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Maryland public records: who holds what

In Maryland, deeds are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court; birth and death certificates come from the MDH Vital Statistics Administration, Division of Vital Records; and requests for other government records fall under the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA / MPIA). Below: who holds every other record, what copies cost and the official link for each office.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Who holds what in Maryland
  2. Public records law in Maryland
  3. Marriage records in Maryland
  4. Divorce records in Maryland
  5. How Maryland organizes its records
  6. Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps
  7. Counties in Maryland
  8. Warnings from official sources
  9. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  10. Official directories
  11. Sources

Who holds what in Maryland

The office that keeps each record, and the fee the law or the office sets for a copy. Open a record type for the full rules, ordering steps and older records.

RecordWho holds itCopy fee
DeedsDepartment of Land Records in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of each of the 23 counties and Baltimore City (24 offices)1$0.50 per page (plats $0.50 per 11x17 page, $1 per larger page)2
Property recordsState Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) assesses all real property (one local SDAT assessment office in each county and Baltimore City); each property reappraised once every three years3—
Court recordsUnified state Judiciary: Supreme Court of Maryland and Appellate Court of Maryland (Annapolis); Circuit Courts in each of the 23 counties and Baltimore City (8 judicial circuits; jury trials, serious criminal, major civil, divorce/family); District Court of Maryland (34 locations in 12 districts; landlord-tenant, traffic, misdemeanors, exclusive jurisdiction in civil claims of $5,000 or less; concurrent with the circuit courts above $5,000 but less than $30,000).4Circuit Court: copies $0.50/page; certification $5 + $0.50/page. District Court: photocopies $0.50/page; certification $5 per request plus photocopy fee.5
Birth certificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration, Division of Vital Records (Baltimore); also some local health departments; records older than 100 years at Maryland State Archives6$10 per certified copy (MDH); online via VitalChek adds $13 processing; local health department fees vary7
Death certificatesMDH Division of Vital Records for deaths in 2012 or later; earlier deaths at the Maryland State Archives8$10 first certified copy, $12 each additional copy in the same transaction (MDH); VitalChek adds $13; local health departments set their own fees7
Probate and willsRegister of Wills (elected, 4-year term) in each county and Baltimore City; clerk to the Orphans' Court9Statutory: photocopies $0.50/page; copies incl. plain certification and seal $2/page; certified copy with seal $1; exemplified copy $210

Public records law in Maryland

Maryland Public Information Act (PIA / MPIA) (Md. Code, General Provisions §§ 4-101 et seq. (Title 4)) Read the law11

This law covers records that agencies hold, such as a county office's correspondence or a property file. Recorded deeds, vital records and court files usually have their own rules, set out in each record section.

Who can ask
Any person or governmental unit; no residency requirement in the statute. Written application generally required unless the record is on the custodian's 'available immediately' list or the custodian waives it.12
Response time
Grant or deny promptly, but not more than 30 days after receiving the application (50 days for applications covered by § 4-356, records depicting certain crime victims); if production will take more than 10 working days, the custodian must say so in writing within 10 working days with the expected time, a fee-range estimate and the reason. Denials need a written statement within 10 working days. Time limits can be extended up to 30 days with the requester's consent, and are extended while an Ombudsman or Board dispute is pending.13
If a request is refused
Three routes: (1) mediation by the Public Access Ombudsman (final determination within 90 days); (2) complaint to the State Public Information Act Compliance Board (only after Ombudsman says dispute unresolved; file within 30 days; Board handles denials, fees over $350, late responses); (3) complaint in circuit court (defendant bears burden; statutory damages up to $1,000 if a defendant knowingly and willfully failed to disclose; counsel fees possible).14
What is exempt
Custodian must deny where a record is privileged/confidential by law or disclosure would violate State/federal law, Supreme Court of Maryland rules or a court order; further mandatory (Part II-III) and discretionary (Part IV) exemptions in §§ 4-304 to 4-356 (e.g., adoption records, personnel records, home addresses of public employees). Act is construed in favor of inspection.15
Official guide
Office of the Attorney General, Maryland Public Information Act Manual (19th ed., 2024); list of agency PIA representatives in Appendix J16
Fees: general
Reasonable fee = actual costs of search, preparation and reproduction (staff/attorney time prorated)17
More on the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA / MPIA)
Fees: free search time
First 2 hours of search and preparation are free17
Fees: statutory fees override
Where another law sets a copy fee (e.g., court clerk, vital records, Register of Wills), that law applies17
Fees: waiver
Custodian may waive fees on request for indigent applicants (affidavit) or in the public interest17
Court records
Judicial records are governed by Maryland Rules 16-901 to 16-941 (not the PIA); presumed open subject to listed exceptions18

How to write a public records request

Marriage records in Maryland

License issued by
Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county where the ceremony will be performed19
Marriage license fee
$10 statutory base plus county-set domestic-violence surcharge (up to $25 generally; caps vary by county, e.g., up to $75 Baltimore City, $65 Frederick, $60 Prince George's); exact total varies by county20
Certified copy
State: MDH Division of Vital Records issues certified copies for marriages on or after January 1, 2007 ($12; record search fee not refunded). Earlier marriages: Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county or Maryland State Archives (MSA holds 1952-2011 for most counties; 1952-2015 for Anne Arundel and Montgomery; $25 certified / $5 uncertified).21
Who may order
State (MDH) copies: either spouse, a notarized-authorized representative, or an attorney for either spouse21
Confidentiality
Social Security numbers on applications are not public; until the license is effective, the clerk may not disclose that an application was made (except to a parent/guardian)22

How this works in other states: marriage records by state.

Divorce records in Maryland

Decree held by
Clerk of the Circuit Court that granted the divorce (copies $0.50/page; certified +$5)23
State verification
MDH Division of Vital Records issues a Verification of Divorce (not the decree) for divorces/annulments on or after January 1, 1992; $1223
Who may order
Either spouse, notarized-authorized representative, or attorney for either spouse (verification)23
Restrictions
Financial statements, child support worksheets and joint property statements filed in divorce cases are not public18
Older records
Maryland State Archives holds many modern court records including divorces; holdings vary by county24

How this works in other states: divorce records by state.

How Maryland organizes its records

  • Baltimore City is a county-equivalent with its own Circuit Court/Clerk (land records, marriage), Register of Wills, SDAT office and Board of Elections; Baltimore City and Baltimore County are separate jurisdictions25
  • Property assessment is a State function (SDAT), while billing/collection is county or Baltimore City26
  • Probate is handled by the elected Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court, separate from the Circuit Court; in Harford and Montgomery counties Circuit Court judges sit as the Orphans' Court4
  • Baltimore City's jail/central booking is operated by the State (DPSCS), not the city27
  • Court records are under Maryland Rules 16-901 to 16-941, not the PIA18
  • Vital records are split by year: MDH issues births, deaths (2012+), marriages (2007+) and divorce verifications; births over 100 years old, older deaths and older marriages are at the Maryland State Archives28

Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps

Criminal history checks

State repository
DPSCS Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) – Central Repository, fingerprint-based29
Fee
State-only check $18 mail-in / $38 in person (in-person includes a $20 CJIS service fee); full state + FBI check (authorized agencies only) $33 mail-in / $53 in person; private fingerprinting providers may charge their own fees. The FBI portion rose from $12 to $15 on October 1, 2026.30
Who may order
An individual may obtain their own record (fingerprints required); employment/licensing checks must be requested by the employer or licensing agency with a CJIS authorization number31
How to request
In Maryland: fingerprinting at an authorized provider; outside Maryland: request a fingerprint card from CJIS (P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708; 410-764-4501 / 1-888-795-0011); response in 10-15 days31

Sex offender registry

Official registry
Maryland Sex Offender Registry (DPSCS); search tool hosted by vendor (sheriffalerts.com / communitynotification.com) linked from the DPSCS page32

Inmate and jail lookups

State prisons
DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator (dpscs.maryland.gov/…): people committed to the Commissioner of Correction in Division of Correction facilities, Patuxent Institution and some short-sentenced people in pretrial facilities; released people not listed33
Baltimore city jail
Baltimore City pretrial detention is run by the State (DPSCS Division of Pretrial Detention and Services): Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center, Chesapeake Detention Facility, Metropolitan Transition Center, Baltimore Pre-trial Complex27

Voter records

Access
A copy of the voter registration list is provided to a Maryland registered voter who files a written application and a statement, signed under oath, that the list is not intended for commercial solicitation or any other purpose not related to the electoral process34
Fee
$125 per statewide list; $75 per county, district or municipality list; delivered within 10 working days35
Check your registration
Voters can check their own registration with the SBE Voter Lookup tool (voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/…)36
Who keeps them
State Board of Elections maintains files for the 24 local boards of elections35

Business names (DBA)

Who keeps them
Trade names (DBAs) are filed statewide with SDAT, not with counties37
Fee
$25 to file a trade name; $25 per amendment, cancellation or renewal; valid 5 years37
Search
Maryland Business Express Business Search (egov.maryland.gov/…) — SDAT entities and trade names38
Copy fees
Certified copy $20; certificate of status $20; SDAT-statute nonelectronic copy $1/page for other papers38

Liens and UCC filings

UCC filings
UCC financing statements are filed with SDAT, except fixture filings and as-extracted/timber collateral, which go in the county land records39
UCC fee
Recording a financing statement at SDAT: $50; $425 if 2-hour processing under § 1-203.2(b)(1) is requested40
Judgment liens
A money judgment indexed and recorded per the Maryland Rules is a lien on the debtor's land in that county (and other counties where recorded); judgments are found via Case Search, not land records41
Federal tax liens
Federal liens are recorded with the Circuit Court clerk (chart: $3, billed monthly)2
Property tax liens
Unpaid property taxes/municipal liens: check the county or Baltimore City finance office1

GIS and parcel maps

State GIS portal
MD iMAP (imap.maryland.gov), Maryland's enterprise GIS; data catalog at data.imap.maryland.gov42

Historical and genealogy records

State archives
Maryland State Archives (Annapolis): births to 1925, deaths to 2014, marriages 1952-2011/2015, court and land records; in-person self-service scans $1/page (first 20 free); orders online24
MDH referral
MDH refers genealogical researchers to the Maryland State Archives, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Peabody Library, Maryland Historical Society, State Law Library43
Name search
MSA has no online name search of its holdings; indexes by record type and county24

Counties in Maryland

15 counties with a full guide

Each guide lists the office for every record type, the official online searches, copy fees, phones and hours.

All 24 counties

Names in bold open our guide. Names with an arrow go to the county's own website, where the US Census Bureau lists one and it opened when we checked.44

Warnings from official sources

  • SDAT: never charges to provide assessment records or to file an appeal; beware unsolicited mail offering assessment records or appeals for a fee3
  • MDH Vital Records: phone scam targeting people who misdial; DVR never asks for SSN or card PIN; VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor45
  • MDH: other online services just mail your request; only VitalChek is authorized28
  • Maryland Judiciary: phone and text messages saying you must report to District Court or owe money are scams46
  • DPSCS Sex Offender Registry: law enforcement never asks registrants for money or gift cards32

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Maryland office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Official directories

Lists that name the office in every county.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 47 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Land Records (Court Help)Maryland Judiciary
  2. Summary of Charges, Costs, and Fees of the Clerks of the Circuit CourtMaryland Judiciary
  3. Real PropertyMaryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)archived copy
  4. Directory of CourtsMaryland Judiciary
  5. District Court of Maryland Cost Schedule (DCA-109)Maryland Judiciary
  6. Birth CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  7. Md. Code, Health-General § 4-217 (copies of vital records; fees)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  8. Request Death and Fetal Death CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  9. Maryland Register of Wills homeMaryland Registers of Wills
  10. Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 2-206 (Register of Wills fees)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  11. Office of the Attorney General - Public Information Act pageOffice of the Attorney General of Maryland
  12. Md. Code, General Provisions § 4-201 (inspection of public records)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  13. Md. Code, General Provisions § 4-203 (time limits; denial)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  14. Md. Code, General Provisions § 4-1A-05 (complaints to the Board)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  15. Md. Code, General Provisions § 4-301 (required denials - general)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  16. Office of the Attorney General - Maryland Public Information Act Manual page (19th Ed.)Office of the Attorney General of Maryland
  17. Md. Code, General Provisions § 4-206 (fees)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  18. District Court - Access to Judicial RecordsMaryland Judiciary
  19. Md. Code, Family Law § 2-401 (marriage license required)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  20. Md. Code, Family Law § 2-404 (marriage license fees)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  21. Marriage CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  22. Md. Code, Family Law § 2-402 (application for marriage license)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  23. Divorce VerificationMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  24. Frequently Asked QuestionsMaryland State Archives
  25. Estate Search FAQMaryland Registers of Wills
  26. Local Tax Billing/Collection OfficesMaryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)archived copy
  27. Division of Pretrial Detention and ServicesMaryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)archived copy
  28. Division of Vital RecordsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  29. Access to Court Records (Court Help)Maryland Judiciary
  30. Fingerprinting Services (fees)Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)archived copy
  31. Background Check ServicesMaryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)archived copy
  32. Maryland Sex Offender RegistryMaryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)archived copy
  33. Find an Incarcerated IndividualMaryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)archived copy
  34. Md. Code, Election Law § 3-506 (copies of voter registration lists)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  35. Voter Registration Data / list requestsMaryland State Board of Elections
  36. Voter RegistrationMaryland State Board of Elections
  37. Md. Code, Corporations and Associations § 1-406 (trade names)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  38. Maryland Business Express - Fee ScheduleMaryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) via Maryland Business Express (egov.maryland.gov)
  39. Md. Code, Commercial Law § 9-501 (UCC filing office)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  40. Md. Code, Corporations and Associations § 1-203 (SDAT fees)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  41. Md. Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 11-402 (judgment liens)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  42. MD iMAP - Maryland GISMaryland Department of Information Technology (MD iMAP)
  43. Genealogical InformationMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  44. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  45. Vital Statistics Administration homeMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  46. District Court of MarylandMaryland Judiciary
  47. Local health departments issuing certificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration