Harford County Court Records

Harford County sits in the northeastern corner of Maryland, with its county seat in the city of Bel Air. The county's judicial system is anchored by three courts: the Circuit Court for Harford County, the District Court of Maryland for Harford County, and the Orphans Court. Together, these courts hold an extensive body of records covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family proceedings, probate matters, and land transactions. The Clerk of the Circuit Court — an elected state official — handles most case filings, while the Register of Wills maintains estate and probate records through a separate office.

Residents, attorneys, and members of the public who need to locate court records in Maryland can start with the resources available through MarylandStateCourts.us. Official clerk offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and electronic databases run by the Maryland Judiciary all offer ways to reach case information. The state courts website can help you identify the right jurisdiction and pull up publicly available case data without requiring a trip to the courthouse.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Harford County?

There are several ways to find a court case in Harford County, depending on whether you need a quick status check or certified copies of filed documents.

Online Search — Maryland Judiciary Case Search

The fastest place to start is Maryland Judiciary Case Search, a free public portal run by the Maryland Judiciary. It covers both Circuit Court and District Court records and lets you search by:

Party name (defendant, plaintiff, or attorney)
Case number

To narrow your results, use the Advanced Search feature and select Harford County along with the appropriate court (Circuit or District) and case type. Case Search displays summary information — case number, filing date, case status, hearing dates, parties, and charges or claims — but does not let you download copies of filed documents.

Keep in mind that certain criminal records no longer appear on Case Search following recent rule changes. Charges resulting in nolle prosequi, dismissal, or acquittal are among those no longer visible online, though they remain accessible in person at the courthouse.

In-Person Access

Both the Circuit Court and the District Court keep case files at their respective courthouses. You can review publicly available records during business hours. The Circuit Court also provides electronic terminals in its public areas for on-site searches at no charge. If you need copies of specific documents, give the clerk the case number when you arrive.

Contact the Clerk's Office

You can also call, email, or write the clerk to request case information or copies:

Harford County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Address: 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410) 638-3426
Toll-Free (in Maryland): (800) 989-8296
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed state holidays)

Copy Fees (Circuit Court)

Service	Fee
Plain copies	$0.50 per page
Certification	$5.00 per certification (plus copy fees)
Exemplification (triple seal)	$10.00 (plus copy fees, includes certification)

District Court Inspection Forms

If you want to inspect District Court records, complete Form DC-034 (Application to Inspect Public Records) or Form DC-034A when requesting multiple records. If a file has already been transferred to the Maryland State Archives, use Form DC-046 to request it from that location.

Are Court Records Public in Harford County?

The Maryland Public Information Act creates a general presumption of public access to government records, including court filings. Md. Courts & Judicial Proceedings Code § 2-201 requires court clerks to provide copies of court records upon request unless a specific prohibition applies. Public access to electronic records is further guided by Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-914.

That said, certain categories of records are restricted and cannot be viewed without a court order or specific statutory authorization:

Adoption proceedings
Juvenile delinquency cases
Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases
Guardianship cases terminating parental rights
Emergency mental health evaluations
Financial statements filed in spousal or child support matters
Income tax returns filed in court proceedings
Physician reports regarding alleged disabled adults
Guardian property reports concerning alleged disabled adults
Actions for judicial declaration of gender identity
Certain marriage license information
Records subject to expungement, shielding, or court-ordered sealing
Grand jury proceedings and certain prosecutorial investigation materials

Maryland law also allows parties to petition the court to shield or seal records. Criminal cases resulting in acquittal, nolle prosequi, stet (after three years), or certain cannabis possession charges have been removed from the online Case Search display, though they remain accessible in person. If you need a background check, use the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) administered by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services — Case Search is not designed for that purpose.

Harford County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Harford County are split between the Circuit Court and the District Court depending on the severity of the offense. The Circuit Court handles felonies and jury trials. The District Court — a court of limited jurisdiction — presides over misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and certain lower-level felonies tried without a jury. Both courts share concurrent jurisdiction over offenses carrying penalties of at least three years imprisonment or fines of $2,500 or more.

Searching Criminal Case Records

Use Maryland Judiciary Case Search to look up cases by defendant name or case number. Select Harford County and either Circuit Court or District Court under Advanced Search.
Visit the courthouse where the case was heard. The District Court publishes a weekly docket listing upcoming hearings with party names, case numbers, courtroom assignments, and hearing times.
Contact the Clerk's Office at (410) 638-3426 (Circuit Court) or (410) 836-4545 (District Court) to request copies or verify case information.

Circuit Court Criminal Filing Fees (effective October 1, 2025)

Item	Amount
Criminal case filing fee	$80
Additional cost upon conviction of a jailable offense	$45
Additional cost upon conviction of a non-jailable offense	$3
Expungement petition (guilty disposition)	$30
Expungement petition (acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi, stet, not guilty)	No fee

Arrest Records

Law enforcement agencies maintain arrest records separately from court records. The Harford County Sheriff's Office accepts public information requests through its online PIA system. The fee structure includes $10.00 per request, $35 per hour if processing takes more than two hours, and a credit card processing fee. Fees are waived for domestic violence victims. The Sheriff's Office headquarters is located at 45 South Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014.

Local police departments — including the Aberdeen Police Department — also process PIA requests for arrest records. Aberdeen's Records Section is at 60 North Parke Street, Aberdeen, MD 21001, and a written request or the department's PIA form is required.

Statewide criminal history checks are conducted through the CJIS Central Repository, not through the court system. The state-only fee is $18.

Harford County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Harford County are divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the amount in controversy. The District Court handles cases valued at $30,000 or less, landlord-tenant disputes, and replevin or detinue actions. The Circuit Court takes jurisdiction over civil matters exceeding $5,000 — including cases within the shared jurisdiction range of $5,000 to $30,000 — as well as all matters that fall outside the District Court's purview.

Circuit Court Civil Filing Fees (selected, effective October 1, 2025)

Action	Fee
New civil case	$165
Divorce complaint (limited or absolute)	$165
Foreign judgment	$110
Motion to modify (alimony, custody, support, visitation)	$31
Petition/motion for contempt	$31
Writ of execution	$31
Writ of garnishment	$31
Voluntary dismissal	$15
Foreclosure complaint	$165
Residential property foreclosure additional fee	$450
Jury trial prayer (civil, from District Court)	$165
Mediation request	$50

The full Circuit Court Fee Summary Chart provides the complete schedule with statutory references.

Accessing Civil Records

Civil filings from the Circuit Court can be searched online through Case Search or reviewed in person at the Clerk's Office. The MDEC e-filing system allows attorneys and registered users to view filed documents electronically. Land-related civil records — including deeds, mortgages, and liens — are available through MDLandRec.net, a free portal run by the Maryland State Archives and circuit court clerks (account registration required). The Circuit Court's Land Records Department accepts land document recordings via Simplifile e-recording, mail, or walk-in.

Property assessment and tax records can be reviewed through the Real Property Data Search maintained by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, or through the Harford County Tax Bill Portal.

District Court Contact

Harford County District Court
Address: 2 South Bond Street, Suite 100, Bel Air, MD 21014-3737
Phone: (410) 836-4545
Toll-Free (in Maryland): (800) 943-6344
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Harford County Family Court Records

Harford County does not have a standalone family court. All family-related matters — including divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, and juvenile cases — are heard by the Circuit Court. Three family law and juvenile magistrates assist the Circuit Court's six full-time judges with these proceedings.

Divorce Records

A complaint for limited or absolute divorce carries a $165 filing fee. Motions to modify alimony, custody, support, or visitation cost $31 each. If you need a certified copy of a Judgment of Divorce, you can obtain one from the Clerk's Office at $0.50 per page plus $5.00 per certification.

Separately, the Maryland Division of Vital Records issues a Verification of Divorce form that confirms the names of divorced parties, the date of the decree, the issuing county, and the type of dissolution. Eligible applicants — the named individuals or their legal representatives — may apply in person, online, or by mail. The fee is $12. Mail requests should include a completed application and payment sent to:

Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0036
Phone: (410) 764-3038

Marriage Licenses and Records

The Harford County Licensing Department issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records.

Licensing Office
Address: 24 Office Street, Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410) 638-3489 or (410) 638-3586
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Key requirements and fees:

Marriage license application fee: $50 (non-refundable; cash or credit card)
Both parties' names, addresses, ages, birth states/countries, and Social Security numbers are required
Only one party needs to be present; valid government-issued ID required for each applicant
A 48-hour waiting period applies (the license becomes effective at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance)
The license expires six months after the waiting period
Civil ceremony fee: $25 (by appointment; guest limit of 20)
Certified copy of a marriage license: $5.50 each

Certified copy requests may be submitted in person, by mail, email (customer.inquiries.hc.lld@mdcourts.gov), fax ((410) 838-8540), or phone. Use the Request for Certified Copy/Credit Card form when paying by credit card. The marriage application worksheet is available online for convenience, and non-residents may apply by mail using the Non-Resident Marriage Application.

Birth and Death Certificates

Certified copies of Harford County birth and death certificates are available through the Harford County Health Department. Birth certificates cost $25 and death certificates cost $20; payment is accepted by cash or credit card. Vital records office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. The Health Department is at 120 South Hays Street, Bel Air, MD 21014.

Eligible applicants may also order certificates through the Maryland Division of Vital Records by mail, in person at the Baltimore office, or online through VitalChek. Access is generally limited to the individual named on the record, or a parent, spouse, guardian, surviving relative, or authorized legal representative. Proper identification must be presented with every application.

Harford County Probate Court Records

Probate in Harford County works a bit differently than in most Maryland jurisdictions. Rather than having elected Orphans Court judges, Harford County — along with Howard and Montgomery counties — assigns its Circuit Court judges to sit as the Orphans Court. That court oversees the administration of decedents' estates, resolves disputes over wills, and supervises guardianships of property for minors.

Orphans Court
Address: 20 West Courtland Street, Room 304, Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410) 638-3275
Fax: (410) 893-3177

Register of Wills

The Harford County Register of Wills is a separate office that processes estate filings, collects probate fees and inheritance taxes, issues letters of administration, and maintains estate records. The Register is Derek K. Hopkins.

Register of Wills Office
Address: 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410) 638-3275
Toll-Free: (888) 258-0525
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Probate Fee Schedule (estates opened on or after October 1, 2022)

Gross Estate Value	Fee
Under $50,000	$0
$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 above	$10,000 plus 0.02% of excess over $10,000,000

No probate fee is charged on small estates 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 plus $2.00
Exemplified copies	$0.50 per page plus $6.00
Letters of Administration	$1.00
Claims fee	$3.00
Caveat or contested proceedings	$20.00
Copy of court hearing	$25.00

Searching Probate Records

The Maryland Estate Search portal, run by the Office of the Register of Wills, provides free online access to estate case information. You can search by decedent name, estate number, or county. Results include the decedent's name, date of death, case number, personal representative, estate type, attorney, and current estate status. Copies of estate documents may also be ordered through the portal for the designated fees.

For in-person requests, visit or contact the Register of Wills office in Bel Air. When a decedent dies with a will, that document must be filed with the Register of Wills in the jurisdiction where the decedent resided. Personal representatives must file an inventory and periodic administration accounts, which become part of the court record and are subject to Orphans Court review and approval.