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Harford County, Maryland public records

In Harford County, deeds are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County - Land Records Department; property values come from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Harford County; court files are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Voter records
  11. Historical records
  12. Good to know about Harford County records
  13. Office addresses, phones and hours
  14. Records that are not online: public records requests
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County - Land Records Department3Search deeds2Free search$0.50 per page; plat copies $1.00 ($0.50 for 11x17)3
Property values and ownersMaryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Harford County4Property search4—
Property tax billsHarford County Treasury - Bureau of Revenue Collections5Tax bill search5—
Court casesClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County6Circuit Court for Harford County4
District Court of Maryland4		Copies $0.50/page; certification $5.00 plus $0.50/page; exemplification $10.00 plus $0.50/page; civil action filing $165 (self-represented) or $185 (with attorney)6
Marriage recordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County6——
Divorce recordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County6——
Birth certificatesHarford County Health Department - Vital Records7—$30.00 per certified birth certificate at the Harford County Health Department (cash or credit card)7
Death certificatesHarford County Health Department - Vital Records7—$20.00 per copy at the Harford County Health Department8
Probate and willsRegister of Wills for Harford County10Search probate cases9—

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Harford County are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County - Land Records Department.3

Online search
landrec.msa.maryland.gov2Free search
Cost
Free (account required)2
Copy fee
$0.50 per page; plat copies $1.00 ($0.50 for 11x17)3
Certified copy fee
$5.00 per certified copy in addition to $0.50/page3
Recording fee
$40 surcharge (most documents) plus recording fee: $10 releases 9 pages or less; $20 other instruments 9 pages or less (or principal residence); $75 for 10+ pages not principal residence3
How to order
Complete the Request for Records form and email it to the Land Records Department, or ask at the counter3
Recording steps
Every deed must be stamped by Harford County (Revenue Collections, 220 S. Main Street) before recording; deeds in Aberdeen, Bel Air or Havre de Grace are first stamped by the municipality. A Certificate of Tax Lien is required before transfer.11

How deeds work in Maryland

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) - Harford County sets property values4; the Harford County Treasury - Bureau of Revenue Collections bills and collects the tax5.

Appealing a value
Assessments are set by SDAT and can be appealed to the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board5
Tax calendar
Bills mailed July 1; pay by September 30 without added costs; unpaid by April 1 go to the annual tax sale5
Lien certificate
Certificate of Tax Lien application (PDF) or order online from the bill search screen; questions 410-638-326913

How property tax works in Maryland

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court for Harford CountyJury trials, serious criminal, major civil, divorce/family law, juvenile; also presides over the Orphans' CourtClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (civil and family)casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch4
District Court of Maryland (Harford County)Landlord-tenant, replevin, motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors and certain felonies—casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch4
Fees
Copies $0.50/page; certification $5.00 plus $0.50/page; exemplification $10.00 plus $0.50/page; civil action filing $165 (self-represented) or $185 (with attorney)6

Criminal records and background checks

How Maryland courts keep their files

Marriage records

Licensing Department, 24 Office Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 (across from the Circuit courthouse); 410-638-3489 or 410-638-358614

Marriage license fee
$50 non-refundable (cash or credit card)14
Certified copy
$5.50 each (Harford County marriage records only); in person, mail, email, fax or phone14
Waiting period
Effective 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance; expires 6 months after the waiting period14
Civil ceremony
$25 non-refundable, by appointment, Ceremonial Room at 24 Office Street; guest limit 2014

Divorce records

Kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (civil and family).6

Copies
Divorce cases are filed in the Circuit Court; certified copy of a judgment of divorce $5.00 plus $0.50 per page6

Birth certificates

Kept by the Harford County Health Department - Vital Records.7

Fee
$30.00 per certified birth certificate at the Harford County Health Department (cash or credit card)7
Coverage
Births in Maryland 1940 to present on the state online system; earlier births from the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore7
How to order
Walk-in at the Health Department, or online/mail through the Maryland Department of Health7
Veterans
One free certified birth certificate for veterans and active service members (DD214 or military ID)7

Ordering a Maryland birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Harford County Health Department - Vital Records.7

Fee
$20.00 per copy at the Harford County Health Department8
Who may
A surviving relative (with proof of relationship), an authorized representative, or a party with a court order or business/insurance need8

Ordering a Maryland death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Register of Wills for Harford County (Orphans' Court).10

Finding a will or probate case in Maryland

Voter records

Kept by the Harford County Board of Elections.15

Official page
harfordvotes.gov16

Historical records

Courthouse
First courthouse built in Bel Air in 1791; it burned in 1858, but its fireproof wings holding the clerk's and register of wills' offices were saved; a new courthouse was ready in 185917

Good to know about Harford County records

  • Circuit Court judges, not separately elected Orphans' Court judges, preside over the Orphans' Court in Harford County (one of two Maryland counties)18
  • The 1858 courthouse fire destroyed the central building but the fireproof wings housing the clerk's office and register of wills were saved17
  • Harford County must stamp every deed before recording, even when no tax is due; the county transfer tax (1%) and recordation tax ($6.60 per $1,000) are collected by County Revenue Collections, not the Clerk11
  • Plats are recorded only on Wednesdays and Fridays, in person, with coordination by Planning and Zoning3
  • Foreign (out-of-state) marriages of a Maryland resident can be recorded at the License Department at no fee14
  • The Register of Wills moved to the Mutual Fire Insurance Building at 18 Office Street10

Office addresses, phones and hours

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County - Land Records Department

Address
20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 210143
Mail
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Land Records Department, 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 (documents needing County Revenue review go first to Harford County Revenue, 220 S Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014)3
Phone
410-638-3474 (fax 410-879-6449)3
Hours
8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (except State holidays); courier/title company recording cutoff 4:00pm3

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County

Address
20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 2101419
Hours
8:30 AM-4:30 PM19

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (civil and family)

Address
20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 210146
Hours
8:30 AM-4:30 PM6

Register of Wills for Harford County (Orphans' Court)

Address
Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air, Maryland 2101410
Hours
8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday; cash registers close at 4:00pm; open by appointment only on a limited basis10

Harford County Treasury - Bureau of Revenue Collections

Address
220 S. Main Street, Bel Air, MD 2101411
Phone
410-638-3269 (Revenue Collections)20
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.11

Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) - Harford County

Phone
410-836-4800 (Maryland Assessment & Taxation)20

Harford County Health Department - Vital Records

Address
120 S. Hays Street, Bel Air MD 2101421
Hours
Walk-in 8 am-4 pm Monday-Friday (closed for lunch 12:30-1:00 pm); 3-3:45 pm by appointment only7

Harford County Mapping (WebGIS Data Viewer)

Harford County Board of Elections

Address
133 Industry Lane, Forest Hill, MD 2105022
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (longer working hours if required by law)22

Harford County Sheriff's Office

Records that are not online: public records requests

Fees
Electronic copies free; $0.30/page black and white, $1.00/page color, $5.00 thumb drive; staff time over two hours charged16
Where to send it
Requests to state agencies in the county (Circuit Court, District Court, Elections, library, schools) go to those agencies directly16

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Harford County?

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County - Land Records Department keeps deed records. To order copies: Complete the Request for Records form and email it to the Land Records Department, or ask at the counter. Plain copies: $0.50 per page; plat copies $1.00 ($0.50 for 11x17). Certified copies: $5.00 per certified copy in addition to $0.50/page.3

Can I search Harford County land records online for free?

Yes. Free (account required). The official search: landrec.msa.maryland.gov2

How much is a birth certificate in Harford County?

$30.00 per certified birth certificate at the Harford County Health Department (cash or credit card).7

How much does a marriage license cost in Harford County?

$50 non-refundable (cash or credit card).14

How do I look up who owns a property in Harford County?

Use the property search of the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) - Harford County: sdat.dat.maryland.gov/…4

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 Harford County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties and independent cities in Maryland with a full guide: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Charles County, Frederick County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, St. Mary's County, Washington County, Wicomico County. Every county and independent city in the state: Maryland county and independent city list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 23 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Land Records (Court Help)Maryland Judiciary
  3. Land RecordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (Maryland Judiciary)archived copy
  4. Court Records (Case Search)Maryland Judiciary
  5. Real Property TaxHarford County Government
  6. Civil FeesClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (Maryland Judiciary)archived copy
  7. Birth CertificatesHarford County Health Department
  8. Death CertificatesHarford County Health Department
  9. Estate Search FAQMaryland Registers of Wills
  10. Register of Wills for Harford CountyMaryland Registers of Wills
  11. Transfer, Recordation TaxHarford County Government
  12. MappingHarford County Government
  13. Certificate of Tax LienHarford County Government
  14. Marriage License InformationClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (Maryland Judiciary)archived copy
  15. State Agencies in Harford CountyHarford County Government
  16. Maryland Public Information Act Requests (MPIAs)Harford County Government
  17. Historic CourthouseClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (Maryland Judiciary)archived copy
  18. Directory of CourtsMaryland Judiciary
  19. Clerk's Office, Circuit Court for Harford CountyClerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County (Maryland Judiciary)archived copy
  20. Harford County Bill Pay (Property / Water Bills Search)Harford County Government
  21. Vital RecordsHarford County Health Department
  22. Harford County Board of Elections
  23. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau