FAQ

When making your request, please remember:

• Be as specific as possible about the documents you are seeking
• Give a start date and end date for your search
• All responses will be electronic unless other arrangements are made
• The Town may charge a reasonable fee in some cases
• Massachusetts Public Records Law, G.L. c.66 and c.4, §7(26) provides that a municipality must, within 10 business days (Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays), respond to a request for records by providing access to or a copy of such records, or explaining any delay or denial.

 

FEES:

If a request will take more than two (2) hours, the Town may charge a reasonable fee, up to $25 per hour to collect, segregate and redact the documents if necessary.

• The Town is permitted to charge $.05 per copy, or for the cost of a portable storage device.
• The Town will require payment before fulfilling a request

 

Some records maintained by the Town of Dedham are exempt from disclosure. If such records are requested, the City will be required to deny the request and will notify you of the reasons for the denial:

• Student records, certain vital records, criminal record information, personnel or medical files, records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, certain investigatory law enforcement materials, proposals and bids prior to the award of a contract, for example.

 

Vital Records:

If you are looking for copies of birth, death or marriage certificates, please see The Town Clerk's Webpage

The Town of Dedham Records Access Officer:
Paul M Munchbach Town Clerk
Dedham Town Hall
e-mail:  pmunchbach@dedham-ma.gov
phone:  781-751-9200

 

 

Further information regarding the public records law and public record requests, view  the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s, “A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law,” HERE