Find Family Court Records in Hampden County

Hampden County family court records are held at the Probate and Family Court inside the Hall of Justice on State Street in Springfield. This court handles divorce filings, child custody cases, support orders, guardianship petitions, abuse prevention orders, and probate matters for all 23 cities and towns in the county. If you need to search existing Hampden County family court records, request certified copies, or learn how to file, this guide covers the offices, hours, procedures, and resources you need.

Hampden County Probate and Family Court

The Hampden County Probate and Family Court is located inside the Hall of Justice at 50 State Street in Springfield. This is the main filing office for all family court records in the county. All new cases, pleadings, motions, and supporting documents must be filed here. The court manages divorce records under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 208, as well as child custody matters, support orders, guardianship petitions, conservatorship filings, and abuse prevention orders under Chapter 209C. Staff at the registry desk can search records by name or case number and provide copies of documents on file.

One thing to know about Hampden County: court hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, not 4:30 PM like many other Massachusetts probate courts. If you plan to visit, arrive well before 4:00 PM to make sure you have enough time to complete your business. The court handles a large volume of cases given the population of the county, so lines can form in the morning. Calling ahead to confirm what you need to bring can save time.

The Mass.gov location page for this court has the latest hours, contact details, and links to filing resources for Hampden County.

Chicopee Satellite Registry Office

Hampden County opened a satellite registry office at Chicopee City Hall, located at 17 Springfield Street in Chicopee. When open, this office is a registry location only, meaning you can file papers and access records there, but court hearings do not take place at Chicopee. Hours at the Chicopee office were Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. One important detail: cash is not accepted at the Chicopee satellite. Payments must be made by check or credit card.

As of November 2024, the Chicopee satellite office is temporarily closed for renovations. Until it reopens, all filings and in-person registry services must go to the main Springfield courthouse at 50 State Street. Check the court's official announcements for updates on when the Chicopee location will resume operations. The original announcement about the satellite office is at mass.gov - Chicopee Satellite Office.

The announcement page has details on what the satellite office was designed to handle and what to expect when it reopens after renovations.

Hampden County Virtual Registry and Online Records

Hampden Probate and Family Court offers a virtual registry for handling certain matters remotely. The virtual registry is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. To join, call 1 (646) 828-7666 and use Meeting ID 1600424858. Through the virtual registry you can ask questions, get help with procedures, and manage some administrative tasks without coming to the courthouse.

The virtual registry page on Mass.gov has the full schedule, connection details, and a list of what you can accomplish through the remote service.

For online case lookups, MassCourts.org is the free statewide portal that covers Hampden County Probate and Family Court. You can search by party name or case number. The system displays docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. Some records related to children or abuse prevention orders may show limited information online. It is a good place to start before calling or visiting the court. Access is free and available around the clock.

Hampden County Family Court Records: What They Include

Family court records in Hampden County cover divorce filings, custody orders, child support worksheets, financial statements, separation agreements, probate filings, and 209A Abuse Prevention Orders. Divorce records under Chapter 208 include the original complaint or joint petition, all motions filed during the case, financial disclosures from both parties, any temporary orders, and the final judgment. Financial statements are a standard part of every divorce and custody case. They show income, expenses, assets, and debts for each party. The court uses these statements to set child support and alimony amounts.

Abuse prevention orders filed under Chapter 209A are also part of the Hampden County court's records. These are civil restraining orders issued by the Probate and Family Court to protect family and household members. The record of an active or expired 209A order can be found through the court registry. These records are treated with care and some details may not be publicly accessible.

Probate records are kept here too. Wills, estate inventories, guardianship appointments, and conservatorship orders all go through the Hampden County Probate and Family Court. If you need to search old estate records or get copies of a will that was filed years ago, the registry can help. Most probate records are public. The fee schedule for copies applies here just as it does across the state, and the full list is at mass.gov - Filing Fees.

Records go back many decades. For very old files, some documents may be in paper form only. Court staff can let you know what format older records are in and how to access them.

Filing Family Court Cases in Hampden County

To file a divorce in Hampden County, at least one spouse must be a county resident. Massachusetts law under Chapter 208 sets residency rules based on where the grounds for divorce arose and how long the parties have lived in the state. For most cases filed in Hampden County, one spouse lives in one of the 23 cities or towns the court serves: Agawam, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Springfield, Tolland, Wales, West Springfield, Westfield, or Wilbraham.

Massachusetts offers two main paths for no-fault divorce. A 1A joint petition is filed when both spouses agree on all terms and sign a separation agreement together. A 1B complaint is filed when one spouse files alone. Most uncontested cases use the 1A path, which tends to move faster. After the court enters a judgment of divorce nisi, 1A cases wait 120 days and 1B cases wait 90 days before the divorce becomes final. During that nisi period, the divorce is not yet complete. The court can still issue temporary orders for custody, support, or use of the family home while the case is pending or during the nisi period.

Free Legal Help in Hampden County

The Hampden County Legal Clinic is one of the best legal resources in western Massachusetts. It is free to use and has no income restrictions, meaning anyone can walk in or call for help regardless of their financial situation. The clinic is located at 50 State Street, Room 137, Springfield, MA 01102, right inside the Hall of Justice. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach them at (413) 733-6500 or by email at legalclinic@hcbar.org. Their website at hcbarlegalclinic.org has more on the types of help available.

The clinic handles a wide range of civil legal matters, including family law cases like divorce and custody, housing disputes, consumer debt, and foreclosure prevention. Because it operates out of the courthouse itself, staff are familiar with local procedures and can often point you to the right forms and filing steps. There is no means test to use the clinic, which makes it an accessible option for anyone with questions about Hampden County family court records or the filing process.

The Massachusetts courts self-service center also has guides and forms at no cost. You can find state divorce forms and family law paperwork through the Trial Court's official resources. These forms are standard across all Probate and Family Courts in the state.

Cities in Hampden County

Hampden County covers 23 cities and towns. The qualifying cities below have dedicated family court records pages with more detail on local courthouse access and filing procedures.

Other cities and towns in Hampden County include Agawam, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Wales, West Springfield, Westfield, and Wilbraham. All file their family court cases at the Hall of Justice in Springfield.

Nearby Counties

Hampden County borders three other Massachusetts counties. Your filing county depends on where you or your spouse lives, so check your address if you are unsure which court to use.