Access Cambridge Probate Records
Cambridge probate court records are filed at the Middlesex Probate and Family Court South in Woburn, not in Cambridge itself. This is a key detail that catches many people off guard. Middlesex County is the most populous county in Massachusetts, and its probate court handles the highest case volume in the state. Cambridge residents go to the Woburn courthouse for all probate matters, including wills, estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust filings. You can search records online through MassCourts or visit the Woburn location in person, where free parking makes the trip much easier than going to a downtown courthouse.
Cambridge Overview
Where Cambridge Probate Records Are Filed
Cambridge is part of Middlesex County, and the probate court that handles Cambridge cases is in Woburn. There is no probate courthouse in Cambridge. The Middlesex Probate and Family Court South is at 10-U Commerce Way in Woburn. This single-story building is where you file new cases, request record copies, and attend hearings for all probate matters involving Cambridge residents.
| Court | Middlesex Probate and Family Court South |
|---|---|
| Address | 10-U Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 |
| Phone | (781) 865-4000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov - Middlesex Probate South |
One big advantage of the Woburn location is free parking. The Trade Center lot has plenty of space, which is a contrast to the paid garages and limited meters you would find in downtown Cambridge or Boston. You can also get there by MBTA commuter rail. The Mishawum Station and the Anderson Regional Transportation Center are both nearby. The drive from Cambridge takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic on I-93.
The Woburn office handles filings for 18 cities and towns in the southern part of Middlesex County. Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Malden, Everett, Newton, Waltham, and several other communities all file here. It is one of the busiest probate courts in the state. Arriving early in the day can help you avoid long wait times at the filing counter.
The image below shows the Middlesex Probate Court South in Woburn, where all Cambridge probate court records are processed.
Note: Cambridge residents must file at the Woburn courthouse, not in Cambridge or at any other court location.
How to Search Cambridge Probate Court Records
The MassCourts portal is the best place to start an online search for Cambridge probate court records. Choose "Probate & Family Court" from the department list, then select Middlesex. Search by name or case number to find docket information, party names, filing dates, and case status. Document images are often available for cases filed from 2009 onward.
Middlesex County case numbers use the format MI followed by the two-digit year, a case group letter, sequence number, and case type code. For example, MI15P0123EA is a Middlesex 2015 probate case. The case group letter P stands for probate, D covers domestic relations, C is for name changes, and A marks adoption cases. If you know the docket number, that is the fastest way to pull up a case. Name searches work too, but Middlesex is the largest county in the state, so common names may return many results.
For in-person searches, the Woburn courthouse has public terminals you can use to look up cases. Staff at the Register's Office can help you find docket numbers and pull records from the file room. The court also offers a Virtual Registry on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. You can join by video or phone to ask questions about your case, get help with forms, or check on the status of a filing without making the trip to Woburn.
Cambridge Probate Record Copies and Fees
Filing fees for Cambridge probate cases follow the statewide fee schedule. Informal probate is $390. Formal probate costs $405. A voluntary administration filing is $115. Guardianship of a minor is free to file. Guardianship of an incapacitated person costs $255, and conservatorship petitions are also $255. If you cannot pay the fee, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency and ask the court for a waiver.
To get copies of existing probate court records, use the PFC 18 form. You can submit it in person at the Woburn courthouse or mail it to Middlesex Probate and Family Court South, 10-U Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801. Include payment by attorney's check, money order, or bank certified check, made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Certified copies of most orders and decrees are $20. Letters of authority cost $25 for additional copies. Plain copies are $1 per page.
Cambridge residents who prefer to file online can use eFileMA. The one-time provider fee is $22 for a new case. Credit card payments incur a 2.89% surcharge. eCheck payments cost just $0.25 per transaction. All probate forms are available free at mass.gov.
Note: Account filing fees for estates range from $0 to $3,500 depending on total estate value.
Cambridge Probate Filings and State Law
All Cambridge probate cases follow the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code under M.G.L. c. 190B. This law sets out how wills are proved, how personal representatives are appointed, and how estates are administered. The Middlesex Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over these matters per M.G.L. c. 215, § 1. No district or superior court in the county can take these cases.
Most estate filings in Cambridge go through informal probate under M.G.L. c. 190B, § 3-102. The Register reviews the petition and, if the paperwork is complete and no one objects, issues the appointment without a hearing. This is the faster route. Formal probate under § 3-301 requires a hearing and is used when there are disputes about the will or who should serve as personal representative. Both informal and formal filings create public records that can be searched through MassCourts.
Middlesex County has probate records going back to 1648, making it one of the oldest collections in the state. The historic records guide on mass.gov lists what is available online. FamilySearch and AmericanAncestors both host digitized Middlesex County probate file papers from the 17th through early 20th centuries.
Legal Help for Probate in Cambridge
Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services offers free legal help to residents with low incomes. They can assist with guardianship petitions, estate matters, and other probate issues. The Massachusetts Bar Association lawyer referral service at (617) 654-0400 connects you with probate attorneys in the Cambridge and Middlesex County area. The initial meeting is $25 for 30 minutes.
The copy request guide on mass.gov is helpful if you are trying to get records on your own. It explains what form to use, how to pay, and where to send your request. For people filing their own probate cases, the eFiling guide on mass.gov walks you through the electronic filing process step by step. The court service center at the Woburn courthouse can also help you with forms and questions if you visit in person.
Middlesex County Probate Court Records
Cambridge is in Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts. The Middlesex Probate and Family Court operates from two locations in Woburn and Lowell, serving a combined 54 cities and towns. For full details on the court system, procedures, fees, and forms, visit the Middlesex County probate court records page.
Nearby Cities
Several cities near Cambridge also file at the Middlesex Probate Court in Woburn. Boston residents go through Suffolk County instead. Here are nearby cities with probate court records pages on this site.