Towson Civil Court Records
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County and the home of the Baltimore County Circuit Court, which means civil court records for the entire county are filed and maintained right here. Residents and attorneys can search Towson civil court records online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal, visit the courthouse in person, or submit requests by mail or email. This guide covers what records are available, where to find them, and how to get copies when you need them.
Towson Overview
Civil Court Records in Towson
Because Towson serves as the county seat of Baltimore County, the circuit court is located here rather than in a separate administrative center. This matters for anyone searching civil records. All civil filings for Baltimore County go through this one location. That includes civil judgments, civil torts, contract disputes, and domestic cases such as divorce. The clerk's office handles intake, filing, and public access for all of these case types.
It is worth knowing that Baltimore County and Baltimore City are completely separate jurisdictions in Maryland. They share a name but nothing else. If the case you need involves a party in Baltimore City, you will need to check the Baltimore City Circuit Court instead. Searches through the statewide Case Search portal will pull from both, so the court name listed in results tells you which courthouse has the physical file.
In addition to the circuit court, Baltimore County has three District Court locations. The Towson District Court handles smaller civil claims and landlord-tenant matters. The other two District Court locations for Baltimore County are in Catonsville and Essex. District Court civil records are also searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system.
Note: Baltimore County civil court records in the online system go back to June 1, 1995. Older records require an in-person visit or written request to the clerk's office.
The Baltimore County Circuit Court clerk's office maintains a public terminal at the courthouse where visitors can look up case records. The image below shows the court's official web presence.
The clerk's site lists all departments, contact numbers, and instructions for different types of record requests. It is a good starting point before you call or visit in person.
Towson Courthouse Contact Information
The Baltimore County Circuit Court is located at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. The mailing address for written requests is P.O. Box 6754, Judicial Records, Towson, MD 21285-6754. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court clerk is Julie L. Ensor, and her direct email is julie.ensor@mdcourts.gov.
The court has separate department phone lines depending on what type of record you need. For general civil matters, call the Civil Division at 410-887-2622. Family law cases, including divorce and custody, go through 410-887-2614. Criminal records are handled at 410-887-2625. Land records have their own line at 410-887-2651. The main courthouse number is 410-887-2601, and there is a toll-free option at 1-800-938-5802 for those calling from outside the local area.
If you want to email a record request rather than call or visit, use CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov. This works for basic copy requests and fee inquiries. For more complex matters or certified copies, in-person or mail requests tend to move faster.
Note: The Criminal Division at this courthouse does not accept personal checks. The Civil and Family Law divisions accept cash, credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, Discover), and money orders.
Searching Towson Civil Court Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the main tool for looking up civil cases filed in Towson and the rest of Baltimore County. Access is free and does not require an account. The system is updated each night, so cases filed that day may not show up until the following morning.
When you run a search by name, the default is an exact match. If you are not sure of the exact spelling, add a percent sign (%) at the end of the last name to pull partial matches. For example, searching "Smith%" will return Smith, Smithson, and similar names. This is especially useful when you are not certain how a business name or foreign name is spelled in the court's records.
Baltimore County civil records in Case Search go back to June 1, 1995. Cases filed before that date are not in the online system. What you see in Case Search is a summary of the case, not the full file. You will see party names, case type, filing date, and case status. To read the actual documents, including pleadings, motions, and orders, you need to either visit the courthouse or submit a copy request.
Case type codes help narrow your search. Common civil codes include CJ for civil judgment, CT for civil tort, and CC for civil contract. DA indicates a divorce absolute case. Knowing the code saves time when you are scanning through a long list of results with common names.
Note: A new Maryland Courts online portal is scheduled to launch on March 14, 2026, which may change how Case Search looks and functions. Core search features are expected to remain the same.
Getting Copies of Civil Court Records in Towson
Once you find a case in the system, you have several options for getting the actual documents. You can visit the courthouse and review the file at a public terminal, request copies while you are there, or submit a request by email or mail. For in-person visits, bring the case number if you have it. The clerk can pull up the file for you at the Civil Division window.
Copy fees at Baltimore County Circuit Court are $0.50 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus the per-page rate. Exemplification, which is a higher level of authentication sometimes required for use in other jurisdictions, costs $10.00 plus copies. Payment can be made with cash, credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover), or a check or money order made out to the clerk of the circuit court. Personal checks from out-of-state accounts are not accepted. Debit cards are not accepted at this courthouse.
Mail requests work well for straightforward copy orders. Write to P.O. Box 6754, Judicial Records, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Include the case number, the names of the parties, and specify what documents you need. Wait for the office to confirm the fee before sending payment, as costs depend on the number of pages.
Some records are not public regardless of how you request them. Maryland law shields adoption records, juvenile cases, mental health evaluations used in court proceedings, income tax returns filed in support cases, and expunged or sealed cases. These will not appear in Case Search and clerks cannot provide copies of them to the general public.