Montgomery County Divorce Records
Montgomery County divorce records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Court in Rockville, Maryland. The Circuit Court is the only court in Montgomery County with the authority to handle divorce cases. You can search basic case information online for free through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, or visit the courthouse in person to request certified copies of divorce decrees and other records. The Family Department handles all domestic relations matters, including divorce filings, and maintains case files you can access during regular business hours in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Overview
Montgomery County Circuit Court
The Montgomery County Circuit Court is located at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The courthouse has two towers, and different departments are spread between them. The Family Department, which handles all divorce cases, is on the first floor of the South Tower in Room 1460. This is where you go to file for divorce or ask about an existing case in Montgomery County. Central Files, where you go to view or request copies of case records, is in the North Tower, Room 1100. The main phone for Central Files is 240-777-9400.
The Family Department can be reached directly at 240-777-9426. Family Division Services, a separate unit that helps with scheduling and other process matters, is in Room 1500 of the South Tower at 240-777-9079. Hours for all departments are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court is closed on Maryland state holidays.
| Court Address | 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 |
|---|---|
| Family Department | South Tower, 1st Floor, Room 1460 Phone: 240-777-9426 |
| Central Files | North Tower, 1st Floor, Room 1100 Phone: 240-777-9400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Remote Hearings | circuitmontgomery@mdcourts.gov | 240-777-9015 |
Searching Montgomery County Divorce Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the free online tool for finding Montgomery County divorce records. The search is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To search Montgomery County divorce cases, go to the site and select Civil Case as the case type, then pick Circuit Court Only and choose Montgomery County as the jurisdiction. Enter one or both party names and add a date range if you have a general idea when the divorce was filed. Look for case type DA, which means absolute divorce, or DL, which means limited divorce.
Case Search shows basic information only. You will see party names, the case number, the filing date, case status, and any upcoming hearings. It does not show the actual divorce decree or any documents in the case file. To get copies of those, you must contact the Clerk's Office at the courthouse. Having the case number before you call or visit will speed things up considerably.
Public access terminals are also available at the courthouse for in-person searches. These terminals are located at Central Files in Room 1100, the Criminal Department in Room 1260, and the Circuit Court Public Law Library in Room 3420 on the third floor of the North Tower. The Law Library terminals close at 4:00 PM rather than 4:30.
How to Request Montgomery County Divorce Records
There are four ways to request divorce records from the Montgomery County Circuit Court. In person is the most direct. Go to Central Files at the North Tower, Room 1100. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can look up the case and provide copies for a fee. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card at the window. This is the fastest option if you need same-day service.
By mail, send a written request to the Family Department at South Tower, First Floor, Room 1460, 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case number if known. Also include your return address and a daytime phone number. Do not include payment with a mail request. Staff will contact you with the exact cost after they locate the file. Once you confirm, you send payment and they mail the copies back to you.
A drop box is available outside the Circuit Court office at 50 Maryland Avenue for after-hours filings. Place your request in an envelope marked Family Department and drop it in the box. The same no-payment-up-front rule applies. Do not put payment in the drop box. Staff will follow up with the cost information when they process the request.
Note: For the fastest mail or express delivery of copies, include a self-addressed pre-paid FedEx envelope with your request and the court will use it to send your records.
Montgomery County Divorce Record Fees
Copying fees at the Montgomery County Circuit Court are straightforward. Regular copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. Triple-seal or exemplified copies, which are needed for some out-of-state legal matters, cost $0.50 per page plus a $10.00 fee. There is no charge for postage when the court mails your copies by standard USPS. Expedited shipping is available if you include a pre-paid FedEx return envelope.
Payment methods depend on how you request records. In person, you can pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. By mail, use check or money order only. Wait for the cost quote before sending payment on mail requests. If you need to file a new divorce case in Montgomery County, the filing fee is $165 without an attorney and $185 with one. Fee waivers are available through form CC-DC-089 for people who qualify based on income. The court also accepts online or in-person credit card payments for certain requests.
What Montgomery County Divorce Records Include
A complete Montgomery County divorce case file includes many documents. The Complaint for Absolute Divorce (form CC-DR-020) is filed first to start the case. The Financial Statement (CC-DR-030 or CC-DR-031 depending on combined income) shows each party's financial picture. The Joint Statement of Marital and Non-Marital Property (CC-DR-033) lists assets and debts. When children are part of the case, the Parenting Plan (CC-DR-109) and the Child Support Worksheet go into the file as well. The Marital Settlement Agreement (CC-DR-116) covers what both parties agreed to on all contested issues.
The final Judgment of Absolute Divorce (form CC-DR-072) is the document most people need. It lists the names of both parties, the date and location of the marriage, the grounds for the divorce, property division terms, any alimony provisions, child custody and visitation arrangements, and child support orders. If one party requested a name change or name restoration, that is in the decree as well. The judge's signature and court seal appear on certified copies. The case number and date the divorce becomes final are also on the face of the document.
Some information is shielded from public copies under Maryland Rule 16-934. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, medical records, income tax returns, and certain information about minor children are redacted. Victims of domestic violence also have protected information in their cases.
Forms for Montgomery County Divorce Cases
All standard Maryland divorce forms are available on the Montgomery County Circuit Court forms page and through the Maryland Courts statewide forms library. You do not need to buy forms. They are free to download or pick up at the courthouse. The CC-DR-020 Complaint for Absolute Divorce is used to start a case. The CC-DR-094 Counter-Claim for Absolute Divorce is filed by the responding spouse if they want to file their own claim. The CC-DR-097 Motion for Restoration of Former Name is for name changes at the end of the divorce.
The Maryland Guide & File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through filling out the forms with step-by-step instructions. This is helpful if you are handling your own case without a lawyer. The Family Law Self-Help Center in Montgomery County can also provide guidance on forms. Reach them at 240-777-9145. Sign-in for the Self-Help Center starts at 8:00 AM, and attorneys begin assisting at 8:30 AM.
Historical Montgomery County Divorce Records
For older Montgomery County divorce records, two additional sources exist. The Maryland Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov has divorce verifications for cases finalized on or after January 1, 1992. The fee is $12 per verification. This source issues certificates confirming the divorce, not full copies of the decree. Contact: 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, phone 410-764-3038.
The Maryland State Archives at shop.msa.maryland.gov holds Montgomery County divorce records that have been transferred from the Circuit Court. The Archives holds records for many Maryland counties going back to the 1800s. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25. To order, you will need both parties' names, the county, the approximate date, and the case number if known. The Archives address is 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone: 410-260-6400.
Legal Help for Divorce in Montgomery County
The Family Law Self-Help Center in Montgomery County provides free assistance for people who represent themselves. It is located on the first floor of the South Tower at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. Call 240-777-9145 to reach the center. Attorneys are there weekday mornings starting at 8:30 AM. Staff can help you understand court forms, explain what happens at hearings, and assist with preparation. They do not represent you or give legal advice about your specific case, but they can answer procedural questions about how courts work in Montgomery County.
Remote hearings are available for scheduling hearings and uncontested divorces in Montgomery County. Email circuitmontgomery@mdcourts.gov with your case number and the date of the hearing, or call 240-777-9015 with questions. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org offers a detailed overview of Maryland divorce law, grounds, and procedures for self-represented litigants. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392 is also available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, with live attorney chat on the court website.
For people who need a lawyer, the Montgomery County Bar Association maintains a referral service. Maryland Legal Aid also serves Montgomery County residents who qualify based on income and the nature of their case.
Cities in Montgomery County
All cities and communities in Montgomery County file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Rockville. Select a city below to find more specific information about accessing Montgomery County divorce records from your area.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Montgomery County. If you are not sure which county handles your divorce case, check the address where you or your spouse lives. You file in the county where either party currently lives in Maryland.