Middlesex Probate and Family Court South, Woburn, MA
The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with the Middlesex Probate and Family court located in Woburn. If you have a matter before the Middlesex Probate and Family Court, this will help you to 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.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court (also referred to as Middlesex Probate or Middlesex Family Court) has jurisdiction over family and probate matters for residents residing within the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts. The Middlesex Probate and Family court handles family matters or disputes involving children, child support, married parties, among other matters.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court South Location and Contact Information
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court South is located at 10-U, Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801.
Contact Information:
Main Number: (781) 865-4000
Adoption/SIJS: (781) 865-4002
Divorce: (781) 865-4004
Paternity: (781) 865-4007
Probate (Estates/Guardianships): (781) 865-4008
The Middlesex Family Court South 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. 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 – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm.
Parking
There is ample free parking available in front of the Courthouse.
Accessibility
The Middlesex Family Court South is a one floor building. There are steps and ramps in the front entrance of the building.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator for the Middlesex Family Court South is Lauren Fraser. She will be able to answer any and all information regarding accessibility at the Middlesex South court location.
Lauren Fraser’s contact information is:
Phone: (781) 865-4072
Email: lauren.fraser@jud.state.ma.us
Fax: (617) 225-0781
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 Middlesex Probate and Family Court South, 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 Middlesex Probate and Family Court South, presides over family and probate matters within the Middlesex South County. This jurisdiction encompasses these towns/cities:
Arlington; Belmont; Burlington; Cambridge; Everett; Lexington; Malden; Medford; Melrose; Newton; Somerville; Stoneham; Wakefield; Waltham; Watertown; Weston; Winchester; and Woburn.
Middlesex 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 Middlesex Probate and Family Court South, at or before opening time (8:00am) 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).
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.
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.
- Bar Association of Norfolk County Referral service. This is a referral service where you submit your information and will be referred to a local attorney. The benefit is that your initial consultation will cost no more than $25.00. Access the service here.
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.
Courtrooms and Conference Rooms
Once you have made it through the security checkpoint, all courtrooms are to the left down the hall. The courtrooms are at the end of the hallway and 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, it 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.
There are four courtrooms and 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.
Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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.