Find Civil Court Records in Charles County
Charles County civil court records are filed at the Circuit Court in La Plata under Clerk Lisa E. Yates. The court handles contract disputes, judgments, foreclosures, domestic relations cases, and other civil matters. Civil records have been digitally available since August 1996. This page explains how to search Charles County civil court records online, visit the courthouse in La Plata, request copies by mail, and find the right department for your case.
Charles County Overview
Searching Charles County Civil Court Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the free online tool for finding civil court records in Charles County. It covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions and is updated each night. You can search by party name or case number. Since December 2021, the system runs exact name matches by default. If that returns no results, add a percent sign (%) at the end of the last name to broaden the search.
Charles County civil records in Case Search go back to August 23, 1996. That is one of the earlier start dates among Maryland counties, which means a fairly large set of records is available digitally. Cases filed before that date are not in the system. You would need to contact the clerk's office directly for older files.
Case Search shows docket entries and case summaries but not document images. To get the actual documents, visit the courthouse in La Plata or send a mail request. Land records are tracked in a separate system at Maryland Land Records, which is free to use after registration.
Note: Charles County civil case records in Case Search start August 23, 1996. Older files require a direct request to the Circuit Court in La Plata.
The Charles County Circuit Court Clerk's page provides current contact information, department listings, and details about services available at the La Plata courthouse.
Check this page for the latest hours and any updates to office procedures before making a trip to the courthouse.
Charles County Circuit Court Clerk Details
The Charles County Circuit Court is located at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Note that this address changed on March 1, 2018. If you have older records or filings that reference the previous address, use the current one for any new correspondence. The mailing address is P.O. Box 970, La Plata, MD 20646-0970.
The main phone numbers are 301-932-3201 and 301-870-2659. A toll-free line is available at 1-888-932-2072. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Clerk Lisa E. Yates can be reached at lisa.yates@mdcourts.gov. For general questions, the main number or email will get you to the right staff.
The clerk's office has departments for different case types. Civil matters: 301-932-3215. Criminal: 301-932-3220. Juvenile: 301-932-3230. Land records: 301-932-3223. Business and marriage licenses: 301-932-3308. Jury: 301-932-3203. Support: 301-932-3245. Assignment Office: 301-932-3212. Marriage records specifically can be reached at 301-932-3255.
Charles County has a Drug Court program. The coordinator can be reached at 301-932-3333, with a fax at 301-932-3361. The court also has an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Coordinator, Jessica Reynolds, at 301-932-3249. ADR can be useful for resolving civil disputes without a full trial.
Getting Copies of Charles County Civil Court Records
Copies of civil court records in Charles County cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 fee on top of the per-page charge. Exemplification costs $10.00 plus copy fees. For marriage license copies, the fee is $5.50 for a certified copy plus $0.50 per page for the document itself.
To request copies by mail, write to the Records Department at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Make checks payable to "Clerk of Court." Include the names of the parties, the case number if you have it, the date of the case or filing, and your return address. For marriage record copies, mail to the Marriage Records Department at the same address and include the names at the time of marriage, the date, and your return address.
Attorneys and other regular filers must use the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system for most civil filings. More information about MDEC is at the Maryland Courts MDEC page. Paper filings by attorneys are generally no longer accepted in MDEC-enabled courts.
Charles County Court Scam Warning and Resources
Charles County residents have reported receiving calls from someone claiming to be a court officer. The caller says the person has not complied with a court order and tries to collect money or personal information. This is a scam. The Charles County Circuit Court does not call citizens about compliance with court orders, and court staff will never ask for payment over the phone. If you get a call like this, hang up and call the courthouse directly to verify.
If you need help understanding a civil case or navigating the court process, general guidance is available at the Maryland Courts legal help page. This page covers common court record questions and explains how to request various types of documents across Maryland. The Charles County court also has an ADR program, which may be worth exploring if you have an active civil dispute that could be resolved outside of full litigation.
Waldorf is a major community in Charles County. Residents of Waldorf filing civil matters or seeking civil court records will file through the Charles County Circuit Court in La Plata. There is no separate courthouse in Waldorf for civil circuit court matters.
Cities in Charles County
Waldorf is the major city in Charles County with a qualifying population. Civil court records for Waldorf residents are filed at the Charles County Circuit Court in La Plata.