| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Clerk of the Circuit Court for Charles County |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Register of Wills: Courthouse, 11 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646 (mail: PO Box 3080, La Plata, MD 20646-3080). District Court: 11 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646 (mail: PO Box 3070, La Plata, MD 20646-3070) |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (301) 932-3201 or (301) 870-2659; Register of Wills (301) 932-3345; District Court (301) 934-5110 |
| Hours | Circuit Court Clerk, District Court, and Register of Wills all 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, except legal holidays |
| 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 |
Charles County, in Southern Maryland below Prince George's County, is the state's tenth most populous county. Its courts are in the county seat of La Plata, split between two addresses a few blocks apart. The Circuit Court for Charles County, part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit with Calvert, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties, sits at 200 Charles Street, where the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, Lisa Yates, keeps felony, family, juvenile, and larger civil case files.
The older courthouse at 11 Washington Avenue houses both the District Court of Maryland, District 4, and the Register of Wills, Loraine D. Hennessy. The District Court is a separate statewide court with its own clerk staff and handles traffic, misdemeanors, landlord-tenant matters, and civil claims up to $30,000. The Register of Wills keeps estate and probate files and serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court.
One practical detail matters for mail requests: the Register of Wills states that mail sent to its street address will be returned, and must instead go to PO Box 3080. The District Court likewise lists a PO Box, 3070, alongside its street address. The Circuit Court clerk's mailing address has been 200 Charles Street since March 2018.
Search Charles County court records online
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Charles County
- Cost
- Free to search Maryland Judiciary Case Search; 50 cents per page for copies, $5 plus copy charge for certification
- Coverage
- Circuit Court felony criminal, civil, family, and juvenile case records for Charles County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
Two general information numbers are listed, (301) 932-3201 and (301) 870-2659. Case search runs through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Other courts
District Court of Maryland, District 4 (Charles County, La Plata)
- Cost
- Free to search Maryland Judiciary Case Search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Landlord-tenant, replevin, civil claims up to $30,000, traffic, and misdemeanor cases for Charles County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
At 11 Washington Avenue, a different building from the Circuit Court. The court lists a separate County Clerk line, (301) 934-5037, and an Accounting line, (301) 934-5056.
Other courts
Register of Wills for Charles County
- Cost
- Free to review; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Estate administration and probate filings for Charles County; the Register serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court
- Records
- Probate
Mail must go to PO Box 3080, La Plata, MD 20646-3080; the office says mail sent to the 11 Washington Avenue street address is returned to sender.
What is available online
Circuit Court and District Court case information for Charles County is searched through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal; there is no county-specific case search. Circuit court filings go through the Judiciary's MDEC electronic system. Estate files are indexed in the Register of Wills' statewide estate search on registers.maryland.gov, and recorded deeds are in the separate mdlandrec.net land records 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
Charles County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Register of Wills: Courthouse, 11 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646 (mail: PO Box 3080, La Plata, MD 20646-3080). District Court: 11 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646 (mail: PO Box 3070, La Plata, MD 20646-3070)
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (301) 932-3201 or (301) 870-2659; Register of Wills (301) 932-3345; District Court (301) 934-5110
Hours: Circuit Court Clerk, District Court, and Register of Wills all 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, except legal holidays
Circuit Court records. Request copies from the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, in person or by mail. Provide the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing year, and state which document you need and whether it must be certified. Statewide circuit court fees are 50 cents per page for plain copies and $5 per document plus the per-page charge for certified copies. Call (301) 932-3201 first if you are unsure which department holds the file.
Estate and probate records. Contact the Register of Wills at 11 Washington Avenue, or by phone at (301) 932-3345. Written requests must be addressed to PO Box 3080, La Plata, MD 20646-3080; the office warns that mail sent to the street address is returned.
District Court records. Contact the District Court clerk's office, also at 11 Washington Avenue, (301) 934-5110, for traffic, misdemeanor, landlord-tenant, and small civil files. The District Court and the Register of Wills share a building but are unrelated offices.
Getting there. From the Capital Beltway take Route 5 south about 40 miles to La Plata; at Route 301 and Route 6 turn left, then left again onto Washington Avenue. Charles County VanGo La Plata B bus serves the courthouse, and parking is on both sides of the street.
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
Which building has Charles County court records?
It depends on the court. Circuit Court files (felonies, divorce, custody, larger civil cases) are at 200 Charles Street. District Court files (traffic, misdemeanors, evictions, claims up to $30,000) and Register of Wills estate files are at 11 Washington Avenue.
Where do I mail a records request to the Charles County Register of Wills?
To PO Box 3080, La Plata, MD 20646-3080. The Register's office states that mail sent to the 11 Washington Avenue street address is returned to sender.
How do I search Charles County court records online?
Through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal, which covers both the Circuit Court and the District Court for Charles County. Sealed, shielded, and juvenile cases are excluded.
Which judicial circuit is Charles County in?
The Seventh Judicial Circuit, together with Calvert, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties. Each county still has its own separately elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and Register of Wills.
Sources
- Maryland Courts — Charles County Directory — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/charles
- Circuit Court for Charles County — Clerk's Office — https://www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/charles
- Maryland Courts — District Court, Charles County — https://www.mdcourts.gov/district/directories/charles
- Register of Wills for Charles County — https://registers.maryland.gov/main/charles.html
- Maryland Courts — Circuit Court Fee Schedule — https://www.mdcourts.gov/circuit/feeschedule
- 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
- 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.