Land Records Department

Real Property Electronic Recording Act Procedures | Affidavit of Intent to use Electronic Signature

Telephone Number: 410-228-0480

The Land Records Department acts as a custodian for the recording and maintenance of all public records connected to real estate in Dorchester County. Our research room is open to the public. Information is obtained by self-research and copies are readily available for a fee. Records date back to 1665 and many are available online. The Clerk's Office is prohibited by law from providing legal assistance or performing title searches. 

Recording Process for Deeds: 

You may need to contact the Dorchester County Finance Office, Cambridge City Hall or other Municipalities located within Dorchester County before recording the deed at the Clerk's Office.

1. Dorchester County Finance
   501 Court Lane
   Cambridge, MD 21613
   410-228-4343
2. Brookview
   5649 Indiantown Road
   Rhodesdale, MD 21659
   410-943-3155
3. Cambridge
   P.O. Box 255
   410 Academy Street
   Cambridge, MD 21613
   410-228-4020
4. Church Creek
   P.O. Box 52
   Church Creek, MD 21622
   443-205-9106
5. East New Market
   P.O. Box 24
   10 Academy Street
   East New Market, MD 21631
   410-943-8112
6. Eldorado
   P.O. Box 24
   5808 Eldorado Road
   Rhodesdale, MD 21659
   410-943-4187
7. Galestown
   P.O. Box 190, Sharptown, MD 21861
   5461 Galestown Newhart Mill Road
   Seaford, DE 19973
   617-680-0168
8. Hurlock
   P.O. Box 327
   311 Charles Street
   Hurlock, MD 21643
   410-943-4181
9. Secretary
   122 Main Street
   Secretary, MD 21664
   410-943-3113
10. Vienna
    P.O. Box 86
    214 Market Street
    Vienna, MD 21869
    410-376-3442
11. Land Records Office
    Dorchester County Circuit Court
    206 High Street
    Cambridge, MD 21613
    410-228-0480

As of 10/1/2025, MD Real Property code requires that land records recordings conform to the following:

1. Minimum 8-point black type on white paper
2. Minimum 3-inch top margin on the first page of each document
3. Minimum 1-inch side margin on every page of the document

Documents not meeting this requirement may be subject to a penalty of three times the recording fees.

Fees & Taxes 

Recording Fees:

• $10.00 for a release 9 pages or less 
• $20.00 for any other instrument 9 pages or less 
  or for any instrument over 9 pages if it involves solely a principal residence
• $20.00 for Termination of Financing Statements 
• $75.00 for any other instrument 10 pages or more. 
• $5.00 per set for subdivision plats and $5.00 per set for survey plats recorded in the plat records. (See MD Real Property 3-108)
• $15.00 for Notice of Sale and Notice of Judgment

Surcharge: 

• $40.00 for all instruments recorded except Affidavit of Affixation, Power of Attorney, and Notice of Sale.

Recording Taxes: 

• Recordation Tax is $5.00 per each $500. (Round up to the nearest $500, example: consideration amount: $101,850, calculations would be based on $102,000.) (Recordation tax applies to both instruments that transfer an interest in real property and instruments that create a security interest on real or personal property, e.g., mortgage, deed of trust, etc.)
• State Transfer Tax is .50% (.25% if a 1st Time MD Homebuyer Affidavit is submitted at the time of recording) of the consideration. (Note: State Transfer Tax applies only to instruments that transfer an interest in real property, e.g., deed, lease, easement, contract, etc.) 
• County Transfer Tax is .75% of the consideration. (The first $30,000 of the consideration is exempt if the buyer is an owner occupant and the document is submitted with an affidavit of owner occupancy)

Miscellaneous Fees: 

•   Copy fees: $.25 per page (if copies are made by the Clerk's Office: $.50 per page)
• Certified Copy: $5.00 each plus copy fees
• Authentication of a Notary Public: $1.00

Please be advised that the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court is prohibited by law from rendering legal advice and from performing title searches.