Divorce records in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, can be accessed through several channels. BerkshireCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for the county. You can also request records directly from the Probate and Family Court that issued the decree, from city or town clerks across Berkshire County, or from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The method you use depends on whether you need a court filing or a vital record certificate.
Berkshire Divorce Records Search
In Massachusetts, divorce cases are handled by the Probate and Family Court. The Berkshire Probate and Family Court, located in Pittsfield, maintains court files for all divorces granted in the county. These files can include:
- Divorce decrees (judgments of divorce nisi and absolute)
- Settlement and separation agreements
- Custody and support orders
- Motions, financial statements, and related filings
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics separately maintains divorce certificates — shorter documents that confirm a divorce occurred, listing the parties, date, and location. These certificates do not contain the full detail found in court files.
To search or request court-level divorce records, contact the Berkshire Probate and Family Court directly:
Berkshire Probate and Family Court
Court records are generally accessible to the public, though certain filings — particularly those involving financial disclosures or matters related to minor children — may be impounded or restricted by court order.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Berkshire
Understanding which office holds the record you need will save time. In Massachusetts, divorce records exist in two places: the court and the state vital records office.
Berkshire Probate and Family Court
All divorce and annulment cases in Berkshire County are filed with and adjudicated by the Berkshire Probate and Family Court. After a judgment enters, the complete case file — including the decree, any agreements, and all motions — remains with the court clerk's office. If you need the full divorce judgment, the separation agreement, or any order from the case, this is the office to contact.
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
The state vital records office maintains divorce certificates for divorces that occurred in Massachusetts. A divorce certificate is a summary document — useful for proving that a divorce took place but not a substitute for the full court record. You can request certificates by mail or in person from the Registry.
City and Town Clerks
In Massachusetts, city and town clerks also record vital events that occurred within their jurisdiction. For a divorce granted in Pittsfield, for example, the Pittsfield City Clerk may have a record. Clerks in towns like Dalton and Williamstown can assist with public records requests for events recorded locally.
Which office to contact depends on what you need:
| What You Need | Where to Go |
|---|---|
| Full divorce judgment, separation agreement, custody orders | Berkshire Probate and Family Court |
| Divorce certificate (summary vital record) | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records or local city/town clerk |
| Verification that a divorce occurred | Either the court or the vital records office |
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Berkshire
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate from Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records (in person) | $20 per copy | Same day |
| Divorce certificate from Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records (by mail) | $20 per copy | 3–4 weeks |
| Divorce certificate from city/town clerk | $10 per copy | Varies by office |
| Court record copies from Probate and Family Court | $1.00 per page (standard); $2.50 per page (certified) | Varies; typically while you wait for in-person requests |
| Attestation/certification fee (court) | $2.50 per document | Included with copy request |