Barnstable District Court


The Barnstable District Court sits at 3195 Main Street, Barnstable, MA 02630, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Criminal session: (508) 375-6778
  • Civil session: (508) 375-6785
  • Probation department: (508) 375-6800
  • Clerk’s email: cmbarnstabledc@jud.state.ma.us

Free parking is available within the court complex. The Barnstable Villager line of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority serves the courthouse, which sits in the county complex on Route 6A.

The Barnstable District Court is the principal criminal court of Cape Cod, sitting in the county seat at the Barnstable complex, and its docket doubles in the summer as the Cape’s population multiplies. The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office prosecutes here, and Attorney Joe Serpa prepares each case, resident or summer visitor, as a matter to be ended at the earliest stage, often with counsel appearing so an off-Cape client does not have to keep returning.

Before accepting any plea offer in this court, it is worth understanding what it takes to get a Massachusetts case dismissed and why a real dismissal protects the client more than a plea that is not a conviction.

Communities Served. Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Sandwich.

Seasonal and Visitor Cases. The summer surge brings OUI, disorderly, assault, and theft matters, many against visitors whose cases can often be handled with counsel appearing so the client does not return to the Cape for each date; a denial at the clerk-magistrate hearing ends the matter with no record. The four-day citation rule governs the motor vehicle cases that begin without an arrest.

Domestic Violence and the Year-Round Calendar. The court runs domestic violence and 209A restraining order sessions and the drug matters of a year-round community, each defended on its elements with the collateral consequences mapped first.

Prepared for Trial From Day One. See Massachusetts Criminal Defense Results. Call 617.936.0201 for a confidential consultation before your Barnstable date, wherever you live.

Related Serpa Law Office Resources: Clerk-Magistrate Hearings • OUI Defense • I Received a Show Cause Notice • Shoplifting and Larceny • Criminal Traffic Citation • Courts Across Greater Boston Nearby: Falmouth District Court • Orleans District Court

Client Reviews

He's one of the best people I've met. I'm really appreciative of all the help I received. If you have a serious case, he'll work hard to make sure you have the best outcome. I highly recommend him. You will not be disappointed.

A.J

Mr. Serpa was very helpful with my family member ‘s case. He was able to get it dismissed quickly and easily. He is very professional and very good at what he does. I’m so glad he hired him. You will be glad too if you hire him.

Z.M.

Serpa law office was my attorney of choice for 2 seperate cases I had last year. With both situations, Joseph not only treated me great, delivered the results I was hoping for, and was extremely professional and genuine. I would definitely recommend this law office to anyone in need of legal help.

P.C.

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Confrontation Rights and Harmless Error in a Family or Household Member Assault Case: Commonwealth v. Khadgi

By Attorney Joe Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center September 28, 2026 Shortly before 2 A.M., a Cambridge police officer walking through Harvard Square saw Shyam Khadgi striking a woman in the face and arms. The officer saw Khadgi strike her ten to fifteen times, hard enough to lift his own foot off the ground.…

Vehicle Impoundment and Inventory Searches in Massachusetts: The Appeals Court Decision in Commonwealth v. Beechman

By Attorney Joe Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center September 28, 2026 At about 1 A.M. on September 2, 2024, Boston police officers on patrol in Dorchester saw that the registration on an Acura sport utility vehicle had expired. The officers confirmed through their database that the registration was expired and non-renewable, activated their lights,…

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