| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Clerk of the Circuit Court for Frederick County |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk, District Court, and Register of Wills all at the Frederick County Courthouse, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (301) 600-1976, toll-free in Maryland (800) 341-8797, Records Room (301) 600-1957; Register of Wills (301) 600-6565; District Court (301) 600-2000 |
| 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., open to the public until 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 |
Frederick County is Maryland's fastest-growing large county and its seventh most populous. Unusually for Maryland, all three of its record-keeping offices share one address: the courthouse at 100 West Patrick Street in downtown Frederick houses the Circuit Court for Frederick County and its elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, Sandra K. Dalton; the District Court of Maryland, District 11; and the Register of Wills, Mary C. Rolle, who also serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court.
Sharing a building does not mean sharing a clerk. The Circuit Court keeps felony, family, juvenile, and larger civil files and is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit with Montgomery County. The District Court is a statewide court with its own Judiciary-employed clerk staff and its own phone number, and it holds the files for traffic, misdemeanor, landlord-tenant, and civil cases up to $30,000. The Register of Wills keeps estate files and is reached on a third phone line.
The Circuit Court clerk's office publishes direct department numbers, including a dedicated Records Room line, which is the fastest route to an older or archived circuit court file. Certified copies and record requests are handled by mail, telephone, and email as well as at the counter.
Search Frederick County court records online
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Frederick 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 Frederick County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
Department lines listed by the clerk include Civil (301-600-2969), Criminal (301-600-1932), Family/Child Support (301-600-1977), Juvenile (301-600-1968), and the Records Room (301-600-1957). Case search runs through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Other courts
District Court of Maryland, District 11 (Frederick County)
- 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 Frederick County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Located in the same courthouse at 100 W. Patrick Street as the Circuit Court, but with a separate clerk's office and phone number.
Other courts
Register of Wills for Frederick County
- Cost
- Free to review; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Estate administration and probate filings for Frederick County; the Register serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court
- Records
- Probate
The office is staffed 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. but open to the public only until 4:00 p.m. Filings cannot be submitted by email.
What is available online
Circuit Court and District Court case information for Frederick County is searched through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal; the county has no separate case index. Frederick County circuit court filings go through the MDEC electronic system, and the clerk also accepts filings by drop box and regular mail. The Register of Wills' estate files are indexed in the statewide estate search on registers.maryland.gov, and recorded land documents are in mdlandrec.net.
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
Frederick County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk, District Court, and Register of Wills all at the Frederick County Courthouse, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (301) 600-1976, toll-free in Maryland (800) 341-8797, Records Room (301) 600-1957; Register of Wills (301) 600-6565; District Court (301) 600-2000
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., open to the public until 4:00 p.m.
Circuit Court records. Ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick. The Records Room, (301) 600-1957, handles searches and copies of older files; the Civil, Criminal, and Family department lines can locate current cases. The clerk processes certified copies and record requests by mail, telephone, and email in addition to in person. Include the case number or party names and approximate year, the document you need, and whether it must be certified. Statewide circuit court fees are 50 cents per page and $5 per document for certification.
Estate and probate records. Contact the Register of Wills, also at 100 West Patrick Street, by phone at (301) 600-6565 or in person before 4:00 p.m. Ask for the specific document, such as letters of administration or an inventory.
District Court records. The District Court clerk's office at the same courthouse, (301) 600-2000, holds traffic, misdemeanor, landlord-tenant, and small civil files. Do not send District Court requests to the Circuit Court clerk; the two offices keep separate records.
Fee parking is available on the left as you approach the courthouse from Court Street; the Route 40 Connector bus also serves the building.
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
Are Frederick County's Circuit Court and District Court in the same building?
Yes. Both share the courthouse at 100 West Patrick Street, and so does the Register of Wills. Each has a separate clerk's office and phone number, so ask for the right one when you call or visit.
How do I get an old Frederick County Circuit Court file?
Call the Circuit Court clerk's Records Room at (301) 600-1957. The clerk's office says its Records Department conducts searches without restriction and processes copy requests by mail, phone, and email.
Can I search Frederick County court records online?
Yes, through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal, which covers both the Circuit Court and District Court for Frederick County. Sealed, shielded, and juvenile cases are not shown.
Who keeps probate records in Frederick County?
The Register of Wills for Frederick County, at 100 West Patrick Street, (301) 600-6565. The Register also serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court, which handles contested estate matters.
Sources
- Maryland Courts — Frederick County Directory — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/frederick
- Circuit Court for Frederick County — Clerk's Office — https://www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/frederick
- Maryland Courts — District Court, Frederick County — https://www.mdcourts.gov/district/directories/frederick
- Register of Wills for Frederick County — https://registers.maryland.gov/main/frederick.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.