“Court records” includes papers, documents, exhibits, orders, audio recordings, dockets, survey plans, and other records that are made, entered, filed, and/or maintained by the Recorder’s Office in connection with a case, proceeding, or transaction of court business. Court records are typically associated with docket numbers (case numbers).
About court records
Most court records are available to the public for inspection. Some court records are not public. They may be restricted by law, rule, or standing order. Others might be sealed or individually impounded.
You can view publicly availably court records in person. Go to the Land Court Recorder’s Office located on the 5th floor of the Suffolk County Courthouse at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA.
Members of the public can also view and download court records online through the Trial Court’s Public Access website.
There is no cost to review a case record in person at the courthouse or on the Public Access website. Images available on the Public Access website are free to download and print.
Recent court records
You can find recent court records at the Land Court or online through the Public Access website. If you need recent court records not on the Public Access website, request copies from the Recorder’s Office. Use the court-provided form and follow the steps described on this page to request copies of court records.
Older court records
Older court records are stored off-site and are not available online. Court records currently stored off-site are:
| Case Type | Range |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous cases | #1-253466 |
| Registration cases | #1-35326 |
| Subsequent cases (by year) | 1972-2016 |
| Tax lien cases (closed) | #1-124487 |
There are three ways to request a case file from off-site storage so you can review it at the Land Court and request copies.
- Complete the online web form "Request to Order a Case from Off-Site Storage";
- Fill out a file retrieval request form at the Recorder’s Office and give it to the clerk at the public counter; or
- Call the Recorder's Office during business hours (8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) at (617) 788-7470.
The request must include:
- Your name;
- Your phone number and/or email address (we must have a way to contact you);
- The case type (Miscellaneous, Registration, Subsequent, or Tax Lien); and
- The docket number (case number).
When the court gets the file, we will call or email you. You can then review the file at the Recorder’s Office. You cannot remove the file from the Recorder’s Office. The court requests older files once a week, so all requests must be in no later than Tuesday at noon. Once the file arrives at the court, we will hold it on-site for two weeks. After two weeks, the court will send the file back to off-site storage.
Request copies of court records
To request copies of court records from the Land Court, use the Land Court Recorder’s Office Order Form (PDF). Include your contact information. Also, add the case number(s) and a description of your request. Select how you want to receive the court records and how you will pay for them. Please email the completed order form to: landcourt.recoffice@jud.state.ma.us
Methods of delivery
There are three ways to receive the court records:
- By email (PDF—be sure to provide an email address),
- By picking them up in person at the Recorder’s Office at the Suffolk County Courthouse, 3 Pemberton Square, 5th Floor, Boston, MA, or
- By mail (be sure to provide a mailing address).
Methods of payment
There are three ways to pay for the court records:
- Online (credit or debit card or eCheck),
- By mail to the Recorder’s Office (check only), or
- In person at the Recorder’s Office (cash, check, or card accepted).
Applicable fees
The fees for the court records are as follows:
| Court Record | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies | $0.05 per page |
| Certification | $2.50 per page |
| Clerk Certificate | $20.00 each |
| CD or USB of audio recording with postage | $53.00 each |
| CD or USB of audio recording without postage | $50.50 each |
If you pay for court records online, there is a 2.29 percent per transaction convenience fee for credit or debit card payments (with a minimum charge of $1.50) or a $0.40 per transaction convenience fee for eCheck payments. This fee comes from a third-party payment processor (called Payment Express). This fee is not paid to the Land Court. If you are paying for court records online, you must provide an email address. The Land Court Recorder’s Office will send you an email containing a payment link to complete your online payment. Once payment is received, the order will be fulfilled by the Recorder’s Office.
Request copies of Survey Division records
The Survey Division records are maintained both on-site at the Land Court and electronically on a separate Survey Division public access site. To view Survey Division records and plans, see the Survey Division Public Access site. To order a plan reproduction, see the Order a Survey Plan Reproduction site.