Dorchester County, Maryland Court Records
MarylandStateCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on MarylandStateCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Dorchester County — Maryland's oldest county — sits along the Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. Court records produced through its judicial system document every stage of a legal proceeding, from the initial filing and hearings through final judgments, orders, and appeals. Attorneys, litigants, researchers, journalists, title companies, and ordinary residents all rely on these records to verify legal history, confirm case outcomes, and conduct background research. Under Maryland Code, General Provisions Article, Section 4-101, court records include written, digitized, microfilmed, photographed, and recorded materials — a definition broad enough to reflect just how comprehensively Maryland documents its judicial activities.
If you're trying to locate court case information, MarylandStateCourts.us can orient you to official resources, court locations, and public access portals across the state. Case records for both District and Circuit Court proceedings are searchable through official Maryland Judiciary tools, and many can be accessed without a courthouse visit.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dorchester County?
Dorchester County has three courts, each with a distinct judicial function. Knowing which court handled a case is the essential first step in any record search.
Circuit Court for Dorchester County
Address: 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 150, Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 228-0481 | Toll-Free (in Maryland): (800) 340-9186
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (except legal holidays)
Clerk of Court: Amy J. Craig
District Court of Maryland for Dorchester County
Address: 310 Gay Street, Cambridge, MD 21613-1898
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 547, Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 901-1420 | Toll-Free (in Maryland): (800) 939-2872
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (except legal holidays)
Administrative Judge: Hon. Melvin J. Jews
Dorchester County Orphans Court
Address: 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 228-4181 | Fax: (410) 228-4988
Online Case Search
Start with the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal — the main tool for searching court records statewide, including all Dorchester County Circuit and District Court cases. It offers public access to case summaries, docket entries, and scheduling information, and you can search by name, case number, or filing date. Keep in mind that Case Search shows summaries, not complete case files. Reviewing the full file still requires visiting the clerk's office or submitting a formal records request.
If you're a party to an active case, the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system allows attorneys and parties to file documents electronically and view case records. Some courthouses have public MDEC kiosks. Paper records and exhibits not yet digitized must be reviewed in person.
In-Person and Mail Requests
Court records are kept at the courthouse where the case was filed and heard. Anyone can visit the clerk's office during business hours and request to view a case file by providing the case number or the names of the parties. Copies of documents are available for a fee, payable at the time of the request.
Are Court Records Public in Dorchester County?
Maryland's public records framework is set out in the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA), which treats court records as presumptively accessible to the public. That said, the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records identify categories of information that are restricted from public view unless a court order or specific statute authorizes access.
The following records are not open to the public:
- Adoption records — sealed to protect all parties involved
- Juvenile delinquency records — restricted to protect minors
- Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases — confidential by statute
- Guardianship terminating parental rights
- Emergency mental health evaluations
- Income tax returns and financial statements filed in support or alimony cases
- Physician and guardian reports concerning allegedly disabled adults
- Actions for judicial declaration of gender identity
- Certain marriage license information
- Expunged, shielded, or sealed records — removed from public access by court order
A 2024 change to Maryland law added an important tenant protection: Failure to Pay Rent cases that did not result in a judgment for possession are automatically shielded within 60 days of the final decision. Several categories of criminal case dispositions — including nolle prosequi, dismissals, acquittals, and certain cannabis possession convictions — have also been removed from Case Search, though those records remain accessible in person at the courthouse.
If you want to limit public access to your own records, you may petition the court for sealing, shielding, or expungement depending on the case type and statutory requirements. Details on that process are available through the People's Law Library of Maryland.
Personally identifiable information — such as Social Security numbers and tax identification numbers — is automatically withheld from public documents under Maryland Code, General Provisions Article, Section 4-101(k)(1)(ii). No separate request is needed for that redaction.
Dorchester County Criminal Court Records
The Circuit Court for Dorchester County handles felony charges and certain misdemeanors — including cases filed by the Grand Jury or the State's Attorney — as well as appeals from the District Court and requests for jury trials. The District Court handles misdemeanors, certain felonies at the preliminary hearing stage, and most traffic offenses. The District Court does not offer jury trials.
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal cases in both courts are searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search, which returns docket summaries. Complete case files are available at the clerk's office. As noted above, certain outcomes — dismissals, acquittals, and nolle prosequi entries — were removed from Case Search as of 2024 and must be reviewed in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, 206 High Street, Cambridge.
In-Person and Mail Records Requests
Written requests should include the case number, party names, and any other identifying details, and can be submitted in person or by mail to:
Dorchester County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
206 High Street, P.O. Box 923
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 228-0481 | Fax: (410) 221-5003
Criminal Background Checks
Case Search results are not a substitute for a formal criminal history check. Maryland's official background check process is handled by the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository at the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, which maintains fingerprint-supported criminal identification records for the entire state. Request instructions are available through that office.
Expungement and Shielding
If eligible, you may petition the court to have criminal records expunged — which permanently removes them from court and law enforcement databases — or shielded, which limits public access without fully destroying the records. Eligibility requirements and procedures are on the Maryland Judiciary's expungement page.
Dorchester County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Dorchester County is divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount in dispute. The Circuit Court handles civil matters exceeding $30,000, along with appeals from the District Court, foreclosures, mechanics' liens, injunctions, and judicial review of administrative agency decisions. The District Court of Maryland has exclusive jurisdiction for claims of $5,000 or less and shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for claims between $5,001 and $30,000.
Small Claims Court
Small claims — monetary disputes of $5,000 or less — are heard in the District Court under simplified rules of evidence and procedure. Parties frequently represent themselves. A few key points:
- Maximum claim: $5,000 (money damages only — the court cannot order the return of property or compel non-monetary action)
- Filing fee: Generally ranges from $44 to $56; confirm current amounts on the District Court's Civil Cost Schedule (Form DCA-109)
- File a complaint at the District Court, 310 Gay Street, Cambridge, or consult the small claims guidance on the Maryland Judiciary website
Civil Records Access
Civil case records — contract disputes, tort claims, property matters, liens, and judgments — are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and are searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search. The civil department of the Dorchester County Circuit Court can assist with in-person searches and copy requests. Liens and judgments, including federal and Maryland tax liens, civil judgments, and hospital liens, are recorded with the Clerk and indexed for public access.
Land Records
Deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, leases, releases, and land contracts recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk are electronically accessible through MDLandRec.Net, a joint e-government service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives. A free account is required to view records online. Plat records — including subdivision, condominium, and highway plats — are available through PLATS.NET. Property assessment and tax data is maintained separately by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Dorchester County Family Court Records
All family law matters in Dorchester County fall under the Circuit Court's jurisdiction. Cases heard include divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support enforcement and modification, adoption, paternity, guardianship, name changes, and appeals from the District Court on domestic matters. The Circuit Court also handles domestic violence-related restraining and protective orders.
Family Support Services
The Circuit Court runs a Family Support Services office that coordinates court-ordered services for parties in active family cases.
Dorchester County Circuit Court Family Support Services
206 High Street, Room 203A
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 228-1395 | Fax: (410) 228-3775
Family Support Services Coordinator: Miko Collins
Domestic Relations and Juvenile Magistrate: Mary E. O'Donnell
Services offered through the court's family division include:
- Counsel for minor children — Court-appointed Best Interest Attorneys, Child Advocates, and Child Privilege Attorneys; fee is $100/hour for up to 10 hours
- Mediation — Financial/property mediation and custody/visitation mediation available; fee is $130/hour divided equally between parties, or free through the Mid Shore Community Mediation Center
- Parenting seminars — Ordered in divorce, custody, visitation, or child support actions under Maryland Rule 9-204; available in-person (6 hours over two evenings, $40 fee) or online at www.Dorchester.OnlineParentingPrograms.com
- Home studies — Approximately $350 per household; completed within 60 days of court order
- Drug and alcohol testing — Ordered through the Dorchester County Health Department Addictions Program or by hair follicle test through J. David Collins & Associates, LLC
- Supervised visitation/monitored exchange — Conducted through Futures for Families in Easton; intake fee $25 per parent, $30 per visit
A Family Law Assistance Clinic meets at the courthouse in Room 101 every Monday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (excluding state holidays). A family law attorney is on hand for free consultations to help self-represented litigants complete domestic relations forms in custody, divorce, child support, name change, and visitation cases. Call (410) 228-1395 for more information.
Divorce Records
Divorce records — including case filings, decrees, and related orders — are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. To request copies, provide the parties' names and the approximate date of the proceeding to the clerk's office at 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. Older divorce decrees may also be ordered through the Maryland State Archives at a fee of $25 per certified copy.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, which retains those records. To get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, submit a written request with the parties' full names and the date of marriage to the Clerk's office. Marriage records from January 1, 2007, onward are also available through the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036; Phone: (410) 764-3038
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are not held by the court. In Dorchester County, they are issued by the Dorchester County Health Department, located at 627 Race Street, Cambridge, MD 21613; Phone: (410) 228-3223 The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
| Certificate Type | Fee | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $25 per copy | Cash (exact change) or credit card |
| Death certificate — first copy | $25 | Check only |
| Death certificate — additional copies | $20 each | Check only |
Access to birth and death records is restricted to eligible parties — primarily the subject, legal guardian, legal representative, or those with a direct and tangible interest in the record, under Maryland Health-General Article (§ 4-201 et seq.). Requests may also be submitted to the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore.
Dorchester County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Dorchester County are administered through two connected offices: the Orphans Court, which holds judicial authority over estate proceedings, and the Register of Wills for Dorchester County, which handles the administrative side of probate records. Both are located at 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. The Register of Wills operates under authority granted by the Estates and Trusts Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (§ 2-101 et seq.).
The Register of Wills for Dorchester County is the Honorable Teresa D. Wheatley, appointed in 2020 and elected in 2022. The office processes estate filings, wills submitted for safekeeping, guardianship matters involving minors or disabled individuals, and conservatorships. Probate records — including estate inventories, filings, and orders — are generally public, making them useful for heirs, estate attorneys, creditors, and genealogical researchers.
Searching Probate Records
The Maryland Register of Wills offers a statewide Estate Search tool where you can look up probate records from any Maryland county by the decedent's name. In-person requests can be submitted at the Register of Wills office during business hours. Historical probate records from Dorchester County dating back to 1838 are also indexed through the Maryland State Archives.
Probate Filing Fees
Probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate and apply to estates opened on or after October 1, 2022:
| Estate Value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under $50,000 | No fee |
| $50,000 – $99,999 | $100 |
| $100,000 – $499,999 | $200 |
| $500,000 – $999,999 | $1,000 |
| $1,000,000 – $2,499,999 | $2,000 |
| $2,500,000 – $4,999,999 | $5,000 |
| $5,000,000 – $7,499,999 | $7,500 |
| $7,500,000 – $9,999,999 | $10,000 |
| $10,000,000 and over | $10,000 + 0.02% of excess |
Note: No fees are due on small estates even if valued between $50,000 and $100,000 when a surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee.
Additional Register of Wills Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filing a will for safekeeping | $5.00 |
| Plain copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copies | $0.50 per page + $2.00 |
| Exemplified copies | $0.50 per page + $6.00 |
| Letters of Administration | $1.00 |
| Claims fee | $3.00 |
| Caveat / controversial fees | $20.00 |
| Copy of court hearing | $25.00 |
| Declaration of Domestic Partnership | $25.00 |
All probate forms are available through the Maryland Register of Wills forms page, and fee schedules are published at registers.maryland.gov/main/fees.html. The Register's office can be reached at (410) 228-4181 and is located at 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613.