Maryland Court Records

Maryland divorces are Circuit Court cases heard by the equity court under Family Law Article 1-201, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court that granted the decree keeps the file. Judicial records are presumed open under Rule 16-904(a), but Rule 16-914 directs the clerk to deny inspection of a financial statement filed under the family rules, the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, the Joint Statement of Marital and Non-Marital Property and any income tax return. The Financial Statement form CC-DR-031 is stamped as restricted and filed with a notice under Rule 20-201.1, and the shorter CC-DR-030 is a financial statement under the same rules. The judgment, an incorporated settlement agreement, monetary award orders and QDROs are not on the withheld list and are open.

Maryland Judiciary Case Search lists Circuit Court civil cases with parties, dates and disposition and no images, so the file is read in person at the clerk's office, where copies are sold for a fee. Sealing anything more takes a petition under Rule 16-934 on form CC-DC-053 identifying the specific documents and reasons. The Maryland asset search page explains what the open documents still reveal.