Criminal Records
The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary custodian of crime data and criminal history records of the county. However, criminal record and background check services are offered by the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services which maintains state-wide criminal records and can also provide information about national arrests and criminal history records.
How to Get Criminal Records
Criminal history records can be obtained from the state CJIS by requesting name-based or fingerprint-based searches on the subject of interest. While name-based searches provide Massachusetts-only records, fingerprint-based queries may also provide a history of national arrests and convictions.
Name-based searches may be made on the Massachusetts iCORI Service Website, which will require requestors to register as individuals or as an organization. After registration, searches may be requested using the name of the subject. However, each search may attract a fee.
Access to fingerprint-based criminal record information is restricted to only authorized persons. Interested and eligible persons are required to schedule a fingerprinting appointment for the subject with any of the CJIS-approved vendors and retrieve criminal record check results from the Massachusetts SAFIS service site. Unauthorized access to SAFIS is punishable by law.
How to Get Arrest Records and Police Reports
The Public Records Division of the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office provides access to arrest records and police reports if they are non-confidential or public record. Individuals interested in retrieving a record or report may send a written request with details or the arrest or incidence indicated, to the Records Access Officer of the Sheriffs Office at:
Barnstable County Sheriff's Office
6000 Sheriff’s Place
Bourne, MA 02532
Phone: (508) 563-4311
Fax: (508) 563-4574
How to Find Sex Offender Information
All Massachusetts sex offender information is managed and disseminated by the Sex Offender Registry Board which registers sex offenders across Massachusetts. Information about Barnstable-resident sex offenders can be retrieved from the SORB website by searching the database by county, city or ZIP code. Offenders may also be searched by name, registration status as well as geographically.
How to Find Inmate and Jail Information
Information relating to inmates of the Barnstable County Correctional Facility is managed by the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office. Interested parties may access information about currently incarcerated persons from the Sheriff's Inmates and Visitor Information Center or by querying the Records Access Officer of the Sheriff's Office.
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
The Barnstable County Superior Court Clerk is the primary custodian of all court records of cases filed within the county. The clerk's office responds to in-person or mail for copies of court records. Requestors can obtain records by sending a written request to the office which must indicate details of the record of interest including the names of the plaintiff or defendant and the date of the filing. Queries may be mailed to:
3195 Main Street,
P.O. Box 425,
Barnstable, MA 02630
(508) 375-6684
Location of All Courts in County
Listed below are the locations and contact information of all the courthouses in Barnstable County, Massachusetts:
Barnstable County Superior Court
3195 Main Street,
P.O. Box 425,
Barnstable, MA 02630
Phone: (508) 375-6684
Fax: (508) 362-7754 (Civil)
Fax: (508) 362-1658 (Criminal)
Barnstable District Court
3195 Main Street,
P.O. Box 427,
Barnstable, MA 02630
Phone: (508) 375-6785 (Civil)
(508) 375-6778 (Criminal)
(508) 375-6827 (Small Claims)
(508) 375-6825 (Eviction)
Falmouth District Court
161 Jones Road,
Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: (508) 495-1500
Orleans District Court
237 Rock Harbor Road,
Orleans, MA 02653
Phone: (508) 255-4700
Barnstable County Probate and Family Court
3195 Main Street,
P.O. Box 346,
Barnstable, MA 02630
Phone: (508) 375-6710
Barnstable Juvenile Court
3195 Main Street,
P.O. Box 427,
Barnstable, MA 02630
Phone: (508) 362-1389
Falmouth Juvenile Court
161 Jones Road,
Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: (508) 495-1696
Orleans Juvenile Court
237 Rock Harbor Road,
Orleans, MA 02653
Phone: (508) 240-5044
Where and How to Get Bankruptcy and Property Records
Barnstable county property deeds are maintained by the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, however other property and property-related records are in the custody of the municipal government where the property is situated. Interested persons may obtain property deeds by sending a written request indicating the document number reference of the deed, and accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a fee of $3 to:
Registry of Deeds
P.O. Box 368,
Barnstable, MA 02630
Other property records may be accessed by visiting the town clerk's office where the property is located.
On the other hand, copies of Barnstable county bankruptcy records can be provided by the District of Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court clerk of courts on request. Copies can be accessed through the PACER Service Center or by sending a request stating the name of the debtor and/or the case file number to the clerk's office at:
United States Courthouse
300 State Street
Springfield, MA 01105
Phone: (413) 785-6900
Fax: (413) 781-9477
Vital Records
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics administers and disseminates copies of state-wide vital records dating back to 1926. Barnstable county residents may retrieve these records from the registry or from the town clerk of the town where the marriage, death or birth occurred. Divorce records can be requested from the Barnstable Probate and Family Court.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
Divorce records are managed and issued by the Barnstable Probate and Family Court. Interested persons may request copies of divorce certificates or decrees from the office of the registrar of the court. Requesting parties may query the office in person or send a written request indicating the names of divorcees and the date of the divorce to:
3195 Main St.
P.O. Box 346, Barnstable, MA 02630
(508) 375-6710
(508) 362-3662
Where and How to Get Marriage Records, Birth Records, and Death Records
Records of birth, death, and marriage are exclusively maintained by the clerk of the town of the occurrence. Each town in Barnstable issues copies of marriage licenses and birth/death certificates. Requesters may need to inquire about the specific requirement of each town via phone before making any requests. Below is a phone listing of each town clerk's office:
Barnstable (508) 862-4044
Bourne (508) 759-0600
Brewster (508) 896-4506
Chatham (508) 945-5101
Dennis (508) 760-6112
Eastham (508) 240-5900
Falmouth (508) 495-7360
Harwich (508) 430-7516
Mashpee (508) 539-1400
Orleans (508) 240-3700
Provincetown (508) 487-7013
Sandwich (508) 888-0340
Truro (508) 349-7004
Wellfleet (508) 349-0301
Yarmouth (508) 398-2231
Alternatively, records may be requested from the State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics by sending a completed Vital Records Order Form along with the fee indicated on the application to:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon St.
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Barnstable County?
Under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, all interested persons may inspect or view Barnstable County property records. County record keepers must comply with the law by entertaining requests from interested persons and providing copies of requested records.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Barnstable County?
The Barnstable County Registry of Deeds maintains property records in the county. The Registry of Deeds deals with recorded titles to real property and makes this information available to the general public. Other records with details of building type, property taxes, building size, and zoning are available at town assessor's offices in the county.
Copies of deeds cost $3. Each copy of other related property documents costs $1 per page plus an extra $10 fee for certified records. Plan copies are also available at the Registry of Deeds Office. An 8 ½ x 11 copy costs $1, while a full-size plan costs $4. Applications for desired records may be submitted in person or by mail. A mail request must include a self-addressed and stamped envelope with adequate postage. The Recorder's Office will not process requests with insufficient postage. Applications should be submitted using the following details:
Physical Address:
Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
Deeds and Probate Building
3195 Main Street/Route 6A
Barnstable, MA 02630
Hours: 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Mailing Address:
Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
P.O. Box 368
Barnstable, MA 02630
How to Look Up Barnstable County Property Records
The Registry of Deeds Office maintains a public access platform for access to online property records. Anyone may research and view recorded documents free of charge. Printed documents carry a "not an official copy" watermark by default. Persons that require documents without this watermark will be charged $1 per page, payable by credit card. All transactions up to $100 cost a $4 convenience fee. Transactions more than $100 cost a 4% fee.
Locations of Barnstable County Township Property Assessors
Barnstable Town
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: (508) 862-4022
Phone: (508) 862-4020
Fax: (508) 862-4722
Email: assessor@town.barnstable.ma.us
Brewster Town
2198 Main Street
Brewster, MA 02631
Phone: (508) 896-3701 ext. 1137
Fax: (508) 896-8089
Email: assessor@brewster-ma.gov
Bourne Town
Bourne Town Hall
24 Perry Avenue - Room 104
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-3441
Phone: (508) 759-0600 Ext.1510
Fax: (508) 759-8026
Chatham Town
Phone: (508) 945-5103
Fax: (508) 945-3550
549 Main Street
Chatham, MA 02633
Dennis Town
685 Route 134
South Dennis, MA 02660
Phone: (508) 760-6139
Fax: (508) 394-8309
Eastham Town
2500 State Highway
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: (508) 240-5900 ext. 3215
Falmouth Town
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: (508) 495-7380
Fax: (508) 495-7384
Harwich Town
732 Main Street
Harwich, MA 02645
Phone: (508) 430-7503
Fax: (508) 430-7086
Mashpee Town
16 Great Neck Road North
Mashpee, MA 02649
Phone: (508) 539-1404
Fax: (508) 539-1142
Orleans Town
Orleans Town Hall
19 School Road
Orleans, MA 02653
Phone: (508) 240-3700 x 2430
Fax: (508) 240-3388
Province Town
Physical Address
260 Commercial Street
Provincetown Town Hall
Provincetown, MA 02657
Phone: (508) 487-7017
Fax: (508) 487-9560
Sandwich Town
16 Jan Sebastian Drive
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: (508) 888-0157
Fax: (508) 833-8098
Truro Town
24 Town Hall Road
P.O. Box 2012
Truro, MA 02666
Phone: (508) 349-7004 Ext. 117
Fax: (508) 349-5505
Wellfleet Town
Town Hall
300 Main Street
Wellfleet, MA 02667
Phone: (508) 349-0304
Fax: (508) 349-0317
Yarmouth
Yarmouth Town Hall
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
Phone: (508) 398-2231 Ext. 1222
Fax: (508) 568-9234
