Search Anne Arundel County Public Records
Anne Arundel County public records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Annapolis, the county government, and several state agencies. This guide covers how to find court cases, land documents, property records, vital records, and more. Records are accessible in person at the Annapolis courthouse, online through state portals, and by mail request.
Anne Arundel County Public Records Overview
Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Clerk
Scott Poyer serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. The office is at 7 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This is one of the busier court clerk offices in the state given the county's large population and its role as Maryland's state capital region.
The clerk's office maintains civil case files, criminal records, family law cases, and land instruments. The main phone number is (410) 222-1425. For records inquiries, call (410) 222-1430. Land records staff are at (410) 222-1432. Staff can help you find a case number, determine which division handles your matter, and walk you through the process for getting copies of court documents.
Filings can be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically through the MDEC system. The MDEC e-filing portal allows attorneys and self-represented parties to file documents online. Viewing filed documents is possible through the case search tool once a case number is known.
The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Clerk website has forms, fee schedules, division contacts, and guidance for common requests.
The clerk's website at clerkannearundel.net provides direct links to forms, fee information, and division contacts for the Annapolis courthouse.
Note: The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $30,000, and family law matters. Smaller civil and traffic cases go to District Court.
Anne Arundel County Public Records Case Search
Court records for Anne Arundel County are searchable online through the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. This covers both Circuit Court and District Court cases. You can look up civil, criminal, traffic, family, and domestic violence cases. The tool shows party names, charges, case status, hearing dates, and document filing history.
Go to Maryland Judiciary Case Search and select Anne Arundel County from the county list. Enter the party's name or a case number. Results include a full docket of events in the case. For cases filed through MDEC, some documents can be downloaded directly from the search interface.
Older paper records are available through the clerk's office in Annapolis. Walk-in access during business hours is allowed for most public records. Copies are available for a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and take a bit longer to prepare. The records division at (410) 222-1430 can tell you what is available and whether a specific file has been digitized.
The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court website also lists local rules, forms, and resources for parties navigating the court system.
The official circuit court site has links to local rules, e-filing guidance, and public records access options for Anne Arundel County.
Note: Some case records are restricted or sealed by court order and will not appear in the public search tool.
Anne Arundel County Land Records
All land instruments in Anne Arundel County are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk's Land Records Department. This includes deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, releases, and easements. The land records staff can be reached at (410) 222-1432. The office is located at 7 Church Circle in Annapolis.
Maryland's statewide land records portal lets you search Anne Arundel County documents online. Most instruments recorded in recent years are available with full document images. Search by grantor name, grantee name, book and page, or instrument type. This is the best tool for tracking deed transfers and mortgage activity on a specific property.
Search land records at Maryland Land Records. Free access is available for basic searches. Certified copies of recorded instruments can be ordered through the clerk's office at the Annapolis courthouse.
You can also learn more about the Land Records Department directly at the Anne Arundel County Land Records Department page, which explains what types of documents are recorded and how to submit instruments for recording.
The Land Records Department page for Anne Arundel County covers recording procedures, accepted document types, and how to request copies of recorded instruments.
Recording fees in Maryland follow a standard schedule. The fee is $20 for documents with 9 pages or fewer and $75 for documents with 10 or more pages. A $40 surcharge applies to all recorded instruments. Releases of liens cost $10. These rates apply in Anne Arundel County the same as in all Maryland counties.
Note: Instruments submitted for recording must meet state formatting requirements including margin size and print quality standards.
Anne Arundel County Property Records
Property ownership and assessment data for Anne Arundel County is maintained by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, known as SDAT. Their online real property search tool is free and accessible to anyone. It covers all parcels in the county and is updated on an ongoing basis.
SDAT records show the current owner of record, assessed land and improvement values, property descriptions, sale history, and tax account status. This is a useful tool whether you are researching a specific address, checking your own assessment, or looking at sales trends in an area. The data is linked directly to the county's tax billing system.
Search Anne Arundel County property records at the SDAT Real Property Search. Choose Anne Arundel County from the menu and search by owner name, address, or parcel identification number. Each result page links to the full property record with all available data.
For more information on courts and judicial services in the county, the Anne Arundel County courts and judicial services page provides an overview of local resources and contacts.
The Anne Arundel County government site includes a courts and judicial services section that links to key resources including the clerk's office, District Court, and legal aid contacts.
Note: Assessed values set by SDAT are used for property tax purposes and may differ from current market values.
Anne Arundel County Register of Wills and Probate Records
The Register of Wills for Anne Arundel County handles all probate and estate matters. When a person dies with or without a will, the estate is typically opened in the county where they lived. The Register of Wills supervises the administration of those estates and keeps the records on file.
Probate records include wills, petitions to open estate, inventories of assets, accounts filed by the personal representative, and final distributions. These are public records. Anyone can request copies or search for filed estates. The statewide portal covers Anne Arundel County estates and lets you search by decedent name or estate number.
Visit the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills page for the local office address, phone number, office hours, and a link to the online search portal. The office is in Annapolis near the courthouse. Genealogists, heirs, and creditors all use this office regularly.
Note: The Register of Wills also handles minor estate proceedings and inheritance tax filings, which are separate from the probate process but still maintained in the same office.
Vital Records in Anne Arundel County
Birth and death certificates for events that took place in Anne Arundel County are issued by the Maryland Department of Health's Vital Statistics Administration. These are certified copies of official state records. You can request them online, by mail, or in person at the state office in Baltimore.
Visit the Maryland Vital Statistics Administration to start a request. You will need to provide proof of identity and your relationship to the record subject. Fees and processing times are posted on the VSA website. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
Marriage licenses in Anne Arundel County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 7 Church Circle in Annapolis. Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. The fee is $85. There is a required 48-hour waiting period before the ceremony can take place. The license stays valid for 6 months from the date it is issued. Call (410) 222-1425 with questions about the marriage license process in Anne Arundel County.
Note: Divorce records are not vital records. They are court records held by the Circuit Court Clerk and can be accessed through the clerk's office or the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool.
Anne Arundel County Criminal Records
Criminal case records for Anne Arundel County are available through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. The tool shows publicly accessible charge information, dispositions, and sentencing data for both Circuit Court and District Court cases. It is free to use and does not require an account.
For full background checks, Maryland's criminal history records are managed by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The DPSCS Criminal Justice Information System handles background check requests for authorized purposes including employment screening and licensing. Visit DPSCS for instructions on requesting a criminal history record check.
For court-based criminal records in the Circuit Court, contact the criminal division of the clerk's office at (410) 222-1425. District Court criminal records are held at the Anne Arundel County District Court. Some older records may not be available through the online search system and must be requested in writing from the clerk's office.
Note: Shielded and expunged records are not accessible through public search tools and require a court order to view.
How to Make a Public Records Request in Anne Arundel County
Maryland's open records law is the Maryland Public Information Act. It is codified at General Provisions Article, Sections 4-101 and following. The MPIA gives the public the right to request and inspect most records held by government agencies. Some categories of records are exempt, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for locating and copying records.
To request records from Anne Arundel County government, submit a written request to the appropriate county department. For court records, requests go to the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 7 Church Circle. The agency receiving the request must acknowledge it within 10 working days and must provide a full response within 30 days. If a request is denied in whole or in part, the agency must explain the legal basis for the denial.
- Put your request in writing and describe the records as specifically as you can
- Direct requests for court records to the Circuit Court Clerk at (410) 222-1425
- Direct requests for county agency records to the relevant department
- Expect an acknowledgment within 10 working days
- The full response is due within 30 calendar days
- You can appeal a denial to the circuit court or the Office of the Attorney General
Many records at the clerk's office can be accessed in person without a formal MPIA request. Visiting the office during business hours and asking a clerk about a specific case or document is often the simplest approach. The staff at (410) 222-1425 can tell you what is available and how to get copies.
Note: MPIA requests that involve large volumes of records or require significant staff time to compile may result in fees charged to the requestor before the records are released.
Cities in Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County includes several large communities. The two largest cities with dedicated public records pages are Glen Burnie and Severn.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Anne Arundel County borders Howard, Baltimore, Calvert, and Prince George's counties. Each maintains its own court clerk and public records office.