Search Anne Arundel County Civil Court Records
Anne Arundel County civil court records are housed at the Circuit Court in Annapolis, one of the busiest court offices in Maryland. The clerk processes thousands of legal documents each year across civil, family law, land records, and licensing matters. Whether you need to look up a civil case online, request certified copies of court documents, or file new civil court records, this page explains the process from start to finish.
Anne Arundel County Overview
Anne Arundel Civil Court Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the free public portal for looking up Anne Arundel County civil court records. It covers all 24 Maryland court jurisdictions and lets you search by party name, case number, case type, or filing date range. The database updates overnight, so it reflects filings through the prior business day. Use the portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us to start your search.
Since December 7, 2021, Case Search uses exact name matching by default. Type "Johnson" and you get only exact matches. To find variations or partial names, add a percent sign to the end: "Johnson%". That will return any name beginning with those letters. This is helpful when you are unsure of a spelling or looking for a business entity with a long name. Anne Arundel County civil records in the system go back to 1991, giving you access to more than three decades of civil case history. For older cases not in the system, you can contact the clerk's office or visit the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.
Case Search shows case summaries and docket entries. It does not display the actual documents. To get the full civil case file, you need to call the Civil File Room at (410) 222-1219 before visiting. Staff there can pull the file and help you review it in person.
Note: Always call the Anne Arundel County Civil File Room at (410) 222-1219 before visiting, as staff need to pull physical files in advance.
The Maryland Courts legal help page for court records explains what is public, what is restricted, and how to request access to civil court records statewide.
This resource is useful for Anne Arundel County residents who want to understand their rights when searching for or requesting civil court records.
Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Clerk Office
Clerk Scott A. Poyer leads the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court office at 8 Church Circle in Annapolis. The mailing address is P.O. Box 71, Annapolis, MD 21404. The main phone number is 410-222-1397, and you can also call toll-free at 1-888-246-0615. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The office handles a very high volume of work. Each year it processes roughly 100,000 land records, 75,000 legal documents, 8,000 business licenses, and 5,000 marriage licenses. Civil and family law matters are handled by a dedicated department within the office. Other departments cover criminal, juvenile, adoptions and guardianships, land records, licensing, and courtroom support. If you are not sure which department to contact, start with the main number and staff will direct you.
Attorneys in Anne Arundel County have been required to file civil cases electronically through Maryland Electronic Courts since October 14, 2014. This system, called MDEC, uses Tyler File and Serve. If you are an attorney with questions about electronic filing, call the Tyler File and Serve Help Desk at 800-297-5377, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Members of the public who are parties to a case may also request MDEC access at courts.state.md.us/mdec.
Requesting Civil Court Record Copies in Anne Arundel
Standard copy fees for Anne Arundel County civil court records are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 in addition to the per-page fee. Exemplified copies, which carry a higher level of court authentication, cost $10.00 plus copy fees. These rates apply across all departments in the Anne Arundel County clerk's office.
To get copies in person, visit the Civil File Room at 8 Church Circle in Annapolis. Call (410) 222-1219 first so staff can locate the file before you arrive. If you have a case number, the process is faster. If you don't have one, computer-based indexes are available at the courthouse to help you find it. Walk-in visits without a prior call may result in a wait while staff pulls the file, so calling ahead saves time.
You can also request copies by mail. Send a written request to P.O. Box 71, Annapolis, MD 21404. Include the case name, case number if known, the specific documents you need, and a check or money order for the estimated copy fee. Staff will confirm the exact amount and send the copies once payment is received. Personal checks are not accepted; use a money order or include your credit card information with a signed authorization.
Civil Cases in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court
Anne Arundel County Circuit Court handles civil cases that include breach of contract disputes, personal injury claims, and probate matters. Family law cases such as divorce, child custody, and child support are filed here as well. Administrative appeals from state agencies also come through the Circuit Court, and the court handles appeals from the District Court when a party is not satisfied with a lower court ruling.
Cases under $30,000 are typically filed in District Court rather than Circuit Court. The Anne Arundel County District Court is at 251 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis, and the phone is 410-260-1370. If you are searching for a small claims matter or a minor civil dispute in Anne Arundel County, check the District Court first. For larger civil cases, judgments, and domestic relations filings, the Circuit Court in Annapolis is the right place to look.
Common case type codes in the Case Search system include CJ for civil judgment, CT for civil tort, and CC for civil contract. Filtering by case type helps when you are searching a common name and want to narrow results to civil cases only. You can also combine the name search with a date range to focus your search on a specific period in Anne Arundel County civil court history.
Note: Records that are not public include adoptions, juvenile cases, CINA matters, expunged or sealed cases, and financial statements in support proceedings.
What Civil Records Are Not Public in Anne Arundel County
Not all civil court records in Anne Arundel County are available to the public. Maryland law restricts access to certain types of cases and documents. Adoption records, juvenile cases, CINA (children in need of assistance) cases, and emergency mental health evaluations are not open to public view. Income tax returns filed with the court, financial statements in spousal or child support cases, and records about disabled adults are also restricted.
A 2024 Maryland law added another category. Failure to Pay Rent cases are now automatically shielded if no judgment for possession was entered against the defendant. This means those records will not appear in Case Search for Anne Arundel County and cannot be obtained through normal public records requests. Expunged, sealed, and shielded records are off-limits regardless of county.
If you believe a record exists but it is not showing in Case Search, it may be restricted. You can contact the Anne Arundel County clerk's office to ask whether a case exists and what access, if any, is permitted. Staff can tell you whether a case is sealed without revealing the contents. For more detail on what is public and what is not, the Maryland Courts records page lists all categories of restricted records.
Land Records and Related Civil Filings
Anne Arundel County land records are part of the civil filing system maintained by the Circuit Court clerk. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property instruments are recorded here. Online access to land records statewide, including Anne Arundel County, is available through MDLandRec.net. Free registration is required to search and view documents. The site allows you to look up property transactions by name or document type.
The Land Records department at the Anne Arundel County courthouse handles in-person recordings and copy requests. For civil cases involving property disputes, foreclosures, or mechanics liens, the same Circuit Court handles both the civil case and any related land record filings. This makes the Anne Arundel County courthouse the single point of contact for most property-related civil matters in the county.
Cities in Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County has several large communities. The cities below meet the population threshold for dedicated pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Anne Arundel County shares borders with Baltimore County, Howard County, Prince George's County, and Calvert County. Each has its own Circuit Court handling civil cases.