Order  Essex County Juvenile Court Order Permitting Destruction of Court Records

Date:	09/28/2026
Organization:	Massachusetts Court System
Referenced Sources:	Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:11: Rule relative to the disposal of court papers and records

Order

It is hereby ordered that, in accordance with the provisions of Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:11:

1. The following case papers and records in the Essex County Juvenile Court Department, which have been finally disposed of for ten years or more and sampled pursuant to Section 6 of the Rule, may be destroyed:
   • Adult cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Applications for Complaint from 1999 through 2004
   • Care & Protections cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Chins/CRA cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Contempt cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Delinquency cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • YO cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • First Instance DL cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • First Instance YO cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Equity cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Guardianship cases filed from 1980 through 2004
   • Harassment cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Interstate Compact cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Mentally Ill cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Substance Abuse cases filed from 1999 through 2004
   • Order of Assignment cases filed from 1999 through 2004
2. The following records shall be retained permanently:
   • Case records in all cases decided by the Supreme Judicial Court, including transcripts;
   • Dockets and extended records that are subject to the sampling provisions set forth in Section 6 of Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:11
   • All case records, acknowledgments and agreements filed to establish paternity pursuant to G.L. c.209C;
   • All orders and judgments in equity cases, and;
   • All cases records filed in or relating to an adoption filed pursuant to G.L. c 210, or a name change filed pursuant to G.L. c 210, s 12.
3. A copy of this Order shall be published and posted, and any responses received as a result of such publications shall be sent by the Clerk Magistrate to the First Justice of this court and the Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department at least 30 days before any such papers or records are destroyed.

Case papers and records in Guardianships shall be retained for at least 10 years or until the minor has reached the age of 20, whichever is the later date; 

Case papers and records in Care & Protection matters shall be retained for at least 10 years or until the youngest child or young adult named on the petition has reached the age of twenty-two whichever is the later date; 

Orders and judgements in equity cases shall be retained permanently.

Further information may be obtained from the Office of the Clerk Magistrate:

Essex County Juvenile Court Department
Clerk's Office