Find Family Court Records in Bristol County

Bristol County family court records are managed across three court locations: the main courthouse in Taunton, a session in Fall River, and a session in New Bedford. The court covers 20 towns in the county. Whether you need divorce records, custody filings, or probate documents, this guide explains how to search Bristol County family court records, how each location works, and what information you can get. You can search case records online at no cost through the state case lookup portal, or visit whichever courthouse is closest to where you live.

Bristol County Probate and Family Court Locations

Bristol County is one of the few counties in Massachusetts where the Probate and Family Court operates from three separate locations. The main office is in Taunton. Sessions also run in Fall River and New Bedford. Which location you use depends on where you live and the type of matter you are filing. All three locations are part of the same court system and share the same case records.

The Taunton office at 40 Broadway, Suite 240, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is where most central administrative functions are handled and where the main filing desk operates. You can reach the Taunton office at (508) 977-6040 or by fax at (508) 977-6088. For general email inquiries, use bristolprobate@jud.state.ma.us. The official court listing is on the mass.gov Bristol Probate and Family Court page.

The Fall River session is at 289 Rock Street. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and you can reach the Fall River office at (508) 672-1751. Details for the Fall River session are on the mass.gov Fall River Probate and Family Court page. The New Bedford session is at 505 Pleasant Street, phone (508) 999-5249. New Bedford is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The New Bedford office is closed on Wednesdays.

The mass.gov listing for the Bristol County Probate and Family Court shows all three locations, hours, and contact details for the Taunton main office.

Searching Bristol County Family Court Records

You can search Bristol County family court records online through MassCourts.org. This is the state's public case lookup system. Search by party name or case number to find docket entries, hearing dates, and case status for Bristol County cases. It covers all three court locations. Some records tied to minor children may have limited details visible online, but most family court cases show basic case information.

Bristol County also offers a Virtual Registry with twice-daily sessions. The Virtual Registry runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The split schedule means you can connect in the morning or after lunch, which gives more flexibility than courts that only offer one session. You can join by Zoom at zoomgov.com using Meeting ID 1612606196, or call in at 1 (646) 828-7666 with the same meeting ID. Full instructions are on the Bristol Virtual Registry page at mass.gov.

The Bristol Virtual Registry page on mass.gov shows current Zoom and call-in details for both the morning and afternoon sessions available Monday through Friday.

For in-person file review at any of the three court locations, the standard rule applies: you can review up to three files on the same day without a special form. If you need more than three, you submit a Research Request Form, which covers up to 12 files. Files submitted by 3:00 PM are ready by 8:30 AM the next business day. One important note for older files: records from 1931 to 1970 are kept off-site at an archive storage facility. Plan extra time if you need records from that era, as they must be retrieved before you can view them.

Note: If you plan to visit the New Bedford session, confirm your visit falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, as that office is closed on Wednesdays.

Bristol County Family Court Records Online Resources

Beyond the state's mass.gov portal, Bristol County maintains its own probate website. The Bristol County Probate website at bristolcountyprobate.org is a county-run resource that provides information about the court's services, local procedures, and how to access probate records. It can be a useful starting point if you want county-specific information before contacting the court directly.

The Bristol County Probate website offers county-level guidance on records access, local court procedures, and contact information for all three session locations.

Virtual motions and court service center access are also available. Taunton handles virtual motions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Fall River offers virtual motions on select days. A virtual Court Service Center is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM for people who need help with forms and procedures without coming in person. SRTA buses serve the Taunton courthouse area. For bus routes and schedules near the court, contact the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority at (508) 999-5211 or visit srtabus.com.

The Fall River session handles family court filings for Fall River residents and nearby towns, operating full hours Monday through Friday at 289 Rock Street.

What Bristol County Family Court Records Contain

Bristol County family court records include divorce decrees, separation agreements, and financial statements from divorce cases. Each divorce file starts with the original complaint or joint petition and builds from there. As the case moves forward, both parties file financial statements showing income and assets. If the parties reach an agreement, the separation agreement is filed and becomes part of the record. When the judge issues the final order, the judgment of divorce nisi goes into the file as well.

Probate records are another large part of what the court holds. These include wills filed for probate, estate inventories, accountings, and letters of authority issued to executors and administrators. Guardianship and conservatorship filings are kept here too. When someone petitions the court to manage the affairs of another person, those records become part of the Bristol County court files and are generally available to the public.

Fees for filing and copies follow the statewide schedule. You can see the current fee list at mass.gov's probate and family court filing fees page. One local change that took effect in November 2025: name change petitions in Bristol County are now impounded (sealed) by default, and the publication requirement has been removed. The filing fee for a name change is $165, which includes a $150 base fee and a $15 surcharge. This change applies to all name change petitions filed at any of the three Bristol County locations.

Filing Divorce Cases in Bristol County

Divorce filings in Bristol County follow Massachusetts law under Chapter 208 of the Massachusetts General Laws. To file here, you or your spouse must live in one of the 20 towns the court covers. Those towns are Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Mansfield, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, and Westport.

A joint petition (1A divorce) lets both spouses file together when they have already agreed on all terms. They submit a signed separation agreement at the time of filing. A complaint for divorce (1B) is filed by one spouse alone. Both paths lead to a judgment of divorce nisi. Under Chapter 208, a 1A judgment becomes absolute after 120 days. A 1B judgment becomes final after 90 days. These periods run from the date the judge enters the nisi judgment, not from the date you file. The court may issue temporary orders for support, custody, or property during the case. All orders and final judgments are part of the Bristol County family court records held across the three locations.

If you are not sure which session to use when you file, the Taunton main office can direct you. Call (508) 977-6040 or email bristolprobate@jud.state.ma.us. The staff can tell you which location handles your town and what forms you need to bring or submit.

Cities in Bristol County

Three qualifying cities in Bristol County have dedicated pages with local family court records information, including courthouse addresses and how to search records for that city.

Other towns in Bristol County such as Attleboro, Mansfield, Dartmouth, and North Attleboro file family court cases at the Bristol County Probate and Family Court. Residents of those towns use the Taunton main office or the nearest session location.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bristol County. If you are not certain which court serves your address, check the list of towns above. Filing in the wrong county will require you to refile, which adds time and cost to your case.