Frederick County Court Records
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Frederick County, located in central Maryland, runs its courts out of the Frederick County Courthouse on West Patrick Street. Three courts serve the county: the Circuit Court handles major civil and criminal trials; the District Court adjudicates misdemeanors and smaller civil claims; and the Orphans Court oversees probate and estate matters. The Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps most court-generated records — civil, criminal, juvenile, and land documents — while the Register of Wills handles estate filings and marriage documentation.
A good starting point for anyone researching records is MarylandStateCourts.us, which offers court directories, forms, fee schedules, and the statewide Case Search tool covering both Circuit and District Court dockets. Beyond the online portal, records are available at the Clerks office, at public access terminals inside the courthouse, and through written requests by mail. The right office to contact depends on the type of record you need.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Frederick County?
There are two main ways to find a case: using the Maryland Judiciary's online database or visiting the courthouse in person.
Online Case Search
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal gives free public access to case information from both the Circuit Court and District Court. To run a search:
- Go to the Case Search website and accept the disclaimer.
- Enter the last name of a case participant. You can enter a partial last name followed by the % wildcard symbol, but % cannot appear at the start or middle of a name.
- Optionally narrow your results by adding a first name, selecting Frederick County as the court location, or choosing a case type.
- Review the results, which show case numbers, filing dates, case types, and party names.
- Click on an individual case to view docket entries, document details, and judgment information.
Online results summarize the official case file. They are useful for research but are not substitutes for certified court documents.
In-Person Inspection
You can inspect case files at the courthouse during regular business hours. All three courts share the same address:
Frederick County Courthouse
Address: 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
| Court | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court (Clerk's Office) | (301) 600-1976 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| District Court | (301) 600-2000 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Orphans Court | (301) 600-6565 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
For specific record types, you can reach individual divisions of the Clerk's office directly:
- Civil Division: (301) 600-2969
- Criminal Division: (301) 600-1932
- Family/Child Support: (301) 600-1977
- Juvenile: (301) 600-1968
- Land Recording/Licensing: (301) 600-1965
- Records Room: (301) 600-1957
Mail Requests
Send written copy requests to: Clerk of the Circuit Court for Frederick County, Attn: Records Department, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Include as much identifying information as you can — party names, case number, date of filing — along with payment for any applicable fees.
Are Court Records Public in Frederick County?
Maryland court records generally carry a presumption of public access. Rule 16-902 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure establishes that case records are generally available for inspection, and Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 3-1510 defines court records broadly to include docket entries, petitions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and electronic recordings.
That said, certain categories are shielded from public view by statute, court order, or rule. Records not available for general inspection include:
- Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order
- Juvenile delinquency and Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) case records
- Adoption and termination of parental rights proceedings
- Emergency mental health evaluations and related medical records
- Financial statements submitted in spousal or child support cases
- Income tax returns filed as exhibits
- Judicial declarations of gender identity
- Specific marriage license information protected by law
- Guardianship records involving termination of parental rights
Parties to a restricted case may petition the court for access. Attorneys of record, law enforcement, and other authorized personnel can also request access under applicable legal authority. The statewide Case Search system automatically withholds sealed and confidential records from public view.
Frederick County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Frederick County originate in either the Circuit Court or the District Court. The Circuit Court handles felonies and serious misdemeanors, while the District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors carrying up to three years of confinement, certain felonies, and motor vehicle violations. Jury trials in criminal matters are held exclusively in the Circuit Court.
Searching Criminal Case Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search database is the primary online tool for locating criminal docket information. Search by defendant name or case number to pull up charges, hearing dates, case status, and disposition details. Sealed, expunged, or otherwise confidential records will not appear in search results.
For in-person inquiries, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court's criminal division at (301) 600-1932. Questions about District Court cases go to (301) 600-2000.
Certified Copies and Fees
Under the statewide Circuit Court fee schedule, criminal record services carry these charges:
- Copies: $0.50 per page
- Certification: $5.00 plus $0.50 per page
- Exemplification (triple seal): $10.00
- Criminal case filing fee: $80.00 (assessed at conclusion of case)
Criminal Background Checks
Court-maintained case files and law enforcement criminal history records are different things. While case files are generally public, criminal history records compiled by law enforcement are subject to the Maryland Security and Privacy Act and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), limiting access to authorized individuals and agencies.
If you need a copy of your own Maryland criminal history, submit a request to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository. The process requires fingerprinting and costs $18 for a state-only background check by mail (or $38 in person); a combined state and FBI check costs $30 by mail or $50 in person. Send requests to:
CJIS Central Repository
P.O. Box 32708
Pikesville, MD 21282-2708
Phone: (410) 764-4501 | Toll-Free: (888) 795-0011
Frederick County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation is split between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount in dispute. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over claims of $5,000 or less and shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for claims between $5,000 and $30,000. Claims above $30,000 — plus equity matters, foreclosures, and appeals from the District Court — go to the Circuit Court.
Accessing Civil Records Online
The Case Search tool covers civil dockets from both courts. You can retrieve case summaries, docket entries, and judgment information at no charge. Keep in mind that records available online are informational; they are not certified legal documents.
In-Person and Mail Requests
For certified copies of civil court documents, contact the civil division of the Clerk's office at (301) 600-2969 or visit the Records Room at the Frederick County Courthouse. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with a $5.00 certification fee per document. Triple-seal exemplification is $10.00. In-person payments are accepted by cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover (a third-party service fee applies to card transactions).
Mail requests should include the case number or party names, the specific documents needed, and a check or money order payable to Clerk of Circuit Court for the applicable fees.
Land and Property Records
The Department of Land Records within the Clerk's office records deeds, mortgages, plats, and other instruments affecting real property in Frederick County. You can access Maryland land record documents online through MdLandRec, a joint service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives. Frederick County also offers its own Property Explorer tool, which lets you search by address, parcel number, or tax account to view ownership details, assessed value, and tax information. For recording inquiries, call Land Recording/Licensing at (301) 600-1965.
Circuit Court Filing Fees (Selected)
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil case | $165 |
| Divorce complaint (limited or absolute) | $165 |
| Motion to modify custody, support, or visitation | $31 |
| Petition/motion for contempt | $31 |
| Foreign judgment filing | $110 |
| Voluntary dismissal | $15 |
| Writ of execution | $31 |
| Foreclosure residential property additional fee | $450 |
The complete fee schedule is published by the Maryland Judiciary and updated periodically under Courts Article § 7-202.
Frederick County Family Court Records
Family law cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. The family division handles divorce, custody, child support, alimony, domestic violence protective orders, adoption, annulment, paternity, guardianship, name changes, and contempt of family court orders. Direct questions about family matters to the Family/Child Support division at (301) 600-1977.
Divorce Records
A complaint for limited or absolute divorce is filed in the Circuit Court with a $165 filing fee. Divorce case dockets are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, though sensitive financial details and child-related information within the file may be restricted. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be requested from the Clerk's office in person, by phone, or by mail.
If you only need a verification of divorce — not a certified copy — for divorces from 1992 onward, contact the Maryland Division of Vital Records. The verification fee is $12 by mail, plus a $13 internet surcharge for online orders. Mail requests require the completed Application for Verification of a Divorce Record, acceptable identification, and a check or money order payable to the Division of Vital Records, sent to:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0036
Marriage Licenses and Records
The Clerk of the Circuit Court issues marriage licenses and performs civil ceremonies in Frederick County. One party must appear in person with a completed Preliminary Application Form. Each party must provide an official government-issued document showing their age. The license fee in Frederick County is $75. The license becomes valid 48 hours after issuance and expires after six months. Civil ceremonies cost $25 and are by appointment only.
Certified copies of marriage records are available from the Clerk's Records Room using the Marriage License Copy Request Form or by calling (301) 600-1957. Fees are:
- Certified copy: $5.50 each
- Plain (uncertified) copy: $0.50 each
Mail requests require a check or money order payable to Clerk of Circuit Court. For marriages from 2007 onward, the Division of Vital Records offers verifications at $12 by mail. Submit the Application for a Certified Copy of a Marriage Record for mail-in requests to the state office.
Birth and Death Records
These vital records are not public documents in Maryland. Under COMAR 10.03.01.08, access is limited to the person named on the record, their parent, spouse, legal guardian, or authorized representative. Birth certificates cost $10 each from the Division of Vital Records (with a $13 internet surcharge for online orders). Death certificates also cost $10, with additional copies purchased in the same transaction at $12 each. Submit applications by mail using the Application for a Birth Record or the Application for a Death Record. Death certificates from before 2012 must be obtained from the Maryland State Archives.
Frederick County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters are adjudicated by the Orphans Court and administered through the Register of Wills office. The Register of Wills probates wills, grants letters testamentary and letters of administration, holds hearings on estate disputes, and collects inheritance tax on behalf of the state.
Register of Wills — Frederick County
Address: 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 600-6565 | Toll-Free: (888) 258-0526
Fax: (301) 600-6580
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Online Estate Search
The Maryland Register of Wills provides a free Estate Search portal covering all counties. Search by the decedent's last name, estate number, county, estate type, estate status, or filing date. Results display the decedent's name, case number, date of death, personal representative, attorney, county, and estate status. The depth of historical data varies by county depending on when the automated system was put in place. Copy requests made through the Estate Search portal are non-refundable.
In-Person and Mail Requests
You can visit the Register of Wills office at the courthouse to inspect estate files and request copies. Probate records such as wills, inventories, accounts, and estate petitions are generally accessible, though certain guardianship and adoption-related filings may be restricted. Written requests should go to the office address listed above and should include the decedent's name, estate number (if known), date of death, and the specific documents you need.
Orphans Court Proceedings
The Orphans Court hears contested estate matters, reviews accounts filed by personal representatives, and rules on guardianships and related petitions. Reach the court's judges at (301) 663-3722. Case records from Orphans Court proceedings are maintained by the Register of Wills and are searchable through the same channels described above.
Probate forms and guidance for personal representatives are available through the Maryland Register of Wills website, including downloadable forms for small estate petitions, regular estate filings, inventory submissions, and account filings, along with county-specific fee information.