Civil Court Records in Baltimore County

Baltimore County civil court records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Court in Towson. The county is a major jurisdiction in Maryland, and its court handles a large volume of civil cases each year, from personal injury and contract disputes to foreclosures, family law, and land record filings. This page covers how to find civil court records in Baltimore County online, how to get copies from the clerk's office, and what to expect when dealing with the Towson courthouse.

Baltimore County Civil Court Records Online

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the free public system for finding civil court records in Baltimore County. You can search by party name, case number, filing date, or case type at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. The database is updated overnight and covers cases going back to June 1, 1995 for civil matters in Baltimore County. A new Case Search and Record Portal was launched on March 14, 2026, so if you used the old system before, the interface has changed.

Name searches in Case Search default to exact matching since December 7, 2021. To search broadly, add a percent sign at the end of the name you type: "Williams%" returns all names that start with Williams. This helps when you are not sure of the full spelling of a party's name. If you are searching for a business, try the full legal name first, then use the partial match if needed. Baltimore County civil records going back to mid-1995 are in the system. Older cases may be at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.

Case Search displays case summaries and docket entries. It does not show document images. To read the actual papers in a Baltimore County civil case, you need to visit the courthouse in Towson or request copies from the clerk's office. The daily docket for Baltimore County Circuit Court is also available online, which lets you check scheduled hearings for civil cases.

The Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk's website lists all department phone numbers, filing instructions, copy request procedures, and contact details for Clerk Julie L. Ensor's office.

The site is the most direct source for current fee schedules, department contacts, and instructions for requesting civil court records in Baltimore County.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk

Clerk Julie L. Ensor leads the Baltimore County Circuit Court office at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. The mailing address is P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754. The main phone is 410-887-2601, with a toll-free line at 1-800-938-5802. Office hours are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For email, reach Clerk Ensor at julie.ensor@mdcourts.gov.

The office has dedicated departments for different areas of civil court work. The Civil department handles general civil court records and can be reached at 410-887-2622. Family Law is at 410-887-2614. Foreclosure matters go to 410-887-2652. If you need help with adoptions, call 410-887-3069. Expungement questions go to 410-887-3090. Judicial records and certified copy requests can be directed to 410-887-3494. Land Records has two numbers: 410-887-2651 for recording and 410-887-3088 for indexing. There is also a separate child support line at 410-887-7670. Having the right department number before you call saves time.

For copy requests sent by email, use CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov. You can also mail copy requests to P.O. Box 6754, Judicial Records, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Include the case name, case number, the type of document needed, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Payment by personal out-of-state check is not accepted. The Criminal division also does not accept personal checks for fines or costs. Use cash, credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover), or a money order.

Getting Certified Copies of Baltimore County Civil Records

Standard copies of civil court records in Baltimore County cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 fee. Exemplification, the highest level of court authentication, costs $10.00 plus per-page copy fees. These rates are set by state law and apply to all civil case documents filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court.

For certified copies of divorce decrees, the most common certified copy request, email CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov or mail a written request to P.O. Box 6754, Judicial Records, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Your request should include the names of both spouses, the date or year of the divorce, the case number if you have it, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Without a case number, the clerk can still search by names and year. Processing times vary depending on volume. In-person visits to Towson allow you to get copies the same day in most cases.

The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis, reachable at (410) 260-6400, holds older civil records. A full case file costs $50 and a partial file costs $35. For very old Baltimore County civil cases that predate the 1995 digital records, the Archives may be your only option.

Civil Cases Handled at Baltimore County Circuit Court

Baltimore County Circuit Court takes cases across the full range of civil law. Domestic relations cases include divorce, child custody, child support, and related family law matters. Non-domestic civil cases cover contracts, torts, mechanics liens, and injunctions. Foreclosure cases are a significant share of the civil docket, with an additional filing fee of $300 to $450 on top of the standard civil filing fee. The court also handles appeals from District Court, name changes, and guardianships.

Civil case types in the Case Search system have short codes. CJ stands for civil judgment. CT is civil tort. CC is civil contract. DA is divorce absolute and DL is divorce limited. These codes appear on case summaries and can be used to filter your search when you are looking for a particular kind of civil case in Baltimore County. Docketing a motion in an existing civil case costs $31 in Baltimore County.

Baltimore County has District Court locations in Catonsville, Towson, and Essex. These handle smaller civil claims and are separate from the Circuit Court. If you are not sure whether a case was filed in District Court or Circuit Court, search the state Case Search portal and filter by jurisdiction to check both. Cases appealed from any of the three District Court locations go up to the Circuit Court in Towson.

• Civil filing fee with attorney: $175.00
• Civil filing fee without attorney: $165.00
• Foreclosure additional fee: $300 to $450
• Docketing a motion: $31.00
• Copy fee: $0.50 per page
• Certified copy: $5.00 plus copy fees
• Exemplification: $10.00 plus copy fees

Restricted and Sealed Civil Records in Baltimore County

Some civil court records in Baltimore County are not available to the public. Maryland law restricts access to several categories. Adoption files are closed. Juvenile and CINA cases are not public. Emergency mental health evaluations, income tax returns filed with the court, and financial statements in support cases are all restricted. Records concerning disabled adults are also shielded from public access.

Under a 2024 Maryland law, Failure to Pay Rent cases are now automatically shielded from public view if no judgment for possession was entered. These cases will not appear in Case Search and cannot be obtained through a standard public records request. Expunged and sealed records are off-limits in all Maryland counties, including Baltimore County. If a record you are looking for is not showing in Case Search, it may have been sealed or shielded. The clerk's office can confirm whether a case exists without disclosing restricted contents.

Land Records and Civil Filings in Baltimore County

Baltimore County land records are part of the civil filing system at the Circuit Court in Towson. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are recorded there. The Land Records Recording department is at 410-887-2651 and Indexing is at 410-887-3088. For online access to land records, visit MDLandRec.net. Free registration is required to search and view recorded documents. This covers Baltimore County property instruments going back many years.

Mechanics liens and foreclosure cases are part of the Circuit Court civil docket in Baltimore County. Foreclosures carry a higher filing fee and are tracked separately in the docket. If you are searching for a foreclosure civil case in Baltimore County, you can filter Case Search results by the foreclosure case type or contact the Foreclosure department directly at 410-887-2652 for guidance.

Cities in Baltimore County

The following cities in Baltimore County have dedicated pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Baltimore County borders Anne Arundel, Harford, Howard, and Carroll counties. Each has a Circuit Court with its own civil case records.