Fall River Family Court Records
Fall River family court records are filed through the Bristol County Probate and Family Court, with a local session held at 289 Rock Street in Fall River. The court handles divorce cases, child custody matters, guardianship petitions, and probate filings for residents of Fall River and the surrounding Bristol County area. You can search records online through the state's free case portal, visit the Fall River session in person during court hours, or contact the main Bristol County office in Taunton for filings and certified copies. This page covers where to go, what the records contain, and how to get the help you need.
Fall River Quick Facts
Bristol County Probate and Family Court in Fall River
Fall River has a local session of the Bristol County Probate and Family Court. That session is held at 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720. The phone for the local session is (508) 672-1751. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is where you can appear for hearings and access some court services in the city. The 289 Rock Street building also houses the Fall River Juvenile Court and the Southeastern Housing Court, so it is a shared court facility with multiple divisions operating out of the same address.
The main Bristol County office handles all filings and most records requests. That office is at 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780. Phone there is (508) 977-6040. If you need to file paperwork, request certified copies, or submit documents by mail, Taunton is the right office to contact. The Taunton office also runs a virtual registry from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Two daily windows is an unusual setup, so check the current schedule before you try to connect.
The official location page at mass.gov has current hours, phone numbers, and any updates to the Fall River session schedule. The screenshot below comes from that page and shows how the court is listed in the state system.
The image above comes directly from the state's official court location page, which is updated when contact details or hours change. Bookmark it if you expect to deal with the court more than once.
| Local Session | Fall River Probate and Family Court (Bristol County) |
|---|---|
| Local Address | 289 Rock Street Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Local Phone | (508) 672-1751 |
| Main Office | 40 Broadway, Suite 240 Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Main Phone | (508) 977-6040 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Virtual Registry | M-F, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
The 289 Rock Street building also serves the Juvenile Court and the Housing Court. If you go to court in Fall River, make sure you know which court you need before you get in line. Family court matters go to the Probate and Family Court session, not the Juvenile Court, even though both share the building.
Getting to the Fall River Family Court
SRTA (Southeastern Regional Transit Authority) bus service reaches the courthouse area at 289 Rock Street. Routes 104 and 109 both serve that part of the city. The SRTA main line is (508) 999-5211, and the current fare is $1.50 cash. For route maps and schedules, check srtabus.com. If you are coming from out of the area, the SRTA also runs regional connections that may get you close.
Street parking near the courthouse is metered. Bring change or check whether the meters accept cards. Meter availability can be limited during busy court hours, so plan to arrive early. The building has no dedicated parking lot of its own. Getting there by bus is often the easier option if you are coming from within Fall River.
Note: The Fall River Juvenile Court at the same address handles a different set of cases. If you have business with the family court specifically, follow signs to the Probate and Family Court session when you enter the building.
Fall River Family Court Records Online
The primary way to search Fall River family court records online is through masscourts.org, the statewide court portal. You can search by name or case number. Results for Bristol County Probate and Family Court cases include case type, filing date, party names, and docket entries. The system is free to use. Not every document in the file will appear online. Some filings, especially those involving children or sealed matters, are restricted from public view.
Bristol County also maintains a separate probate resources site at bristolcountyprobate.org. That site has local forms, fee information, and contact details specific to the Bristol County court. The screenshot below comes from the Bristol County probate site and shows the kind of local information it provides alongside the state court portal.
The Bristol County site is worth checking before you call the clerk's office. It often has answers to common questions about local procedures, forms needed for different case types, and current fee amounts. The two resources together, the state portal and the county site, cover most of what you need before visiting in person.
To request specific documents, you can submit a copies request at the main Taunton office, through the virtual registry, or by mail. The fee schedule for certified copies and other services is listed at mass.gov probate and family court filing fees. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and are needed for legal purposes like proving a divorce is final, refinancing a home, or changing a name on official documents.
The image below shows the court listing on the state's official site, which is a direct link to Fall River family court records information from mass.gov.
The mass.gov location page is the most reliable source for current hours and any schedule changes at the Fall River session.
What Fall River Family Court Records Include
Fall River family court records filed at the Bristol County Probate and Family Court cover a range of case types. Divorce filings are the most commonly requested. A divorce case file can include the original complaint or joint petition, financial statements from both parties, a separation agreement, child support worksheets, parenting plans, and the final Judgment of Divorce Nisi. After the nisi period ends, the court issues a Certificate of Divorce Absolute. That certificate is what most people need to show a marriage is legally over. Massachusetts law under General Laws Chapter 208 governs how divorce cases proceed, including waiting periods and residency rules.
Beyond divorce, the Bristol County court also handles custody and visitation cases, paternity matters, guardianship petitions for both minors and adults, and probate cases. Each type of case creates its own file. Guardianship records typically include a petition, statements from interested parties, and any court orders issued. Adoption records are largely sealed under state law and are not available for general public inspection. Protection orders related to domestic abuse are generally part of the public court record unless the court seals them for safety reasons.
Most family court filings in Fall River are public records. However, some documents and portions of files may be restricted. If you are a party to a case, your access to your own file is broader than what someone with no connection to the case can view. Court staff can explain what is available when you come in or call.
Massachusetts Law and Fall River Family Court Cases
Family court cases in Fall River follow Massachusetts state law the same way every Probate and Family Court in the state does. Divorce is governed by General Laws Chapter 208. That chapter covers grounds for divorce, residency requirements, property division, alimony, and the nisi waiting period. A joint petition divorce has a 120-day waiting period after the judgment nisi is entered before it becomes final. A contested case has a 90-day wait. These rules apply in Fall River just as they do everywhere else in Massachusetts.
Child support, custody, and paternity cases follow their own statutes. Support amounts are set using the state's child support guidelines, and any later changes require a complaint for modification filed with the same court where the original order was entered. All of that history stays in the original docket, so the full record of a case is kept in one place.
Note: If you are unsure whether your case was filed in Fall River's local session or in Taunton, search masscourts.org by your name or case number. The docket will show which office has the file.
Bristol County Family Court Records
Fall River is in Bristol County, and all family court filings from the city go through the Bristol County Probate and Family Court. That court also serves Taunton, New Bedford, Attleboro, and other cities and towns in the county. For a full look at county-level court information, office contacts, and filing procedures, visit the Bristol County family court records page.
Nearby Cities with Family Court Records Pages
Other cities near Fall River have their own family court records pages. Each city files through its county court, which may be a different court than the one serving Fall River.