Probate and Family Court: Get to know the case number format

Learn more about Probate and Family Court case numbers and how they are formatted.

Table of Contents

Example of a case number format: ES15A0064AD

See the case number broken out below.

A diagram explaining how Probate and Family Court case numbers are formatted; details follow on page.

Site codes

The first two letters in case number ES15A0064AD are the site code. In this example, "ES" stands for Essex.

SitesCodes
EssexES
BarnstableBA
BerkshireBE
BristolBR
DukesDU
FranklinFR
HampdenHD
HampshireHS
MiddlesexMI
NantucketNA
NorfolkNO
PlymouthPL
SuffolkSU
WorcesterWO

Year

In case number ES15A0064AD, "15" stands for the year 2015.

Case group

In case number ES15A0064AD, the letter "A" is the case group, which is Adoption.

Case groupsCodes
AdoptionA
Change of NameC
Domestic RelationsD
EquityE
PaternityW
ProbateP
Protection from AbuseR
Proxy GuardianshipX
Wills for SafekeepingS

Four digit sequence number

A four digit sequence number can be found in every Probate and Family Court case number. In case number ES15A0064AD, "0064" is the sequence number.

Case type

Probate and Family Court case numbers also contain a case type, which you'll typically find at the end of the case number. In the provided example, case number ES15A0064AD ends in "AD," which is the case type for Adoption.

Case TypesCodes
AdoptionAD
Child WelfareCW
Change of NameCA
DR Custody, Support, and Parenting TimeCS
Domestic Relations/OtherDO
Domestic RelationsDR
Joint PetitionJP
Paternity in EquityPE
Equity – PartitionPP
Equity ComplaintQC
Equity PetitionQP
PaternityWD
Estates and AdministrationEA
GuardianshipGD
Probate Abuse/ConservatorPM
Probate OtherPO
Protection from AbuseAB
Proxy GuardianshipXY
Special Immigration Juvenile StatusSJ
Wills for SafekeepingSK

Contact   for Probate and Family Court: Get to know the case number format

Fax

(617) 788-8995

Pleadings should be sent directly to the divisions, not to the Administrative Office.

Address

Administrative Office
3 Center Plaza, Suite 210, Boston, MA 02108

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