Berkshire County Divorce Records

Berkshire County divorce records are maintained at the Probate and Family Court in Pittsfield. This court serves all 32 cities and towns in the county, from North Adams in the north to Sheffield in the south. If you need to look up a divorce case, request copies of a judgment, or check on a filing from years ago, this page explains your options. Berkshire County has a long history of court records, with some files dating back to the 1700s. Modern records are searchable online, and older ones can be accessed at the courthouse or through the state archives.

Berkshire Probate and Family Court

The Berkshire Probate and Family Court sits at 44 Bank Row in Pittsfield. It is the sole court that handles divorce cases for all of Berkshire County. The Register of Probate maintains every case file and can help with searches and copy requests.

Berkshire County is the westernmost county in Massachusetts. It covers a large rural area in the Berkshire Hills. The court serves 32 towns including Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams, Great Barrington, Williamstown, Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Dalton, and many smaller communities. Because the county is spread out, some people travel a good distance to reach the courthouse. Knowing your options for mail and online access can save time.

The court's page on mass.gov lists phone numbers, hours, and other key details for Berkshire County divorce records.

This screenshot shows the Berkshire Probate and Family Court's official page with all contact information and location details.

The Berkshire County Superior Court is also in Pittsfield at 76 East Street. That court handles civil and criminal matters, not divorce. For all divorce-related records, go to the Probate and Family Court at 44 Bank Row.

How to Find Berkshire County Divorce Records

There are three ways to search for divorce records in Berkshire County. You can use the state's free online case system, visit the Pittsfield courthouse, or send a request by mail. Each has its own benefits.

The online system lets you search Probate and Family Court cases across Massachusetts. Choose "Probate and Family Court" and then select Berkshire County. You can search by the name of either spouse or by case number. The results give you the docket number, filing date, case status, and names of the parties. Cases from 2009 and later are most likely to show up. Older records may not be in the online system. If you cannot find what you need online, call the court at (413) 442-6941 or visit in person.

At the courthouse, the Register's staff can look up any case. Bring your ID. They will pull the file and let you review it. Certified copies are $20 each. If you want plain copies, those are $0.05 per page. The court has public access terminals too, so you can do your own computer search on site.

Note: For Berkshire County divorce records filed before 1865, you may need to contact the Judicial Archives in Boston, as the original indexes and files from 1761 to 1865 are stored there.

Berkshire County Divorce Record Fees

The fee schedule at the Berkshire Probate and Family Court matches the statewide rates. All Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts charge the same.

Filing a joint petition under M.G.L. c. 208, § 1A is $215. A complaint under § 1B is $280. Both have a $15 surcharge. Getting copies later costs $20 per certified document. A Certificate of Divorce Absolute is $20. A certified copy of the Judgment of Divorce Nisi is the same. Attested copies run $2.50 per page. Plain unattested copies are just $0.05 per page. Payment goes by money order, bank check, or attorney's check. Make it payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

People with low income can file an Affidavit of Indigency to ask for a waiver. The judge decides if you qualify. This applies to filing fees and copy fees alike.

Divorce Process and Berkshire County Records

The divorce process in Berkshire County follows M.G.L. Chapter 208. The law is the same everywhere in Massachusetts, but every document you file ends up in your case record at the Pittsfield courthouse.

To file in Berkshire County, you or your spouse must live here, or it must be where you last lived together. Under § 5, if the cause for divorce happened outside Massachusetts, the person filing needs to have been a resident for one year. If the grounds arose in state, there is no minimum residency wait.

No-fault divorce is by far the most popular option. Under § 1A, both spouses submit a joint petition and a signed agreement covering property, support, and custody. Under § 1B, one spouse files a complaint on their own. Fault grounds are available under § 1 but are rarely used today. They include adultery, desertion for one year, cruel treatment, habitual intoxication, and nonsupport.

After the judgment nisi, there is a waiting period. Joint petitions wait 120 days. Other cases wait 90 days. The divorce is not final until that time passes and the Certificate of Divorce Absolute is issued. Under § 34, the court weighs many factors when dividing property: the length of the marriage, each party's income and health, contributions to the household, and the needs of each person going forward. All of these details end up in the final judgment, which is part of the public record.

All divorce forms are available free at mass.gov.

Historical Berkshire County Divorce Records

Berkshire County has court records going back to 1761. That makes it one of the older collections in western Massachusetts. However, accessing the oldest records takes some extra effort.

The original indexes, dockets, and case files from 1761 to 1865 are held at the Judicial Archives in Boston, not at the Pittsfield courthouse. Records from 1865 onward are available at 44 Bank Row. The file papers from the earliest years were never microfilmed or digitized, which can make research harder for those periods. The first docket book was also never microfilmed, creating a gap for probate cases before 1835. For modern records from 2009 to the present, the online case system is your best bet. Anything in between those dates requires an in-person or mail request to the courthouse.

Legal Help for Berkshire County Divorce

The YWCA of Western Massachusetts serves Berkshire County residents who need family law assistance. Call (413) 732-3121. The Springfield Hall of Justice Court Service Center also covers Berkshire County. Staff can help with forms and point you toward resources, though they do not give legal advice.

The Massachusetts Bar Association referral service at (617) 654-0400 connects you with a family law attorney. The first meeting costs $25 for 30 minutes. MassLegalHelp.org offers self-help guides and instructions for people who want to handle their divorce without a lawyer. All official court forms are available at no cost from mass.gov.

Note: The Court Service Center in Springfield serves three counties, so Berkshire County residents can use it even though it is not in Pittsfield.

Towns in Berkshire County

Berkshire County has 32 towns. None of them meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All divorce filings go through the Berkshire Probate and Family Court in Pittsfield. The larger communities include Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams, Great Barrington, Williamstown, Lee, Lenox, Dalton, Stockbridge, and Cheshire.

Nearby Counties

Berkshire County is on the western edge of Massachusetts. It borders Hampshire County and Franklin County to the east. If you are not sure which county your town falls in, check before you file.