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.