Norfolk Probate and Family Court, Shawmut Road, Canton, MA
The purpose of the this article is to familiarize you with the Norfolk Probate and Family court. If you have a matter before the Norfolk 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.
Norfolk Probate and Family Court (also referred to as Norfolk Probate or Norfolk Family Court) has jurisdiction over family and probate matters for residents residing within the county of Norfolk, 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 Norfolk Probate and Family Court court handles the management of a person’s assets after they die.
Norfolk Probate and Family Court Location and Contact Information
The Norfolk Probate and Family Court is located at 35 Shawmut Road, Canton, Massachusetts.
Contact Information:
- Register’s Office: (781) 830-1200
- Probation Office: (781) 830-1249
- Virtual Registry: zoom link
The Norfolk Family Court offers a virtual registry where you can get face to face help virtually. The hours of operation for the virtual registry are M-F 8:30 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.
Ample parking is available at the courthouse, however it does get busy and you may have to park behind the courthouse.
Directions:
- The court house is right off of route 95 exit 23 A or Exit 23 B. Coming from the north it will be the first exit after the 95/93 split in Canton. Coming from the south it is the exit right before the 95/93 split. The closest memorable landmark next to the courthouse is the new Top Golf Location.
Food And Drink:
Food and drinks are not allowed in the courthouse. If you have a hearing scheduled for 9:00 AM that does not mean 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. Court can be stressful, so when the court takes a recess for lunch between 1:00 pm and 2:00 PM, it’s good to have lunch waiting in your car. The court also has a vending machine on the second floor.
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 Norfolk Probate and Family Court, located at 35 Shawmut Road in Canton, Massachusetts, presides over family and probate matters within Norfolk County. This jurisdiction encompasses these towns:
Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Dover, East Walpole, East Weymouth, Foxboro, Franklin, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Needham, Needham Heights, Norfolk, North Weymouth, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Sheldonville, South Walpole, South Weymouth, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, Westwood, Weymouth, Wrentham.
Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 table on your right. If you are at the courthouse for a hearing, the location of your hearing can be found on the printed schedule on that table. You will either be directed to a courtroom (2nd floor) or probation (3rd floor). If you are at the courthouse to file documents or for the lawyer of the day, walk past that table and go to your right. The door for the registry will be the first on your right. If you are meeting an attorney from Weberg Law the best place to wait is in the rotunda on the 2nd floor if you are going directly to court, or in the waiting room on the 3rd floor if you have been assigned to go to probation.
1st floor: Register’s office
On the first floor of the Norfolk 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 walk towards the elevators and go down the hall on your right. The register’s office will be the first door on your right.
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 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. 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:
- Lawyer for the Day Program: Available at the court, this service provides free legal consultations for those in need. Lawyers volunteer their time to offer legal advice, legal opinion and can help you draft documents and outline what additional steps you can take in your matter. According to the court website the hours for lawyer of the day are “Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-3 pm (sporadic) First-come, first-served.” Always call ahead to verify as the schedule is subject to change based on availability of volunteer lawyers. Contact the register’s office at (781) 830-1200 to inquire about availability, or use the virtual registry zoom link. If the lawyer of the day does not provide enough legal assistance you may need to seek the services of a family law attorney. If you cannot afford full representation consider calling attorneys to see if they would be able to provide limited assistance representation.
- 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.
2nd Floor: Courtrooms and Conference Rooms
If you are attending a court hearing, first check the table by security to make sure you have not been assigned to go to probation. If you have not been assigned to probation, then next to your name will be the assigned courtroom in which your hearing will be held. Proceed upstairs to the second floor by elevators or stairs directly in front of you.
There are 5 courtrooms on the 2nd floor. 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. You will receive a envelope to fill out. Write your name and your current return 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 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 then 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 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.
Norfolk 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.
- Call (781) 830-4386 for a recorded line of next available motion hearing dates in Norfolk Probate Court.
- Check the daily docket for Norfolk 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.