Baltimore County Divorce Records
Baltimore County divorce records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Court in Towson, Maryland, which is separate from Baltimore City and serves only the county jurisdiction. If you need to search or obtain divorce records in Baltimore County, the Circuit Court Clerk's Office handles all requests, and basic case information is also available online at no cost through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Baltimore County Overview
Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson
The Baltimore County Circuit Court is located at the County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Avenue, 2nd Floor, Towson, MD 21204. This is not the same court as the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Baltimore County and Baltimore City are completely separate jurisdictions in Maryland. Each has its own court system, its own clerk, and its own records. If the address on file is a Baltimore City address, the case will be at the City court, not this one in Towson. Many people mix these up. Double-check which court holds the record before you make the trip or send a request.
The Clerk's Office handles all divorce records for Baltimore County. The main phone is 410-887-2601. For Judicial Records specifically, call 410-887-3494. The Family Law division can be reached at 410-887-2614. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fax number is 410-887-3062. For mailed requests, you can use the physical address or the P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754.
The Baltimore County Circuit Court website at mdcourts.gov provides contact details, office hours, and guidance on how to reach the correct department for divorce record requests in Towson.
| Court Address | County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Avenue, 2nd Floor, Towson, MD 21204 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754 |
| Main Clerk Phone | 410-887-2601 |
| Judicial Records | 410-887-3494 |
| Family Law | 410-887-2614 |
| Email for Records | CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Searching Baltimore County Divorce Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the free tool for finding basic divorce case data in Baltimore County. It is available around the clock. To search Baltimore County divorce cases, go to the site, select Civil Case as the case type, choose Circuit Court Only, and pick Baltimore County as the jurisdiction. Enter at least one party's name. A date range helps narrow things down if you know roughly when the divorce was filed. Look for case type DA, which stands for absolute divorce, or DL, which stands for limited divorce.
Case Search shows names, case number, filing date, and case status. It does not show the actual decree or documents in the file. Under Maryland Rule 16-902, basic court records are open to the public, but full documents require a request through the Clerk's Office. Having the case number before you call or email saves time. Note that Baltimore City cases will NOT appear when you search Baltimore County, and vice versa. Make sure you have the right jurisdiction selected before you run your search.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal lets you look up Baltimore County divorce cases for free by selecting the Circuit Court and Baltimore County as the jurisdiction before running a name or case number search.
Note: Baltimore City has its own separate Circuit Court and its own case search results, so always confirm you have selected Baltimore County and not the city when searching for records.
How to Request Baltimore County Divorce Records
There are four ways to get divorce records from the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Email is the fastest method for most people. Send your request to CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Attach a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID. Staff will reply with the cost and instructions for payment. This avoids a trip to Towson and works well for people outside the area.
For in-person requests, visit the Clerk's Office at 401 Bosley Avenue, 2nd Floor, Towson, during regular business hours. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can look up the case and provide copies on the spot. You can pay by cash, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, check, or money order at the counter. Debit cards are not accepted. Out-of-state personal checks are also not accepted. In-person service is the best option when you need same-day copies.
By mail, send a written request to: Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Attn: Records Department - Divorce Records, County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. Or use the P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Include both parties' full names, the divorce date or approximate year, the case number if known, the type of copy you need, your return address, a phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Do not send payment with the initial request. The court will contact you with the exact cost before you pay.
Note: For mail requests, wait for the cost quote from staff before sending any payment, since the total depends on the number of pages in the record.
Baltimore County Divorce Record Copy Fees
Copy fees at the Baltimore County Circuit Court are set by Maryland state law. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. Most requests for a divorce decree run several pages, so the total can vary. A typical certified copy of a final decree might come to $10 to $20 depending on length. The Clerk's staff will tell you the exact total before you send payment on a mail or email request.
Accepted payment methods include cash, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, checks, and money orders. Make checks and money orders payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court." Debit cards are not accepted. Personal checks drawn on out-of-state banks are not accepted either. In-person payments can be made at the counter during business hours. For mail requests, use a check or money order only after the court gives you the final cost. Do not mail cash.
What Baltimore County Divorce Records Contain
A full certified copy of a Baltimore County divorce decree includes case information, the full names of both parties, the date and place of the marriage, the date the divorce was finalized, and the grounds for divorce. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 7-101, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement before a Maryland court can hear a divorce case. That residency basis is typically noted in the case record. The decree also includes any rulings on property division, alimony, child custody, and child support. The judge's signature and the official court seal appear on certified copies, which are the version most needed for legal purposes.
The public version available through Case Search is much more limited. You get party names, the case number, the filing date, and the current case status. You do not get the decree or any filed documents from the online search. To see those, you must request copies from the Clerk's Office. Maryland Rule 16-934 requires certain sensitive details to be shielded from public copies, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and some information about minor children. What you receive in a standard copy request is the redacted public version unless you are a party to the case.
Grounds for divorce in Maryland are governed by Md. Code, Family Law § 7-103. The grounds cited in the original filing are part of the case file and show in the full record, though they are not always included in every summary document.
Historical Baltimore County Divorce Records
Baltimore County divorce records go back to 1908. Older records are preserved in multiple formats. Microfilm records under the call number CM136 cover three time ranges: 1908 to 1943, 1970 to 1978, and 1994 to 2004. Paper records under call number T2066 cover 1908 through 1991. For records in those older ranges, the Maryland State Archives at shop.msa.maryland.gov is the place to order certified copies. The Archives charges $25 per certified copy. You will need both parties' names, the county, the approximate date, and the case number if you have it. The Archives is at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, phone 410-260-6400.
For divorces finalized after January 1, 1992, the Maryland Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov/vsa offers divorce verifications for $12 each. This is a certificate confirming the divorce happened, not a full copy of the decree. Reach Vital Records at 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, or by phone at 410-764-3038. If you need the full decree and not just a verification, go through the Circuit Court or the State Archives depending on the year.
Note: The Maryland State Archives holds transferred records and is often the best source for Baltimore County divorce cases filed before the mid-1990s that are no longer held at the courthouse.
What to Include in a Baltimore County Records Request
Before you contact the Clerk's Office, gather the key details. Staff need certain information to find the case. Missing details slow things down or result in a search that comes up empty. Here is what to include in any request for Baltimore County divorce records.
- Full legal names of both divorced spouses
- Date of divorce or approximate year
- Case number, if known
- Type of copy needed (plain or certified)
- Your mailing address and a phone number or email
- A statement of purpose for the request
- A copy of your valid government-issued photo ID
For email requests, attach the photo ID as a scan or photo. For in-person visits, bring the original ID. For mail requests, include a photocopy. The case number speeds up every type of request, so run a quick search on Maryland Judiciary Case Search first if you do not already have it. The more detail you provide, the faster the Clerk's Office can locate the file and give you a cost quote.
Baltimore County vs. Baltimore City Divorce Records
This is one of the most common sources of confusion in Maryland. Baltimore County and Baltimore City are not the same place. Baltimore City is an independent city that is not part of any county in Maryland. It has its own Circuit Court, its own clerk, and its own separate set of records. The County Courts Building in Towson handles only Baltimore County cases. The courthouse for Baltimore City is in downtown Baltimore at 111 North Calvert Street.
If you are looking for a divorce where the parties lived in the city limits of Baltimore, the record will be at the Baltimore City Circuit Court, not here. If they lived in a Baltimore County community such as Towson, Dundalk, Essex, Pikesville, or Catonsville, the record is at this court. When using Case Search online, select the correct jurisdiction. Baltimore City and Baltimore County appear as separate choices. Picking the wrong one means your search will show no results, even if the record exists. City of Baltimore residents should check the Baltimore city page for the correct court contact information.
Cities in Baltimore County
All cities and communities within Baltimore County file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Towson. Select a city below for more specific information about accessing Baltimore County divorce records from your area.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Baltimore County. If you are not sure which county handles a divorce case, check where either party lived at the time of filing. You file in the county where at least one spouse lives in Maryland.