Find Free Middlesex County Divorce Records: Resource

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Free Middlesex County Divorce Record Search

Find out if someone in Middlesex County, Massachusetts is divorced, free of charge.

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Access Middlesex County divorce records for free through online indexes and other convenient sources.

This article covers how to search for divorce records in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Searchers will also learn how to obtain copies of the desired record for official purposes in person or by mail.

This resource can also be used when running an anonymous personal background check on someone else, as long as it’s done legally and ethically.

How Do I Look Up Middlesex County Divorce Records for Free?

To find out if someone is divorced in Middlesex County, or to view basic case information e.g., names of the ex-spouses, status of the case, the most convenient way to get started is by utilizing the state’s online search system.

Online: If a couple filed for divorce in Middlesex County, their case information can be found through the Massachusetts Trial Court case access portal (MassCourt).¹ With no fees or sign-up requirements, this website provides instant online access to Middlesex County divorce cases.

To look up a record on MassCourt, the user needs either the case number (also known as docket number) or the names of the divorcing parties.

If the divorce case number is unknown, these steps may be performed to search for a specific case:

1. Go to the MassCourt Public Access Portal.²
2. Select “Probate and Family Court” as the court department.
3. Choose “Middlesex County Probate and Family Court” under Court Division.
4. Make sure to select “Domestic Relations” as the case type.
5. Type the name of the person you wish to search. The First Name and Last Name are the only mandatory fields whereas Case Status can be “active”, “closed” or remain as it is, “all statuses”.
6. Choose a Begin and End date search range using the drop-down calendars.
7. Click “Search”. Browse as necessary to locate the desired record. The court case index contains names of parties, case number, filing date and current case status. Cases of divorce can be easily identified by looking at the details under “Initiating Action”.
8. Click on a case that seems relevant, to access its detailed history such as, the list of proceedings or events, judges who made decisions, attorneys who handled the case etc.

After finding the record of interest, make a note of the divorce docket number for future reference.

Middlesex County family court’s divorce records can also be searched by case type, case number etc.

When searching by “case number”, no search criteria are required other than the docket number. For additional guidance, users may refer to the Massachusetts Courts’ Docket Search Instructions.

However, online court records are intended for informational purposes only, and they may not reflect the most current information (as mentioned on the homepage of the Massachusetts court case lookup).

The actual case documents/hard copies (e.g., certificate of judgment or decree) can be accessed in person or by mail.

In Person: The Middlesex County Probate and Family Courts handle cases of divorce, separation, child support, custody and other family-related matters occurring in the county.

To order copies of records in person, residents may visit any of these two locations:

Middlesex Probate & Family Court (South)
10-U Commerce Way
Woburn, Massachusetts 01801

Phone: 781-865-4004
Email: [email protected]

Middlesex Probate & Family Court (North)
370 Jackson Street, Fifth floor
Lowell, MA 01852

Phone: 978-656-7700
Email: [email protected]

Before going to the court, inquirers also need to complete the Massachusetts Court Record Copies Request Form and brings it along with the required fees.³

They may call ahead of their arrival, or connect with the registry staff online to inquire about available records and how long it would take to get a specific record.

In Middlesex County, an official copy of a divorce decree costs $20. Fees for other court documents and payment instructions are provided in the form.

By Mail: Those wishing to obtain dissolution of marriage records without having to visit the courthouse, may send a request through mail.

The completed form (linked above, in the “In Person” section) and appropriate fees can be mailed to the Middlesex Probate and Family Court. Mailing address is the same as the address for in-person requests.

Note that a divorce “record” may refer to different items because the entire legal process involves a lot of paperwork. Some examples are:

• A certificate of divorce absolute — The final court order which confirms that a marital relationship has officially ended.
• Judgment of divorce nisi — The dissolution of marriage has been granted but it is yet to be final. This may be referred to as a copy of, or a certificate pertaining to, a decree of divorce. It covers appropriate orders on the division of assets, child support, custody, alimony etc, as mentioned in General Laws of Massachusetts Part II Title III Chapter 208.
• Divorce separation agreement — A written contract between spouses who wish to discontinue their marriage and live separately.
• Related documents — Attested copy of a voluntary statement, letter of Authority/Appointment etc.
• Divorce papers — Initial documents filed with the court to dissolve a marriage e.g., complaint and joint petition.⁴

The type of record the searcher is looking for depends on the intended purpose of the search.

Certified copies are court verified-documents; they are useful for official purposes. Parties wishing to remarry, or to renew their passport, may seek certified copies of a judgment absolute of divorce.⁵

Those who are simply curious about a potential partner’s background, can do a name search on the MassCourt portal, to find out if the person has ever been divorced or separated.

There is no option to order a Middlesex County divorce certificate online or by phone through the government-endorsed VitalChek website. However, VitalChek provides certified copies of other vital records (e.g., birth, marriage records) registered in this county.

Track Down Divorce or Dissolution of Marriage Details Through Cities & Towns in Middlesex County

To look up Middlesex County divorce cases online, Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access can be utilized, as discussed earlier.

For city-specific results, click the search by “case type” tab after selecting “Middlesex County Probate and Family Court” as the court division.

Choose “Domestic Relations” as the case type and then select your preferred city/town (e.g., Cambridge) from the dropdown box.

Before clicking the Search Button, note that the Begin Date and End Date must be within 1 month.

To confirm a record found online, the relevant county court may be contacted.

The Middlesex County Probate and Family Court have jurisdiction over the entire county — covering all its 54 cities and towns. It has two locations serving different areas of the county — Middlesex County Probate Court (South) and Middlesex County Probate Court (North).

Public divorce records are maintained by the court where the proceedings took place, not by the city clerk or any other city-designated authority.

For example, the City Clerk’s Office in Cambridge, MA, is not the keeper of divorce information even though it accepts requests for other vital records (marriage, birth etc.).⁶ Instead, divorce case files can be found through the probate court’s south division.

Similarly, the Records Access Officer (RAO) in the City of Lowell is not the custodian of the divorce files of its residents.⁷ These records are maintained by the probate court’s north division.

For other cities and towns, check the respective court page (both linked above) having jurisdiction over them.

How To Search the Registry of Vital Records & Statistics (RVRS) for Divorce Records Throughout Massachusetts

If a couple got divorced outside Middlesex County, it is possible to locate the case through Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access.

However, if the city, town or county is unknown, it would be quite difficult to look through the statewide databases of family court case information.

If inquirers are not sure of the location, they can try the following options:

Reach the nearest court to request a search for a case by name. Please refer to the Massachusetts Probate & Family Court Directory for courthouse addresses and contact information.⁸

Contact the State’s Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records & Statistics (RVRS) to request for divorce information.⁹

The second option would be helpful for individuals trying to find out:

• The year of the marriage being dissolved
• The case number or docket number
• The county probate court where it happened

The RVRS office maintains divorce indexes for the years 1952 to the present for the State of Massachusetts. To send a request, mail the completed the Application for Divorce Information Form and an enclosed prepaid envelope to the following address:¹⁰

State Registry of Vital Records & Statistics (RVRS)
150 Mount Vernon Street, First floor
Dorchester, Massachusetts 02125

Phone: 617-740-2600
Mail: [email protected]

The names of the parties must be provided along with an approximate date/year of divorce.

Be advised that the state vital records office provides only information on divorce cases. Certified copies are not available from this office.

For certified copies or actual records of divorce judgements (since 1922), contact the clerk’s office of the probate court in the applicable county.

Those looking for older or archived divorce records (prior to 1922) for genealogy research or other reasons, may use the Massachusetts’ Court Archives Guide.

Are Divorce Records in Middlesex County Available for Anyone’s Viewing?

Under Massachusetts’ Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records (Trial Court Rule XIV), any member of the public has the legal right to view a court record by contacting the clerk’s office at the respective courthouse.

Additionally, the clerk is required to produce a paper copy or electronic copy of any publicly available court record upon request. Everyone is allowed to request certified copies of a divorce records that are subject to public disclosure.¹¹

The state’s court system provides a free, online portal (Massachusetts Trial Court) allowing any interested person to search for the docket in a specific case.

A docket is a brief summary of all the proceedings (including the judgment of a divorce) and papers filed within a case. Such dockets and court case indexes are “open to public inspection” at any reasonable time.¹²

Divorces are generally public records in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, allowing anyone to view a case file, unless it is exempt from disclosure by law.¹³ Some papers in the case file such as the financial statement, personal identifying information, information related to minor children may not be open to the public. Some portions of the divorce documents may be sealed or redacted to protect general privacy needs.

Massachusetts does not recognize informal relationships such as common law marriages (unless it existed in another state). So, there are no provisions for a “common law divorce”.

However, other civil unions, such as a domestic partnership, are considered to be valid, if legally registered with the relevant government authorities.¹⁴

Individuals wishing to search for public divorce information online out of personal curiosity can use third-party providers. Third-party search sites can help when the searchers are unable to locate a record through government databases, or they are uncertain about the county where the divorce was granted.

Users can get quick access to divorce and separation records collected from various sources (e.g., online databases, archives, social media). However, the information found through third-party websites cannot be used for legal or official purposes (unless they are endorsed by the government).

Citizens can freely access Middlesex County divorce records using this resource, which promotes public awareness and transparency.