Frederick Civil Court Records
Frederick civil court records are kept at the Frederick County Circuit Court, which is located in downtown Frederick at 100 West Patrick Street. As the county seat, Frederick is home to both the Circuit Court and the District Court, and both share the same building. This page covers how to search, access, and get copies of civil court records in Frederick, Maryland.
Frederick Overview
Frederick Civil Court Records: Which Court Handles Filings
Frederick is the county seat of Frederick County, which means it is the legal and administrative center of the county. The Frederick County Circuit Court is based here and handles all major civil cases for the county. The clerk is Sandra K. Dalton. The main phone number is 301-600-1976, or toll-free at 1-800-341-8797.
The Circuit Court at 100 West Patrick Street handles civil torts, contract disputes, civil judgments, family law cases, land records, and divorce filings. The Civil Department can be reached at 301-600-2969. Other departments include Criminal/Traffic at 301-600-1973, Family at 301-600-1977, Land Records at 301-600-1957, and Marriage Licenses at 301-600-1965. Each department handles its own record requests, so knowing which division has your records can save time.
The Frederick County District Court is also at 100 West Patrick Street. The District Court phone number is 301-600-2000. District Court cases typically include small claims, traffic matters, landlord-tenant disputes, and misdemeanor cases. If you are not sure whether your case is in Circuit or District Court, you can call either number or run a search through Maryland Judiciary Case Search to confirm the court level.
Because both courts share the same address, it is easy to access both on a single visit. However, each court has its own clerk's office and records, so you need to request copies from the correct court. Circuit Court civil records are distinct from District Court records even though the buildings overlap.
Note: Both the Frederick County Circuit Court and District Court are at 100 West Patrick Street but are separate offices. Confirm which court has your records before requesting copies.
The Frederick County Circuit Court clerk page on the Maryland Courts website lists all department contacts, hours, and information about accessing civil court records in Frederick.
The page is helpful if you want to verify phone numbers, check department hours, or find the transcript request form before contacting the court.
Courthouse Access for Frederick Civil Court Records
The courthouse at 100 West Patrick Street is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When you visit to access civil court records, the Civil Department at 301-600-2969 is your first stop. Staff can pull case files so you can inspect them at the clerk's office. Under Maryland Rules Section 16-904, inspection of public court records is free of charge.
When you come in person, bring a case number if you have one. Without it, party names and an approximate filing date will help staff locate the file faster. Frederick County handles a moderate volume of cases, but the office can get busy during peak hours. Arriving in the morning is generally a better bet than walking in close to 4:00 p.m.
If you need a transcript from a Frederick County civil case, you can use the official transcript request form at the Frederick County courts site. That form covers both typed and audio download requests. Submit the completed form to the court reporter's office, and they will provide a cost estimate before producing the transcript. Copy fees at Frederick County Circuit Court are $0.50 per page, and certified copies are $5.50.
A scam has circulated in the Frederick area where callers claim to be court officers demanding payment for alleged jury duty contempt, often asking for payment via prepaid card. Maryland courts do not call citizens to collect payment this way. If you get such a call, do not provide payment and report it. The real clerk's office can be reached at 301-600-1976 to verify any legitimate court-related communications.
Note: Maryland courts never call to demand payment over the phone. Report suspicious calls and verify any court notices by calling the clerk directly at 301-600-1976.
Searching Frederick Civil Court Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers Frederick County and is available for free to anyone with internet access. It includes all 24 Maryland jurisdictions and is the standard starting point for searching Frederick civil court records online. The system is updated nightly.
By default, the search engine requires an exact name match. If you only have a partial name or a common last name, you can add a percent sign (%) at the end of the search term to run a broader partial match. Results include case type codes, filing dates, party names, and current case status. Case Search is a summary tool. It will not show you the actual documents in the file. For full records, you need to contact the Civil Department at the courthouse.
Common civil case type codes in Frederick County include CT for civil tort, CC for civil contract, CJ for civil judgment, DA for divorce absolute, and DL for divorce limited. Knowing the case type can help narrow down results when a name search returns more than one match. These codes appear in the case number and in the results display.
Maryland is updating its public access tools through the MDEC electronic courts project. A new portal is launching in March 2026 that will improve case record access for the public. Frederick County participates in MDEC, and the new system is expected to eventually provide broader online document access than the current Case Search offers.
Older Frederick County civil records that predate the online system may be accessible through the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. The Archives holds historical court records and can be reached at 410-260-6400. For very old filings, a visit to the Archives or a written request may be necessary.
Note: Case Search provides summaries only. Full civil case documents must be requested from the Frederick County Circuit Court Civil Department.
Getting Copies of Frederick Civil Court Records
Copy fees at Frederick County Circuit Court are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.50. Exemplification copies, which carry a higher level of authentication, are $10.00 plus the per-page fee. These fees are consistent with the Maryland Courts system schedule.
You can request copies in person at the Civil Department, by mail, or by submitting a transcript request form online. For mail requests, address your letter to the Civil Department, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Include the case number, party names, and a description of the documents you need. Attach a money order or cashier's check. Personal checks are generally not accepted at Maryland courts.
If you need an audio copy of a proceeding, use the transcript request form on the Frederick County courts website. The form handles both typed transcripts and audio downloads. Submit it to the court reporter's office, and staff will confirm the cost before producing the copy. Turnaround times can vary depending on the length of the proceeding and current workload.
Some records are not available to the public and will not appear in searches or be provided through copy requests. These include adoption records, juvenile cases, CINA matters, mental health evaluations, expunged records, and sealed files. Since 2024, Failure to Pay Rent cases where no judgment was entered are automatically shielded under Maryland law.
If you have questions about what records are available or how to access them, the Maryland Courts records help page provides plain-language guidance on the process. For historical records, contact the Maryland State Archives directly.
Note: The Frederick County transcript request form covers both typed and audio copies. Use it for any proceeding recording requests from the Circuit Court.