Dorchester County Divorce Records
Dorchester County divorce records are filed and kept at the Circuit Court in Cambridge, Maryland. The Circuit Court is the only court in Dorchester County that can handle divorce cases, and the clerk's office is your first stop for copies, case searches, and filing questions.
Dorchester County Overview
Dorchester County Circuit Court
The Dorchester County Circuit Court is located at 206 High Street in Cambridge, MD 21613. This is where all divorce cases in Dorchester County are filed and where you go to request copies of divorce records. The clerk handles filings, copy requests, and questions about case status. Amy J. Craig serves as clerk and can be reached at amy.craig@mdcourts.gov. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court is closed on Maryland state holidays.
Dorchester County sits on Maryland's Eastern Shore, bordered by water on three sides. Because of the county's rural character and smaller caseload, staff tend to be familiar with individual cases and can often answer questions faster than larger courts. If you call ahead with a case number, staff can have records ready when you arrive. The phone number for the clerk's office is 410-228-0481.
| Court Address | 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Court | Amy J. Craig |
| Clerk Email | amy.craig@mdcourts.gov |
| Phone | 410-228-0481 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| County Seat | Cambridge |
Searching Dorchester County Divorce Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us lets you look up Dorchester County divorce records for free. The tool is open 24 hours a day. To search, choose Civil Case as the case type, then select Circuit Court Only, and pick Dorchester as the county. Enter one or both party names to start. If you have a rough date range, add that to narrow results. Look for case type DA (absolute divorce) or DL (limited divorce) in the results list.
The online search shows basic data only. You will see party names, the case number, the filing date, and the current case status. It does not show the actual decree or any documents in the file. To get a copy of the decree or other records, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. Having the case number before you call or visit will help staff find the file quickly.
The screenshot above shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us, which is free to use for searching Dorchester County divorce cases. After you find a case, contact the Dorchester County clerk to request actual documents or certified copies.
Note: Case Search results are updated regularly but may not reflect same-day filings, so call the clerk if you need the most current status on a Dorchester County divorce case.
How to Request Dorchester County Divorce Records
You have two main ways to get divorce records from the Dorchester County Circuit Court. In person is the most direct option. Go to the clerk's office at 206 High Street in Cambridge during regular business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number if you have it. Staff can look up the file, tell you what is in it, and make copies for you on the spot. Payment is due at the time of your request. The clerk's office accepts standard payment methods for copy fees.
By mail, write a letter to the clerk at Dorchester County Circuit Court, 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, the case number if known, your return address, and a daytime phone number. Do not send payment with your initial mail request. The clerk will contact you with the exact amount owed after they find the file. You then send payment and they mail the copies to you. Allow extra time for mail requests, especially for older cases that may need to be retrieved from storage. For certified copies needed for legal or official purposes, note that in your letter so staff can apply the proper certification.
Dorchester County Divorce Record Fees
Fees for divorce records at the Dorchester County Circuit Court follow the standard Maryland schedule. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. If you are filing a new divorce case in Dorchester County, the filing fee is $165 without an attorney and $185 with one. These fees apply at all Maryland Circuit Courts.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can apply for a fee waiver using form CC-DC-089. Waivers are available to people whose income falls below 125% of the federal poverty level. Ask the clerk's office for the form or download it from the Maryland Courts website. Fee waivers cover filing costs but not copy fees for records requests after the case is closed.
Note: For certified copies of Dorchester County divorce decrees needed for name changes, passport applications, or other official purposes, confirm the number of pages before sending payment, as multi-page decrees cost more.
What Dorchester County Divorce Records Contain
A final Dorchester County divorce decree lists the names of both parties, the date and place of marriage, the grounds for the divorce, and the judge's ruling on all contested matters. Property division, alimony, custody, visitation, and child support are all in the decree if they were part of the case. Name restoration is noted there too if one party requested it. The judge's signature and the court seal appear on all certified copies, and the case number and date of finalization are on the face of the document.
The full case file holds more. It includes the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, financial statements, any parenting plan, settlement agreements, and all motions and orders filed during the case. Most of this is public. Some parts are not. Under Maryland Rule 16-934, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, medical records, income tax returns, and information about minor children are shielded from public copies. Domestic violence victims also have protected information in their case files. The clerk will provide copies with those fields redacted where required.
Maryland Divorce Law and Dorchester County Cases
Maryland divorce cases in Dorchester County are governed by the Maryland Family Law Code. Md. Code, Family Law § 7-101 sets the residency rule: at least one party must have lived in Maryland for six months before filing. If the grounds for the divorce arose outside Maryland, the residency requirement still applies. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives. For most Dorchester County residents, that means the Circuit Court in Cambridge.
Grounds for divorce in Maryland are set out in Md. Code, Family Law § 7-103. There are three recognized grounds: a twelve-month separation, irreconcilable differences, and mutual consent. Mutual consent divorces are faster when both parties agree on all terms and have no minor children or have resolved all custody and support matters. Separation requires twelve months of living apart with no cohabitation. Irreconcilable differences is a newer ground available when both parties agree the marriage is over.
Maryland Rule 16-902 sets the general rule that court records, including Dorchester County divorce records, are available to the public unless a specific exception applies. The clerk cannot deny access to public portions of the file. If you believe records have been improperly withheld, you can contact the Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392 for guidance.
The image above is from the Maryland Family Law code resource at Westlaw Maryland Code, which contains the statutes that apply to all Maryland divorce cases including those filed in Dorchester County. Key sections include Family Law § 7-101 on residency and § 7-103 on grounds.
Historical Dorchester County Divorce Records
For divorce verifications going back to January 1, 1992, the Maryland Division of Vital Records is an option. They maintain a statewide divorce index and can issue a certificate confirming that a divorce occurred. The fee is $12 per verification. Contact the Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov/vsa, 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, phone 410-764-3038. Note that the Division provides verification certificates only, not full copies of the decree or case file.
For older Dorchester County divorce records, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds many county court records going back to the 1800s. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25. To order, provide both parties' full names, the county, the approximate year, and the case number if you have it. The Archives address is 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone: 410-260-6400. You can also order online at shop.msa.maryland.gov. For recent cases still held at the Dorchester County courthouse, contact the clerk directly.
Self-Help and Legal Resources in Dorchester County
The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392 is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Live attorney chat is available on the Maryland Courts website during those hours. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org has a detailed guide to Maryland divorce law that covers residency, grounds, forms, and what to expect at hearings. These resources are free and written for people handling their own cases.
The Maryland Guide & File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile helps you fill out divorce forms with step-by-step instructions. All Maryland divorce forms are free. You can download them from the Maryland Courts website or pick them up at the Dorchester County clerk's office. If you need a lawyer, Maryland Legal Aid serves Dorchester County residents who qualify based on income.
Cities in Dorchester County
All cities and communities in Dorchester County file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Cambridge. Cambridge is the county seat and the only city in Dorchester County where the courthouse is located. No Dorchester County cities currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or are near Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. You file a divorce case in the county where you or your spouse lives in Maryland.