for court adoption records less than 100 years old must be sent directly to the court where the adoption occurred.

If you are looking for birth records related to your own adoption, please see Apply for a pre-adoption birth record for more information. Requests for pre-adoption birth records are managed by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Pre-adoption birth records are not stored at the Judicial Archives. 

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