Access Nantucket County Divorce Records

Nantucket County divorce records are held at the Probate and Family Court on Nantucket Island. This is the smallest probate court in Massachusetts, serving just one town. Despite its size, the court follows the same laws and procedures as every other Probate and Family Court in the state. If you need to find a divorce case, get copies of a judgment, or check on a past filing, this page explains all your options. Because Nantucket is an island, mail requests and online searches are especially helpful for off-island residents. The court keeps records going back many years and staff can assist with both new and old cases.

Nantucket Probate and Family Court

The Nantucket Probate and Family Court is at 16 Broad Street in the town of Nantucket. It is the smallest Probate and Family Court in all of Massachusetts. The court serves just one town, the Town of Nantucket, which makes up the entire county. Every divorce case filed by a Nantucket resident passes through this courthouse.

The island's year-round population is about 14,000, though it swells in the summer months. The court's caseload is smaller than most mainland courts, but the same rules and fees apply. The Register of Probate keeps all divorce case files and can help with searches and copy requests. Because the courthouse is on an island, reaching it requires ferry or air travel from the mainland. The Steamship Authority runs ferries from Hyannis on Cape Cod. There are also flights from several airports in the region.

The court's page on mass.gov provides phone numbers, hours, and directions to the Nantucket courthouse.

This screenshot shows the Nantucket Probate and Family Court's official page with contact details for requesting divorce records.

How to Search Nantucket Divorce Records

You can search for Nantucket County divorce records in three ways: online, in person, or by mail. For off-island residents, the online system and mail requests are the most practical options.

The Massachusetts Trial Court's online case search tool covers all Probate and Family Courts. Select "Probate and Family Court" and then Nantucket. Search by name or case number. The results include the docket number, filing date, case status, and party names. Most cases from 2009 onward are available. Older records may not be in the online system. If your search comes up empty, try calling the court at (508) 228-2669.

In-person visits to 16 Broad Street let you see the full case file. The Register's office can search for cases, pull files, and make copies. Certified copies cost $20 each. Plan your trip around ferry or flight schedules. The courthouse is a short walk from the ferry terminal in downtown Nantucket.

For mail requests, fill out the PFC 18 form and send it with a $20 payment to the court. Make the check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Include the case docket number if you have it, or the names and approximate dates. Processing usually takes a few weeks.

Nantucket County Divorce Fees

The fee schedule at the Nantucket Probate and Family Court matches every other court in the state. All Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts charge the same rates for filings and copies.

Filing a joint petition under M.G.L. c. 208, § 1A is $215. Filing a complaint under § 1B is $280. The surcharge is $15. Summons costs $5. Citation is $15. Having papers served by a constable or sheriff adds about $50 to $75. Copies of records have their own fees: $20 for a Certificate of Divorce Absolute, $20 for a certified Judgment of Divorce Nisi, $2.50 per page for attested copies, and $0.05 per page for plain copies.

People who cannot afford the fees can ask for a waiver by filing an Affidavit of Indigency. A judge reviews it and decides if you qualify.

Note: Payment must be by money order, bank certified check, or attorney's check, payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Divorce Filing Process on Nantucket

Divorce cases on Nantucket follow the same Massachusetts law as the rest of the state. M.G.L. Chapter 208 sets all the rules. Every document you file becomes part of the permanent record at the courthouse on Broad Street.

You must meet the residency rule before you can file. Under § 5, if the grounds for divorce happened outside Massachusetts, the filing spouse needs to have lived in the state for one year. If the cause arose in Massachusetts, there is no wait. You file in Nantucket County if you or your spouse lives on the island, or if it was where you last lived together. Seasonal residents should verify their residency status, as Nantucket has a large seasonal population that does not always meet the threshold for legal residency.

No-fault divorce is the most common choice. Under § 1A, both spouses agree and file a joint petition with a separation agreement. Under § 1B, one spouse files a complaint alone. Fault grounds under § 1 include adultery, desertion for one year, cruel treatment, habitual intoxication, and nonsupport. These are used rarely.

After the judgment nisi, there is a waiting period before the divorce is final. Joint petitions wait 120 days. Other cases wait 90 days. When the nisi period ends, the divorce becomes absolute. The Certificate of Divorce Absolute is the document that proves it. Under § 34, the court considers the length of the marriage, each party's income and health, their contributions, and future needs when dividing property. Those details become part of the court record.

All forms are free to download from mass.gov.

What Nantucket Divorce Records Include

Nantucket County divorce case files contain the same types of documents as any other Massachusetts court. The file starts with the complaint or joint petition. Financial statements from both spouses are required. The separation agreement lays out property division, custody, and support. Motions, court orders, and hearing notes are also part of the file.

The Judgment of Divorce Nisi is the main order. It spells out every term of the divorce. The Certificate of Divorce Absolute under M.G.L. c. 208, § 24A confirms the divorce is final. It shows both names, the date, the docket number, and the court. Most Nantucket County divorce records are public. You do not have to be a party to the case to request copies. Some info may be sealed, particularly details about minor children or abuse.

Legal Resources for Nantucket Divorce

Legal help on Nantucket can be harder to find than on the mainland. The island has a small bar, and not every attorney handles family law. But there are still options.

The Massachusetts Bar Association at (617) 654-0400 or (866) 627-7577 can refer you to a family law attorney. Some mainland lawyers serve Nantucket clients by phone and video. The first referred meeting costs $25 for 30 minutes. MassLegalHelp.org has free self-help guides and forms for people doing a divorce without a lawyer. Official court forms are available from mass.gov at no charge.

South Coastal Counties Legal Services at (800) 244-9023 may be able to help Nantucket residents with family law matters if they meet income guidelines. Because the island is a tight-knit community, some residents prefer working with off-island attorneys for privacy. The court can sometimes arrange phone or video hearings, which reduces the need for all parties to be on the island at the same time.

Town of Nantucket

Nantucket County has just one town: the Town of Nantucket. It does not meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All divorce cases go through the Nantucket Probate and Family Court at 16 Broad Street.

Nearby Counties

Nantucket is an island county about 30 miles south of Cape Cod. The closest counties are Barnstable (Cape Cod) and Dukes (Martha's Vineyard), both reachable by ferry or air.