Probate and Family Court Rules  Probate and Family Court Standing Order 1-24: Remote access to electronic court records for the Probate and Family Court

This Standing Order defines what is and is not available for view on the public access portal hosted on masscourts.org.¹ Remote public access allows anyone to view dockets, case documents, and other case-related information electronically from anywhere with Internet access. This access reduces the need for a person to come to a courthouse to review a case file or check a docket entry. Remote access to court records is governed by the Trial Court’s Rule 5 of the Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records, titled "Remote access to electronic court records".

Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-16 Remote Access to Electronic Court Records For Probate and Family Court Records, effective November 1, 2016, is hereby rescinded, and superseded by this Standing Order. This Standing Order shall remain in effect until further order of the Court.

It is hereby ORDERED:

Pursuant to Rule 5 of the Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records, the following Probate and Family Court civil case types shall not appear on the remote public portal:

• Adoption
• Child welfare matters under G. L. c. 119, §§ 1 to 37
• Paternity cases prior to March 31, 1998
• Paternity cases with a Judgment of Non-Paternity
• Complaints for Protection from Abuse under G. L. c. 209A
• Requests for Special Findings to seek Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

The following Probate and Family Court civil case types, not impounded by statute, other standing order, rule, or order of the Court, shall be available on the remote public portal:

• Change of Name
• Domestic Relations Custody, Support, Parenting Time
• Domestic Relations
• Domestic Relations/Other
• Equity Partition
• Equity Complaint
• Equity Petition
• Estates and Administration
• Guardianship
• Joint Petition
• Paternity
• Paternity in Equity
• Probate Abuse/Conservator
• Probate Other

Unless the case information listed in paragraph C is restricted or impounded by statute, other standing order, rule, or order of the Court, the following information shall be available on the remote public portal:

• Case Name
• Party Names
• Attorney Information
• Event Dates
• Subsequent Actions
• Case Disposition
• Docket Entries
• Document Images

The following Probate and Family Court civil case information shall not be available on the remote public portal:

• Addresses for parties, whether represented by counsel or not

There are Probate and Family Court document images that are not otherwise impounded or restricted by statute, other standing order, rule, or order of the Court that the Probate and Family Court has determined shall not appear on the remote public portal. For a complete list of these images visit: Probate and Family Court Document Images Restricted on Remote Public Access Portal.