State of Massachusetts Most Updated Online Public and Criminal Records Portal

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Massachusetts Public Records Search
State of Massachusetts public records guide to online resources for conducting a comprehensive public search. Individual agencies link visitors to forms, steps to request official documents, criminal arrest reports, verification of information, case search for any litigation history and other personal and business background data from different government departments. Web based services are offered by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, Court-view Access, various state and local registries. Instant searches can be found by linking to Secretary of State business entity search, Division of Professional Licensure verification, registry of deeds land searches and local recent arrest inmate searches. About Massachusetts Public Records

Massachusetts Public Records and Court Information

Massachusetts is one of the original 13 colonies and became the sixth state in the U.S. on February 6, 1788. The first settlement was made by the pilgrims of the Mayflower in 1620 with their arrival to Plymouth, MA. The early economy profited from the textile industry and production of machinery. The official state name is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is one of the 6 states that comprise New England along with Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Massachusetts has 14 Counties, 50 cities and 301 towns with a population of 6,547,629. The state has 10,555 square miles of territory making it the 44th largest in the U.S. The legislative power is comprised of the Massachusetts Senate and house of representatives. Executive power is held by the governor and other individually elected offices such as the attorney general and secretary of the commonwealth. The judicial division makes up the third branch and is the entire court system of the state. Counties have no government as of the late 1990's and exist solely as geographic regions.  It is the 13th most populous state with 6.5 million residents and the 14th largest by size with a 10,555 square mile territory.

Similar to the federal freedom of information act, the Massachusetts Public Records Act and the Massachusetts Open Meetings Act offers its residents greater government transparency to its voters and general public. The Open Meetings Act opens local decisions and deliberations to its residents with records of the meeting available for public review. Government records in the state are presumed public information with few exemptions.

Criminal records are a vital part of a background check conducted in Massachusetts. Criminal records are provided by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) CORI background check system. This background check covers the entire state and what is included in the report are detailed on the official site. View the most wanted lists from the department of public safety or county sheriffs for a more local search. Locate an inmate in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections system. Requesting court records can reveal past and recent divorce filings. Civil and criminal case files are available from the Massachusetts judiciary.

The Massachusetts probate and family courts have exclusive jurisdiction over estate, support/custody, paternity, marriage dissolution, domestic violence and adoptions. The state's land and housing courts have jurisdiction over real property rights, small claims up to $2,000, misdemeanor, ordinance violation cases and handles preliminary hearings.

Juvenile courts have jurisdiction over miscellaneous domestic relations (TPR), and juvenile cases. The municipal court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights ($0/no maximum), small claims up to $2,000, mental health, civil trial court appeals, and miscellaneous civil cases. The Boston criminal municipal court hears felony, misdemeanor, domestic violence and traffic cases.

The district court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights ($0/no maximum), small claims up to $2,000, mental health, civil trial court appeals, hears support/custody, and paternity cases. Criminal division of the district court has jurisdiction over felony, misdemeanor, traffic , domestic violence, criminal appeals cases, traffic/other violation, and juvenile cases.

The state's superior courts have jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights ($0/no maximum), civil appeals, and miscellaneous civil cases.

Massachusetts appeals court has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile cases, discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases. The state's supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, judge disciplinary, advisory opinion, original proceeding cases, discretionary jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile and interlocutory decision cases.

Massachusetts Statewide Public Records

What is the process for someone who is arrested in Massachusetts to go through the jail and court system?

If you get arrested in Massachusetts, you would go to the local police station or county jail. Depending on the severity of the crime, you may be taken to a court in the county where the crime occurred.

What publicly accessible records can be obtained from the Massachusetts Library?

Many public records can be found in Massachusetts libraries. The Massachusetts State Library, for example, provides access to a variety of public records, including birth, death, and marriage records; census records; military records; and court records. Additionally, many local libraries in Massachusetts have access to public records databases.

What are the requirements for obtaining vital records from Massachusetts, and what information is provided in the records?

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is responsible for issuing vital records, such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. To obtain a vital record, you must submit a completed application form, along with the required fee, to the DPH. The application form can be found on the DPH website. The vital records include the following information: -Name of the person on the record -Date and place of birth, death, marriage, or divorce -Names of parents or spouse -Address of the person on the record (if available)

Where is the best place to locate police reports in Massachusetts?

Police reports in Massachusetts can be obtained from the local police department or the Massachusetts State Police. You can also find police reports online through the Massachusetts State Police website.

What information is typically included in a Massachusetts background check?

A Massachusetts background check typically includes a search of criminal records, including felony and misdemeanor convictions, as well as sex offender registry information. Depending on the type of background check, it may also include a search of driving records, credit reports, and other public records.

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