Hampshire County is located in Massachusetts. It is the sixth-least populous county in the Commonwealth, with up to 162,000 residents. The county has about 20 municipalities, with the City of Northampton serving as the county seat.

Courts in Hampshire County

Hampshire County is served by several courts, with the Superior Court being the highest. The Superior Court hears both civil and criminal cases. It is responsible for handling felony criminal proceedings, medical malpractice tribunals, and civil lawsuits involving amounts that exceed $50,000. Additionally, the court hears cases in which parties seek legal remedies, such as injunctions or equitable relief.

Eastern Hampshire District Court and Northampton District Court serve several municipalities in Hampshire County. The District Courts handle civil matters where the monetary compensation is less than $50,000 and small claims cases that do not exceed $7,000.In addition to serious felonies, the District Courts hear cases involving lesser crimes, such as misdemeanors and city or town ordinance violations.

The Probate and Family Court hears family-related and probate matters in all cities and towns in Hampshire County. The court's jurisdiction includes divorce proceedings, paternity disputes, child support, custody and parenting time determinations, adoptions, and parental rights termination. Probate matters the court handles concern estate settlements, wills, trusts, and the appointment of guardians and conservators for minors or incapacitated individuals.

The Housing Court handles legal matters concerning residential housing disputes. The court hears discrimination, personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, and eviction cases. Additionally, it handles building code enforcement, and residents can appeal to local zoning board decisions that affect buildings in the county.

Hampshire County has two Juvenile Courts. These courts hear juvenile delinquency complaints against minors and cases concerning guardianship, parental rights termination, child abuse and neglect, children in need, and adoptions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hampshire County

Hampshire County courts have Clerks who maintain and provide public court records of cases filed at their respective courthouses. Individuals can visit the Clerks’ Offices to inspect or request copies of the records they manage. Likewise, the Massachusetts Judicial Branch provides access to public court records in Hampshire County online.

Types of Public Court Records in Hampshire County

The following types of public court records in Hampshire County are available to anyone:

• Civil Court Records - civil court information of civil actions/lawsuits, including property damage and breach of contract cases
• Criminal Court Records - including case documents and information of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, such as court case numbers, case summaries, charges, offense types, and trial dates
• Housing Court Records - including records of cases involving residential housing disputes, such as evictions
• Small Claims Court Records - details of small claims court cases that involve non-criminal claims not exceeding $7,000
• Probate Court Records - including probate court documents and case filings related to wills, trusts, guardianships, and decedent's estates

Confidential Court Records in Hampshire County

Massachusetts laws prohibit the disclosure of certain court records in Hampshire County. Likewise, the courts in the county may seal case records to make them confidential and inaccessible to the public. However, parties involved in the case proceedings and their legal representatives may access confidential court records in Hampshire County. Individuals may also petition the court to inspect confidential court records.

Under Massachusetts laws, the following court records are not available for inspection by the general public:

• Adoptions records
• Paternity case records
• Juvenile records
• Records containing contact details and information about plaintiffs
• Medical records
• Mental health records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Hampshire, MA

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

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

Hampshire County, MA Courts