Find Brookline Probate Court Records
Brookline probate court records are filed at the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court in Canton. Even though Brookline borders Boston on three sides, it is part of Norfolk County for court purposes. All probate filings from Brookline residents go to the Canton courthouse. You can search for Brookline probate records online using the state's free case portal or visit the court in person. The court handles wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and related matters for 28 towns across Norfolk County.
Brookline Overview
Where Brookline Probate Records Are Filed
The Norfolk County Probate and Family Court is at 35 Shawmut Road in Canton. This is the only probate court for all of Norfolk County. It moved from the old Dedham courthouse to Canton as part of a Trial Court consolidation effort. The Register of Probate, William R. Cushing, manages all filings and record requests. First Justice Hon. Jennifer S. D. Roberts presides over the court.
| Court | Norfolk County Probate and Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 35 Shawmut Road Canton, MA 02021 |
| Phone | (781) 830-1200 |
| Fax | (781) 830-1231 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| NCPFC@jud.state.ma.us | |
| Website | mass.gov - Norfolk Probate Court |
Getting to Canton from Brookline takes about 30 minutes by car. Take Route 9 to Route 128 south, then exit at Canton. Free parking is available in front of and behind the building. Public transit options are limited. The MBTA Providence/Stoughton Line stops at Canton Center and Route 128 stations, both about 1.5 miles from the courthouse. You will need a ride from the station to the court.
The courthouse layout puts the Register's Office on the first floor. That is where you file papers and pick up copies. Courtrooms are on the second floor. The Probation Department is on the third floor.
Search Brookline Probate Court Records Online
The MassCourts portal lets you search Brookline probate court records for free. Choose "Probate & Family Court" as the department and "Norfolk" as the division. You can look up cases by name or case number. The system shows party names, case type, docket entries, filing dates, and case status. Document images are available for many cases filed from 2009 on.
Norfolk County case numbers start with NO. The format is NO followed by the two-digit year, a case group letter, and a sequence number. P stands for probate cases, D for domestic, C for name changes. So NO23P0456EA would be a 2023 Norfolk probate case. Use the case number for the fastest results. Name searches work but may pull up many results for common last names.
Brookline Probate Records Docket Search
The state court system publishes a detailed guide on searching court dockets. You can view the docket search instructions for step-by-step help with the MassCourts portal.
The guide covers all search methods: by case number, by name, by case type, and by citation number. It also explains what each field on the results page means. This is helpful if you are new to searching probate records online. Print it out or keep it open while you search for Brookline cases on MassCourts.
Filing Probate in Brookline
Brookline residents file probate cases at the Norfolk courthouse in Canton. Under M.G.L. c. 190B, the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, you can choose informal or formal probate. Informal probate is the simpler path. You file a petition (MPC 150) with the Register, who reviews it without a court hearing. Formal probate (MPC 160) goes before a judge and involves a citation to interested parties. Most Brookline estates go through informal probate because it is faster and less costly.
Filing fees are set by the state and apply at all courts. Informal probate is $390 total. Formal probate is $405. Voluntary administration costs $115. These amounts include the $15 surcharge that goes with every filing. If you cannot pay, file an Affidavit of Indigency to ask for a fee waiver. The judge will review your financial situation and decide.
All probate forms are free at mass.gov. You can also file online through eFileMA.com. The electronic system charges a $22.00 provider fee for new cases. Credit card payments add 2.89%. The eCheck option costs just $0.25 per transaction. After you file, the court assigns a case number and you can track your case on MassCourts.
Note: Account filing fees range from $0 for estates under $25,000 up to $3,500 for estates over $10 million.
Copies of Brookline Probate Court Records
To get copies of Brookline probate records, submit a PFC 18 form to the Norfolk Probate Court. You can mail it to 35 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021 or bring it in person. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Attested copies are $2.50 per page. Certified copies have specific fees: guardianship decrees at $22.00, conservatorship decrees at $21.00, and letters of authority at $25.00. Make checks payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
The court also has a virtual registry for remote help. Call 1-646-828-7666 with meeting ID 1617846497. The virtual registry is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Staff can help you check case status, answer filing questions, and explain what copies you need. For detailed instructions on the full copy request process, visit the copy request page on mass.gov.
Brookline Historical Probate Records
Norfolk County probate records go back to 1793 when the county was formed. Over 30,000 cases with more than 796,000 pages are available from the early period. John Adams' will was probated at this court on August 1, 1826. The historic records guide lists what Norfolk records are available online. FamilySearch and AmericanAncestors both host digitized Norfolk County probate file papers covering 1793 through 1900. These resources are useful for genealogical research involving Brookline families from earlier centuries.
Under M.G.L. c. 215, § 1, the Probate Court has had exclusive jurisdiction over wills and estates since the court was first established. Records that predate Norfolk County (before 1793) would be filed under Suffolk County, which originally covered the Brookline area.
Norfolk County Probate Court Records
Brookline is one of 28 towns in Norfolk County. The Norfolk Probate Court also serves Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Milton, and many other communities south and west of Boston. For complete county details, the full town list, and more resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Cities near Brookline with probate court records pages: