Dukes County Phone Directory Lookup

The Dukes County phone directory covers all government offices on Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. This island county has a small year-round population of about 20,000, but that number jumps past 100,000 in summer months. Every town hall, court, and county department can be reached by phone from the mainland. The Registry of Deeds in Edgartown holds land records going back to 1641, making it one of the oldest collections in the country. Whether you need to reach a town clerk, file a deed, or check on a court case, the Dukes County phone directory has the numbers you need to get things done from off-island or on.

Dukes County Government Contacts

Dukes County runs its main offices from 9 Airport Road in Edgartown. The county has a seven-member Board of County Commissioners that handles regional matters for Martha's Vineyard. Unlike most Massachusetts counties, Dukes County still has an active county government. The main phone line is (508) 696-3840. Staff can help you reach the right department or answer basic questions about county services.

The Dukes County website lists meeting schedules, department contacts, and public documents. You can find info on health and human services, housing, veterans affairs, and the county airport. The county also runs the Martha's Vineyard Airport, which is one of the 10 busiest airports in New England during peak season.

The Dukes County phone directory includes a wide range of departments that serve island residents. County services cover everything from emergency management and beach oversight to mosquito surveillance and water testing. The county also works with each of the seven towns through the Martha's Vineyard Commission for regional planning.

Note: The county was originally part of the New York Colony and was incorporated in 1683 before joining Massachusetts.

Dukes County Registry of Deeds

The Dukes County Registry of Deeds sits at 81 Main Street in Edgartown. Register Paulo C. DeOliveira leads the office, which holds property records dating back to 1641. That is over 380 years of land transactions. The Registry covers all seven towns in the county and serves as the main place to record deeds, mortgages, liens, and plans.

You can search Dukes County land records for free at masslandrecords.com. Online records go back to 1986. For anything older, you need to visit the Registry in person. The Dukes County Registry website has fee schedules, contact details, and an interactive map that shows recent property sales across Martha's Vineyard. Documents get scanned right after recording and show up in the public access system within minutes.

The Registry also offers a free Consumer Notification Service through cns.masslandrecords.com. This sends you an email alert when any document gets recorded under your name. It helps guard against title fraud, which is a real concern for island properties that owners may not check on regularly.

Dukes County Court Phone Numbers

All courts in Dukes County are in Edgartown at the court complex. There are three courts that serve the island. The Superior Court handles serious criminal cases and civil matters over $50,000. The Probate and Family Court deals with estates, divorces, guardianships, and adoptions. The District Court takes care of misdemeanors, small claims, traffic cases, and restraining orders.

Divorce records in Dukes County have a split history. The State Archives holds divorce files from 1639 to 1887. The Clerk of Superior Court has records from 1887 through 1922. From 1922 to now, the Probate and Family Court keeps all divorce records. If you need to track down an old case, knowing these date ranges saves a lot of time. The Dukes Probate and Family Court page on mass.gov has current contact information and filing details.

Probate records go back even further. The court has files from 1790 to the present, and the State Archives holds probate records from 1690 to 1938. Birth, marriage, and death records from 1841 to 1911 are also at the State Archives, while records from 1911 on are kept by the state Registry of Vital Records.

Note: The Dukes County District Court and Superior Court share the same court complex in Edgartown.

Dukes County Sheriff's Office

The Dukes County Sheriff's Office has served the island for over 330 years. The first documented sheriff dates back to the 1600s. Today the office runs from Edgartown and can be reached at (508) 627-5173. The Sheriff's Office website has contact forms and program details.

The Sheriff's Office does more than law enforcement on Martha's Vineyard. It runs a regional communications center that handles emergency dispatch for the island. The office also operates a correctional facility and runs community programs. Their "We Have Your Number" initiative has helped safeguard over 350 lives by making sure homes are clearly numbered so first responders can find them fast. Youth programs have reached over 4,000 island kids with skill-building, violence prevention, and substance misuse education.

How to Search Dukes County Records

Searching Dukes County public records starts with knowing which office keeps what you need. Land records are at the Registry of Deeds. Court cases go through the court complex. Vital records like birth and death certificates are handled by town clerks. Each of the seven towns has its own clerk who keeps local records.

For land records, the best option is the online portal at masslandrecords.com. Use the Advanced Search feature to narrow results by town. You can pick from Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, or West Tisbury. Search by name, book and page, property address, or date range. The system is free and runs around the clock. Documents from 1986 forward are available online. For older records, you have to go to 81 Main Street in Edgartown.

Keep in mind that island geography makes in-person visits harder than on the mainland. Plan ahead if you need to visit. The Steamship Authority runs ferries from Woods Hole, and the Martha's Vineyard Airport has year-round flights. Call the office you need before making the trip to make sure they have what you are looking for.

Note: Pop-up blockers must be turned off to view and print documents from the masslandrecords.com search portal.

Dukes County Public Records

Public records in Dukes County span centuries. The Registry of Deeds holds land records from 1641 to the present. That makes Dukes County home to some of the oldest public records in the entire United States. These records include deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, subdivision plans, homestead declarations, and Land Court documents.

The county phone directory is the quickest way to find the right office for any type of record. Here is a breakdown of what each office handles:

• Registry of Deeds: land records, property transfers, mortgages, liens
• Probate and Family Court: divorce, estate, guardianship, adoption records
• District Court: misdemeanor cases, small claims, traffic records
• Superior Court: felony cases, major civil litigation records
• Town Clerks: birth certificates, marriage licenses, death records, dog licenses

Certified copies of recorded documents can be obtained from the Registry of Deeds in person or by mail. The mailing address is PO Box 5231, Edgartown, MA 02539. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request. Fees apply for copies. Check the Registry fee schedule for current rates.

Towns in Dukes County

Dukes County has seven towns spread across Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. Six towns sit on Martha's Vineyard itself. Gosnold covers the Elizabeth Islands and is the smallest town in all of Massachusetts with just 67 residents. Each town has its own clerk who handles vital records and local business.

Here are all seven towns with their clerk phone numbers. Aquinnah, at the western tip of the island, can be reached at (508) 645-2304 through Town Clerk Kayla Darcy. Chilmark's clerk Jennifer Christy is at (508) 645-2107. Edgartown, the county seat, has Karen Medeiros at (508) 627-6110. Gosnold on Cuttyhunk Island uses email at gosnoldtownclerk@yahoo.com or phone at (508) 990-7408. Oak Bluffs Town Clerk Amy Del Torto is at (508) 693-3554 ext. 120. Tisbury (also called Vineyard Haven) has Hillary Conklin at (508) 696-4215. West Tisbury's clerk Tara Whiting-Wells can be reached at (508) 696-0418.

Note: None of the towns in Dukes County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Dukes County borders two other counties by water. If you are looking for records from Cape Cod or Nantucket, these county pages can help you find the right phone numbers and offices.