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Judicial Archives for the Supreme Judicial Court Archives
The Details of Get access to historic divorce records
What you need for Get access to historic divorce records
Divorces took place in different courts throughout the years, so the current location of records will depend on the year of the divorce.
- 1629-1692: In the colonial period, divorce petitions could be filed in a variety of courts, including the Court of Assistants, the General Court, and the county courts. Records of the General Court and the Court of Assistants have been published. Original records are located in the Suffolk Files, the Massachusetts Archives Collection, and the records of the county courts.
- 1692-1775: During the provincial period, primary jurisdiction for divorces was with the Governor and Council, although 6 petitions dating 1755-1757 were heard by the General Court. Again, the original records will be found in the Massachusetts Archives Collection, the Suffolk Files, Council records, and county courts.
- 1775-1782: The Council had jurisdiction. Divorce records are located in the Massachusetts Archives Collection and the Council records.
- 1782-1886: In 1782, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) was given jurisdiction over divorce cases. Records dating 1782-1796 are located in the Suffolk Files collection and recorded in the SJC record books. After 1796, summary information regarding divorces is included in the SJC record books, which are indexed and arranged by county. Case papers are also generally available.
- 1887-1922: Jurisdiction over divorce cases changed in 1887, when the Superior Courts were authorized to handle divorces. Records from this period are indexed in separate divorce docket books for the Superior Courts in the various counties.
- 1922-present: In 1922, the county Probate & Family Courts were granted concurrent jurisdiction over divorces. Some Superior Courts gradually stopped hearing divorces and/or moved their current divorce records to the Probate & Family Court, while other counties continued hearing divorces in either court up until the 1980s. Divorces heard through probate are maintained by the Probate & Family Courts in each county. You may contact the courthouse directly to inquire about divorces from this period. Additionally, an index for cases since 1952 is available at the Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Researchers may contact the Registry of Vital Records at (617) 740-2600, or through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics online. Please note that the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics does not hold divorce records. They can only provide you with the court that granted the divorce and the docket number.
How to get Get access to historic divorce records
- Records from 1629-1886: The best way to access divorce records is to call the Judicial Archives at (617) 557-1087.
- Records from 1887-1922: Many counties have transferred their Superior Court and Probate & Family Court divorce records off-site. If you're a researcher or you need proof of divorce for Social Security, contact the Judicial Archives at (617) 557-1087 if you're not sure where the records are.
- Records from 1922-present: See Get a copy of your divorce record for more information on how to get your record from Probate & Family Court. If the divorce took place in 1952 or later and you don't know which county it took place in, please see request information on how to obtain a divorce record to find out where the divorce took place and what the docket number is. After that, you can follow the instructions in Get a copy of your divorce record to get your record.
- Records from 1629-1886:The best way to access divorce records is to fill out and submit the Court Archives Information Request Form.
- Records from 1887-1922: Many counties have transferred their Superior Court and Probate & Family Court divorce records off-site. If you're a researcher or you need proof of divorce for Social Security, fill out and submit the Court Archives Information Request Form if you're not sure where the records are.