Find Norfolk County Bankruptcy Records
Norfolk County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts and cover communities across Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Dedham, Needham, and dozens of other towns in the county. Most Norfolk County residents file through the Eastern Division in Boston, though three towns, Bellingham, Franklin, and Medway, fall under the Central Division in Worcester. This page explains how to search records, what they contain, what it costs to get copies, and where to find legal help in Norfolk County.
Norfolk County Overview
Bankruptcy Court Divisions Serving Norfolk County
Norfolk County is split between two U.S. Bankruptcy Court divisions. The Eastern Division in Boston handles the vast majority of cases. The Central Division in Worcester covers only three towns: Bellingham, Franklin, and Medway. If you live anywhere else in Norfolk County, your case goes to Boston.
The Eastern Division is at 5 Post Office Square, Suite 1150, Boston, MA 02109. Phone: (617) 748-5300. Emergency line: (617) 748-5317. This office serves Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Dedham, Needham, Milton, Canton, Stoughton, Walpole, Randolph, Braintree, Holbrook, Norwood, Westwood, Dover, Wrentham, Foxborough, Mansfield, Sharon, and most other Norfolk County towns. The court website is mab.uscourts.gov.
The Central Division is at 595 Main Street, Room 311, Worcester, MA 01608. Phone: (508) 770-8900. Only residents of Bellingham, Franklin, and Medway file there. If you are unsure which division covers your address, check the division map at mab.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations before filing.
Norfolk County also has several state courts that handle related civil matters. The Norfolk County Superior Court is at 649 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026, phone (781) 326-1600. Quincy District Court is at 1 Dennis Ryan Parkway, Quincy, phone (617) 471-1650. Dedham District Court is at 631 High Street, Dedham, phone (781) 329-4777. Brookline District Court is at 360 Washington Street, Brookline, phone (617) 232-4660. These courts handle state civil claims and other matters that sometimes arise alongside a federal bankruptcy case.
| Eastern Division (Most of Norfolk County) |
5 Post Office Square, Suite 1150 Boston, MA 02109 Phone: (617) 748-5300 |
|---|---|
| Central Division (Bellingham, Franklin, Medway) |
595 Main Street, Room 311 Worcester, MA 01608 Phone: (508) 770-8900 |
| Court Website | mab.uscourts.gov |
How to Search Norfolk County Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the federal system for public access to court records, and it is the standard way to search Norfolk County bankruptcy filings online. Create a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. Searching costs $0.10 per page. Each document has a $3.00 cap. If your total quarterly charges stay under $30, no bill is sent. You can search by the debtor's name, a Social Security number, or the case number if you have it.
Once you pull up a Norfolk County case on PACER, you have access to the complete docket. That includes the original bankruptcy petition, all schedules of assets and liabilities, the list of creditors, any trustee's report, motions filed by either side, adversary proceeding dockets if any exist, and the final discharge or dismissal order. Chapter 13 cases also include the confirmed repayment plan and any subsequent modifications. All of this is available to any member of the public with a PACER login.
The free VCIS line is a quick alternative for basic case status. Call 1-866-222-8029 and press 1 for Massachusetts. The automated system is available at all hours. It gives you case number, filing date, chapter, trustee assignment, and discharge status. No fee. No login. Good for a quick check before you spend money on a full PACER search.
You can also visit the courthouse in person. Public PACER terminals at 5 Post Office Square in Boston allow free on-site access. If you need paper copies, plain photocopies are $0.50 per page and certified copies are $12.00 each. A court name search costs $34.00. Details on obtaining documents are at mab.uscourts.gov/obtain-case-documents. Pro se filers can submit documents by email to prose_filings@mab.uscourts.gov, an option that went live on May 1, 2025.
Bankruptcy Chapters in Norfolk County
Norfolk County residents file under the same federal bankruptcy chapters available across Massachusetts. Each chapter creates a different kind of record and a different case timeline.
Chapter 7 is the most common type filed in Norfolk County. It is a liquidation bankruptcy. Non-exempt assets are sold to pay creditors, though most cases are "no-asset" cases with nothing to sell. Cases close in roughly four to six months. A discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 727 wipes out most unsecured debts. Filing fee: $338. Chapter 7 is common among renters and individuals with credit card or medical debt as the main burden.
Chapter 13 is used by filers with regular income who want to keep property and repay debts on a structured plan. It runs three to five years. Norfolk County has many homeowners, and Chapter 13 is often chosen to stop foreclosure and catch up on mortgage arrears. The Massachusetts homestead exemption, which can protect up to $500,000 for a declared homestead, is claimed under 11 U.S.C. § 522. Filing fee: $313.
Chapter 11 reorganization is used by businesses and high-debt individuals. It involves a negotiated plan with creditors and court approval. Filing fee: $1,738. These cases tend to be longer and more complex than Chapter 7 or 13 cases.
When any Norfolk County resident files, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 kicks in the moment the petition is filed. It stops most collection action right away. If a creditor wants to continue pursuing the debtor, they must file a motion for relief from stay, which becomes part of the public case docket on PACER.
Debts That Are Not Discharged
Some debts survive even after a Norfolk County filer receives a bankruptcy discharge. Under 11 U.S.C. § 523, non-dischargeable debts include most student loans, recent federal and state income taxes, child support, alimony, and debts resulting from fraud, embezzlement, or intentional harm. Creditors who believe their specific debt should survive the discharge can file an adversary proceeding during the case, which creates a separate but linked docket that is also accessible through PACER.
Norfolk County Bar Association Legal Clinics
The Bar Association of Norfolk County runs free walk-in legal clinics at two district courts. No appointment is needed. Clinics run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Attorneys volunteer their time, and they cover a range of civil legal questions including bankruptcy issues. This is one of the most accessible free legal resources in the county.
Quincy District Court at 1 Dennis Ryan Parkway hosts clinics on the following dates: December 2, 2025; April 14, 2026; August 11, 2026. Dedham District Court at 631 High Street hosts clinics on: February 10, 2026; June 9, 2026; October 20, 2026. The bar association's office is at 15 Union Street, Norfolk, MA 02056. Phone: (617) 471-9396. Website: norfolkbarassn.org. The clinics and programs page is at norfolkbarassn.org/programs.php.
The screenshot below shows the Norfolk Bar Association website, where you can find clinic dates, bar news, and links to the programs page for current schedules.
The Norfolk Bar Association provides free legal clinics at Quincy and Dedham District Courts, giving county residents direct access to attorney advice on bankruptcy and other civil matters.
The screenshot below shows the legal clinics page with program details and upcoming dates for walk-in services in Norfolk County.
The bar association's programs page lists all upcoming clinic dates at both Quincy and Dedham District Courts, with no appointment required to attend.
Other Legal Resources in Norfolk County
South Coastal Counties Legal Services offers free civil legal help to income-eligible Norfolk County residents. Toll-free: 800-244-9023. Website: sccls.org. SCCLS serves clients across a wide geographic area and handles a range of civil legal matters including bankruptcy-related issues.
Greater Boston Legal Services also serves parts of Norfolk County. Phone: (617) 371-1234. Website: gbls.org. GBLS is one of the largest legal aid providers in eastern Massachusetts and takes on complex cases for low-income clients.
Veterans in Norfolk County can reach Veterans Legal Services at (857) 317-4474. This organization offers legal clinics at the Volunteers of America location in Quincy and at the Norfolk County Veterans Treatment Court in Dedham. Veterans facing financial hardship, including bankruptcy, can access free legal guidance through this program.
The court's own FAQ page at mab.uscourts.gov/faqs-debtors walks through the full filing process, what to bring to the 341 meeting of creditors, how fee waivers work, and how to file without an attorney. Local procedural rules are posted at mab.uscourts.gov/local-bankruptcy-rules. Massachusetts-specific bankruptcy law, including the homestead declaration process, is at mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-bankruptcy.
The legal advice and services referral page at mab.uscourts.gov/legal-advicelegal-services has a broader list of organizations serving Massachusetts bankruptcy filers across all three divisions.
Qualifying Cities in Norfolk County
Three cities in Norfolk County have dedicated bankruptcy records pages. Other towns in the county, including Dedham, Needham, Canton, Milton, Stoughton, Norwood, Walpole, Randolph, Braintree, and others, follow the same Eastern Division process but do not have separate city pages.
Nearby Counties
Norfolk County borders four other Massachusetts counties. Most of them also use the Eastern Division, though Bristol County includes both Eastern and Central Division towns. Check your address if you live near a county line.