Washington County Civil Court Records Search
Washington County civil court records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Hagerstown, the county seat of Maryland's westernmost populated county. You can search them online through the statewide Maryland Judiciary portal or visit the courthouse on Summit Avenue. This page explains the search process, how jurisdiction works between the District and Circuit courts in Washington County, how to request copies, and how to find family court records.
Washington County Overview
Searching Washington County Civil Court Records
Washington County civil court records are searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search, the free statewide portal. The system covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions including Washington County. Civil records online start from July 17, 1997. Criminal records begin on November 1, 1999.
Search by party name or case number. The system defaults to exact name matching. Add a percent sign (%) after the last name to enable partial matching if you're unsure of the exact spelling. Case Search returns summaries: the case type, parties, filing date, and disposition. It does not show the actual documents or filings. Contact the clerk's office in Hagerstown or visit in person to get copies of the full case file.
Access methods for Washington County records include Maryland Judiciary Case Search online, the Judiciary Record Search portal, and in-person visits. For in-person access, bring a case number or the full names of the parties. Either is enough for staff to locate the record.
A new Maryland Judiciary portal interface launched on March 14, 2026. The core search functions work the same way. Data refreshes nightly, so very recent filings may not be searchable until the following business day.
Note: Online records go back to July 1997 for civil and November 1999 for criminal. Contact the clerk for cases filed before those dates.
The Washington County clerk's directory listing on the Maryland Courts website provides up-to-date contact information, office hours, and links to court resources specific to Washington County.
Check that page before visiting the courthouse since hours and contact details can change around holidays and court schedule adjustments.
Washington County Circuit Court: Location and Contact
The Circuit Court for Washington County is at 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Call the clerk's office at 240-313-3430. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hagerstown is the largest city in Western Maryland and serves as the hub for legal and government services for the surrounding region.
Washington County is the only Maryland county that borders four other states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia all fall within a short drive. That geographic position means the courthouse occasionally handles cases involving parties or property from across state lines, including foreign judgments filed from other states. The fee for filing a foreign judgment is $110.00.
Understanding Civil Court Jurisdiction in Washington County
Washington County has a specific jurisdiction split between the District Court and the Circuit Court. Knowing which court has your case is important before you search.
The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases valued at $5,000 or less. For cases between $5,000 and $30,000, both the District Court and the Circuit Court have concurrent jurisdiction, meaning a case could be in either court. The Circuit Court handles all civil cases valued over $30,000, as well as all family law cases regardless of dollar amount.
If you search Case Search and don't find a case, it may be in the other court. Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers both District and Circuit court records, but searching by name brings up records across both. Filtering by court type can help narrow results if you know which level the case was filed in.
Family court records, including divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence cases, are all maintained by the Washington County Circuit Court. The Circuit Court is the custodian for these records. Most family court records are public, but adoption records are not available without a court order.
Note: Cases valued at $5,000 or less go to District Court. Cases over $30,000 go to Circuit Court. Both are searchable in Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Getting Copies of Washington County Civil Court Records
To get copies of civil court records from Washington County, visit the clerk's office at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown or submit a written request by mail. Either way, have the case number or party names ready.
The standard copy fee is $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document plus the per-page fee. Exemplification copies cost $10.00 plus copy fees and provide the highest level of official authentication. These are used when you need court records verified for proceedings in other states or federal courts.
Civil action filing fees range from $165.00 without an attorney to $185.00 with an attorney. Foreclosure filings carry extra fees: $300.00 to $450.00 depending on the property type, plus a docketing fee of $31.00. Personal checks are generally not accepted. Bring cash, a money order, or a credit or debit card.
For land records involving Washington County properties, use MDLandRec.net. For historical civil court records from before 1997, the Maryland State Archives may have what you need. Call them at (410) 260-6400 or search their online guide to find Washington County record series.