Norfolk County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Norfolk County?
Public records in Norfolk County are defined according to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, specifically under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 4, § 7(26), which defines public records as "all books, papers, maps, photographs, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee" of any Massachusetts governmental entity.
Norfolk County maintains numerous types of public records accessible to citizens, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court proceedings maintained by the Norfolk County Superior Court
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
- Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
- Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of county commission meetings and other public boards
- Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, financial reports, and audits
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with statutory limitations)
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning decisions, and building permits
Each record type is maintained by specific departments within Norfolk County government. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds maintains property records, while the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court maintains probate and family court records. The Norfolk County Clerk's Office serves as the central repository for many county records.
Is Norfolk County an Open Records County?
Norfolk County adheres to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, which establishes the presumption that all government records are public unless specifically exempted by law. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, "every person has a right, at reasonable times and without unreasonable delay, to inspect public records."
The law states: "A records access officer appointed pursuant to section 6A, or a designee, shall at reasonable times and without unreasonable delay permit inspection or furnish a copy of any public record as defined in clause twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4, or any segregable portion of a public record, not later than 10 business days following the receipt of the request."
Norfolk County has implemented specific policies to comply with state transparency requirements. The Town of Norfolk Public Records Policy & Guidelines outlines the county's procedures for handling public records requests in accordance with state law.
Additionally, Norfolk County complies with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, properly noticed, and that minutes be kept and made available to the public.
How to Find Public Records in Norfolk County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Norfolk County may follow these procedures to access public information:
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Identify the appropriate department: Determine which county department or office maintains the records you seek. The Norfolk County website provides a directory of departments.
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Submit a formal request: While some records may be available for immediate inspection, many require a formal written request. Requests may be submitted:
- In person at the relevant department
- By mail to the department's physical address
- By email to the department's designated Records Access Officer
- Through the online public records request portal for participating departments
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Complete the request form: Norfolk County provides a standard Public Records Request Form that requestors should complete with specific details about the records sought.
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Await response: Under Massachusetts law, agencies must respond within 10 business days. The response will either provide the records, deny the request with specific reasons, or request an extension if the records cannot be produced within the timeframe.
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Pay applicable fees: If fees apply, payment must be made before records are released.
For property records, the Norfolk Registry of Deeds maintains an online searchable database where many property records can be accessed without submitting a formal request. Similarly, the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access provides online access to certain court records.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Norfolk County?
Norfolk County follows the fee structure established by the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Current standard fees include:
- Photocopies: $0.05 per page for black and white copies of public records (8.5 x 11 inches)
- Computer printouts: $0.05 per page
- Search and segregation time: Prorated hourly rate of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the task (first two hours are free)
- Storage device costs: Actual cost of USB drive, CD, or other media provided
- Postage: Actual cost if mailing is requested
Pursuant to G.L. c. 66, § 10(d), agencies may not charge for the following:
- Records that are freely available online
- The first two hours of time spent searching for, compiling, or redacting records
- Records where the public interest in disclosure outweighs the burden of the cost
The Norfolk Registry of Deeds maintains its own fee schedule for certified copies of deeds and other land records:
- Certified copies of recorded documents: $1.00 per page with a $6.00 minimum
- Recording fees: Vary by document type (typically $75-$225)
Payment methods accepted include cash, check, money order, and credit cards (where available). Fee waivers may be granted if payment would cause financial hardship and the request is in the public interest.
Does Norfolk County Have Free Public Records?
Norfolk County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost:
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In-person inspection: Under Massachusetts law, public records must be available for inspection without charge during regular business hours. Requestors may view records at the relevant department office without paying fees, provided the inspection does not unduly disrupt operations.
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Online resources: Many Norfolk County records are available at no cost through online portals:
- The Norfolk Registry of Deeds offers free online searching of property records
- Norfolk County Superior Court case information is available through the state court system website
- Norfolk County Commission meeting minutes are posted online
- Town meeting records for municipalities within Norfolk County
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First two hours free: Massachusetts law stipulates that the first two hours of search and segregation time must be provided at no cost for most agencies.
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Fee waivers: Agencies may waive or reduce fees if disclosure would primarily benefit the public rather than a private interest, or if the requestor lacks the financial ability to pay.
The Braintree Public Records Request portal provides information about accessing free public records for that municipality within Norfolk County.
Who Can Request Public Records in Norfolk County?
Under Massachusetts Public Records Law, any person may request public records from Norfolk County agencies regardless of citizenship or residency status. The law states that "every person" has the right to access public records, with the following provisions:
- No identification requirement: Requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request for most public records.
- No residency requirement: Non-residents of Massachusetts have the same rights to access public records as residents.
- Anonymous requests: Anonymous requests are permitted, though providing contact information is necessary if the records will be sent to the requestor.
- Commercial use: Records may be requested for commercial purposes, and agencies cannot deny requests based on intended commercial use.
Certain specialized records may have additional requirements:
- Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI): Access is restricted under G.L. c. 6, § 172 and requires specific authorization.
- Vital records: Birth, death, and marriage certificates may require proof of relationship or legal interest under G.L. c. 46, § 2A.
- Medical records: Access to medical records is governed by both state law and HIPAA.
Requestors seeking their own records typically have broader access rights than those seeking records about others, particularly for confidential or personal information.
What Records Are Confidential in Norfolk County?
While Norfolk County operates under the presumption of openness, certain records are exempt from disclosure under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 4, § 7(26). These exemptions include:
- Personnel and medical files: Information that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy (Exemption (c))
- Inter-agency memoranda: Deliberative process materials related to policy positions being developed (Exemption (d))
- Investigatory materials: Records compiled for law enforcement purposes that would prejudice effective law enforcement if disclosed (Exemption (f))
- Trade secrets: Proprietary information provided by businesses to government agencies (Exemption (g))
- Sealed criminal records: Records sealed by court order or statute
- Juvenile records: Court records involving minors
- CORI information: Criminal Offender Record Information with restricted access
- Domestic violence records: Information that could compromise victim safety
- Security information: Details about security measures, emergency response plans, or infrastructure vulnerabilities
- Attorney-client privileged communications: Legal advice and strategy documents
- Ongoing procurement documents: Bids and proposals during active procurement processes
- Test questions and scoring keys: For licensing, employment, or academic examinations
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies must provide the non-exempt portions after redacting the exempt information, as required by G.L. c. 66, § 10(a).
Massachusetts law also requires agencies to apply a balancing test in some cases, weighing the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests or other protected interests.
Norfolk County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
649 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026
(781) 461-6101
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Satellite Office - Quincy:
400 Washington Street
Quincy, MA 02169
(617) 376-8300
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Norfolk County Probate and Family Court
35 Shawmut Road
Canton, MA 02021
(781) 830-1200
Norfolk Probate and Family Court
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Norfolk County Superior Court
650 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026
(781) 326-1600
Norfolk County Superior Court
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Lookup Public Records in Norfolk County
Welcome to the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds