Middlesex District Court

Middlesex District Court is a throwback to the past, in terms of staff interpersonal skills. I’ve had several experiences there, none of them for «bad» reasons; here’s an example of one: I’ve had several legal changes made to my name over the past 40 years. While unusual, having multiple name changes is not ILLEGAL. Mass. law states that there is NO limit to the number of name changes that someone might make, as long as there is no intent to defraud, yet staff people at the MDC have made comments like, «How do you know who you are?», «I can’t believe you want to change your name again!», and «How does your mother feel»? All of this is unprofessional and inappropriate.
The judge who handled my last name change request was also rude. He embarrassed me by loudly commenting on the number of times I have changed my name. At one point he asked me for the reason for the latest change request, (a reason that I had actually typed out and included with related forms, but which he couldn’t bother to read) and I asked him if I could approach him to speak with him, as the reason was personal. He literally YELLED, «No! This is an open court!!!» I wasn’t the only person present who was startled by this bit of behavior. Ten to one he has never belittled or yelled at a woman who has married and divorced several times, for having had multiple surnames which she wanted to change!
These people are thoughtless, or power drunk dolts for the most part, though I have met a few nice staff members. One rude staff person yelled at me (what IS it with «yelling» at people at this court house?) when I asked him if he had a magnifying glass that I could borrow when filling out a form, as I lost my glasses on my way to the court house. Thankfully, a nice staff person lent me her reading glasses.
By and large, many of these folks act annoyed that you’re there, could care less about you as a citizen or fellow human being, have no sense of «customer service» (I work for the public? Yeah, right. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!), and treat people seeking a name change just as they would a convicted serial rapist. Many of them have been at their jobs for years, act entitled, and exemplify terms like «old boy network» and «cronyism». And though individuals, they often look and act like they are cloned: gum chewing secretaries in tight sweaters and gold lame platform shoes, for example, do not embody professionalism in the office, yet get called for jury duty and show up dressed «inappropriately», and you’ll get sent home.
Our state legal system needs revamping, starting at the top. Requiring judges and others to take a basic course in politeness and common courtesy, to wield when SERVING THE PUBLIC, which pays their salaries, would be a good start. To speak politely to a judge or a staff member and get treated badly in return is inexcusable, yet that happens at Middlesex District Court — a LOT.

I feel the need to disinfect myself after being in this courthouse, and I didn’t even sit down. Just taking my phone and keys out of my purse was enough when they had to go through the x-​ray machine.
After retrieving the purse, I then walked into the waiting area (I guess you would call it that) that looked like a casting call for both the Jerry Springer and Maury Povich shows. I know Middlesex is a huge county so it’s going to be a scene and crowded, but really… really???
Thankfully, I found my way upstairs to the file clerk, looked up what I needed (annoying state worker, as well) and got the hell out of there. As a side note, when I was on a jury for two weeks many years ago in Suffolk County, I thought we were living pretty well; compared to this hell hole, Suffolk County is Taj Mahal.

OMG. I we pay these people with our tax dollars?
I just had the rudest telephone call I have ever had with a public office.
Me: Hello. I am a Cambridge resident and have a question regarding whether my lawyer (no longer practicing) has filed my will with your offices. Where do I begin?
Clerk: No
Me: No?
Clerk: No.
Me: That’s is your answer: Just No?
Clerk: That’s it.
Me: Wait. I am trying to find out how I go about finding out whether my will is filed. What do you mean «no»?
Clerk: Because the answer is no.
Me: What?! This isn’t helpful. How do I find this information out?
Clerk: I am not allowed to give out any information about wills.
Clerk and Me: Silence.
Me: Yes. So?
Clerk: You have to come down in person and show ID and then we’ll run your name by.
Me: That would have been the helpful answer from the beginning. Goodbye.
I can’t wait for this trip to the Probate and Family Court…

I was shocked by the consistent unprofessionalism and rudeness of the people who work at Probate and Family Court Department. I filed a simple and relatively amicable divorce. On courtdate, they even lost my paperwork. From beginning to end, from filing paperpork to request a copy of the divorce decree, all I have received was nastiness.