Guide
About Maryland public records
Maryland's department of public safety's criminal records searches are official background checks for employers, persons seeking license qualifications or as an application requirement. Criminal, civil, traffic and civil citation cases within District and Circuit courts are electronically available freely online for any member of the public from the state's judicial site. Different Maryland departments adopt varying policies and services in order to satisfy records requests. An index of state and local county or city agencies allows visitors to clearly peruse what is available and from which departments across Maryland.
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State background and court information
Maryland became the 7th state in the US on April 28, 1788. Early economic growth came from tobacco and wheat crops. Today's economy is comprised of agriculture such as poultry, dairy and corn. Coal mining and steel are 2 of Maryland's major natural resources. Maryland is the country's 42 largest state with 12,407 square miles of territory with a population of 5.7 million residents.
The state has executive, legislative and judicial branches with 24 counties including Baltimore. The county government consists of commissioners, councils, executives, courts and works to govern localities in the state. The state's governor is the chief executive of the state with its own appointed cabinet. Cities provide residents with services such as fire and police departments, municipal courts for smaller disputes, city managers, clerks, city council, public works and other local agencies. Maryland has one of the least number of local governments in the U.S.
All of Maryland governing agencies local or state fall under the state's open record laws named the Maryland Public Information Act. Government agencies under PIA laws have a duty to provide a requestor any records deemed public information. The statutes have limitations in place to protect against abuses such as identity theft. Maryland enacted open record laws in 1973, seven years after the federal FOIA enacted in 1966 to provide its citizens government transparency. Reporters, researchers and members of the public, without being required to provide a reason, can inspect and copy budget information, transactions, planning, employee pay and assembly meetings. The departments have 30 days to provide or reject the PIA request.
As all state agencies fall under this law, so do the records in any particular department. This includes records from courts where a member of the general public can inspect and copy cases, divorces, criminal trials and other records kept in all venues. Residents can request a criminal history search from the department of public safety and correctional services to conduct a background check on any other resident. Births, deaths and marriages occurring in Maryland can be obtained from the department of public health's vital record division. The PIA can also be used for verification of professional licenses since it is state issued. The department of assessments and taxation online real property search will show the recorded owner's name and the property's details. Simple forms with how to instructions from Maryland's agencies are available to the public online the help begin your search.
The Maryland judiciary case database offers public access to court records. Online look up of divorces in family court cases. Find judgments, criminal trials and civil lawsuits occurring in courts statewide and from county to county. Instructions to look up UCC filings in Maryland can be found at the department of assessments and taxation website.
Maryland Orphans Court has jurisdiction to hears guardianships of minors and acts as the state's probate court, (except where such cases are handled by circuit court in Montgomery and Harford counties).
District Courts hear torts, contracts of $2,500 to $25,000, real property rights, miscellaneous civil, small claims jurisdiction ($2,500). Criminal cases of felony, misdemeanor, domestic violence, exclusive traffic and ordinance violations.
Circuit Courts handle torts, contracts, real property rights from $2,500 with no maximum, estate, civil, mental health, civil appeals jurisdiction. Domestic relations. Felony, misdemeanor, miscellaneous criminal. Exclusive criminal appeals jurisdiction. Juvenile.
Court of Special Appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, interlocutory decision cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, original proceeding cases.
Court of Appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, original proceeding, interlocutory decision cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, interlocutory decision cases.
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Court records and filings
Maryland court records are administered by the Maryland Judiciary. The Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in each county. The District Court handles less serious criminal and civil matters.
Case records are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us.
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Criminal records and background checks
Maryland criminal records are maintained by the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) under the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Background checks should be conducted through CJIS, not through the court system. State checks cost $18 and FBI checks cost $24. Court records are accessible through Maryland Judiciary Case Search, which provides public access to case records from both District Court and Circuit Courts. DPSCS maintains the Maryland Sex Offender Registry and the Incarcerated Individual Locator for offenders in state custody.
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Vital records
Certified copies of Maryland birth and death certificates are issued by the Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health. Marriage records are also kept by the local office that issued the license, and divorce records by the court that granted the divorce.
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Property and asset records
Locating Maryland assets can require searching various agencies and departments depending on how complete you need your report to be. Financial records such as bank accounts or personal information as well as other exceptions to the law are included to protect residents. Many assets such as records of property ownership are available to the public with an instant data search from each county offices. Find out the names under filings of corporations, LLCs, LLPs, partnerships and other business trade names.
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Government records and agencies
Maryland.gov lists the state's agencies and departments, and Maryland's statutes are online from the Maryland General Assembly.
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Driving and vehicle records
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration keeps driving records and handles vehicle registration.
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Expungements and record clearing
In Maryland, if a case meets certain conditions you may ask the court to expunge it, which removes the case from court and law enforcement records. Shielding is different: a shielded record leaves Case Search and public view.
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Genealogy and historical research
For family history, start with the Maryland State Archives.
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Missing children resources
The Maryland State Police keep Maryland's Missing Persons List, the cases reported to the state clearinghouse.
- Maryland's Missing Persons ListMaryland State Police
- NamUsU.S. Justice Department database of missing and unidentified people
Need a different Maryland record?
Browse county pages, search vital records, look up court filings, or run a background check from the main hub.