Suffolk Probate and Family Court, 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA | The Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
The purpose of the this article is to familiarize you with the Suffolk Probate and Family court. If you have a matter before the Suffolk Probate and Family Court this will help you understand this specific court 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.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court (also referred to as Suffolk Probate or Suffolk Family Court) has jurisdiction over family and probate matters for residents residing within the county of Suffolk, Massachusetts. The family aspect of the court handles matters or disputes involving families and children such as married parties seeking a divorce or parties with children seeking child support. The Probate facet of Suffolk Probate and Family Court court handles the management of a person’s estate after they die.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court Location and Contact Information
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court is located at 24 New Chardon Road, Boston, Massachusetts.
Contact Information:
- Register’s Office: (617) 788-8301
- Probation Office: (617) 788-8210
- Virtual Registry: zoom link
The Suffolk 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, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can access the zoom link here. For more information and a direct zoom link visit the Family Court virtual registry website page 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.
Court Hours of Operation:
- Monday through Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Parking:
There is no public parking available at this courthouse. Parking at your own expense is available in the vicinity of the courthouse at parking lots and garages and metered spaces on the streets. Parking at Haymarket may be the most affordable parking option and is a 5 minute walk to the courthouse. The closest parking garage is the Government Center Garage.
Public Transit:
The courthouse is about a 5 minute walk from Haymarket Station and about a 10 minute walk from Government Center T station. Here is a link to the MBTA trip planner.
Food And Drink:
The first floor of the courthouse has a small convenience store that sells a variety of snacks and drinks. You should not bring food or drinks into the courthouse.
Dress:
This article is not an in depth guide to courtroom etiquette, however you should ensure that your attire is clean and presentable and underscores your respect for the legal process and the dignity of the court. Suit and tie is not always necessary, but is recommended. We discourage anyone that is appearing in front of a judge to wear jeans, sweatpants, sweatshirts or t-shirts.
Jurisdiction of the Family Court
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court, located at 24 New Chardon Street, in Boston, Massachusetts, presides over family and probate matters within Suffolk County. This jurisdiction encompasses these towns:
Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Chelsea, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Revere, Roslindale, South Boston, and Winthrop.
Suffolk 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. A person behind the desk in the registry one day, could be a judge’s clerk the next day (or maybe 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 judgment 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 Suffolk Probate court at or before opening time (8:30 AM) there is typically a line to get into the courthouse. After entering the courthouse you will go through metal detectors. Phones are allowed in the courthouse but you are not allowed to take pictures of videos in the courtrooms and must keep your phone on silent. You should not be actively using your phone while the judge is on the bench (this includes texting, emailing, and scrolling).
Directly past the security checkpoint will be a set of elevators. To get to the Probate and Family Court Registry, go to the 3rd floor. Probate and family courtrooms are on the 4th floor. Probation is on the 3rd floor. The Registry of Deeds is on the 1st floor.
3rd floor: Register’s office
Be aware: The Suffolk Probate and Family Court is an extremely busy place. In 2022 nearly 12,000 new cases were filed in that court. You have the best chance of getting the help you need if you are organized and efficient in presenting your issue.
On the third floor of the Suffolk Probate and Family Court is the Register’s Office. If you are unsure of where you should go this is a good place to start. To get to the register’s office take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd floor. The register’s office will be marked and is on the left side of the building as you come off the elevator or up the stairs.
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. They cannot give legal advice. If you need to look at your file, there is a separate window for file requests.
If you are going into court on an emergency basis, the Registry 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. There are public computers available for use and several tables you can work at if you need to fill out paperwork. 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:
- 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 coming to court.
- Document Retrieval: Whether you need a certified copy of a court order or access to previous filings, the register’s office facilitates retrieval of essential legal documents.
Legal Aid Services and Family Law Resources
Legal aid services are invaluable for those unable to afford private legal counsel. These services provide assistance, guidance, and representation where necessary. There are several services that the registry will refer you to, many of with are online resources:
- Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC): This organization funds civil legal aid programs across Massachusetts to help individuals navigate the legal system and access their rights. Visit MLAC to find out more about legal services in your area.
- Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP): Offers free legal aid to low-income residents in the area of family law. They can assist with issues such as divorce, custody, and parenting time. More information is available at VLP.
- For The Record: The website For The Record allows you to order and download transcripts or recordings of your hearings. Simply go to the website, create a user and follow the instructions on how to place an order.
- Massachusetts Court System Website: This site provides comprehensive information on court proceedings, forms, and filing instructions. You can visit Massachusetts Court System to find documents related to probate records, legal document filing, and understanding stipulation of the parties.
- eFiling Services: Individuals can file certain documents electronically, reducing the need for physical visits to the courthouse. Access the eFiling portal via eFileMA.
- Case Docket Search: To check the status of your case or explore past court records, use the online docket search tool. Scroll down and click access trial court dockets. This service provides updates on court scheduling and case outcomes.
4th Floor: Courtrooms and Conference Rooms
If you are attending a court hearing, first check the list of cases posted outside the courtroom to make sure you have not been assigned to go to probation. If you have not been assigned to probation, then get in line to check in with the clerk.
In addition to the courtrooms, there are also multiple smaller rooms for meetings. The meeting rooms are used for negotiations and attorney/client consultations. There are benches against the wall for seating. The courtroom number will be labeled outside of the door.
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. Get in line, check in with the clerk, and answer any questions they may have. Once this is complete you can sit down. Once court is in session (when the judge enters the room) you will wait until your name is called.
3rd Floor: Probation
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 a probation officer at the window. You will be asked to complete a form. Do that and give it back to the probation officer if told to do so, then wait for your name to be called. If you have not completed a financial statement, the probation officer might give you a blank one to fill out. Your case won’t be called until that has been returned.
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. Remember, the probation officer is not the judge, the clerk, or maybe not even a lawyer, but if you are unable to resolve your dispute in probation, the probation officer does report directly to the judge what happened in probation.
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.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court Additional Resources:
- Check the judicial calendar here. This shows the judges schedules and shows you who is on the bench for emergencies which days.
- Check the daily docket for Suffolk Probate court here. This shows you what cases are being heard on each day. The list is generated daily.
- List of filing fees can be found here.