Find Free Middlesex County Public Records: Criminal, Arrest, Property & More

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Free Middlesex County Public Records Search

Access Middlesex County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Track down free Middlesex County public records online, in-person or via mail using the links and guidance offered throughout this resource.

Once you know where to look, public information such as court records, criminal records (e.g., warrants, arrests, probation, etc.), vital records (e.g., marriage, divorce, birth and death), court records, and property records are all conveniently accessible.

Whether you want to find out if someone is in jail or check if someone is married, you have a right to access these records because of laws passed by both the federal government (Freedom of Information Act) and the state legislature (Massachusetts Public Records Act).

This article reveals which types of records are available and equips you with the tools and steps necessary to conduct various online and in-person searches for public information in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Determine if Someone Was Arrested or Taken to Jail in Middlesex County Massachusetts

If you want to find information on formerly or currently arrested and incarcerated individuals in the county, you can begin by reaching out to the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, the County Jail & House of Correction, or online via VINELink.^1,2

An inmate search through the county sheriff’s office or jail can provide useful data from recent arrest report information as to whether or not someone is currently in custody, but unfortunately an online option is not available.

That means you’ll have to make a request for inmate records by reaching out to whoever is responsible for maintaining them–the Middlesex County Sheriff. If you want to make sure you find the inmate information you are looking for, try to find as much helpful information as you can find before performing your search.

Any of the below information will be helpful when looking for arrest or inmate information:

• The inmate’s name
• Any descriptive characteristics that you know about the individual
• The agency that made the arrest
• When the person was arrested (e.g., date and time)
• Where an individual was arrested
• The type of charge brought against the person

Since the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office does not have an online search tool, it is best to visit the agency in person or by calling the phone numbers below. One option is to send your request for the inmate information you are looking to find to the Records Access Officer of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.

Use the below contact information to make your request:

Records Access Officer
Legal Div.
12 Gill St., Ste. 4700
Woburn, Massachusetts 01801

Another option is to send your request to them by email at [email protected]. If you have specific questions about how to make a records request, feel free to contact the Records Access Officer at 781-960-2800.

You can also reach out to the Middlesex Jail & House of Corrections directly. The jail is limited to holding the following individuals:

• Men who are currently awaiting trial
• Men serving sentences of up to 2 ½ years
• Women that are classified to the pre-release center

For information on how to request jail records or inmate data, you can call 978-667-1711. If you’d like to go to the jail in person, refer to the address below:

Middlesex House of Corrections & Jail
269 Treble Cove Road
North Billerica, Massachusetts 01862

Get Ahold of Local Police Departments & City Jails Within Middlesex County

Middlesex County arrest records and police records can be obtained from local police departments as well, and may be helpful if the person was arrested within the last 24 hours, the county search doesn’t yield results, or if a police report (internal documentation of the arrest) is necessary.

If you’re looking to request police reports or other information related to arrest records, see the contact information below for the police departments of some of the larger cities in Middlesex County:

Police Department	Address	Phone Number
Cambridge Police Department	125 Sixth Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142	617-349-3300
Lowell Police Department	50 Arcand Drive Lowell, Massachusetts 01852	978-937-3200
Newton Police Department	1321 Washington Street Newton, Massachusetts 02465	617-796-2100
Somerville Police Department	220 Washington Street Somerville, Massachusetts 02143	617-625-1600
Framingham Police Department	1 William H. Welch Way Framingham, Massachusetts 01702	508-872-1212
Waltham Police Department	610 Main Street Waltham, Massachusetts 02452	781-314-3000
Malden Police Department	800 Eastern Avenue Malden, Massachusetts 02148	781-397-7171
Medford Police Department	100 Main Street Medford, Massachusetts 02155	781-391-6404
Everett Police Department	45 Elm St. Everett, Massachusetts 02149	617-389-2120
Arlington Police Department	112 Mystic Street Arlington, Massachusetts 02474	781-643-1212

Note: There are no city jails located in these larger cities in Middlesex County. Middlesex County bookings are limited to the Middlesex Jail and House of Corrections.

Since there isn’t an online search tool at the county or city level, your best option for conducting an online inmate search is to use VINELink.³ You can use this government-authorized third party tool to perform an online search for inmates by simply following these steps:

1. On the home screen, select “Massachusetts” where it requests you to select your state of interest.
2. On the next page, you can search for offenders by either name or ID number.
3. For either search option, you can also indicate that you only have a partial ID number or partial name.
4. Select to display offender photos if you want to find someone’s mugshot.
5. Once you click search, you will see your results.
6. If you find the result you are looking for, click on the record details to see more information.

Record details contain limited information such as the individual’s custody status and the last date it was updated. You can also view a partial ID number and the contact information for the reporting agency. For additional information try contacting the reporting agency directly.

Another option is to contact VINELink by phone at 866-277-7477 for jail roster information.

How To Retrieve Marriage & Divorce Records in Middlesex County

To access Middlesex County marriage records, contact or visit the State’s Registry of Vital Records.⁴

Searchers can also find Middlesex County divorce records through the Massachusetts Probate & Family Court.⁵ These records are necessary if you need them for requesting a name change, getting a new Social Security card, or handling other legal matters.

These records can be useful even if you just need to check into someone else’s background for personal reasons.

Access Middlesex County Marriage Documents via the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records & Statistics

If you’re hoping to find out if someone is married or you’re seeking marriage records, make a request with the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records & Statistics (RVRS).

Be aware that only certain individuals can request some types of marriage records in Massachusetts. For marriage records of people who were born to parents that did not marry, only the following people can access these records:

1. Bride or Groom
2. The Party’s Parents
3. Legal Guardian or Legal Representative

Both legal representatives and guardians are required to provide additional documentation to help support their representation or guardianship.

Before you make your request, double check to make sure you have the below information:

• Individual’s Full Name
• Date (they were married)
• City (they were married in)
• Proof of Identification (e.g., this could include a driver’s license or other form of government-issued ID)

If you have all of this information, there are four ways you can request a marriage record from Middlesex County.

Online: For online requests you can place an order through VitalChek.⁶ VitalChek is a third party service authorized to provide certain types of Massachusetts vital records. If you want to make an online request follow these steps:

1.  First select the state – “Massachusetts.”
2. Then, you can select the city in Middlesex County where the person you are searching was married.
3. Next, you’ll enter the date of marriage.
4. Respond to the question of whether either party’s parents were married at the time the person was born.
5. Indicate the reason for requesting the marriage certificate (i.e. adoption, estate settlement, etc.).
6. You can then select whether you want your marriage certificate priority processed for an additional fee.
7. Finally, you’ll have to provide your personal information (to ensure you are authorized to make the request) and additional information about the parties that were married to locate the specific marriage record.

By Phone: You can make a request by phone through VitalCheck as well. You can call them either at 617-740-2606 or 866-300-8535. If you are looking for any additional information you can check out VitalChek’s Help Center.⁷

By Mail: If you choose to make a request by mail, you will have to complete an Application for Vital Record Form.⁸

Once you complete this application, you can send it–along with your fee–to the below address:

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Registry of Vital Records & Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, First Floor
Dorchester, Massachusetts 02125

If records are needed urgently, there is an option to request expedited service (7-10 business days). Otherwise, a request for a marriage record can take up to 30 business days to be processed.

In Person: Finally, you can go in person to request a marriage certificate at the above address. The Register of Vital Records and Statistics Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:45AM to 4:45PM.

Fees for marriage records must be made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The cost is dependent on the desired delivery method. Below is a list of the fee structure for marriage records:

Request	Cost
Online or Phone (first copy)	$54.00 (additional $8.50 for priority process)
Online or Phone (additional copy)	$42.00
Mail (per copy)	$32.00
In Person (per copy)	$32.00

The RVRS only provides certified copies of marriage records. If you just need the marriage records for informational purposes, you’re welcome to perform genealogical research in person during limited hours.⁹ Before going, be sure to create a reservation during the available hours:¹⁰

Day	Available Hours
Monday	1:00AM – 4:00PM
Tuesday	9:00AM – 12:00PM
Thursday	1:00AM – 4:00PM
Friday	9:00AM – 12:00PM

Note: The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records only has marriage records from 1931 to present. If you need records from 1841-1930, you will have to contact the State Archives.¹¹

Look Up Middlesex County Records of Divorce via the Massachusetts Probate & Family Court

If you want to look up public divorce records in Middlesex County, you should be aware that these records are maintained by the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. A divorce record will be held by the Probate and Family Court in the county where the event occurred.

Online: you can search for Middlesex county divorce records through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access.¹² Once you access this tool, select “Probate and Family Court” for the Court Department. Then for the Court Division, you can select the “Middlesex Probate and Family Court” and conduct a search by:

• Name
• Case Type
• Case Number

There are several other options for filtering your search. For instance, if you’re searching by someone’s name you can also filter your results using any of the below search criteria:

• Current Status of the Case (e.g., active, closed, suspended)
• Type of Case
• Party Type
• Filing Date Range

Regardless of how you choose to perform your search, you can specifically filter your results by choosing “Domestic Relations” for the Case Type.

Once you enter the information for your search, you’ll get a list of results that will contain some basic divorce case information. After clicking on a particular divorce record, additional information such as the disposition of the case and additional party information will be displayed.

However, you will not be able to get a copy of the divorce certificate through this online tool. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, searchers must know the exact divorce case docket number or probate court location. This information can be found by using the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool.

There are two separate Probate & Family Courts located in Middlesex County. Their addresses are listed below:

Courthouse	Address	Phone Number
Middlesex Probate and Family Court South – Woburn	10-U Commerce Way Woburn, Massachusetts 01801	781-865-4000
Middlesex Probate and Family Court North – Lowell	370 Jackson Street, Fifth Floor Lowell, Massachusetts 01852	978-656-7700

The hours for both of these courts are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Once you have the case information and know the location of the Middlesex Probate Family Court, you can proceed with requesting divorce records.

To do so, complete the Probate & Family Court Request for Copies Form.¹³ Then either mail or submit the application in person (along with the fee) to the Middlesex Probate and Family Court. The fee for certified copies of divorce records is $20 per copy.

If a vital record from a neighboring county is needed, interested parties can find guidance on tracking down free Massachusetts public records, including information on property, births, deaths, marriages, divorces, court cases, criminal activity, and more. Details on how to look up this information and the agencies that host each record type are available there.

How To Search Middlesex County Criminal Records & Prior Offences

To perform a free criminal record check in Middlesex County, individuals can use the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool. This tool can be used to search for Middlesex County criminal records specifically. To do so, it’s important to understand how to best use this search tool.

If someone has a criminal record and you know their name or case number, you can take the following steps:

1. Once you are on the search page, select either “District Court” or the “Superior Court” for the Court Department.
2. If you select “Superior Court,” there will be a drop down option under court division to select “Middlesex County.” If you’re searching at the District Court level, you’ll just need to select the correct district court (all district courts in Middlesex County are listed later in this article).
3. Enter your search information which may include the person’s name, case number, or case type. There is other information such as the filing date range you can enter if you need to narrow down your results further.

If you do not know the subject’s name, you can strictly search by case type. While you will have to filter through results, it does provide you an option of strictly searching a public index of criminal records in Middlesex County. Upon choosing this option, you can narrow down your results further by selecting a particular city in Middlesex county, along with the case status.

After completing your search, all available and relevant criminal records information will be available online. If you need additional criminal records information, feel free to contact the court that processed the criminal record. This is typically listed with the online criminal record.

If you do not have the court name, you can narrow down your options if you know the particular offense(s) on the individual’s criminal record. The District Court is responsible for handling misdemeanors which involve sentences of up to 2 ½ years. The Massachusetts Superior Court handles felony cases and has general authority over all criminal cases.

For addresses and phone numbers to all Middlesex County courts, see the below section on searching court records. Use this information if you want to look up someone’s criminal record in person or prefer to contact the courthouse by phone.

Additionally, you can also consider contacting or visiting local law enforcement agencies, including police departments and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, as they should be able to provide guidance on the specific process and requirements for accessing such records.

Utilize Massachusetts State Agencies To Search Criminal Records Statewide

If you need to expand your public criminal records search, Massachusetts public records may come in very handy. Here, you may find new Middlesex County criminal records information.

It may be that you’ve exhausted your resources in Middlesex County or realized the person you are looking for has a criminal record in another county in Massachusetts.

Whatever the reason, here are some options for checking both state and federal resources for Massachusetts criminal records:

• Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool: Use this search tool to find criminal records by county or even by a particular court within a county throughout all of Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board: Like most states, Massachusetts provides its own independent sex offender registry to search for people in Massachusetts convicted of sex offenses.¹⁴
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Check whether or not someone is incarcerated in Federal prison by using the Federal Bureau of Prison’s online search tool and entering either the subject’s name or BOP register number.¹⁵
• United States Sex Offender Registry:  Another sex offender search resource, this tool allows concerned parties to perform a broader search throughout the United States.¹⁶

How To Complete a Background Check on Yourself & Others in Middlesex County MA

To conduct a background check in Middlesex County, you can reach out to the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.¹⁷ A background check is an investigative tool that could be used for a variety of reasons.

To help you better understand their importance and function, here is a quick summary of the two types of background checks:

Personal Background Check: A personal background check simply consists of searching records online or in person. This article provides you with a variety of tools and resources to conduct your own personal background check on yourself or someone else by utilizing local, state, and federal public records. If you plan to perform a personal background check on someone else, you are freely allowed to do so for any reason that is not illegal.

Also, the person does not need to be notified that you are performing a personal background check.

Professional Background Check: A professional background check is typically conducted by a government agency and can be used for a specific reason such as requesting a firearm license or as a part of an employment application. Unlike personal background checks, you have greater rights. For instance, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires your consent before someone performs a background check.¹⁸

Also, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) protects you against being discriminated against due to the contents of your background check.¹⁹

While the sheriff’s office provides information for a Middle County public records request, it does not provide information on obtaining a background check. Therefore, if you want a background check you’ll have to use state resources.

To request a background check through the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, it’s important to understand the two types of background checks available in the state. The state provides both a name-based and a fingerprint-based criminal record check.

While the name-based record check is limited to Massachusetts information, a fingerprint-based search can include nationwide records and information.

You can request a name-based criminal record check through the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI).²⁰ To make a request, create an iCORI account and follow their online steps. You must know the name and date of birth of the person you are performing a background check on.

A CORI request can take up to 10 business days.

Fingerprint-based background checks are typically requested by an agency or employer.²¹ Different fingerprint-based background checks can provide varying levels of information. For instance, a background check can be limited to adult arrests in the state or can be as broad as adult and juvenile convictions both within Massachusetts and out-of-state.

For additional information, you’re welcome to contact the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services at 617-660-4600. You can also stop by in person at the below address:

Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
200 Arlington Street, Ste. 2200
Chelsea, Massachusetts 02150

How To See if You or Someone Has a Warrant Out for Their Arrest in Middlesex County Massachusetts

To search for Middlesex County warrants online, you can use the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool which can be used to specifically search for criminal records in various Middlesex County Courts. Follow the instructions provided in earlier sections for how to specifically perform a search using this tool.

To search for individuals with active warrants, apply the filter for active cases. This tool can then provide you with information that may help you determine if someone has a warrant.

For instance, this tool will provide you with information on the case status for the particular criminal record. If there is not enough information to make a determination regarding whether an individual has any warrants, you can contact the court listed in their criminal records. Later in this article, phone numbers and addresses are provided for all courthouses, including those handling criminal matters.

Another option is to search VINELink to check on an individual’s custody status.

Additional resources that may assist you in your warrant search are the Massachusetts State Police’s Most Wanted List and the Massachusetts Department of Corrections’ Most Wanted.^22,23

For more information, try reaching out to the  Middlesex Sheriff’s Warrant Apprehension Unit.²⁴ The Warrant Apprehension Unit handles all felony warrants in Middlesex County. They are available at 978-667-1711.

In person inquiries can be made at:

Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office
Warrant Apprehension Unit
269 Treble Cove Road
Billerica, Massachusetts 01862

How To Find Out if Someone Is on Probation in Middlesex County

Similar to searching for warrants, a probation search will require you to look through information provided in the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool.

The online search tool does not provide specific probation information. However, there is information contained within the criminal record that may be helpful in making a determination of someone’s probation status.

Probation is typically granted to individuals convicted of less serious offenses (non-felony crimes). Examples may include:

• Shoplifting
• Trespass
• Driving Under the Influence
• Stalking

When searching an individual’s criminal record, look for the particular offense the individual was convicted of. Check the disposition date of the action as well. If the action occurred within the last 5 years and was for a misdemeanor or related crime, there is a higher likelihood that the individual is currently on probation.

You can also perform a search with Vinelink to see if they have any information on the individual’s probation status.

To talk to someone about probation information and inquire about Middlesex County public records, you can contact the Massachusetts Probation Service at 617-727-5300 or ask questions about probationers in person at:

Massachusetts Probation Service
1 Ashburton Place, Rm. 405
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

How To View Court Documents via Online Case Search Tools & Middlesex County Courthouses

To look up Middlesex County court records, the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool is a publicly accessible search resource. This tool contains a public records repository of a variety of court records. You can access the following types of Middlesex County judicial records using this search tool:

• Probate
• Land Court
• Criminal
• Drug Court
• Civil
• Small Claims
• Housing
• Administrative Actions
• Torts

Some records are only available in person. Therefore, if you’ve bumped into roadblocks during your online search, try visiting or calling any of the below Middlesex County court locations:

Courthouse	Address	Phone Number
Middlesex Superior Court	200 Trade Center Drive Woburn, Massachusetts 01801	781-939-2700
Lowell Superior Court Lowell Justice Center	370 Jackson St. Lowell, Massachusetts 01852	978-453-4181
Ayer District Court	25 East Main Street Ayer, Massachusetts 01432	781-897-8750
Cambridge District Court	4040 Mystic Valley Pkwy. Medford, Massachusetts 02151	781-897-8550
Concord District Court	305 Walden St. Concord, Massachusetts 01742	781-897-8775
Framingham District Court	600 Concord St. Framingham, Massachusetts 01701	508-875-7461
Lowell District Court	370 Jackson St. Lowell, Massachusetts 01852	978-459-4101
Malden District Court	4040 Mystic Valley Pkwy. Medford, Massachusetts 02155	781-897-8675
Marlborough District Court	45 Williams St., Second Floor Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752	781-897-6775
Natick District Court	600 Concord St. Framingham, Massachusetts 01701	508-620-9110
Newton District Court	Newton Police Department Annex 25 Chestnut St. Newton, Massachusetts 02465	781-897-8625
Somerville District Court	175 Fellsway Somerville, Massachusetts 02145	781-897-8575
Waltham District Court	38 Linden St. Waltham, Massachusetts 02452	781-897-8650
Woburn District Court	30 Pleasant St. Woburn, Massachusetts 01801	781-897-8725

If you’re planning to go in person to perform a Middlesex County case search, make sure you call them to confirm their available hours.

How To Locate Other Vital Records in Middlesex County: Find Documents Regarding Birth & Death

Middlesex County public records regarding births and deaths are maintained by the Massachusetts’ Department of Health Registry of Vital Records & Statistics (RVRS).²⁵

To request either birth or death certificates, you will need the below information:

• Person’s Name
• Date of Birth or Death
• Location of Birth or Death
• Proof of Identification

Proof of identification is required as there are limitations for certain records. For instance, birth records of an individual born to unwed parents are restricted to:

• Individual Listed on the Record
• Parents
• Father not Listed on the Birth Record
• Legal Representative
• Legal Guardian

A certificate of birth or death can be obtained from the RVRS if the event occurred from 1931 to present. For older records (1841-1930) you will have to contact the Massachusetts State Archives. All records maintained by the State Archive are available to the entire public.

Fees for birth or death records from the Archives cost:

• Online or by Phone – $54 for first copy ($42 for each additional copy)
• Mail – $32
• In Person – $20

Birth and death records can be requested:

• Online
• By Phone
• By Mail
• In Person

For detailed instructions on how to make a request using each of these methods, see the section above on Middlesex County marriage and divorce records.

How To Find Middlesex County Property Details & Property Tax Records

There are two Registry of Deeds search resources in Middlesex (Middlesex South and Middlesex North), and each of them provides an online directory to search property records within the county.

Both the Northern Middlesex Registry of Deeds Search Tool and the Southern Middlesex Registry of Deeds Search Tool can be searched by:^26,27

• Name
• Document
• Town

After a search has been conducted, the results will show detailed property record information. You can also view a PDF copy of the property record. Property records in Middlesex are not limited to just basic deeds; some other types of documents you can view using these search tools include:

• • Federal Tax Liens
  • Municipal Liens
  • Mortgage
  • Assignment
  • Discharge
  • Lis Pendens (Notice of Suit)

For specific instructions on how to perform a search, the register of deeds provides detailed search record instructions to assist with your search.²⁸ To contact either office, please see the contact information below:

Office Location	Address	Phone number
Middlesex North Registry of Deeds	370 Jackson Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01852	978-322-9000
Middlesex South Registry of Deeds	208 Cambridge St. Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141	617-679-6300

The hours for both offices are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM.

A Recap of How To Search Middlesex County Public Records

Anyone can view or acquire many types of local public records in Middlesex County. Whether you need to search criminal records for an upcoming court date or are looking to obtain a certified copy of marriage record, this article provides you with the tools and knowledge to effectively complete your search.

Here are the online tools you can use to search for these records:

• Arrest and Criminal Records
  • Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool
  • Vinelink
• Vital Records (Marriage, Birth and Death records)
  • Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records
• Divorce Records
  • Massachusetts Probate & Family Court
• Court Records
  • Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Tool
• Property Records
  • Northern Middlesex Registry of Deeds Search Tool
  • Southern Middlesex Registry of Deeds Search Tool

This article is your go-to resource for seamless and free ways to access all sorts of public records. The steps provided above will enable you to quickly find any Middlesex County public records you need.