Search Frederick County Divorce Records
Frederick County divorce records are filed and kept at the Circuit Court for Frederick County at 100 West Patrick Street in Frederick, Maryland. You can search basic case data for free online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, or visit the clerk's office in person to get certified copies of divorce decrees and full case files from Frederick County.
Frederick County Overview
Frederick County Circuit Court Divorce Records
The Circuit Court for Frederick County is the only court in the county that can grant a divorce. It sits at 100 West Patrick Street in Frederick, Maryland 21701. Clerk Sandra K. Dalton oversees the office and can be reached at 301-600-1906. For general inquiries about divorce records or case status, call the main line at 301-600-1976. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and is closed on Maryland state holidays.
Frederick County has several specialized phone lines for different departments. If your case involves child support or family matters, call 301-600-1977. Civil case questions go to 301-600-2969. The Land Record Room is at 301-600-1957, and Marriage Licenses can be reached at 301-600-1965. The general fax number for the clerk's office is 301-600-2245. Having the right number before you call saves time. Staff are knowledgeable and can direct you quickly once you explain the nature of your request.
The Maryland Courts clerk's office page for Frederick County lists current contact details, forms, and filing information. This is the best place to start if you need to verify hours or look up department contacts before your visit.
The page above shows the clerk's office information for the Frederick County Circuit Court, including department contacts and hours relevant to divorce records access.
| Court Address | 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Court | Sandra K. Dalton Phone: 301-600-1906 |
| General Information | 301-600-1976 |
| Family / Child Support | 301-600-1977 |
| Civil Department | 301-600-2969 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Fax | 301-600-2245 |
Searching Frederick County Divorce Records Online
The free online tool for Frederick County divorce records is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. It runs around the clock, seven days a week. To look up a Frederick County divorce case, select Civil Case as the case type, then choose Circuit Court Only and pick Frederick County as the jurisdiction. Enter one or both party names. Add a date range if you know roughly when the divorce was filed. Look for case type DA for absolute divorce or DL for limited divorce.
Case Search shows limited data. You get party names, the case number, the filing date, case status, and hearing information. The actual divorce decree and case documents are not shown online. To get copies of those, you need to contact the Frederick County Circuit Court clerk's office. Having the case number ready before you call or visit will make the process much faster. If you do not have the case number, staff can look it up using party names and the approximate date.
Note: Maryland Judiciary Case Search is free and requires no account, but it shows only basic case information and not the full content of Frederick County divorce filings.
How to Get Frederick County Divorce Records
There are three main ways to get divorce records from the Frederick County Circuit Court. In person is the most direct. Go to the clerk's office at 100 West Patrick Street during business hours. Bring a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If you know the case number, bring that too. Staff will locate the file and provide copies at the standard per-page rate. You can pay at the window and take your copies the same day.
By mail, write a request to the Clerk's Office at 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Include the full names of both parties, the maiden names if applicable, the approximate month and year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Include your return address and a phone number where staff can reach you. Do not send payment with a mail request. Staff will contact you with the cost after they find the file, and you send payment once you confirm the amount.
Online, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us gives free access to basic case data. Full documents are not available through that portal, but it is the fastest way to confirm a case exists before you make a formal request for copies.
For a certified verification of a divorce that was finalized on or after January 1, 1992, you can also request one from the Maryland Department of Health Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov for $12. This is a short certificate confirming the divorce, not a full copy of the decree. For the complete case file, you still need to go through the Frederick County Circuit Court.
The page above from the Frederick County Circuit Court shows general information and procedures for accessing divorce records, including available request methods and contact details.
Frederick County Divorce Records Fees
Frederick County uses a different certified copy fee structure than most other Maryland counties. Certified copies cost $15.00 for the first page, with each additional certified page at $0.50. Plain (uncertified) copies cost $0.50 per page. This is worth knowing before you make a request, since the total cost can differ from what you might expect if you have requested records from other Maryland counties.
If you are filing a new divorce case in Frederick County, the filing fee is $165.00. The Maryland Department of Health charges $12.00 for a vital records divorce verification for cases after January 1, 1992. The Maryland State Archives charges $25.00 for certified copies of older divorce records they have on file. Fee waivers for new filings may be available for those who qualify based on income. Ask the clerk's office about the waiver form when you visit or call.
Note: Frederick County's certified copy fee is $15 for the first page, which differs from the standard $5 certification fee used in many other Maryland circuit courts.
What Frederick County Divorce Records Include
A complete Frederick County divorce case file can include many documents, depending on the nature of the case. The complaint or petition starts the file. The summons and proof of service show that the other party was notified. The answer from the responding spouse is next, followed by financial statements and property and debt inventories. Pension and retirement account information may also appear in the file if those assets were part of the case. When children are involved, the parenting plan and child support worksheets are part of the record too.
The judgment of absolute divorce is the core document. It names both parties, states the date and place of the marriage, sets out the grounds for divorce, covers property division, and addresses alimony if applicable. Child custody, visitation, and support orders are also in the decree when children are part of the case. The marital settlement agreement, if one was reached, spells out what both parties agreed to. The judge's signature and the court seal appear on certified copies. The case number and the date the divorce took effect are also on the face of the document.
Some information is restricted from public access under Maryland Rule 16-934. Social Security numbers and dates of birth are redacted. Financial statements, tax returns, and financial account numbers are also shielded. Information about minor children, allegations of domestic violence, and medical or psychological evaluations do not appear in publicly available copies. These restrictions apply regardless of how you request the records.
Under Md. Code, Family Law Section 7-101, at least one party to a divorce must have lived in Maryland for at least six months before filing. This residency requirement applies to all Frederick County divorce cases, and evidence of it may appear in early case documents as part of the petition.
Legal Grounds in Frederick County Divorce Cases
Maryland law sets the grounds on which a divorce may be granted. For cases filed in Frederick County, the applicable statute is Md. Code, Family Law Section 7-103, which lists both absolute and limited divorce grounds. Mutual consent is available when both parties agree and there are no minor children or both spouses have a written settlement agreement. A 12-month separation is another common basis for an absolute divorce in Frederick County. The specific ground used appears on the face of the divorce decree.
Public access to court records in Maryland is governed by Maryland Rule 16-902, which establishes that court records are generally open to the public. Maryland Rule 16-934 sets out the rules for shielding certain information from public access. These two rules together determine what you can see in a Frederick County divorce case file and what has been redacted. The clerk's office can tell you whether a particular document in a case file has been shielded before you pay for copies.
Historical Frederick County Divorce Records
For older Frederick County divorce records, the Maryland State Archives at shop.msa.maryland.gov holds records transferred from the Circuit Court going back many decades. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25. To order, you need both parties' full names, the county, the approximate date, and the case number if known. The Archives is at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone: 410-260-6400.
For divorces finalized on or after January 1, 1992, the Maryland Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov can provide a short verification certificate for $12. This is useful if you need a quick confirmation of the divorce but do not need the full case file. The Vital Records office is at 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. Phone: 410-764-3038.
Note: The Maryland State Archives holds older Frederick County divorce records and can issue certified copies for $25, which is a useful option when the Circuit Court no longer holds the original file on-site.
Legal Help for Divorce in Frederick County
If you are handling your own divorce case in Frederick County, the Maryland Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through court forms step by step. It is free to use and designed for people without legal training. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center is also available at 410-260-1392. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and live attorney chat is available through the court website.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org provides a plain-language overview of Maryland divorce law, including residency rules, grounds, and what to expect at each stage of the process. This is a good starting point if you want to understand how the process works before you file or request records in Frederick County. The site covers topics like contested versus uncontested divorce, property division, and custody basics.
For those who need a lawyer, the Frederick County Bar Association can provide referral information. Maryland Legal Aid also serves Frederick County residents who qualify based on income. If cost is a concern, ask about pro bono resources when you call the clerk's office or the Self-Help Center.
The Frederick County government Circuit Court page provides additional local information about the courthouse, available services, and how to navigate the filing process in Frederick County.
The Frederick County government page above covers local Circuit Court information, including details relevant to residents seeking divorce records or filing new divorce cases in Frederick County.
Cities in Frederick County
All cities and communities in Frederick County file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Frederick. Select a city below for more specific information about accessing Frederick County divorce records from your area.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Frederick County. If you are unsure which county handles your case, check where you or your spouse currently lives in Maryland. You file in the county where either party resides.