St. Mary's County Divorce Records
St. Mary's County divorce records are filed and kept at the Circuit Court in Leonardtown, Maryland. The Circuit Court is the only court in St. Mary's County that can handle divorce cases, and all requests for copies or case information go through the Clerk's Office there.
St. Mary's County Overview
St. Mary's County Circuit Court
The St. Mary's County Circuit Court is at 41605 Courthouse Drive in Leonardtown. This is where all divorce cases in St. Mary's County are filed and heard. The Clerk's Office handles requests for case information and copies of divorce records. Clerk Debra J. Burch oversees the office. The main phone number is 301-475-7844.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court is closed on Maryland state holidays. If you are coming in person, bring a valid photo ID. Having the case number with you will save time. Staff can look up cases by party name if you do not have the number, but it helps to have both spouses' full names ready.
| Court Address | 41605 Courthouse Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650 |
|---|---|
| Circuit Court Clerk | Debra J. Burch |
| Phone | 301-475-7844 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| County Seat | Leonardtown |
St. Mary's County sits at the southern tip of Maryland's Western Shore, bordered by the Potomac River to the west and the Patuxent River to the east. All divorce filings in the county go to this single courthouse. There is no separate family court division. The Circuit Court handles all civil matters, including divorce, under one roof.
Searching St. Mary's County Divorce Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us lets you look up St. Mary's County divorce records for free. Go to the site and select Civil Case as the case type. Then pick Circuit Court Only and choose St. Mary's County from the jurisdiction list. Enter one or both party names. If you have a rough idea of when the divorce was filed, add a date range to narrow the results.
Case Search shows basic details only. You can see party names, case numbers, filing dates, case status, and scheduled hearings. Case type DA means absolute divorce. Case type DL means limited divorce. Neither the divorce decree nor any other documents in the case file appear online. To get copies of those, you contact the Clerk's Office directly.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is available at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. Select Civil, choose Circuit Court Only, and pick St. Mary's County to find divorce case records.
Maryland Rule 16-902 makes most court records public. However, some details are shielded from public view under Maryland Rule 16-934. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and information about minor children are redacted from copies you receive. Cases involving domestic violence may have additional restricted content.
How to Get St. Mary's County Divorce Records
You can get St. Mary's County divorce records in person or by mail. In person is fastest. Go to the Clerk's Office at 41605 Courthouse Drive in Leonardtown. Bring photo ID and the case number if you have it. Staff will pull the file and let you know the copy cost. You pay and receive copies the same day in most cases.
By mail, write to the Clerk's Office at 41605 Courthouse Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Include the names of both parties, the approximate filing date, and the case number if you have it. Include your return address and a daytime phone number. Do not send payment with your initial request. The office will contact you with the exact cost after they find the file. Once you confirm, you send a check or money order, and staff mail the copies back.
If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, such as remarriage or an insurance claim, ask for a certified copy specifically. Plain copies cost less but may not be accepted for official use. Certified copies carry the court seal and the clerk's signature.
Note: Mail requests can take one to two weeks to process. Call 301-475-7844 before mailing to confirm the office's current processing time and preferred mail procedure.
St. Mary's County Divorce Record Fees
Copy fees at the St. Mary's 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 need exemplified or triple-seal copies for out-of-state use, the certification fee rises to $10.00. There is no charge for standard USPS mailing when the court sends copies to you by mail.
Filing fees apply if you are starting a new divorce case. The fee is $165 if you are not represented by an attorney, and $185 if you have a lawyer file on your behalf. If cost is a barrier, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Use form CC-DC-089 and submit it with your filing. The waiver applies to people whose income falls below 125% of the federal poverty level. The Clerk's Office can tell you more about the waiver process when you call.
The Maryland Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov/vsa handles divorce verifications for cases finalized since January 1, 1992. The fee is $12 per verification. Call 410-764-3038 for details.
What St. Mary's County Divorce Records Include
A St. Mary's County divorce case file has many parts. The Complaint for Absolute Divorce starts the case. From there, the file grows to include financial statements, property division documents, and, when children are involved, parenting plans and child support worksheets. The Marital Settlement Agreement covers what both parties agreed to. The final Judgment of Absolute Divorce closes the case.
The divorce decree is the document most people need. It lists both parties' names, the date and place of the marriage, the grounds for divorce, and the terms of the final order. Property division, alimony provisions, custody arrangements, and support orders are all in the decree. If one party requested a name change, that is listed too. The judge's signature and court seal appear on certified copies, along with the case number and the date the divorce was finalized.
Under Maryland Family Law, the grounds for divorce include adultery, desertion, conviction of a crime, insanity, mutual consent, and separation. Maryland Code Family Law section 7-103 covers these grounds. Most uncontested cases in St. Mary's County proceed under mutual consent, which does not require a waiting period as long as both parties sign a settlement agreement covering all issues.
Note: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and information about minor children are redacted from public copies under Maryland Rule 16-934. If you need an unredacted copy for a legal proceeding, ask the Clerk's Office about the process.
Older St. Mary's County Divorce Records
For St. Mary's County divorces finalized on or after January 1, 1992, you can request a verification from the Maryland Division of Vital Records. The fee is $12. This source confirms that a divorce happened but does not provide the full decree. Contact: 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, phone 410-764-3038, website at health.maryland.gov/vsa.
For older records, the Maryland State Archives holds St. Mary's County divorce records transferred from the Circuit Court. The Archives covers many Maryland counties back to the 1800s. Certified copies cost $25. You need both parties' names, the county, the approximate date, and the case number if available. Order through shop.msa.maryland.gov or contact the Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, phone 410-260-6400. An online research guide is also available at guide.msa.maryland.gov.
The Maryland State Archives at shop.msa.maryland.gov provides certified copies of older St. Mary's County divorce records for $25. Located at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Legal Help for Divorce in St. Mary's County
If you are handling your own divorce case in St. Mary's County, several free resources can help. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center is available by phone at 410-260-1392, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Staff can answer basic questions about the divorce process, forms, and what to expect in court.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org covers Maryland divorce law in plain language. Topics include grounds for divorce under Maryland Code Family Law section 7-101, residency requirements, filing steps, and what happens if the other party does not respond. The Maryland Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through filling out court forms step by step. Both tools are free.
Maryland Legal Aid serves St. Mary's County residents who qualify based on income. To reach their Southern Maryland office, call the statewide intake line at 410-539-5340. If you need a referral to a private family law attorney, the Maryland State Bar Association maintains a lawyer referral service at 800-492-1964.
Cities in St. Mary's County
All communities in St. Mary's County file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Leonardtown. No cities in St. Mary's County currently exceed the population threshold for a dedicated city page, but the courthouse at 41605 Courthouse Drive serves all residents throughout the county.
Nearby Counties
St. Mary's County borders these counties on Maryland's Western Shore. Divorce cases are filed in the county where either spouse lives, so check the address before deciding where to file.