During Phase IV (04.25.21 - ) of the re-opening plan, public access to our building will be unrestricted, but we ask that you consider the following to promote social distancing before coming to the Courthouse:

• All Court related access is controlled by Adminstrative Orders issued by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and can be found here:
  • CLARIFYING COVID-19 HEALTH MEASURES IN COURTHOUSES AND JUDICIAL BRANCH FACILITIES
  • AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON THE PROGRESSIVE RESUMPTION OF FULL FUNCTION...
  • LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
• Virtual Courtroom information can be found here:
  • https://mdcourts.gov/virtualcourtrooms
• If you have a question, the Clerk’s Offices are available by phone from 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday

• Many of the services of the Clerk’s Office can be conducted by e-filing, courthouse drop-box or mail since closure on March 16, 2020 will continue --- the courthouse drop-box is located at 24 Summit Ave and is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for State Holidays.
• The following business can be conducted remotely as necessary, and if applicable, per specific Executive Order, as signed by Governor Hogan:

Marriage Licenses/Civil Ceremonies (Executive Order #2020-05-13-02):

• Applications can be made by email, mail, courthouse drop-box or in person (appointment preferred)
• Civil Ceremonies will only be performed by video using the Microsoft Teams platform:
  • By appointment, 9:00 am – noon and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday
  • $25.00 fee, cashier’s check or money order payable in advance by mail or drop-box

Business Licenses:

• Renewals can be submitted by mail or in-person (appointment preferred)
• Questions can be answered by the Licensing Department (number listed above)

Recordation:

• Can be submitted by SimpliFile, mail or courthouse drop-box or in-person (appointment preferred)
• Questions can be answered by the Licensing Department (number listed above)

Record Searches:

• Requests can be made by email to: washcocc_landrecordsrequest@mdcourts.gov, applicable copy fees may be assessed
• Appointment preferred – call Land Records (number listed above)

Oaths of Office:

• Notaries extended for 30 days past state of emergency termination (Executive Order #03-12-20)
• Appointments preferred - appointees can contact the Licensing Department (number listed above) to make an appointment to be sworn (Executive Order #20-03-31-03)

Jury Duty:

• Jury trial will resume on Monday, April 26, 2021
• Click here for Jury Announcements, or call 301-739-3440 (updated daily at 4:30 pm)
• Click here for Phase V (5) COVID-19 Jury Plan

Family/Civil/Juvenile/Criminal:

• Inquiries can be made by phone by providing your case number, if applicable (see numbers listed above)
• Pleadings can be submitted by File and Serve, mail or courthouse drop-box
• Forms are available in the building entry or at https://mdcourts.gov/COURTFORMS

Legal Assistance:

• Maryland Legal Aid – 301-694-7414
• https://www.mdlab.org/

Family Law Self-Help Clinic:

• The Circuit Court for Washington County’s Family Law Self-Help Clinic is available by appointment only
• **NEW TEMPORARY LOCATION** County Administration Building, 100 West Washington Street, Room 1301, Hagerstown, MD
• Please click here for detailed information