Records
Rich in the tradition and history
of Maryland, the Office of the Circuit Court is one of the oldest public
institutions in the State. The Clerk of Court is a locally-elected State
official with responsibilities established
and regulated by the laws of Maryland
and Rules of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Since 1658, the Office of
the Clerk of Court has provided the citizens of Maryland with a variety
of essential services.
The revenue collected by the clerks
for these services is distributed to city, county, and state governments.
The records maintained by the Office of the Clerk of Court are available to the public for review. However, access to some records may be restricted. For more information, see http://mdcourts.gov/access/brochuresforms.html. Court records can be searched on the Maryland Judiciary Web site.
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
- 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 cases may include any matter brought before the Court which involve persons under the age of eighteen years.
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
Court of Appeals. Jury trials are
available only in the Circuit Courts
of Maryland.
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.
permanent retention:
LAND RECORDS
- Deeds
- Mortgages and Deeds of Trust
- Leases
- Releases of Mortgages and Deeds of Trust
- Land Contracts
MDLandRec.Net (A joint e-government service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives)
Plat Records- Subdivision
- Condominium
- Highway
Miscellaneous Records
- Financing Statements (prior to July 1, 1995)
- Military Discharges
- 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 Clerk is authorized to process passport applications.
Please note that the Office of the Clerk is prohibited by Law from rendering any legal advice.
