Records

NOTICE: Please note that Chapter 538 from the 2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly provides that the current $40 surcharge on recordable instruments recorded among the land records and financing statement records will continue on and after July 1, 2020. For more information, see page 15 through 16 here.

The Following is a Partial List of the Types of Cases Filed and Processed by the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court:

Civil
  • With certain exceptions, matters which involve a claim for damages in excess of $30,000 are filed with the Circuit Court. In general, concurrent jurisdiction is shared with the District Court in matters which involve a claim for an amount between $5,000 and $30,000.
  • Judicial Review of Administrative Agency Decisions.
  • Appeals from the District Court.
  • Matters which involve domestic relations, titles to property, foreclosures, mechanics liens and injunctions.
  • Adoption and Paternity Matters.
  • Guardianships.
  • Name changes.
Criminal
  • Felony and certain misdemeanor charges filed by the Grand Jury or the State's Attorney.
  • Appeals from the District Court and requests for jury trials
Juvenile
  • Juvenile cases may include any matter brought before the Court which involve persons under the age of eighteen years.
Liens and Judgements
  • Liens and judgments including encumbrances, Federal tax liens, hospital liens, Maryland tax liens, District Court liens, civil judgments, and United States District Court judgments are recorded in the Office of the Clerk.
Juries
  • Citizens are selected randomly for service on grand and petit juries in the manner prescribed by the Supreme Court of Maryland. Jury trials are available only in the Circuit Courts of Maryland.

The Following is a Partial List of Documents Recorded with the Clerk for Permanent Retention:

Land Records
  • Deeds.
  • Mortgages and Deeds of Trust.
  • Leases.
  • Releases of Mortgages and Deeds of Trust.
  • Land Contracts.
Plat Records
  • Subdivision.
  • Condominium.
  • Highway.

PLATS.NET (Maryland Archives Plat Imaging Application - access can be granted with the username: plato and the password: plato#)

Miscellaneous Records
  • Financing Statements
  • Military Discharges
Miscellaneous Services
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Civil Marriages
  • Business Licenses
  • Public Official Commissions-The Oaths of Office for elected and appointed local officials, as well as officials appointed by the Governor for certain boards and commissions, are administered by the Clerk.
  • Notary Public Commissions-An application for a notary public commission can be obtained by contacting the Clerk. Upon approval of this application, notary public commissions are issued by the Clerk.
  • Passports

The records maintained by the Office of the Clerk of Court are available to the public for review. However, the records of juvenile or adoption cases can be accessed only through an order of the Court.

Please note that the Office of the Clerk is prohibited by Law from rendering any legal advice.