Established in 1643 and named after Middlesex, England, Middlesex County is the most populated county in Massachusetts, with over 1.6 million residents. It covers an area of approximately 2,195 square kilometers, making it the 2nd largest county in Massachusetts in terms of land area. Middlesex County, located in eastern Massachusetts, has its county seat in Cambridge and is home to prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Courts in Middlesex County

The Middlesex County court system comprises Superior Courts, District Courts, Probate and Family Courts, Housing Courts, and Juvenile Courts.

The Middlesex County Superior Courts serve all cities in the county and have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. The 11 District Courts in Middlesex County serve different cities across the county. The District Courts have limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases and also handle abuse prevention and mental health lawsuits.

The Middlesex Probate and Family Court in Woburn and Lowell presides over the administration of a deceased estate and family dispute. They handle probate cases such as guardianships and family disputes such as marriage annulment.

The Housing Courts  Sessions in Middlesex, Lowell, Woburn, and Marlborough have limited authority over lawsuits related to health and safety or residences, real property, and goods and services connected to properties. The Juvenile Courts in Cambridge, Framingham, Lowell, and Waltham adjudicate lawsuits involving minors from juvenile delinquencies to child protection.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Middlesex County

Public Court records are documents from court proceedings open to the public for viewing and copying. Middlesex County public court records are available through MassCourts, an online database provided by the Massachusetts Trial Court that allows record seekers to search and obtain court records from various courts in Middlesex County. Furthermore, interested persons may utilize the courthouse public terminals across the county to view and obtain copies of public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Middlesex County

The following court records are public documents in Middlesex County, and they are open to persons interested in viewing or obtaining them:

• Criminal Court Records: Including felonies and misdemeanor cases, criminal complaints, and indictments
• Civil Court Record: Public court records relating to civil disputes between individuals and businesses include contracts, civil equity, property boundaries, business litigations, and complex commercial disputes
• Probate and Family Court Records: These records include change of name, child support, wills, guardianships, and estate management
• Housing Court Records: Public housing court records include lawsuits arising from violations of state and local laws, such as building and sanitation codes

Confidential Court Records in Middlesex County

Confidential court records in Middlesex County refer to court records or portions of the records that contain information protected by state or federal laws or sealed by court order. These records are closed to the public. Therefore, juvenile court records, child custody disputes, domestic violence restraining orders, and mental health records are not accessible to the general public. Confidential court records also include personal identifying information where disclosure would result in an invasion of personal privacy. Information such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information contained in a court record are exempted from disclosure and withheld from the public.

Juvenile Delinquency in Middlesex, MA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Middlesex County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Massachusetts often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1187 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Middlesex County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 32% were dependency cases that accounted for 374 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Middlesex County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Middlesex County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Middlesex County, MA Courts