| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. Register of Wills: Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air, MD 21014. District Court: 2 South Bond Street, Suite 100, Bel Air, MD 21014-3737 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (410) 638-3426, toll-free in Maryland (800) 989-8296; Register of Wills (410) 638-3275; District Court (410) 836-4545 |
| Hours | Circuit Court Clerk, District Court, and Register of Wills all 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, except legal holidays; Register of Wills payment windows close at 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 |
Harford County, northeast of Baltimore along I-95, is Maryland's eighth most populous county. Its court records are kept by three separate offices, all within a few blocks of each other in downtown Bel Air. The Circuit Court for Harford County, established in 1851 and part of the Third Judicial Circuit with Baltimore County, sits at the historic courthouse at 20 West Courtland Street, where the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, Michelle Karczeski, keeps felony, family, juvenile, and larger civil case files.
The District Court of Maryland, District 9, is a short walk away at 2 South Bond Street. It is a state-run court with its own clerk staff and handles traffic, misdemeanors, landlord-tenant cases, and civil claims up to $30,000. The Register of Wills, Derek K. Hopkins, is in the Mutual Fire Insurance Building at 18 Office Street and keeps estate and probate records.
Harford is one of three Maryland counties, with Howard and Montgomery, where sitting circuit court judges serve as the Orphans' Court instead of separately elected Orphans' Court judges, so contested estate matters are heard by the same bench that hears circuit court cases even though the files stay with the Register of Wills.
Search Harford County court records online
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford 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 Harford County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
The Circuit Court's own page lists a separate court phone, (410) 838-4952, distinct from the clerk's general line. Case search runs through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Other courts
District Court of Maryland, District 9 (Harford County, Bel Air)
- 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 Harford County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Located at 2 South Bond Street, Suite 100, a separate building from the Circuit Court. Parking is on the street, in a lot behind the building, or in a fee garage at Pennsylvania and Hickory.
Other courts
Register of Wills for Harford County
- Cost
- Free to review; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Estate administration and probate filings for Harford County; the Register serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court
- Records
- Probate
The office's cash registers close at 4:00 p.m., so arrive earlier if paying for copies. Filings cannot be submitted by email.
What is available online
Circuit Court and District Court case information for Harford County is searched through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal. There is no county-run case index. Harford County is on the Judiciary's MDEC electronic filing system for circuit court cases. Estate files are searchable in the Register of Wills' statewide estate search, and recorded deeds are in mdlandrec.net, both separate from the court case index.
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
Harford County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. Register of Wills: Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air, MD 21014. District Court: 2 South Bond Street, Suite 100, Bel Air, MD 21014-3737
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (410) 638-3426, toll-free in Maryland (800) 989-8296; Register of Wills (410) 638-3275; District Court (410) 836-4545
Hours: Circuit Court Clerk, District Court, and Register of Wills all 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, except legal holidays; Register of Wills payment windows close at 4:00 p.m.
Circuit Court records. Request copies from the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, in person or by mail. Provide the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing year, and say 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.
Estate and probate records. Contact the Register of Wills at 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, or by phone at (410) 638-3275. Payment windows close at 4:00 p.m. even though the office is open until 4:30.
District Court records. Contact the District Court clerk's office at 2 South Bond Street, Suite 100, (410) 836-4545, for traffic, misdemeanor, landlord-tenant, and small civil files. The District Court is a separate court from the Circuit Court and its clerks do not have access to circuit court files.
Getting there. From I-95 take Exit 77B toward Bel Air; the Harford Transit Bel Air Town Go Round (Route 3) serves the downtown court buildings.
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
Where is the Harford County courthouse?
The Circuit Court for Harford County is at 20 West Courtland Street in Bel Air. The District Court is a separate building at 2 South Bond Street, and the Register of Wills is at 18 Office Street.
How do I look up a Harford County court case online?
Use the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal, which covers both the Circuit Court and the District Court for Harford County. Sealed, shielded, and juvenile cases do not appear.
Who hears probate disputes in Harford County?
Harford is one of three Maryland counties where sitting circuit court judges serve as the Orphans' Court. The files themselves are kept by the Register of Wills at 18 Office Street.
Which court handles a Harford County traffic ticket?
The District Court of Maryland, District 9, at 2 South Bond Street in Bel Air, which handles all traffic and motor-vehicle violations along with misdemeanors and smaller civil cases.
Sources
- Maryland Courts — Harford County Directory — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/harford
- Circuit Court for Harford County — Clerk's Office — https://www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/harford
- Circuit Court for Harford County — https://www.mdcourts.gov/circuit/harford
- Maryland Courts — District Court, Harford County — https://www.mdcourts.gov/district/directories/harford
- Register of Wills for Harford County — https://registers.maryland.gov/main/harford.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.