Find Plymouth County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Plymouth County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Probate and Family Court, with the main filing office in Plymouth and a hearing session in Brockton. Whether you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, want to look up an old case, or are trying to figure out where to file, this page covers the court locations, search methods, fees, and resources specific to Plymouth County.

Plymouth County Probate and Family Court

The Plymouth County Probate and Family Court has two locations. The main courthouse at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth is where you file all papers. The Brockton session at 215 Main Street handles hearings for people in that part of the county, but you cannot file documents there. Every filing, including copy requests, must go to the Plymouth location. If you are unsure, call (508) 747-6204 to reach the Register's office directly.

Register Matthew J. McDonough oversees the office and the records. His staff can help you find a case by name or docket number, tell you what documents are in a file, and process copy requests. The court has a Virtual Registry that runs on Zoom each weekday. You can join by video at the Zoom link for Plymouth or call in at 1-646-828-7666 using Meeting ID 1606727074. The Virtual Registry is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It is a fast way to ask a question or confirm details before mailing a formal request.

The court's official page at mass.gov/locations/plymouth-probate-and-family-court lists current phone numbers, hours, and links to forms. That page is updated when hours or procedures change, so it is worth checking before you visit.

The state's MassCourts public portal shows case dockets for Plymouth County divorce filings. The screenshot below is from the official guide to that search tool, available at mass.gov/search-court-dockets-calendars-and-case-information.

Use that tool to look up case numbers and basic docket entries before contacting the court for copies. Having a case number ready makes the copy request process faster.

Searching Plymouth County Divorce Records

The free MassCourts online system is the easiest way to start. Go to masscourts.org and select the Probate and Family Court. Search by the name of either spouse or by case number. Results show party names, docket entries, court dates, and whether the case is still active or closed. You can see a fair amount of case information without contacting the court at all. Some document details and financial materials are restricted, but the basic case record is visible to anyone.

For actual copies of documents, the court strongly recommends emailing plymouthprobate@jud.state.ma.us. Include your request details in the email: the names of both parties, the approximate year the case was filed, and any case number you have. The court uses Form PFC-18 for copy requests. Download the form at mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-request-for-copies-form-pfc-18, fill it out, and attach it to your email or mail it to 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360. Turnaround is typically 5 to 10 business days.

You can also visit in person at the Plymouth location. Free parking is available at the courthouse. Bring your ID and the names of the parties you need records for. Staff can look up cases while you wait and let you know what is in the file. If you are coming from the Brockton area, note that the Brockton session location does not handle records requests. You would need to go to Plymouth or use the email or Virtual Registry option instead.

Plymouth County courthouse is served by the Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway Co. for those who rely on public transit. The court's ADA Coordinator, Brett Ribeiro, can be reached at (508) 747-8488 if you need accessibility accommodations before your visit.

For older divorce records from before 1952, contact the Massachusetts State Archives at (617) 727-2816. The Archives holds pre-1952 Probate records that are no longer kept at county courthouses. Details on that process are at mass.gov/how-to/get-access-to-historic-divorce-records.

Copy Fees and Filing Costs

Certified copies of dissolution of marriage records cost $20 each at Plymouth County Probate and Family Court. This is the statewide rate, the same at every Probate court in Massachusetts. Most government agencies, banks, and insurers require a certified copy rather than a plain photocopy when you need to prove your divorce is final. Ask the court for a certified copy of the judgment of divorce nisi or the judgment of divorce absolute, depending on what you need.

Filing a new dissolution of marriage case in Plymouth County costs $215 for a joint petition under M.G.L. c. 208, § 1A or $280 for a complaint under § 1B. Additional line items include a $15 surcharge, a $5 summons fee, and a $15 citation fee. Online filing through eFileMA adds a $22 case initiation fee. Details on the eFiling system are at mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-efiling-in-the-trial-court.

Plymouth County Probate and Family Court does not accept personal checks. Payment must be by attorney's check, money order, bank certified check, or cashier's check payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts." If you mail a copy request with Form PFC-18, include your check or money order in the envelope. The court will send your copies back by mail once they process the request.

Plymouth County Dissolution of Marriage Process

Dissolution of marriage in Plymouth County is governed by M.G.L. Chapter 208. The law applies the same way across all Massachusetts counties. Each step in the process creates a record that the court keeps permanently. Those records are what you search for when you need to verify a divorce or review its terms.

The residency rule comes first. Under M.G.L. c. 208, § 5, if the cause for divorce happened outside Massachusetts, one spouse must have lived in the state for at least one year before filing. If the grounds arose here, no wait applies. You file in Plymouth County when you or your spouse lives in one of the 27 towns the court covers.

The two no-fault options are the most common routes in Plymouth County. A joint petition under § 1A requires both parties to agree on all terms before filing. You submit the petition and a signed separation agreement at the same time. Under § 1B, one spouse files alone citing irretrievable breakdown. The case then moves through the court with hearings and negotiation before a judgment is issued.

The court can issue temporary orders while a case is pending. These cover things like who stays in the home, interim child support, and custody arrangements until the final judgment. Those temporary orders are part of the case file and are accessible as part of the public record (with the exception of financial statements, which are sealed under Rule 401).

Property division follows M.G.L. c. 208, § 34, which lists the factors a judge considers. Length of marriage, each spouse's income, and contributions to the family are among them. Alimony, if ordered, is governed by § 37, which caps both the amount and length of general term alimony based on how long the marriage lasted.

What Plymouth County Divorce Records Show

A dissolution of marriage case file in Plymouth County contains all the documents filed from start to finish. The first document is either a joint petition or a complaint for divorce. It names both spouses, states the grounds, and sets out what the person filing is asking for. That document is public once it is filed. From that point forward, each step adds more records to the file.

The judgment of divorce nisi is the most requested document. It is the official court order that ends the marriage after the nisi period expires. This document contains the final terms of the dissolution: how property was divided under § 34, any custody and visitation arrangements, child support, and whether alimony was ordered. A certified copy of this judgment is what most agencies ask for when they need proof a divorce happened. You get that copy from the Plymouth County Register of Probate.

Financial statements are the main exception to public access. Under Rule 401 of the Supplemental Probate Court Rules, financial statements filed in Plymouth County cases are automatically impounded. They are not part of the public record and cannot be requested by someone who is not a party to the case. Other documents in the file, including the petition, summons, and judgment, are generally available to anyone who requests them.

If you want to know exactly what is in a specific file before paying for copies, call the court at (508) 747-6204 or use the Virtual Registry. Staff can tell you which documents are in the case and which ones carry access restrictions. That way you know what you are getting before you pay the $20-per-copy fee.

Legal Resources for Plymouth County

South Coastal Counties Legal Services and Southeastern Massachusetts Legal Services both serve Plymouth County residents. The shared phone number for these organizations is (508) 584-4543. They offer free legal help to people who meet income guidelines. Family law is one of the areas they cover. If you qualify, they can help with filing, answering questions about the process, or reviewing a separation agreement.

MassLegalHelp at masslegalhelp.org has step-by-step guides for people who plan to handle their own case. The site explains each stage of the process, what forms to use, and how to navigate the court system without a lawyer. All official Probate and Family Court forms are free to download at mass.gov/lists/probate-and-family-court-forms-for-divorce. That includes the joint petition forms, complaint forms, and the financial statement.

The Trial Court Help Line at 1-833-912-6878 is another option. It handles questions about court procedures and can tell you what to expect at each stage. It is not a substitute for legal advice, but it can help you understand the steps. If you need a lawyer and do not know where to start, the Massachusetts Bar Association referral line at (866) 627-7577 connects you with a family law attorney. The first consultation is $25 for 30 minutes. That can be a good way to get clear answers before deciding how to move forward.

The general state guide to getting a copy of a divorce record is at mass.gov/how-to/get-a-copy-of-your-divorce-record. It covers who can request records, what Form PFC-18 is, and how to submit a request by mail, in person, or through the Virtual Registry. If you have trouble reaching the court directly, that page also lists the Trial Court Help Line as a contact point for assistance.

Qualifying Cities in Plymouth County

Two cities in Plymouth County meet the population threshold for their own records pages. Residents of both cities file dissolution of marriage cases at the Plymouth County Probate and Family Court main office at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth.

Other communities in Plymouth County include Abington, Bridgewater, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. All of these towns file dissolution of marriage cases at the Plymouth location.

Nearby Counties

Plymouth County borders three other Massachusetts counties. Your county of residence at the time of filing determines which Probate and Family Court handles your case. If you moved recently or are unsure about jurisdiction, check your current address against the list of towns each court serves.