Worcester County, MA Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The Worcester County Superior Court Clerk's Office keeps Superior Court records for the county, which covers felonies and larger civil cases. Other Trial Court departments keep their own records at their courthouses.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Worcester County Superior Court (Massachusetts Trial Court) |
| Main Address | 225 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608 |
| Main Phone | (508) 831-2300 |
| Courthouse Locations | 2 listed in the official court locations listing: Superior Court (Worcester); Probate and Family Court (Worcester) |
| Handles | Felonies and larger civil cases in Superior Court; misdemeanors, violations, small claims, and civil cases under the limit in District Court; probate, divorce, and custody matters in the Probate and Family Court; juvenile delinquency and care and protection cases in Juvenile Court |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (U.S. District Court for Massachusetts) and parking tickets (the citing agency). Probate, divorce, and custody matters are heard in the Probate and Family Court, not Superior Court. |
| Online Case Search | MassCourts, the statewide public case search (not specific to this county) |
| Criminal Records Requests | Contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office at (508) 831-2300. Criminal offender record information (CORI) is restricted under state law. |
How to Search Worcester County Court Records
Have the full name, the case number if you know it, and approximate dates ready before you search. Worcester County Superior Court records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Online
Go to MassCourts, the statewide public case search.
Search basic case information and scheduled court dates.
Results cover cases statewide, not only this county.
Best for: Basic case status and scheduled dates
In Person
Go to 225 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608 for Superior Court records.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Ask the clerk which department or division holds your case.
Best for: Superior Court records and questions
By Phone
Call (508) 831-2300 to reach the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Ask what information the clerk needs to locate your case.
Confirm the request steps before you visit the courthouse.
Best for: Checking what a request requires
Search by Name on MassachusettsCourts.org
Go to MassachusettsCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Worcester County Court Statistics (FY 2024)
Worcester County courts handled an estimated 88,913 new cases in FY 2024 and disposed of an estimated 86,443. The estimate scales Massachusetts statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~88,913
Total filings in FY 2024
~86,443
Total dispositions in FY 2024
~1,815
Filings per judicial position (49 estimated positions)
~+2.9%
Change in total filings vs FY 2023
| Metric | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~88,913 | ~86,443 | ~+2.9% |
| Total Dispositions | ~86,443 | ~83,973 | ~+2.9% |
| Criminal Filings | ~28,403 | ~27,785 | ~+2.2% |
| Civil Filings | ~32,107 | ~30,873 | ~+4.0% |
| Family Law Filings | ~12,349 | ~12,102 | ~+2.0% |
| Probate Filings | ~6,175 | ~6,051 | ~+2.0% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~988 | ~988 | ~+0.0% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~3,705 | ~3,581 | ~+3.5% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~49 | ~49 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in civil filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Massachusetts statewide figures scaled by Worcester County's 12.35% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Worcester County?
This section compares two fiscal years only, fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2023, and covers filings only.
| Department | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | 1,969 | 2,050 | -4.0% |
| District Court | 83,048 | 73,377 | +13.2% |
| Probate and Family Court | 16,715 | 16,391 | +2.0% |
| Juvenile Court | 3,783 | 3,685 | +2.7% |
| Total filings | 105,515 | 95,503 | +10.5% |
| Massachusetts statewide total (context) | 779,568 | 713,214 | +9.3% |
Total filings in Worcester County rose 10.5% from 95,503 in fiscal year 2023 to 105,515 in fiscal year 2024. The largest change came from District Court, which rose by 9,671 filings. Statewide total filings changed +9.3% over the same period, from 713,214 to 779,568, and that total includes Housing Court and Land Court filings that are not assigned to counties.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Worcester County?
Civil cases are estimated to be the largest category in Worcester County, at about 36.1% of filings in FY 2024.
| Case Type | Filings FY 2024 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil | ~32,107 | ~36.1% | ~+4.0% |
| Criminal | ~28,403 | ~31.9% | ~+2.2% |
| Family law | ~12,349 | ~13.9% | ~+2.0% |
| Probate | ~6,175 | ~6.9% | ~+2.0% |
| Juvenile | ~3,705 | ~4.2% | ~+3.5% |
| Mental health | ~988 | ~1.1% | ~+0.0% |
Civil cases are estimated as the fastest-growing category and mental health cases as the fastest-falling. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Massachusetts statewide figures scaled by Worcester County's 12.35% share of the state population.
How Does Worcester County Compare With Massachusetts Overall?
Worcester County is estimated to account for about 12.35% of the 720,000 cases filed in Massachusetts courts in FY 2024.
| Metric | Worcester County | Massachusetts | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~88,913 | 720,000 | ~12.35% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~+2.9% | +2.9% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~1,815 | 1,800 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~1,764 | 1,750 | Estimated at the state level |
| Criminal share of filings | ~31.9% | 31.9% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Civil share of filings | ~36.1% | 36.1% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Family law share of filings | ~13.9% | 13.9% | Same as state (estimate) |
These county values are estimates built from statewide Massachusetts figures, so they track the state mix by design. Actual county dockets may differ. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Massachusetts statewide figures scaled by Worcester County's 12.35% share of the state population.
Worcester County Crime Statistics (2024)
These figures are Massachusetts statewide totals reported to the FBI, not totals for Worcester County, and agency reporting may be incomplete. Statewide violent crimes fell 1.1% and property crimes fell 0.1% in 2024.
22,601
Violent crimes in 2024, Massachusetts statewide
80,142
Property crimes in 2024, Massachusetts statewide
316.7
Violent crime rate per 100K, Massachusetts statewide (2024)
-0.3%
Change in total violent plus property crimes vs 2023, Massachusetts statewide
| Offense | 2024 | Rate per 100K | 2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes (statewide total) | 22,601 | 316.7 | 22,844 | -1.1% |
| Property crimes (statewide total) | 80,142 | 1,123.0 | 80,227 | -0.1% |
County crime counts and rates are not available in this data, so no county comparison is shown. Rates use the 2024 Massachusetts population of 7,136,171 for both years, and only violent and property totals are available.
Worcester County Courthouse Locations
The official court locations listing shows 2 locations for Worcester County, listed below. Check the courthouse and department named on your notice or paperwork before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County Superior Court | 225 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608 | (508) 831-2300 | See location page |
| Worcester Probate and Family Court | 225 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 | (508) 831-2200 | See location page |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Worcester County?
Trial Court departments handle different case types, so match your case to the right row. Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, not a state court.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | District Court | Traffic and civil motor vehicle infractions are heard in the District Court. |
| Parking ticket | The citing agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are handled by the city or agency that issued them, not by the court. |
| Misdemeanor | District Court | Misdemeanors and violations are heard in the District Court. |
| Felony | Superior Court | Felonies are tried in the Superior Court, and District Court holds preliminary felony hearings. |
| DUI | District Court for misdemeanor charges; Superior Court for felony charges | Check the charge on your paperwork, since misdemeanor and felony charges go to different courts. |
| Domestic violence | District Court | Criminal charges go to these courts, and you can ask the clerk about protective order procedures. |
| Civil lawsuit | Superior Court for larger civil cases; District Court for smaller ones | Superior Court handles larger civil cases, and District Court handles civil cases under its limit. |
| Small claims | District Court | Small claims are heard in the District Court. |
| Eviction | Housing Court or District Court (summary process) | Summary process (eviction) cases are heard in the Housing Court or the District Court. |
| Divorce | Probate and Family Court | Divorce cases are handled by the Probate and Family Court. |
| Child custody or support | Probate and Family Court | Custody and paternity cases are handled by the Probate and Family Court; confirm support filings with the clerk. |
| Probate or estate | Probate and Family Court | The Probate and Family Court handles probate and guardianship matters. |
| Juvenile case | Juvenile Court | Delinquency and care and protection cases are heard in Juvenile Court and are confidential. |
| Appeal | Massachusetts Appeals Court or Supreme Judicial Court | Appeals are heard by the Appeals Court or the Supreme Judicial Court. |
Are Worcester County Court Records Public?
Yes, with exceptions: under the Massachusetts Trial Court's rules on public access to court records, most case records are open to the public, while sealed, impounded, and some other records are restricted.
Public records
Most case records are open to the public at the courthouse that keeps them, subject to the court's rules.
Restricted or confidential records
Criminal offender record information (CORI) is restricted under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 6, sections 167 to 178, and is not public through the court. Sealed, impounded, juvenile, care and protection, adoption, and mental health records are not publicly available.
Online access
Basic case information is available through MassCourts, the statewide public case search, which also shows scheduled court dates. Not every document is online, and confidential cases are not shown.
In-person access
Visit the court that keeps the record, such as the Superior Court Clerk's Office at 225 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608, to view or request records. Call (508) 831-2300 to confirm which office holds your case.
Fees
This section does not list fees. Contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office at (508) 831-2300 for current fee information.
How to Search Worcester County Court Records Online
Use the statewide MassCourts search for basic case information, and ask the court for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open MassCourts for basic case information.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case status and scheduled dates.
- Contact the court that holds your case, using the phone in the courthouse table, to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | MassCourts | Basic case information and scheduled dates | Documents may require the clerk |
| Traffic | MassCourts for basic information | Case status and scheduled dates | Ticket payment is separate from record search |
| Civil | MassCourts | Basic case information | Documents may require the clerk |
| Small claims | MassCourts | Basic case information | Documents may require the clerk |
| Family law | MassCourts or the Probate and Family Court at (508) 831-2200 | Basic case information | Custody and confidential details are restricted |
| Probate | Probate and Family Court at (508) 831-2200 | Probate case information through the court | Not every file is available online |
| Juvenile | Contact the Juvenile Court clerk | Case information only through the clerk | Juvenile proceedings are confidential and not in the public search |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Worcester County
Traffic citations, criminal fines, and parking tickets are paid through different channels, so confirm which type of payment you owe with the court.
- Online: Find ePay in the Courts, the Trial Court's online payment service named on mass.gov, or contact the court for the access link.
- Phone: Call the court that holds your case at the phone in the courthouse table, such as (508) 831-2300 for the Superior Court, to ask about payment options.
Parking tickets are handled by the city or agency that issued them, not by the court.
Worcester County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Worcester County court records?
Use MassCourts, the statewide public case search, for basic case information, or call the court that holds the case.
Are Worcester County court records public?
Most are, under the Massachusetts Trial Court's public access rules, but sealed, impounded, juvenile, and CORI records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name on MassCourts for basic case information, or call the Superior Court Clerk's Office at (508) 831-2300 for other cases.
How do I find a court date?
MassCourts shows scheduled court dates for many cases, and the court can confirm dates by phone.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Use ePay in the Courts, named on mass.gov, or call the court that issued the ticket to ask about payment options.
How many cases are filed in Worcester County each year?
Worcester County recorded 105,515 Trial Court filings in fiscal year 2024, up 10.5% from 95,503 in fiscal year 2023.
What is the most common type of case?
District Court handled 83,048 of the 105,515 fiscal year 2024 filings, or 78.7% of the total.
Is crime rising or falling?
Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 1.1% to 22,601 in 2024 from 22,844 in 2023; county crime counts are not available here.
Courts in the County
Clinton District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 300 Boylston St, Clinton, MA, 1510 |
| Phone Number: | 978-368-7811 |
| Fax: | 978-368-7827 |
| Website: | https://www.mass.gov/locations/clinton-district-court |
Dudley District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 279 West Main St, Dudley, MA, 1571 |
| Phone Number: | 508-943-7123 |
| Fax: | 508-949-0015 |
| Website: | https://www.mass.gov/locations/dudley-district-court |
East Brookfield District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 544 East Main St, East Brookfield, MA, 1515 |
| Phone Number: | 508-885-6305 |
| Fax: | 508-885-7623 |
| Website: | https://www.mass.gov/locations/east-brookfield-district-court |
Leominster District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 25 School St, Leominster, MA, 1453 |
| Phone Number: | 978-537-3722 |
| Fax: | 978-537-3970 |
| Website: | https://www.mass.gov/locations/leominster-district-court |
Milford District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 161 West St, Milford, MA, 1757 |
| Phone Number: | 508-473-1260 |
| Fax: | 508-634-8477 |
| Website: | https://www.mass.gov/locations/milford-district-court |
Useful Links
- Massachusetts Court System - Explore Massachusetts Court System including information on courts across the state, legal resources, and jury service.
- The Massachusetts Trial Court - Provides information on the various courts within Worcester County and the services they offer for legal proceedings.
- Worcester Superior Court - Offers details about Worcester Superior Court services, location, office hours, case types, and contact information.
- Worcester District Court - Access information about Worcester District Court operations, case information, and available court services.
- Self-Help Center - Massachusetts Court System self-help resources available to assist individuals in navigating legal processes and understanding court procedures.
- Worcester Probate and Family Court - Essential information for family law cases and probate issues addressed by Worcester Probate and Family Court.
- Mass Legal Help - Mass Legal Help provides assistance and resources for various legal issues within Massachusetts, including family, housing, and employment laws.
- How to Search Court Dockets - Guide on searching court dockets to find case details, schedule hearings, and check case status online in Massachusetts.
- Mass.gov Court Information - Your starting point for accessing various services offered by Massachusetts courts, including records, forms, and legal resources.
- Massachusetts Bar Association - Legal resources and professional support for Massachusetts lawyers, legal professionals, and the public seeking legal assistance.
- Small Claims Court Guide - Provides guidance on filing and managing small claims cases in Massachusetts, including Worcester County procedures and requirements.
- The Right to an Interpreter - Information on interpreter services available through Massachusetts courts to aid limited English proficient individuals in legal matters.
- Suffolk Registry of Deeds - Public access to property record information through the registry of deeds system in Worcester County and Suffolk area.
- Introduction to the Appeals Court - Summary of the appeals process within Massachusetts courts, describing Worcester County appellate resources and information.
- Worcester County District Attorney's Office - Offers public safety and legal prosecution information from the Worcester County District Attorney, including case updates and victim services.
- US Courts Services and Forms - Federal court resources and documentation for those involved in legal proceedings at the national level, relevant to Massachusetts residents.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Provides criminal defense resources and advocacy, helping legal professionals in Massachusetts stay informed on rights and legal aid.
- Court Self-Help Assistance - Extensive self-help resources and court assistance to help individuals navigate legal challenges effectively in Massachusetts settings.
- Pro Bono Net - Directory of pro bono resources connecting Massachusetts residents with free legal aid organizations, legal resources, and volunteer attorneys.
- Know Your Rights | American Civil Liberties Union - Comprehensive guide explaining individual legal rights in varied situations like court appearances and judicial processes, applicable in Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
- Worcester County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Worcester County Court Records
- Worcester County Court Statistics (FY 2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Worcester County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Worcester County?
- How Does Worcester County Compare With Massachusetts Overall?
- Worcester County Crime Statistics (2024)
- Worcester County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Worcester County?
- Are Worcester County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Worcester County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Worcester County
- Worcester County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links