Search Malden Probate Court Records
Malden probate court records are filed at the Middlesex County Probate and Family Court in Woburn. The Woburn office serves as the south session of the Middlesex Probate Court, handling cases for Malden and 17 other towns in the southern part of the county. You can search Malden probate records online through the state's free case lookup portal or visit the Woburn courthouse in person. Whether you need to find a will, check on an estate filing, or look up a guardianship case, the court keeps records for all probate matters that involve Malden residents.
Malden Overview
Where Malden Probate Records Are Filed
Malden falls under the Middlesex County Probate and Family Court, South Session, located in Woburn. The courthouse is at 10-U Commerce Way, about 6 miles north of Malden. This is where all new probate filings go. It is also where you pick up certified copies and view case files in person. The court has the highest case volume in the state since Middlesex is the most populous county in Massachusetts.
| 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 Court |
Getting to the Woburn courthouse from Malden is straightforward. Take the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to Anderson/Woburn station, which is close to the courthouse. Free parking is available on site if you drive. The building is a single-story structure at the Trade Center area in Woburn. Public computer terminals inside let you search cases on your own.
Middlesex also has a north session in Lowell at 370 Jackson Street, 5th Floor. Both offices accept filings for any Middlesex town. If the Lowell location is closer, you can file Malden probate cases there too.
How to Search Malden Probate Court Records
The MassCourts portal is the best way to search Malden probate court records from home. Pick "Probate & Family Court" as the department and "Middlesex" as the division. You can search by name or case number. The system pulls up party names, case type, docket entries, and court dates. For cases filed in 2009 or later, you may also see document images. Older cases show the docket but not the actual papers.
Middlesex probate case numbers start with MI. The full format is MI followed by the two-digit year, a case group letter, a sequence number, and a case type code. So MI22P0789EA would be a 2022 Middlesex probate case. Knowing the case number helps you find the right record fast. A name search works well too. Just type in the last name with a capital first letter, then add the first name to narrow your results.
The court also runs a virtual registry through Zoom. You can call in or join by video to speak with staff. They help with case lookups, form questions, and filing steps. The virtual registry is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to noon.
Malden Probate Records Request Form
When you need certified copies of Malden probate court records, use the PFC 18 form. The PFC 18 Request for Copies form is the official way to get court documents by mail.
Fill out all 13 fields on the form. You need the court division (Middlesex), your docket number, the case name, and the type of document you want. Mail the form with payment to the Woburn office. Make checks payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts." In-person requests at the courthouse accept cash, credit cards, and checks.
Malden Probate Filing Fees
Probate filing fees in Malden are the same across all Massachusetts courts. Informal probate costs $375 plus a $15 surcharge for a total of $390. Formal probate is $375 plus $15 for the surcharge and $15 for a citation, totaling $405. Voluntary administration is $100 plus $15. Guardianship of a minor has no fee. Guardianship of an incapacitated person costs $240 plus $15, and conservatorship is the same. The full fee schedule is posted on the state court site.
If you cannot afford the fees, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency with the court. The judge reviews your income and decides if you qualify for a fee waiver. This applies to both filing fees and copy costs. Account filing fees depend on the value of the estate. Estates under $25,000 owe nothing. Estates between $25,001 and $100,000 pay $100. Larger estates pay more on a sliding scale up to $3,500 for estates over $10 million.
Probate Court Resources for Malden
All official court forms for probate in Massachusetts are free to download at mass.gov. The forms section has petitions for informal and formal probate, inventory forms, account forms, and guardianship papers. You do not need a lawyer to file probate in Malden, but the process can be complex for larger estates or contested cases.
Under M.G.L. c. 190B, Massachusetts follows the Uniform Probate Code. This law sets the rules for how estates are handled, who can serve as personal representative, and what duties they have. Section 3-102 covers informal probate and the role of the Register. Section 3-301 deals with formal testacy proceedings when there is a dispute about the will. The Middlesex Probate Court applies these rules to every case filed by Malden residents.
The Massachusetts Trial Court help line at 1-833-91-COURT can answer general questions about probate procedures. For Malden-specific questions, call the Woburn courthouse at (781) 865-4000. The eFileMA platform lets you submit filings online if you prefer not to visit the courthouse.
Note: The eFileMA system charges a one-time $22.00 provider fee per new case.
Historical Records for Malden
Middlesex County probate records go back to 1648. FamilySearch has a large digital collection covering 1648 through 1924. These include wills, inventories, accounts, and bonds from across the county. The historic records guide from the state court system lists what is available online for Middlesex. Pre-1900 records are largely digitized. Post-1900 records are at the courthouse or the Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Blvd in Boston.
Middlesex County Probate Court Records
Malden is one of 54 cities and towns in Middlesex County. The Middlesex Probate Court handles the most cases of any probate court in the state. For the full list of towns served, both court locations, and more details on Middlesex probate court records, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Malden also have probate court records pages: