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Complete Massachusetts Probate Court Directory
This page covers Dukes, Essex, and Franklin Counties. Access the complete directory for all 14 probate courts:
Overview of Massachusetts Probate Courts
Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over probate and family matters statewide.
Probate Matters
- Wills and Estates
- Trusts and Guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Name Changes
Family Matters
- Divorce Proceedings
- Child Custody
- Domestic Relations
- Adoptions
Filing Location: Probate petitions are filed in the county where the person officially lived at the time of the filing.
Massachusetts Probate Research Tip
The Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts handle matters including estates, name changes, and adoptions. When researching these cases from 1931 onward for Dukes, Essex, and Franklin Counties, our document retrieval service can provide complementary birth and death records to support your legal research and genealogical investigations.
Dukes Probate and Family Court
County Established: June 22, 1695 from Suffolk County
Court Information
81 Main StreetEdgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-4668
Email: dukesprobate@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Virtual Registry: Zoom Meeting
Essex Probate and Family Court
County Established: May 10, 1643 (one of original counties)
Court Information
36 Federal StreetSalem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 744-1020
Email: essexprobate@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Virtual Registry: Zoom Meeting
Court Jurisdiction
- Amesbury
- Andover
- Beverly
- Boxford
- Danvers
- Essex
- Georgetown
- Gloucester
- Groveland
- Hamilton
- Haverhill
- Ipswich
- Lawrence
- Lynn
- Lynnfield
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
- Marblehead
- Merrimac
- Methuen
- Middleton
- Nahant
- Newbury
- Newburyport
- North Andover
- Peabody
- Rockport
- Rowley
- Salem
- Salisbury
- Saugus
- Swampscott
- Topsfield
- Wenham
- West Newbury
Franklin Probate and Family Court
County Established: June 24, 1811 from Hampshire County
Court Information
425 Main StreetGreenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-7011
Email: franklinprobate@jud.state.ma.us
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Virtual Registry: Zoom Meeting
Court Jurisdiction
- Ashfield
- Bernardston
- Buckland
- Charlemont
- Colrain
- Conway
- Deerfield
- Erving
- Gill
- Greenfield
- Hawley
- Heath
- Leverett
- Leyden
- Monroe
- Montague
- New Salem
- Northfield
- Orange
- Rowe
- Shelburne
- Shutesbury
- Sunderland
- Warwick
- Wendell
- Whately
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of legal documents do Massachusetts Probate Courts keep records of?
Massachusetts Probate Courts maintain comprehensive records of various legal documents, including wills, estate administration records, inventory, disbursements, divorce records, guardianships, legal name changes, and adoptions.
Q: How can I find information about a specific county probate court?
You can look up a county probate court location in Massachusetts and find telephone and email contact information. Additionally, check for a published or free probate online index for the specific county you are interested in.
Q: Can I order copies of probated wills, estate administrations, and other records?
Yes, you can order copies of most probated wills, estate administrations, name changes, guardianships, and divorce records from Massachusetts county courts. We can assist you for courts in Dukes, Essex, and Franklin Counties.
Q: Are adoption records accessible at the probate court?
No, adoption records in Massachusetts are sealed and closed. For more information, refer to General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 210: Adoption of Children and Change of Name.
Q: What matters fall under the jurisdiction of MA Probate and Family Court?
MA Probate and Family Court have exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters, such as wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. They also handle family-related matters, including divorce hearings, support, paternity establishment, family abuse protection, elderly abuse protection, disabled person's abuse protection, custody, and adoption matters.
Q: How are probate matters filed in Massachusetts?
If a person passes away in Massachusetts, their family or attorney must file probate matters in the county where they lived before their death. County borders can be checked using a city and town map or a county map of Massachusetts.
