Worcester County, Massachusetts Divorce Records
Worcester County divorce records are official documents detailing legal processes by which marriages are formally dissolved. These records are generated during divorce proceedings handled by the Worcester County Probate and Family Court. They are essential for proving a divorcee’s marital status when submitting various official applications, including applications for a marriage license to remarry and a name change to revert to their maiden name or another name after a divorce.
Worcester County Divorce Stats: The United States Census Bureau 2024 ASC Statistics reveal that among Worcester County residents aged 15 or older, 8.7% of males (31,703) and 11.6% of females (43,265) were divorced in 2024. By contrast, the number of divorcees in the same demography in 2023 was 32,306 (9.1%) males and 45,976 (12.5%) females. Overall, these statistics show that the number of divorces in Worcester County increased by 1.88% for males and by 6.06% for females in 2024.
Are Divorce Records Public in Worcester County?
Yes. Divorce records are public in Worcester County pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, codified in Massachusetts General Laws (G.L) Chapter 66 Section 10. The law grants everyone the right to access records generated or maintained by any Massachusetts government entity, including courts, unless a statutory exemption requires the record to be withheld in whole or in part.
As a result, there are restrictions on who may access Worcester County divorce records. However, certain exemptions to the Massachusetts Public Records Law may affect public access to divorce records. For instance, financial information and social security numbers are usually redacted from divorce records before they are made public. Additionally, if a divorce record contains details about abuse prevention actions or child protection proceedings, such actions and proceedings are confidential per G.L. c. 20A, 8, and G.L. c. 119, respectively. A court may also order that divorce records be sealed, in which case they would be protected from public access.
How to Find Divorce Records in Worcester County
Worcester County divorce records are available through the Massachusetts Judicial Archives and Worcester County Probate and Family Court, depending on the year the divorces were filed and recorded. The Massachusetts Judicial Archives is the statewide custodian of divorce records from 1629 to 1922. Meanwhile, Worcester County divorce records from 1922 to the present are obtainable through the county Probate and Family Court.
Regardless of who holds the sought-after divorce records, record seekers must possess certain information to facilitate a search. Primarily, the record’s docket number is required. Interested persons may find a divorce proceeding’s docket number by:
- Searching for the case online through the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal
- Calling the Worcester County Probate and Family Court at (508) 831-2200
- Visiting the Worcester County Probate and Family Court’s Virtual Registry.
Generally, record seekers may get Worcester County divorce records from 1629 to 1922 by calling the Massachusetts Judicial Archives at (617) 557-1087. The Judicial Archives only accepts requests by phone. On the other hand, the Worcester County Probate and Family Court accepts mail-in and in-person requests for county divorce records that it maintains. Requesters will be charged the following fee per request:
- Certificate of divorce absolute: $20 each
- Certified copy of a judgment of divorce nisi: $20 each (excluding supporting documents)
- Certified copy of a divorce separation agreement: $20 for the first page and .05 cents for each additional page.
Relevant fees are payable by attorney’s check, money order, bank certified check, or bank cashier’s check made out to the “Commonwealth of Massachusetts”. Requesters may complete the Request for Copies form (PFC 18) and mail or submit it in person, along with the required payment, to:
225 Main Street,
Worcester, MA 01608
| Method | Where to Go | Info Needed | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By phone | Massachusetts Judicial Archives | Docket number | Free or small fee | Instant or several business days |
| In Person | Worcester County Probate and Family Court | Completed Request for Copies form (PFC 18) and fee payment | $20 each for a certificate of divorce absolute. $20 each for a certified copy of a judgment of divorce nisi (excluding supporting documents). $20 for the first page of a certified copy of a divorce separation agreement, and .05 cents for each additional page. | Same-day processing may be available |
| By Mail | Worcester County Probate and Family Court. | Several business days |
Overview of the Worcester County Court System
In Worcester County, the Probate and Family Court is responsible for handling all court matters involving families and children, such as divorce, custody, child support, adoptions, abuse prevention, e.t.c. The court has jurisdiction over divorce proceedings originating from cities and towns in Worcester County. The court’s Register’s Office and Probation Department is tasked with generating, collecting, and maintaining all Worcester family court divorce filings. Generally, the court operates between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm and can be contacted at:
225 Main Street,
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 831-2200
Fax: (508) 752-6138
Online Access to Worcester County Divorce Records
Interested persons may find Worcester divorce records online through the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal. Unfortunately, actual official divorce records are not accessible through the portal, but users may look up case information for free. On the portal, users must select “Probate and Family Court” under the court department option and “Worcester County Probate and Family Court” under the court division option. Subsequently, they may select “Domestic Relations” or “Domestic Relations” under case type. They may search the portal by party name (i.e., the names of the divorced spouses), the case filing date range, or case number. Typical information search results provided includes:
- Case parties' full name
- Case number
- Case type
- Filing date
- Initiating actions
- Case judge
- Docket information and details
- Case disposition details
Record seekers may also access Worcester County divorce records online through certain third-party websites. They operate by obtaining public records, including divorce records, from different official sources and compiling them into a private database. They typically allow individuals to search their database for public divorce records for a fee. However, the accuracy of the records they provide are not assured.
What’s Typically Included in a Worcester Divorce Record
Generally, Worcester County divorce records consist of several pieces of information and documents that were filed with and generated by the county Probate and Family Court during a divorce proceeding. These include, but are not limited to:
- The divorce complaint or joint petition for divorce
- Summons
- Certificate of absolute divorce or annulment
- Financial statement
- Motions and responses
- Child custody agreement
- Separation agreement
- Judgment of divorce absolute
- Judgment of divorce nisi
- Transcripts
Note: financial statements, social security numbers, abuse prevention actions, and child protection proceedings that are included or detailed in divorce records are usually sealed and unavailable to the public
| Information | Available to the Public? |
|---|---|
| The divorce complaint or joint petition for divorce | Yes |
| Summons | Yes |
| Certificate of absolute divorce or annulment | Yes |
| Child custody agreement | Personally identifiable information about the child(ren) may be redacted to protect their identity |
| Separation agreement | Yes |
| Judgment of divorce absolute | Yes |
| Judgment of divorce nisi | Yes |
| Financial statements | No |
How to Get Certified Copies of Worcester Divorce Records
Record seekers may get certified copies of Worcester County Divorce records through the county Probate and Family Court. The primary difference between certified and informational copies of divorce records lies in their use cases. Certified copies of divorce records are considered legally valid and may be used for different official and legal purposes. Meanwhile, informational copies are not legally valid and may only be used for personal purposes, such as satisfying an individual's curiosity about a divorce proceeding.
Interested persons may request a certified divorce decree in Worcester County, commonly referred to as a certificate of divorce absolute, by submitting a request to the Worcester County Probate and Family Court. They can complete the Request for Copies form (PFC 18) and submit it in person or by mail, along with the relevant fee detailed in the form. Note that the option of requesting informational copies is not provided. Additionally, requesters are not required to provide a form of identification when requesting these records.
| Type of Copy | Use Case | Who Can Request | Legally Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Copy | Remarriage application, legal proceedings, immigration proceedings, and social security name changes. | Anyone (if public) | Yes |
| Informational Copy | Genealogy research and personal verification of details about a divorce | No |
Worcester Divorce Records Summary
| Custodian | Available Record Type | Access Method | Fees & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Judicial Archives | Divorce records (1629 to 1922 only) | By phone | Maybe free |
| Worcester County Probate and Family Court | Full case files, judgments, certificate of divorce absolute, judgment of divorce nisi, and divorce separation agreements (1929 to the present) | In person or by mail via the Request for Copies form (PFC 18) | $20 per certified copy. |
| Third-Party Websites | Aggregated records | Online | Fees and the accuracy of records vary by website |