| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 (mail: PO Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754). Register of Wills: 401 Bosley Avenue, Room 500, Towson, MD 21204. District Court (Towson): 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21286-5307 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (410) 887-2601; Register of Wills (410) 887-6680; District Court, Towson (410) 512-2000 |
| Hours | Circuit Court Clerk and District Court 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday; Register of Wills 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., no walk-in customers after 4:00 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.50 per page (circuit court clerks) |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 per document plus $0.50 per page; exemplified (triple-seal) copy $10.00 |
Baltimore County surrounds, but is legally separate from, Baltimore City — the two have never shared a government, and this page covers only the county. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, Julie L. Ensor, keeps felony, civil, family, and most probate-related filings at the County Courts Building in Towson. Unlike the Montgomery and Prince George's clerk pages, Baltimore County's clerk's-office website is hosted directly on mdcourts.gov rather than a separate county domain.
The Register of Wills is a separate elected office in the same courthouse that handles estate and probate matters; Orphans' Court judges here must be members of the Maryland bar. The District Court of Maryland, District 8, is an entirely separate system with locations in Towson, Catonsville, and Essex, covering landlord-tenant cases, smaller civil claims, traffic, and misdemeanors.
Search Baltimore County court records online
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County
- Cost
- Free to search Maryland Judiciary Case Search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Circuit Court felony criminal, civil, and family case records for Baltimore County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
The clerk's office page is hosted on mdcourts.gov at /clerks/baltimore; case search itself runs through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Other courts
District Court of Maryland, District 8 (Towson)
- Cost
- Free to search Maryland Judiciary Case Search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Landlord-tenant, smaller civil claims, misdemeanors, and traffic cases for Baltimore County, heard at the Towson, Catonsville, and Essex District Court locations
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
District Court clerk's offices are run by Judiciary staff, separate from the elected Circuit Court clerk.
Other courts
Register of Wills for Baltimore County
- Cost
- Free to review; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Estate administration and probate filings for Baltimore County
- Records
- Probate
Orphans' Court judges in Baltimore County must be members of the Maryland bar.
What is available online
Circuit Court, District Court, and appellate case information for Baltimore County is searched through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal rather than a county-only lookup. Land records are searched separately through the statewide mdlandrec.net system.
Which clerk has your record
In Maryland, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Maryland page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Appellate Court of Maryland | Civil and criminal appeals as of right from the circuit courts; Appeals from certain administrative agencies | Clerk of the Appellate Court of Maryland |
| Circuit Courts (one per county and Baltimore City, 8 judicial circuits) | Felony criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil cases above the District Court's monetary limit | Clerk of the Circuit Court for the county or Baltimore City |
| District Court of Maryland (statewide, 12 numbered districts) | Landlord-tenant and eviction cases; Civil claims up to $30,000; Misdemeanors and certain felonies | District Court Clerk's Office for that district location (Judiciary employees, not an elected county clerk) |
| Orphans' Court | Probate of wills; Estate administration disputes; Guardianship of property in some cases | Register of Wills, who serves as Clerk to the Orphans' Court |
Request records in person or by mail
Baltimore County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 (mail: PO Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754). Register of Wills: 401 Bosley Avenue, Room 500, Towson, MD 21204. District Court (Towson): 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21286-5307
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (410) 887-2601; Register of Wills (410) 887-6680; District Court, Towson (410) 512-2000
Hours: Circuit Court Clerk and District Court 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday; Register of Wills 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., no walk-in customers after 4:00 p.m.
Circuit Court records. Request copies from the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, in person or by mail to PO Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Include the case number if known, the party names and approximate filing year if not, exactly which document is needed, and whether it must be certified.
Estate and probate records. Contact the Register of Wills at the same building, Room 500. Ask for the specific document, such as letters testamentary or the order admitting a will to probate.
District Court records. Contact the District Court clerk's office at the Towson, Catonsville, or Essex location that heard the case; District Court clerks are separate from the Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Maryland |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.50 per page (circuit court clerks) |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per document plus $0.50 per page; exemplified (triple-seal) copy $10.00 |
From the Judiciary's Summary of Charges, Costs, and Fees of the Clerks of the Circuit Court effective October 1, 2025 (Schedule II I 1 and I 3; Courts Article §§ 2-201(b) and 7-202). No fee for mailing copies. Certain copies are free to former and active armed forces members and beneficiaries. This schedule applies to circuit court clerks only; District Court and Register of Wills copy fees are set separately, so confirm with those offices.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Maryland court records are open to the public by default under the Maryland Rules on access to court records (Rules 16-901 through 16-912, "Access to Court Records," Title 16, Chapter 900), but several categories are removed from public view:
The Maryland guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Is Baltimore County the same as Baltimore City?
No. Baltimore County and Baltimore City are separate jurisdictions with separate Circuit Court clerks, District Court locations, and Registers of Wills. Baltimore City has been independent of the county since 1851.
How do I search Baltimore County court records?
Use the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal. The Clerk of the Circuit Court's page is hosted directly on mdcourts.gov, but the case index itself is the statewide portal.
Who keeps probate records in Baltimore County?
The Register of Wills, located in the same County Courts Building as the Circuit Court Clerk in Towson. Orphans' Court judges here must be members of the Maryland bar.
Where are Baltimore County traffic and eviction cases heard?
The District Court of Maryland, District 8, with locations in Towson, Catonsville, and Essex, handles landlord-tenant, smaller civil, traffic, and misdemeanor cases for the county.
Sources
- Maryland Courts — Baltimore County Directory — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/baltimore
- Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk's Office — https://www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/baltimore
- Register of Wills for Baltimore County — https://registers.maryland.gov/main/baltimore.html
- Maryland Courts — District Court, Towson (District 8) — https://www.mdcourts.gov/district/directories/baltimorecountyTOWSON
- Maryland Courts — Courts Directory — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/appellate
- Maryland Courts — District Court of Maryland — https://www.mdcourts.gov/district
- Maryland Courts — Orphans' Court — https://www.mdcourts.gov/orphanscourt
- Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal — https://www.mdcourts.gov/casesearch
- Maryland Courts — Court Records — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courts/courtrecords
- DPSCS — Criminal History Background Checks — https://dpscs.maryland.gov/publicservs/bgchecks.shtml
- Maryland Register of Wills — Directory of Offices — https://registers.maryland.gov/main/directory.html
- Maryland Courts — Circuit Court Fee Schedule — https://www.mdcourts.gov/circuit/feeschedule
- Summary of Charges, Costs, and Fees of the Clerks of the Circuit Court (effective October 1, 2025) [PDF] — https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/import/circuit/feesummaryschedule.pdf
- Maryland Courts — Expungement (Adult) — https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/expungement
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-105 — https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcp§ion=10-105&enactments=false
See also: all Maryland counties.