Baltimore County Divorce Records

Baltimore County divorce records are documents issued by the Baltimore County Circuit Court as official confirmation of the termination of marriages within Baltimore County, MD. In Baltimore County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the custodian of divorce records. This Office provides both online and offline access to Baltimore County divorce records.

How to find divorce records in Baltimore County may depend on the requester, the type of divorce document, and the date of the divorce. Individuals may access Baltimore County divorce records for remarriage, name change, and legal proceedings.

Maryland divorce rates. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Divorce Rate Statistics show that Maryland's divorce rate increased from 2.6 per 1,000 persons in 2022 to 2.7 per 1,000 in 2023. A similar trend may apply to Baltimore County.

Are Divorce Records Public in Baltimore County?

Yes, divorce records are public in Baltimore County, but with limitations. According to Maryland Rules of Court and the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), court records (including divorce cases) are publicly accessible. However, access to divorce records is limited to basic information, such as:

• Case number
• Names of parties
• Type of divorce (absolute or limited)
• Filing date and case status
• Court location
• Docket entries.

In contrast, only the parties to a divorce, their attorneys, and the court can access detailed documents and the full content of a Baltimore County divorce decree, including:

• Financial account information
• Personal documents such as exhibits, financial statements, and personal affidavits
• Information regarding minor children.

How to Find Divorce Records in Baltimore County

Members of the public can look up divorce records in Baltimore County with a mix of options. Divorce records can be found online via the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Portal or by request through the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County by mail or in person. The Judiciary Case Search provides online access to basic information, while the Baltimore County Clerk's Office issues physical copies of divorce records.

Online Access

For a Baltimore County court divorce search:

• Visit the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Portal
• Expand the "Case Number Search", "Party Name Search", or "Advanced Search" menu
• Enter the required information into their specific fields
• Click "Search" to submit the query

Mail-in Request

Send a mail request to:

Mail request for Baltimore County divorce records should include:

• Full names of the divorced spouses
• Date of divorce (or the approximate year)
• Case number (if known)
• Type of document (plain or certified copy)
• The requester's mail address and other contacts
• Statement of purpose (the reason for the request)
• Check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County (Baltimore County divorce records cost 50¢ per page of plain copy and an additional $5.00 for certification)
• A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID).

Walk-in Access

For in-person access to Baltimore County divorce records, visit the Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk's Office with valid identification documents at:

Overview of the Baltimore County Court System

The Baltimore County court system comprises the Circuit, District, and Orphans' Courts. Under Maryland's judicial system, the Circuit Court handles cases beyond the authority of the District and Orphans' Courts, including divorce cases.

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office stores and processes requests for Baltimore County family court divorce filings in Baltimore County. Individuals seeking access to Baltimore County divorce records can contact the Clerk's Office of the Baltimore County Circuit Court at:

Online Access to Baltimore County Divorce Records

Baltimore County divorce records are accessible online through government and third-party resources. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search Portal is an official online tool for accessing court records, including divorce case files. It offers a free online divorce lookup for people in Baltimore County.

For a free online divorce lookup in Baltimore County:

• Log in to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Portal
• Agree to the terms and conditions to access the search portal
• Provide the case number or use the "Party Search" option if preferred
• Click "Search" to submit the query.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a case number and name-based search tool that allows users to access basic case information, such as:

• Names of the involved parties
• Filing date
• Case number
• Case type
• Court location
• Case status.

Information seekers may also find Baltimore County divorce records online through third-party platforms. These private resources aggregate various types of documents and make them available to interested persons. However, users of non-official sources for documents should be mindful of errors and inaccuracies.

What's Typically Included in a Baltimore County Divorce Record

The type and source of a Baltimore County divorce record determine its content. A certified copy of Baltimore County divorce records will provide full details of the specific divorce, including:

• Case information
• Parties' details
• Marriage and divorce details, including:
• Date and place of marriage
• Grounds for divorce
• Date of divorce granted
• Court judgment or decree. This includes:
• Official statement dissolving the marriage
• Division of property, assets, and debts (if included in the decree)
• Spousal support or alimony rulings
• Information about children (if applicable), including:
• Custody arrangements (legal and physical custody)
• Child support orders
• Visitation rights
• Judge's Certification, including the name and signature (or electronic signature), official seal of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, and certification statement verifying authenticity.

In contrast, an informational copy or publicly accessible Baltimore County divorce record does not contain sensitive details. A non-party to a Baltimore County divorce can only access basic case details, such as:

• Names of the involved parties
• Filing date
• Case number
• Case type
• Court location
• Case status.

How to Get Certified Copies of Baltimore County Divorce Records

Certified copies of Baltimore County divorce records are accessible through the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. Certified copies of Baltimore County divorce records are accessible by mail request or in-person visits.

Email & Mail Request

For an email or mail-in access to certified copies of Baltimore County divorce records, download and complete a Baltimore County Request for Divorce Decree Form and email it to CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov or send it through the mail to:

To get an official divorce record in Baltimore County, a requester is required to provide:

• Names of both spouses
• Date or approximate year of divorce
• Case number (if known)
• The requester's contact information
• A copy of a valid government-issued photo identification. For instance, a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID
• A check or money order to cover costs (payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County).

Walk-in Request

For in-person access to a certified divorce decree in Baltimore County, visit the Civil/Family Records Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County Office with valid identification documents, applicable information, and payments at:

Requesters should note that a certified copy of a Baltimore County divorce record costs $0.50 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee.

Certified and informational copies of a Baltimore County divorce record are different versions of the same document. While individuals can use certified copies of divorce records for legal purposes such as remarriage or court filings, informational copies are for general information and as reference documents.

Why People Request Baltimore County Divorce Records

People request Baltimore County divorce records for various reasons. Depending on needs, the reasons to request divorce records in Baltimore County may be:

• To change their name
• To remarry
• For legal or financial matters
• For genealogy or family research.

Employers or individuals may conduct background checks to determine the marital status of potential employees or specific persons.

Baltimore County Divorce Records Summary