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Maryland · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Clerk of the Circuit Court (county level - each of Maryland's 23 counties plus Baltimore City) / Maryland Judiciary Case Search (statewide online)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (major civil cases, felonies, jury trials, family/domestic, equity, land records), District Court (misdemeanors, civil cases up to $30,000, traffic, small claims up to $5,000), or Court of Special Appeals / Court of Appeals (appellate)
  2. Search online:
  3. MARYLAND JUDICIARY CASE SEARCH: casesearch.courts.state.md.us - free statewide public search covering Circuit Court and District Court cases; search by name or case number; includes case status, charges, and scheduling information; widely used and comprehensive
  4. MARYLAND LAND RECORDS: mdlandrec.net (run by Maryland State Archives) - for recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records; free registration required to view full documents
  5. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court or District Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed; walk-in or written request
  6. In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Maryland Judiciary Case Search: free for basic case information; certified copies: typically $0.50-$1.00 per page plus certification; contact specific courthouse for current schedule
Processing Time
Immediate online searches; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us (statewide; excellent resource)
Where to Go
Clerk of the Circuit Court or District Court in the county where the case was filed
County-specific variations apply

Maryland has 23 county courthouses plus Baltimore City Circuit Court and District Courts. Maryland's Judiciary Case Search covers all jurisdictions comprehensively. Montgomery County (Rockville), Prince George's County (Upper Marlboro), Baltimore County (Towson), Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel County (Annapolis) have the largest court systems and staff. Smaller Eastern Shore and Western Maryland counties may have limited staffing.

Maryland Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Maryland Judiciary Case Search (casesearch.courts.state.md.us): one of the best statewide public court record portals in the US; free, comprehensive, covers both Circuit and District Courts statewide.
  • Maryland Land Records (mdlandrec.net): statewide access to recorded property documents including deeds, liens, mortgages - separate from case records; run by Maryland State Archives.
  • Maryland Court of Appeals (highest court) and Court of Special Appeals opinions: courts.state.md.us.
  • Criminal history background checks: Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS); Maryland State Police background check service - mdsp.maryland.gov.
  • Maryland Sex Offender Registry: dpscs.state.md.us/sorSearch - searchable online.
  • Juvenile records: generally sealed; special access rules.
  • Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA, Md. Gen. Prov. §4-101 et seq.): agencies must respond within 10 business days.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Maryland Judiciary - courts.state.md.us | (410) 260-1430; Case Search: casesearch.courts.state.md.us; Maryland State Police (criminal history) - mdsp.maryland.gov | (410) 653-4326