Bristol Probate and Family Court, Taunton, MA
The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with the Bristol Probate and Family Court located in Taunton. If you have a matter before the Bristol Probate and Family Court, this will help you understand how this specific court looks and how it works. Below you will also find online resources and other family law resources to help you navigate the family law court system.
Bristol Probate and Family Court (also referred to as Bristol Probate or Bristol Family Court) has jurisdiction over family and probate matters for residents residing within the county of Bristol, Massachusetts. The Bristol Probate and Family Court handles family matters or disputes involving children, child support, married parties, divorce, among other matters.
Bristol Probate and Family Court Location and Contact Information
The Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton is located at 40 Broadway, Taunton, Massachusetts 02780.
Contact Information:
Main Number: (508) 977-6040
Probation Department: (508) 977-4980
Fax: (508) 977-6088
The Bristol Probate and Family Court offers a virtual registry where you can get face to face help virtually. The hours of operation for the virtual registry are Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm – 4:00pm. You can access the Zoom link here. Clicking on the link will direct you to a Zoom waiting room, where you will wait until a registry staff member is able to help you. If you have questions about accessing the virtual registry, please contact the Bristol Probate and Family Court at bristolprobate@jud.state.ma.us.
Court Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Parking
There are municipal parking lots/garages within walking distance of the court. However, all parking immediately surrounding the Court is metered parking. Public transportation is available in the area through GATRA, which can be reached at (800) 483-2500.
Accessibility
The Bristol Probate and Family Court has ramps at the entrance of the building. This building has multiple floors and there are elevators that go to every floor.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator for the Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton is Sharon Lemrise. She will be able to answer any and all questions regarding accessibility at the Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton.
Sharon Lemrise’s contact information is:
Phone: (508) 977-6076
Fax: (508) 977-6087
Email: sharon.lemrise@jud.state.ma.us
Food and Drink
Food and drinks are not allowed into the courthouse. If you have a hearing scheduled for 8:30am, that does not mean that you will be heard at that time. You could be heard at the end of the day. Bringing a snack and drink and leaving it in the car is always advisable. The court will take a recess for lunch between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. There are no vending machines in the Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton, so be sure to bring snacks or food for yourself during the lunch break.
Dress
This article is not an in-depth guide to courtroom etiquette; however you should ensure that your attire is clean and presentable. Your attire should maintain decorum and respect for the judicial process. A suit and tie are not always necessary, but it is recommended. We discourage anyone that is appearing in front of a judge from wearing flip flops, jeans, sweatpants, sweatshirts or t-shirts.
Jurisdiction of the Family Court
The Bristol Probate and Family Court of Taunton, presides over family and probate matters within the Bristol county. This jurisdiction encompasses these towns/cities:
- Acushnet;
- Attleboro;
- Berkley;
- Dartmouth;
- Dighton;
- Easton;
- Fairhaven;
- Fall River;
- Freetown;
- Mansfield;
- New Bedford;
- North Attleborough;
- Norton;
- Raynham;
- Rehoboth;
- Seekonk;
- Somerset;
- Swansea;
- Taunton;
Bristol Probate and Family Court: Once You Get There
Important tip: be aware of your behavior from the moment you arrive at the courthouse. All of the staff members you encounter, from the security officers and the registry staff to the clerks and judges’ area able to observe you. An individual behind the desk in the registry one day, could be a judge’s clerk the next day (or in some cases, even the same day). The security guards are also the court bailiffs. Often disagreements come down to a “he said/she said” argument, during which a judge can use their discretion and judgement to determine who is telling the truth and who is not. If you just made a scene and yelled at the judge’s clerk, that makes you look unreasonable and does not help your credibility.
If you arrive at the Bristol Probate and Family Court, at or before opening time (8:30am) there is typically a line to get into the building. After you enter the courthouse, you will have to go through metal detectors. Phones are allowed in the courthouse, but you are not allowed to take any pictures or videos in the courtrooms and must keep your phone on silent. While the judge is on the bench, you are not allowed to be using your phone (this includes texting, emailing and scrolling).
First Floor
The first floor of the Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton includes the main entrance and security. Once you have made it through the security checkpoint, immediately to the left is the stairs and elevators.
Located on the first floor to the left is the Housing Court, Juvenile Court, Juvenile Probation, Courtroom 2 – Juvenile Court, and the Juvenile Court Clerk Magistrate. Located on the first floor to the right is Courtroom 1 – District Court Arraignment and the District Court Clerk Magistrate.
Second Floor
The second floor of the Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton includes the Register’s office and Probation Department.
Register’s Office
Once you have made it through the security checkpoint, the registry is directly to the right, it is the only room to your immediate right. If you are unsure of where you should go, this is a good place to start.
The staff, sometimes referred to as clerks, will be able to look up your case (have your docket number ready), or if you do not have an active matter, they may be able to answer some general questions. The clerks cannot give any legal advice.
If you are going into court on an emergency basis, this is where you would file the required documents. The clerk then confers with the judge while you wait and then informs you of any updates.
If there is a filing fee or other fees, the registry accepts credit cards, cash and check.
Generally, the staff are polite and will try to help you as long as you are respectful and what you need help with is within the scope of what the registry can do.
Services Offered by the Register’s Office
- Filing Court Documents: Parties involved in legal proceedings can file necessary paperwork here. Some of the forms are pre-printed and the clerk will provide you with one. However, all the probate court forms can be found online. It is always best to do your document preparation before going to court.
- Document Retrieval: Whether you need a certified copy of a court order or access to a previous filing, the register’s office facilitates retrieval of essential legal documents.
Probation Department
Once you have made it through the security checkpoint, the Probation Department is to the left and then an immediate right.
Probation in the family court is tasked with attempting to resolve family law conflicts amicably before escalating matters to a judge.
When you arrive at probation, check in with the probation officer at the front desk of the probation department. Once you have checked in, you will have to wait for your name to be called. If you have not completed a financial statement, the probation officer will give you a blank one to fill out. Your case will not be called until the financial statement has been returned.
Once your case is called you will go into a probation room. Typically, no one except the parties and their respective attorneys are allowed into the probation rooms. If there is significant disagreement between the parties and they are unable to communicate, the probation officer may separate the parties into separate rooms. If there is a restraining order in place, the Probation officer will not meet with both parties at the same time. They will meet individually with the parties and their respective counsel.
When engaging with probation, parties involved in disputes should be prepared for in-depth discussions about their issues. The objective is to reach a mutual agreement, often resulting in a “Stipulation of the parties,” which can save time and resources by eliminating the need for a formal court hearing. The probation officer is not the judge, the clerk, or maybe not even a lawyer. If you are unable to resolve your dispute in probation, the probation officer does report directly to the judge what happened in probation.
Third Floor
The third floor of the Bristol Probate and Family Court in Taunton are where the Courtrooms, conference rooms and Jury courtroom are located.
Courtrooms and Conference Rooms
The courtrooms are on both the left and right side. The courtroom number will be labeled outside of the door. There will be docket lists posted outside of each courtroom, you must look for your name and docket number on the docket list posted. The courtroom that you find your name and docket number on, is the courtroom that your case will be heard in.
If your name is highlighted in yellow, this means that your case has been assigned to probation.
Each courtroom has multiple smaller rooms for meetings. The meeting rooms are used for negotiations and attorney/client consultations.
Outside of the courtrooms, there are benches against the wall for seating.
If you are ready to enter the courtroom, proceed to the courtroom and look for the clerk. Depending on your arrival time there may be a line of people waiting to check in. Get in line and check in with the clerk and answer any questions the clerk may have. You will receive an envelope to fill out. Write your name and your current address on the envelope and return it to the clerk. This envelope is to send court documents to you after the hearing, if applicable. Once this is completed you can sit down. Once the court is in session (when the judge enters the room) you will wait until your name is called.