Prince George's County Court Records
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Prince George's County sits in central Maryland just east of Washington, D.C., and runs one of the state's busiest court systems. The county's judicial structure centers on three main courts: a Circuit Court with broad trial jurisdiction, two District Court locations that handle lower-level civil and criminal matters, and an Orphans' Court that oversees probate and estate administration. The Clerk of the Circuit Court files, processes, and maintains the official records for civil, criminal, family, and juvenile actions heard at the circuit level. The District Court and the Register of Wills each maintain their own separate case files. Before you submit any request, it's worth taking a moment to confirm which court handled your matter and which office holds the records — that alone can save considerable time.
You can search Maryland court records through several official channels: courthouse clerk offices, public-access computer terminals, and state-run online portals. The Maryland Judiciary offers both the statewide Case Search system and the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) portal, which both cover Prince George's County. Specialized databases also exist for land records and probate estates. MarylandStateCourts.us can help you identify court locations, access forms, and find links to publicly available case information across all Maryland jurisdictions.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Prince George's County?
Prince George's County offers several ways to locate case information. The right path depends on the court type and how much detail you need.
Online Case Search Tools
The Maryland Judiciary maintains two main electronic portals:
- Maryland Judiciary Case Search — A free, public-access tool covering both Circuit Court and District Court records statewide. You can search by party name (individual or business), case number, or filing date. Advanced search options let you filter by court system (Circuit or District), county, and case type (civil, criminal, or family).
- Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) Portal — This newer case management platform provides access to case docket information and, in some cases, electronic images of filed documents. Registration may be required to access certain features. Public kiosks at the courthouse offer free MDEC access during business hours.
Specialized Databases
- MDLandRec — The statewide digital repository for recorded land records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats — maintained by the Maryland State Archives. Free account registration is required.
- Register of Wills Estate Search — Search by decedent name, estate number, county, or filing date for probate and estate records.
In-Person Searches
You can visit any of the county's court locations during business hours — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays — to search records in person. Bring valid identification and as much case detail as you have, such as party names or case numbers.
Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | 14735 Main St., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 | (301) 952-3318 |
| District Court — Upper Marlboro | 14735 Main St., Suite 173B, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 | (301) 298-4000 |
| District Court — Hyattsville | 4990 Rhode Island Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781 | (301) 298-4200 |
| Orphans' Court / Register of Wills | 14735 Main St., Room D4001, Upper Marlboro, MD 20773 | (301) 952-3250 |
Fax: (Circuit Court Clerk): (301) 952-3768
Toll-free (Clerk): (800) 937-1335
Copy Fees (Circuit Court)
Fees follow the statewide Circuit Court Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2025):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certified copies of court records (plus copy fee) | $5.00 |
| Exemplification / Triple Seal (plus copy fee) | $10.00 |
| Surcharge for mailing copies | $2.00 |
Note that the Clerk's office does not run case searches on your behalf. You'll need to do your own research using the online tools or the in-person terminals at the courthouse.
Are Court Records Public in Prince George's County?
Maryland law gives the public broad access to government records. The Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) — codified in the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code — lets members of the public inspect and copy records held by government agencies, including court records. Custodians must respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe, and the PIA applies to records held by the courts as well as by executive-branch agencies.
Even so, several categories of court records are off-limits to the public:
- Juvenile proceedings — Records from juvenile delinquency and Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases are confidential.
- Adoption records — Sealed by statute and not available for public review.
- Sealed records — Any record a judge has formally ordered sealed, including certain expunged criminal records.
- Shielded records — Maryland law allows eligible individuals to petition for shielding of certain criminal case records, which removes them from public case-search results.
- Domestic violence petitions — Filing fees for protective order petitions are waived for petitioners, and certain personal information may be redacted for safety.
Shielded or expunged records will not appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search results. If you need access to a sealed or shielded record, you'll have to file a motion with the court requesting disclosure, and a judge will decide whether to grant it.
Under the PIA, agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and copying. The standard per-page copy rate for Circuit Court records is $0.50, with a $5.00 certification fee per document.
Prince George's County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Prince George's County are split between the Circuit Court — which handles felonies and jury-trial matters — and the District Court, which covers misdemeanors, certain felony preliminary hearings, and traffic offenses. Both courts' records are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Use the advanced search feature, select the Criminal case type, specify Prince George's County, and choose either the Circuit or District court system (or both). You can search by defendant name or case number.
Circuit Court Criminal Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copies of court records (plus copy fee) | $5.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
| Exemplification / Triple Seal (plus copy fee) | $10.00 |
| Expungement petition (guilty disposition) | $30.00 |
Criminal case records tied to acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi, stet dispositions, or probation before judgment may be eligible for expungement at no charge. Juvenile expungement filings also carry no fee.
Sheriff's Office Resources
The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office maintains an Active Warrants Database that anyone can search online. The Warrant/Fugitive Division is reachable at (301) 780-8500 or by email at shf-warrants@co.pg.md.us. The Sheriff's main office is located at:
Prince George's County Sheriff's Office
5303 Chrysler Way, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 780-8600
Email: SherifInfo@co.pg.md.us
Police Department Criminal History Checks
The Prince George's County Police Department handles immigration-related criminal history checks for a fee of $20.00. A government-issued photo ID is required. Payment is accepted by money order, business check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) — credit card payments carry a $1.50 service charge per transaction. Police reports can be requested separately through the department's MPIA process for $10.00 per report, payable by money order or business check only.
Restricted Criminal Records
Juvenile criminal records are confidential and not available for public inspection. Individuals may petition for shielding or expungement of eligible criminal records through the Circuit Court. Shielded records are removed from the Case Search portal but remain accessible to law enforcement and certain authorized parties.
Prince George's County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Prince George's County are heard in both the Circuit Court and the District Court, with jurisdiction divided primarily by the amount in dispute. The Circuit Court handles general civil actions, jury-trial matters, and cases that exceed the District Court's monetary limit. The District Court hears civil disputes involving $30,000 or less, landlord-tenant cases, replevin actions, and small claims.
Searching Civil Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search supports civil case lookups across both court systems. Use the advanced search to filter by Civil case type, select Prince George's County, and enter party names or a case number. The MDEC portal may also give you access to docket entries and, in some cases, images of filed documents for MDEC-enabled cases.
Filing and Copy Fees (Circuit Court Civil)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil case filing | $165.00 |
| Divorce complaint (limited or absolute) | $165.00 |
| Motion to modify (custody, support, visitation, or alimony) | $31.00 |
| Petition / motion for contempt | $31.00 |
| Voluntary dismissal (full or partial) | $15.00 |
| Foreign judgment filing | $110.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certified copies (plus copy fee) | $5.00 |
Land Records
Real-property documents recorded in Prince George's County — deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and other instruments — are maintained by the Land Records Division of the Circuit Court. All land records are generally public and can be researched in person or online through the MDLandRec portal. The Land Records Division does not perform title searches, and staff cannot provide legal assistance. For recording inquiries, contact the division at (301) 780-2253 or landrecordsclerk@mdcourts.gov.
Prince George's County Family Court Records
Prince George's County does not have a dedicated family court. All family law matters are handled by the Family Division of the Circuit Court, which covers divorce, annulment, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, division of marital assets, adoption, guardianship, and paternity cases.
Searching Family Court Records
Family law case records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and can be searched through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search — select the Family case type under the Circuit Court system and enter the party names or case number. The Clerk's office does not search on your behalf; you'll need to conduct your own research online or at the in-person terminals.
Family Division Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Case filing (with attorney) | $175.00 |
| Case filing (without attorney / self-represented) | $165.00 |
| Custody — enroll and enforce (without attorney) | $165.00 |
| Custody — enroll and enforce (with attorney) | $175.00 |
| Custody — enroll foreign decree | $110.00 |
| Modification of custody / visitation / support / alimony (closed case) | $31.00 |
| Petition for contempt | $31.00 |
| Petition for emergency evaluation | No fee |
| Petition for protection from domestic violence | No fee |
| Sheriff's service | $40.00 |
| Certified copies (plus copy fee) | $5.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
Domestic violence protective order petitions carry no filing fee for the petitioner. Self-represented litigants must pay the Sheriff's service fee by money order.
Family Division Resources
The Family Division Information Center provides forms, packets, and instructions for filing and answering complaints in family law cases covering adoption, annulment, child custody, child support, divorce, guardianship, and paternity. Maryland Family Law Court Forms are also available online through the Maryland Courts website. The court offers a free Family Law Orientation in both English and Spanish, and the Family Division Paralegal Unit is available to assist attorneys and self-represented parties alike.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Prince George's County are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court's License Department. The marriage license application fee is $70.00, payable by cash, credit card, or money order — personal checks are not accepted. Civil ceremonies performed by the Clerk cost $25.00. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5.50 per copy. Replacement licenses obtained within the six-month validity period cost $10.00.
For older records, the Maryland State Archives holds Prince George's County marriage records from 1950 through 2013. These can be ordered online, by phone at (410) 260-6487, or by mail to: Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD 21401. Certified copies cost $25.00; uncertified copies cost $5.00. Marriage records after 2013 may be obtained from the Clerk of Court or through the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215; Phone: (410) 764-3038
Divorce Records
Divorce records from 1815 through 1984 are accessible through the Maryland State Archives, where they can be viewed online by case number or ordered as certified copies for $25.00. Non-certified copies can be obtained at the Archives search room for $1.00. Divorce records after 1984 are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and can be searched via the Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Birth and Death Records
Birth records from 1898 through 1924 and death records from 1898 through 2012 are available through the Maryland State Archives using the applicable birth record form or death record form. Certified copies cost $25.00; uncertified copies cost $5.00. Birth records after 1924 and death records after 2012 must be obtained from the Division of Vital Records. Access to birth records is restricted from the general public until 100 years after the date of birth or after the death of the individual.
Prince George's County Probate Court Records
Maryland doesn't use the term "Probate Court". Instead, the Orphans' Court — one of the oldest courts in the state's judicial system — handles the probate of wills, administration of decedents' estates, and guardianship of minors. The Register of Wills acts as clerk to the Orphans' Court and is responsible for intake of estate filings, issuance of letters of administration and letters testamentary, auditing of fiduciary accounts, and collection of inheritance taxes.
Register of Wills Office
The Honorable Cereta A. Lee, Register of Wills
14735 Main St., Room D4001
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
- Main line: (301) 952-3250
- Auditing Department: (301) 780-7819
The office is on the fourth floor of the DuVall Wing at the Upper Marlboro Courthouse. Appointments are required — call (301) 952-3250 and select option #1 for new estates or option #2 for existing matters.
Searching Probate and Estate Records
The Maryland Register of Wills Estate Search portal lets the public search for estate records by decedent name, estate number, county, or filing date. Probate forms — including petitions for administration, inventories, accounts, and closing documents — are available on the Register of Wills website.
Obtaining Copies from the Maryland State Archives
For probate records that have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives, you can complete the Estate/Probate Record Order Form. Certified copies cost $35.00 (non-refundable). Only records that have actually been transferred to the Archives are available through this channel. To verify whether a specific record has been transferred, contact the Archives at (410) 260-6487 or msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov.
Orphans' Court Contact
Prince George's County Orphans' Court
14735 Main St., P.O. Box 1729
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
Phone: (301) 952-3250
Fax: (301) 952-4489
The Orphans' Court holds hearings on contested estates, will caveats, guardianship disputes, and other probate matters. The Register of Wills can guide you on filing procedures but is prohibited by law from offering legal advice.