| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Register of Wills: 50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower, Suite 3220, Rockville, MD 20850. District Court (Rockville): 191 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850-2630 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (240) 777-9400; Register of Wills (240) 777-9600; District Court, Rockville (301) 563-8800 |
| 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 |
Montgomery County is Maryland's most populous jurisdiction, and its Clerk of the Circuit Court, Karen A. Bushell, keeps the felony, civil, family, and most probate-related filings for the Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. Unlike three of the other four counties on this site, Montgomery County has no separately elected Orphans' Court — sitting Circuit Court judges hear those cases instead.
Case information for the Circuit Court is searched through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search, not a county-only portal. Montgomery County's own circuit-court website mainly covers scheduling, forms, and self-help resources rather than a separate case index.
The District Court of Maryland, District 6, is a completely separate system with its own clerk's offices, serving Montgomery County from courthouses in Rockville and Silver Spring. It handles landlord-tenant cases, smaller civil claims, traffic tickets, and misdemeanors. Estate and probate matters go to the Register of Wills, a third, separately elected office with its own courthouse suite.
Search Montgomery County court records online
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County
- Cost
- Free to search Maryland Judiciary Case Search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Circuit Court felony criminal, civil, and family case records for Montgomery County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
The county's own Circuit Court website (montgomerycountymd.gov/circuit-court) has forms, scheduling, and self-help information; case search itself runs through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Other courts
District Court of Maryland, District 6 (Rockville)
- Cost
- Free to search Maryland Judiciary Case Search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Landlord-tenant, smaller civil claims, misdemeanors, and traffic cases for Montgomery County, heard at the Rockville and Silver Spring 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 Montgomery County
- Cost
- Free to review; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Estate administration and probate filings for Montgomery County
- Records
- Probate
The Register of Wills serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court function, which in Montgomery County is presided over by Circuit Court judges rather than separately elected Orphans' Court judges.
What is available online
Circuit Court, District Court, and Appellate Court case information for Montgomery County is searched through the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal rather than a county-specific case lookup. Coverage and document availability depend on when a case was filed and whether it moved through the statewide MDEC electronic case-management system, which went live statewide by May 2024. 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
Montgomery County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Register of Wills: 50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower, Suite 3220, Rockville, MD 20850. District Court (Rockville): 191 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850-2630
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (240) 777-9400; Register of Wills (240) 777-9600; District Court, Rockville (301) 563-8800
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 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, in person or by mail. 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, North Tower, Suite 3220. 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 Rockville or Silver Spring 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
How do I look up a Montgomery County court case?
Use the statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal. Montgomery County does not run a separate case-search website; the Circuit Court's own site is mainly forms and scheduling information.
Who has probate records in Montgomery County?
The Register of Wills for Montgomery County, located at 50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower, Suite 3220 in Rockville. Montgomery County has no separately elected Orphans' Court judges; Circuit Court judges hear those matters.
Where do I find Montgomery County traffic and landlord-tenant cases?
The District Court of Maryland, District 6, which sits in Rockville and Silver Spring, handles landlord-tenant disputes, smaller civil claims, traffic tickets, and misdemeanors for Montgomery County.
Can I get a certified copy of a Montgomery County Circuit Court record by mail?
Yes. Write to the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850, with the case number, the document you need, and whether it must be certified. Call ahead to confirm the current fee.
Sources
- Maryland Courts — Montgomery County Directory — https://www.mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/montgomery
- Montgomery County Circuit Court — https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/circuit-court
- Register of Wills for Montgomery County — https://registers.maryland.gov/main/montgomery.html
- Maryland Courts — District Court, Rockville (District 6) — https://www.mdcourts.gov/district/directories/montgomeryROCKVILLE
- 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.