Find Divorce Records in Washington County
Washington County divorce records are kept at the Circuit Court in Hagerstown, Maryland, and go back to 1908. To search or get copies of these records, you will need a case number before you contact the court, so start with the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool online to find what you need.
Washington County Overview
Washington County Circuit Court
The Washington County Circuit Court is located at the Andrew F. Wilkinson Courthouse, 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown. This is the only court in Washington County that handles divorce cases. All divorce filings, hearings, and records are managed here. The main phone line is 301-733-8660. You can also reach the court at three additional lines: 301-790-7941, 301-790-4972, and 301-790-7413. For civil matters, which includes divorce records, press Option 2 when you call. Option 0 is for general information if you are not sure where to start.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Washington County's courthouse opens at 8:00 AM, which is earlier than most Maryland circuit courts. The office is closed on all state holidays. If you need to check on jury duty, call the Jury Information Line at 301-739-3440. That line is updated daily at 4:30 PM. When you visit the courthouse for divorce records, go during regular business hours and bring your case number.
The clerk's office phone menu has separate options for different departments. Option 1 handles licensing. Option 2 is civil, which covers divorce records. Option 3 is criminal. Option 4 is land records. If you are calling about jury duty, dial Option 299.
The Washington County Circuit Court clerk's office page has contact details, department hours, and guidance on how to request records from the court in Hagerstown.
The clerk's page gives you a starting point, but the records section of the court's site goes further into what documents are on file and how to access them.
| Court Address | Andrew F. Wilkinson Courthouse, 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | 301-733-8660 |
| Additional Lines | 301-790-7941 | 301-790-4972 | 301-790-7413 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (closed State Holidays) |
| Jury Information | 301-739-3440 (updated daily at 4:30 PM) |
Washington County Divorce Records: The Case Number Rule
This is the most important thing to know before you contact the Washington County Circuit Court about divorce records. As of October 5, 2020, the clerk's office cannot search for cases by name. Staff will not look up records based on a party's name alone. They also cannot certify that a record does not exist. You must have the case number before you call, mail, or visit the courthouse. Without it, staff cannot pull your file.
Getting your case number is free and easy. Go to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. Select Civil as the case type, then choose Circuit Court and pick Washington County as the jurisdiction. Enter one or both party names and a rough date range if you know it. Case type DA means absolute divorce. Case type DL means limited divorce. The results will show you the case number, filing date, case status, and party names. Write down the case number. That is what you need when you contact the clerk.
If you do not have internet access, public kiosks are available at the courthouse for in-person searches. Use them to find your case number before you get in line at the clerk's window. This saves time for everyone.
Note: The name-search restriction has been in place since October 5, 2020, so always look up your case number through the online Case Search tool before contacting the Washington County clerk's office.
How to Get Washington County Divorce Records
Once you have your case number, you can request divorce records from Washington County in person at the courthouse. Go to the clerk's office at 24 Summit Avenue during business hours, Monday through Friday, starting at 8:00 AM. Bring your case number and a form of payment. Staff will locate the file and provide copies. This is the fastest method if you need records right away.
You can also request records by mail. Send a written request to the clerk's office at 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Include the full names of both parties, the case number, and the type of copy you need (regular or certified). Put your return address and a daytime phone number in the letter. Do not send payment with the request. Wait for the clerk's office to contact you with the exact cost, then send your payment and they will mail the copies to you.
The Washington County Circuit Court records page covers what types of records are on file, how long records are kept, and what steps to follow when requesting copies.
The records page also notes which documents are restricted and cannot be released to the general public, which is useful to review before you make your request.
Note: Mail requests can take longer to process than in-person visits, so allow extra time if you need records quickly and plan accordingly when choosing your request method.
Washington County Divorce Record Copy Fees
Copying fees at the Washington County Circuit Court are the same as most Maryland courts. Regular copies cost approximately $0.50 per page. If you need a certified copy, the cost is $5.00 for the certification plus $0.50 per page. A triple-seal or exemplified copy costs $10.00 plus the per-page copy fee. Exemplified copies are sometimes needed for legal matters in other states, such as when you need to show a foreign court or government agency that your divorce is valid.
Payment at the Washington County clerk's office is accepted by VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. Note that American Express is not accepted, and neither are digital wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay. Cash, check, and money order are all fine. If you are mailing a request, send a check or money order. Wait until you get the total cost from the clerk before sending any payment.
What Washington County Divorce Records Include
Washington County has divorce records going back to 1908. These are filed under Civil records as "Decrees of Divorce" at the Circuit Court. A typical Washington County divorce file includes the Complaint for Absolute Divorce (form CC-DR-020), the response filed by the other party, financial statements, any property agreements, and the final Judgment of Absolute Divorce. The judgment lists both parties' names, the date and place of marriage, the grounds for divorce, and all terms the court ordered, including property division, alimony if applicable, and custody arrangements when children are involved.
If one spouse asked for a name change at the time of divorce, that will also appear in the final decree. Under Md. Code, Family Law Section 7-101, at least one spouse must have lived in Maryland for at least six months before filing. The grounds for divorce in Maryland are set out in Md. Code, Family Law Section 7-103, which covers both absolute and limited divorce. These statutes shape what you will see in the case file, including residency details and the basis stated for ending the marriage.
Some parts of the file are not public. Under Maryland Rule 16-934, financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, medical records, income tax returns, and details about minor children are shielded. Adoption records and juvenile records are also kept separate. If your case involved domestic violence, certain identifying information may be redacted or sealed.
Forms for Washington County Divorce Cases
Standard Maryland divorce forms are free to download from mdcourts.gov/courtforms. You do not need to purchase forms from a third party. The CC-DR-020 is the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, used to start the case. The CC-DR-094 Counter-Claim for Absolute Divorce is filed by the responding spouse. The CC-DR-097 Motion for Restoration of Former Name handles name changes at the end of the case. The CC-DR-116 Marital Settlement Agreement is used when both parties have reached a written agreement on all issues. All of these are accepted at the Washington County Circuit Court.
The Maryland Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through completing these forms step by step. It is designed for people who are handling their own case without an attorney. If you need hands-on help with forms, the Family Law Self-Help Clinic at the Washington County Circuit Court Law Library is available for walk-in visits.
Washington County Family Law Self-Help Clinic
Washington County has a free Family Law Self-Help Clinic for people who represent themselves in divorce and other family law cases. The clinic is located in the Circuit Court Law Library at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown, the same building as the courthouse. You do not need an appointment. Walk-in hours are Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Thursday hours align with the courthouse opening at 8:00 AM, so you can visit the clinic and the clerk's office on the same trip.
Clinic volunteers and staff help self-represented litigants understand divorce forms, court procedures, and what to expect at hearings. They can also help you fill out forms correctly so your filing is not rejected. This service is free of charge. It is not a substitute for legal representation, and staff will not give legal advice about your specific case. What they can do is explain how the process works and point you to the right forms and resources for Washington County divorce cases.
If you cannot make the clinic walk-in hours, the People's Law Library at peoples-law.org has a full overview of Maryland divorce law, including the differences between absolute and limited divorce. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center is also available by phone.
Note: The Family Law Self-Help Clinic at the Law Library cannot represent you in court or advise you on your legal strategy, but staff can help with procedural questions and form completion.
Historical Washington County Divorce Records
Washington County divorce records go back to 1908 at the Circuit Court. For even older records, or for a certified copy from outside the courthouse system, two other sources can help. The Maryland State Archives at shop.msa.maryland.gov holds Washington County divorce records that have been transferred from the Circuit Court. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25. You will need the names of both parties, the county, the approximate year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. The Archives are 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 also maintains records. Their site is at health.maryland.gov/vsa. The fee is $12 per verification. Vital Records issues a certificate confirming the divorce happened, not a full copy of the case file or decree. If you need the actual decree with case details, request it from the Circuit Court or the Archives. Contact Vital Records at 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, phone 410-764-3038.
Maryland Divorce Law and Public Access
Washington County divorce cases are governed by Maryland family law statutes. Md. Code, Family Law Section 7-101 sets the residency requirement: at least one party must have lived in Maryland for six months or more before the divorce can be filed here. Washington County residents who meet that requirement file at the Circuit Court. Grounds for divorce under Md. Code, Family Law Section 7-103 include mutual consent, six-month separation, and several other bases that the court will evaluate at the hearing.
Public access to divorce records in Maryland is governed by Maryland Rule 16-902, which says that most court records are open to the public. That means most documents in a Washington County divorce file can be viewed or copied by anyone. The exception is Maryland Rule 16-934, which covers shielding of sensitive information. Financial statements, account numbers, Social Security numbers, and records involving minor children are shielded by default. Some cases involving domestic violence may have additional protections. When you receive a copy of a divorce record from Washington County, shielded information will be redacted.
Cities in Washington County
All cities and communities in Washington County file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Hagerstown. No cities in Washington County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Hagerstown is the county seat and the location of the courthouse where all filings are handled.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders Frederick County to the east and Allegany County to the west. Divorce cases are filed in the county where either party lives in Maryland, so check your address before deciding where to file.