Massachusetts's trial courts include its District Courts and Massachusetts Municipal Courts. Both of these courts hear a variety of cases including those involving torts, contracts, and small claims, as well as other types of civil cases. Massachusetts also has four specialized trial courts: its Juvenile Courts, Housing Courts, Land Courts, and Probate & Family Courts. The Massachusetts Superior Court also holds jury trials and handles higher-valued civil cases and cases resulting from both felony and misdemeanor charges. The Massachusetts Court's appellate system consists of its Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.

If you're trying to find out if someone has a criminal record in Massachusetts, you can see the Massachusetts's Trial Court's criminal records information page at http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/cori.html . Here you can obtain information relating to the availability of and access to these records. Most criminal records are made available to the public. If you're seeking Massachusetts court records related to civil cases, it's best to contact the court that handled the case, as policies can vary regarding record retrieval. However, most Massachusetts court documents are considered public record.