About the Baltimore County Clerk's Office
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the main court clerk for Baltimore County. The office sits at the County Courts Building in Towson, the county seat. It serves the Circuit Court, which is Maryland's general-jurisdiction trial court. The Clerk keeps the files for major civil cases, felonies, family law matters, divorce, and juvenile cases heard in Towson. The same office handles a set of public-record services that have nothing to do with a single case.
Most people who say "Baltimore County court records" really mean records held by this office. The Clerk gives out plain and certified copies of eligible Circuit Court records. It issues marriage licenses for Maryland marriages. It supports land records access and recording through Maryland land-record systems. It also handles notary commissions and related public services. You can reach the office and its services through the county Clerk page. For the courthouse itself, see the Circuit Court department page.
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County
County Courts Building
401 Bosley Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
Clerk Duties in Baltimore County
The Clerk of the Circuit Court does many jobs at once. It is the keeper of the court's files. Staff accept new filings, log each docket entry, issue process, and collect fees. They keep the official record for civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and appellate-from-District-Court matters heard at the Towson Circuit Court. The Clerk also supports courtroom records and manages public access in line with the Maryland Rules and statutory confidentiality limits.
Beyond case files, the office runs several public-record functions. Those services draw walk-in traffic that has little to do with active litigation.
- Maintain and index Circuit Court civil, criminal, family, and juvenile case files
- Provide plain and certified copies of eligible court records
- Issue marriage licenses for marriages held in Maryland
- Support land records access and recording through Maryland land-record systems
- Process notary commissions and related public services
- Accept filings and collect filing and copy fees at the counter and by mail
One point trips up many users. Circuit Court files are not the same as District Court files. The District Court of Maryland runs its own clerk counters at separate Baltimore County sites in Towson, Catonsville, and Essex. Probate is separate too. Estates go through the Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court, not the Circuit Court Clerk's civil filing counter.
Court Copies and Certified Copies
The Clerk can provide two kinds of copies of eligible Circuit Court records. A plain copy is a simple photocopy or print of a document in the file. A certified copy carries the Clerk's seal and a signed statement that the copy is a true and accurate match of the official record. Courts, agencies, lenders, and many foreign and out-of-state offices accept only certified copies for formal use. A plain copy is fine for reading or personal reference.
Divorce decrees are a common request. In Maryland, divorce filings and decrees are Circuit Court case records. Certified copies of a divorce decree should be requested from the Clerk where the divorce was granted. Use Maryland Judiciary Case Search to find the case number first, then ask the Clerk to certify the document. For more on those records, see marriage and divorce records.
Important: A docket page printed from Case Search is not a certified copy. Courts and agencies that need proof will only accept a copy certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Note: Some older or restricted files may need a counter request or archive retrieval because not every document image is available online.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy proves that a document matches the official court record. The steps below cover the common path through the Baltimore County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Confirm the current fee and accepted payment methods on the Clerk page before you go.
- Find the case number first. Search Maryland Judiciary Case Search and filter by Baltimore County, or use a number from a notice you already hold.
- Identify the exact document you need, such as a divorce decree, judgment, or order, and how many certified copies you want.
- Get the request form or instructions from the Clerk of the Circuit Court page, or ask at the counter in Towson.
- Submit the request in person or by mail with the required copy fee and certification fee.
- Pick up the certified copy at the counter, or wait for it to arrive by mail if you filed your request by mail.
Records Request Form Fields
A clear request helps staff find the right file fast. Whether you use a counter form or a mailed letter, include enough detail to point staff to one case and one document. Common surnames make a name-only request slow, so a case number is the strongest tool you can give. The table below lists the fields a typical Circuit Court records request collects.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Strongly preferred | Find it on Case Search or a court notice; speeds the request. |
| Party Names | Yes | Full legal names of the parties as they appear in the case. |
| Document Type | Yes | Decree, judgment, order, or other specific filing. |
| Number of Copies | Yes | Plain or certified, and how many of each. |
| Requester Contact | Yes | Name, return address, and a way to reach you for mailed requests. |
| Payment | Yes | Copy and certification fees; confirm accepted methods with the Clerk. |
Baltimore County Clerk Fees
The Clerk charges fees for copies, certification, and filings. Maryland did not publish a fixed amount in a form simple to quote here, so the figures below are described in general terms instead of dollar amounts. Always confirm the current fee on the official Clerk page or at the counter before you pay. Fees can change, and the method you use, counter or mail, can affect the total.
| Service | Fee Basis |
|---|---|
| Plain Circuit Court copy | Per-page copy fee; confirm on the Clerk page |
| Certified court copy | Per-page copy fee plus a certification fee |
| Marriage license | Local license fee; confirm on the Clerk marriage page |
| Land records recording | Varies by document under Maryland recording rules |
| Probate-related fees | Published separately by the Register of Wills |
Probate estate fees are handled by a different office. Those amounts are posted on the Register of Wills fee page, not by the Circuit Court Clerk. For estate files, use the Orphans' Court page.
Note: Do not assume every Clerk service takes a credit card; confirm accepted payment methods for your specific request before you submit it.
Marriage Licenses Through the Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court issues marriage licenses for marriages that take place in Maryland. Both applicants give identifying details, pay the local license fee, and observe Maryland's statutory waiting period before the ceremony. After the ceremony, the authorized officiant returns the completed license so it can be recorded. Copies of a recorded marriage record can then be requested from the Clerk for licenses issued in Baltimore County.
People often mix up a marriage license, a divorce decree, and a vital-statistics certificate. The Clerk handles marriage licenses and Circuit Court divorce files. Some vital-statistics certificates run through the Maryland Department of Health, depending on the record and the requester. The marriage application asks for a set of standard fields.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 full legal name | Yes | As shown on ID. |
| Applicant 2 full legal name | Yes | As shown on ID. |
| Residence or address | Yes | For each party. |
| Date of birth or age | Yes | Age restrictions apply. |
| Marital status or prior marriage | Yes | May need a divorce or death date if a prior marriage ended. |
| Ceremony county | Yes | License validity depends on Maryland county rules. |
Land Records and Circuit Court Filing
Land records are one of the Clerk's busiest non-case services. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and similar instruments are recorded through Maryland land-record systems handled by the Clerk's office. Recording fees vary by document. People search land records to confirm ownership, check for liens, or pull a recorded deed. The Clerk page is the right starting point for current land-record access and recording instructions.
New Circuit Court cases also start at the Clerk. Filers bring or send the complaint and required forms, pay the filing fee, or ask for a fee waiver if eligible. The Clerk dockets the case, assigns a case number, and tracks each later filing and hearing. Divorce, major civil, family, juvenile, and felony matters all run through this office in Towson. For the court itself and how cases move, see the Circuit Court page and the related court dockets.
MDEC and E-Filing
Maryland Electronic Courts, known as MDEC, is the statewide e-filing framework. It covers many case types across Maryland courts. Attorneys and registered users file through the official e-filing provider where MDEC is required. Self-represented litigants should check whether paper filing is still allowed for their case type before assuming everything must be electronic.
E-filing and public search are not the same tool. MDEC is the filing system. Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the free public index of docket information, and it does not always include full document images. The Case Search FAQ explains what is public, what is delayed, and what is restricted. When you need a full file or a certified document, contact the Clerk directly. For general help, the Maryland Judiciary keeps a court records help page.
How to Contact the Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court works from the County Courts Building in Towson. In-person visits, mailed requests, and state online tools are the main ways to reach the office. Bring or include the case number, party names, and the document you need so staff can move fast. The county directory and the Maryland Judiciary site both confirm the Towson location.
- In person
- Visit the Clerk's counter at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson for copies, certifications, marriage licenses, and land records.
- By mail
- Send a written request with party names, case number, document type, copy count, return address, and the required fee.
- Online
- Use the Clerk page for services and the Maryland Judiciary Baltimore directory for office details.