Chicopee Probate Court Records
Chicopee probate court records are managed through the Hampden County Probate and Family Court. The main court sits in Springfield, and Chicopee had its own satellite registry office until it closed for renovations in November 2024. Chicopee residents looking for wills, estate filings, guardianship cases, or conservatorship records can search online through MassCourts or visit the Springfield courthouse. The court serves all 23 cities and towns in Hampden County.
Chicopee Overview
Where Chicopee Residents File Probate
Chicopee is in Hampden County. The Hampden Probate and Family Court's main office is at 50 State Street in Springfield. This is where all Chicopee probate filings currently go. The court also had a satellite registry in Chicopee at 17 Springfield Street inside Chicopee City Hall, but that location closed for renovations as of November 1, 2024. While it was open, the satellite handled limited registry services but did not take cash payments or hold hearings.
| Court | Hampden County Probate and Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 State Street Springfield, MA 01102 |
| Phone | (413) 748-7760 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | mass.gov - Hampden Probate Court |
Springfield is right next to Chicopee. The drive is short. The court has several department phone lines for different case types. The Register's Office at (413) 748-7760 handles general questions. The Vault and Records line is (413) 748-7766. Probate and Equity matters go to (413) 748-7745.
Satellite Closed: The Chicopee satellite registry at 17 Springfield Street is temporarily closed for renovations as of November 1, 2024. All services have moved to the Springfield main office at 50 State Street.
The satellite office page on mass.gov has updates on when the Chicopee location may reopen.
The Chicopee satellite served as a closer option for western Hampden County residents before its temporary closure.
Search Chicopee Probate Court Records Online
The MassCourts portal lets you search Chicopee probate records from anywhere. Choose "Probate & Family Court" and pick "Hampden" as the division. Search by name or docket number. The system displays party names, case type, filing dates, and docket entries for cases from 2000 onward. Document images may be available for filings made after 2009.
If you prefer live help, the Hampden County Virtual Registry operates weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call 1 (646) 828-7666 with meeting ID 1600424858. Staff can look up cases and guide you through the records request process without leaving your home.
The docket search guide on mass.gov explains how to use MassCourts step by step, including how to read case numbers and understand docket entries. It is a good starting point if you have not used the system before.
Getting Copies of Chicopee Probate Records
Copies of Chicopee probate court records come from the Hampden Probate Court in Springfield. You can visit in person, send a mail request, or use the virtual registry. In person, walk up to the clerk's window and provide the case name or docket number. Staff will pull the file and make copies while you wait. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies of most probate documents are $20.00 each.
Mail requests require the PFC 18 form. Fill out the case details and send the form with a money order or attorney's check to the Hampden Probate Court at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01102. Make checks payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts." Personal checks are not accepted by mail. Allow time for the request to be processed and mailed back.
For records in the Vault, call (413) 748-7766 to confirm what is available. The Vault holds older case files and original documents that may not be accessible through the regular clerk's counter.
Note: The copy request instructions on mass.gov walk through the full process for any Probate and Family Court in the state.
Probate Filings for Chicopee Residents
All probate filings for Chicopee go through the Springfield courthouse. Informal probate under M.G.L. c. 190B, § 3-102 costs $375 plus a $15 surcharge. Formal probate adds a citation fee for a total of $405. Voluntary administration is $115. Guardianship of a minor has no fee, while guardianship of an incapacitated person costs $255. Conservatorship also costs $255.
Electronic filing is available through eFileMA. The first eFiling in a new case carries a $22 provider fee on top of the regular court fee. Credit card transactions add 2.89%. eCheck payments are $0.25 per transaction. All probate forms are free to download from mass.gov.
If you cannot pay the filing fee, submit an Affidavit of Indigency and the court will review your request. The judge decides based on your income and circumstances.
Historical Probate Records for Chicopee
Hampden County was carved out of Hampshire County in 1812. Probate records for Chicopee from 1812 onward are held at the Springfield courthouse. But here is where it gets tricky. Probate records for Chicopee from before 1812 are still in Northampton at the Hampshire County courthouse. This is the "split records" issue that affects all 23 towns in Hampden County. If you are doing genealogy work or looking for very old estate records for a Chicopee family, you may need to check both counties.
Online databases cover a good chunk of the older material. FamilySearch has Hampden County probate records including indexes from 1812 to 1986 and file papers from 1809 to 1881. The historic records guide on mass.gov lists what is available online for each county. For anything not yet digitized, contact the Springfield courthouse or the Massachusetts Judicial Archives.
Hampden County Probate Court Records
Chicopee is one of 23 cities and towns in Hampden County. The Probate and Family Court in Springfield handles all filings for the county. For full details on the court, the satellite office status, the virtual registry, and historical records, visit the Hampden County page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Chicopee with probate court record pages: