Find Baltimore County Public Records
Baltimore County public records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Towson, the county government, and a range of state agencies. This page covers how to access court cases, land documents, property records, probate files, vital records, and more. Note that Baltimore County and Baltimore City are separate jurisdictions. Each has its own court system and public records office.
Baltimore County Public Records Overview
Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk
Julie L. Ensor is the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. The office is at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The courthouse in Towson serves the entire county and is one of the busiest circuit court locations in Maryland.
The clerk's office maintains civil case files, criminal records, family law cases, and all land documents recorded in Baltimore County. The main phone number is (410) 887-2601. Staff can help you find case information, request document copies, and direct you to the right division for your matter. The office handles a high volume of daily requests from attorneys, businesses, and members of the public.
Electronic filing is available through the statewide MDEC system. Visit the MDEC e-filing portal for access and instructions. Walk-in service at the Towson courthouse is available during regular office hours for most public records requests. No appointment is needed for routine lookups.
The Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland Judiciary website lists division contacts, local forms, and resources for common requests.
The clerk page at mdcourts.gov provides current contact information for the Towson courthouse and links to key forms and records services.
Note: Baltimore County and Baltimore City are entirely separate jurisdictions. Records from Baltimore City courts and agencies are not held at the Towson courthouse.
Baltimore County Public Records Case Search
Court records for Baltimore County are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. This tool is free and covers both Circuit Court and District Court cases. You can look up civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases. Results include party names, case numbers, charges or claims, hearing dates, and the full docket of events in the case.
Access the tool at Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Select Baltimore County from the list. Enter a name or case number to begin. For cases filed through MDEC, some documents can be viewed and downloaded directly through the case search interface.
Older records not in the online system must be requested from the clerk's office in Towson. You can visit in person during business hours, call (410) 887-2601, or send a written request by mail. Copy fees are set by the court and apply per page for most document types. Certified copies cost more and may take additional processing time.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers Baltimore County Circuit Court and District Court cases and is the fastest way to find case information online.
Note: Sealed records, juvenile cases, and expunged matters do not appear in the public case search tool.
Baltimore County Land Records
Land records in Baltimore County are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk's Land Records division at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. Deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, releases, easements, and other instruments affecting real property are filed and kept here. This is the official record of ownership transfers and encumbrances on Baltimore County property.
Maryland's statewide land records portal provides online access to Baltimore County instruments. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, book and page, or instrument type. Full document images are available for most records filed in recent decades. Older instruments may require an in-person visit to the Towson courthouse to view on microfilm or in bound record books.
Search Baltimore County land records at Maryland Land Records. The portal is free to use for searching and viewing documents. If you need certified copies of recorded instruments, those must be ordered through the clerk's office in Towson.
Maryland's standard recording fee schedule applies in Baltimore County. Instruments with 9 or fewer pages cost $20 to record. Instruments with 10 or more pages cost $75. All recorded instruments are subject to a $40 surcharge. Releases of liens cost $10 to record.
The Maryland Land Records portal provides searchable access to Baltimore County deeds, mortgages, and related instruments going back many years.
Note: New instruments submitted for recording in Baltimore County must meet state formatting standards for margins, font size, and paper quality before they will be accepted.
Baltimore County Property Records and SDAT
Property ownership and assessment records for Baltimore County are maintained by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, known as SDAT. Their online real property search is free and open to the public. It covers all parcels in the county and is updated regularly throughout the year.
SDAT data shows the current owner of record, assessed value of land and improvements, the legal description of the property, sale history, and tax billing account information. This tool is widely used by attorneys, real estate professionals, lenders, and individual property owners who want to check assessments or track ownership history on specific parcels.
Search Baltimore County property records at the SDAT Real Property Search. Select Baltimore County from the county drop-down. You can search by owner name, property address, or parcel identification number. Each result links to a full detail page with all available information for that parcel.
The SDAT real property tool shows ownership, assessed value, and sale history for all Baltimore County parcels and is updated on an ongoing basis.
Note: SDAT values are set for property tax purposes and may be higher or lower than current fair market values based on when the property was last assessed.
Baltimore County Register of Wills and Probate Records
The Register of Wills for Baltimore County handles probate and estate administration records. When a person who lived in the county dies, their estate is typically opened here. The Register supervises the filing of inventories, accounts, and distributions, and keeps the estate records on file as public documents.
Wills, petitions to open estate, personal representative appointments, final accounts, and distributions are all part of the probate record. These are public records. Anyone may request copies or search for estate filings. The statewide portal covers Baltimore County estates and can be searched by decedent name or estate number.
Access the Baltimore County Register of Wills page for the local office address, phone number, hours, and a link to the online search tool. The office is in Towson near the main courthouse. Genealogists, heirs, and creditors use this office frequently to access estate records.
Note: The Baltimore County Register of Wills office is separate from the Baltimore City Register of Wills. Be sure to contact the correct office for the county where the decedent lived.
Vital Records in Baltimore County
Birth and death certificates for events in Baltimore County are issued by the Maryland Department of Health's Vital Statistics Administration. These are certified state records. You can request them online, by mail, or in person at the state office. The VSA handles all vital record requests for the state including Baltimore County.
Visit the Maryland Vital Statistics Administration to start a request. You will need to show proof of your identity and your relationship to the record. Fees are posted on the VSA website. Expedited processing is available for an additional charge. Standard mail requests can take several weeks during busy periods.
Marriage licenses in Baltimore County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. Both parties must appear in person together with valid photo ID. The license fee is $85. There is a mandatory 48-hour waiting period before the ceremony can take place. The license is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. For questions about marriage license requirements in Baltimore County, call (410) 887-2601.
Note: Divorce records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, not the Vital Statistics Administration. They can be accessed through the clerk's office in Towson or the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool.
Baltimore County Criminal Records and Background Checks
Criminal court records for Baltimore County are available through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. The tool is free and covers Circuit Court and District Court cases. You can find charge information, case status, dispositions, and sentencing data for publicly accessible cases. No account is required to use the search tool.
For official background checks, Maryland's statewide criminal history records are managed by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Visit DPSCS for information on requesting a criminal history record. The DPSCS system serves authorized requestors for employment and licensing purposes.
For court-based criminal records at the Circuit Court level, contact the clerk's office at (410) 887-2601. Older paper case files may not be in the online system and must be requested in person or by mail from the Towson courthouse. The District Court in Towson handles misdemeanor criminal cases and maintains its own records separately from the Circuit Court.
Note: Expunged and shielded records are not available through any public search tool and require a court order to access.
How to Make a Public Records Request in Baltimore County
The Maryland Public Information Act gives the public the right to request most government records. It is codified at General Provisions Article, Sections 4-101 and following. The law applies to all state and local agencies in Maryland including Baltimore County government offices and courts.
Baltimore County has a dedicated process for public information requests. Submit your request through the Baltimore County PIA Requests page, which explains how to file, what to include, and what to expect in terms of timing and fees. The county must acknowledge your request within 10 working days and provide a full response within 30 calendar days.
- Describe the records you want as clearly as possible, including dates and subject matter
- Submit MPIA requests for county agency records through the Baltimore County PIA page
- For court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (410) 887-2601
- Expect written acknowledgment within 10 working days
- Full response is due within 30 calendar days
- Fees may apply for copying and staff time spent locating records
- Denied requests can be appealed to the circuit court or the state Attorney General
For court records specifically, the process goes through the Circuit Court Clerk rather than the county's PIA office. Many court records can be viewed in person during regular business hours without a formal written request. Calling ahead to confirm availability before visiting the Towson courthouse can save time.
Note: Some records held by the county are exempt from the MPIA, including certain law enforcement investigative files and records protected by other state or federal laws.
Cities in Baltimore County
Baltimore County includes several large communities with their own public records pages. Dundalk and Towson are two of the largest communities in the county.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Baltimore County borders Harford, Carroll, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. Each has its own circuit court and public records office.