Howard County Public Records
Howard County public records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Ellicott City, the county government, and several state agencies. This guide covers court cases, land documents, property records, vital records, police reports, and how to submit an MPIA request. Most records are searchable online through free state portals, and the clerk's office at 9250 Judicial Way handles in-person requests during regular business hours.
Howard County Public Records Overview
Howard County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk for Howard County is located at 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone number is (410) 313-2111. This office is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit, which serves Howard County alone.
The clerk maintains civil case files, criminal court records, family law matters, and land instruments. Staff can help you locate a case by number or party name, tell you which division handles a specific matter, and explain the process for ordering copies. Filings can be submitted in person or through Maryland's electronic filing system for attorneys and self-represented litigants. If you are not sure where to start, a call to (410) 313-2111 during business hours is a good first step.
For land records specifically, the Land Records Department can be reached at (410) 313-5850. That team handles deed recordings, mortgage documents, liens, and related instruments. They also process requests for certified copies of recorded documents. The Land Records Department shares the same building at 9250 Judicial Way.
The Howard County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland courts website has contact details, division listings, and forms for common requests.
Below is a view of the Circuit Court Clerk page at courts.state.md.us, which lists office locations, phone numbers, and general guidance for accessing Howard County court records.
This page on the state courts site covers the Howard County clerk's contact information and links to forms and division details.
Howard County Court Records Search
Howard County court cases are searchable for free through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. It covers both Circuit Court and District Court cases. You can look up civil, criminal, traffic, family, and domestic violence matters. The tool shows party names, charges or claims, case status, scheduled hearing dates, and a full docket of events in the case.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the first place to check for any court record in Howard County. Start at casesearch.courts.state.md.us and choose Howard County from the county list. Search by party name or case number. For MDEC-filed cases, some documents can be downloaded directly from the search results. Older paper records must be requested through the clerk's office at (410) 313-2111.
Not all records are public. Sealed files, juvenile records, and cases subject to a court order restricting access will not show up in the public search. If a case is not appearing and you believe it should be accessible, contact the clerk's office directly.
The District Court for Howard County is at 3451 Courthouse Drive and handles smaller civil cases, traffic matters, and misdemeanor criminal cases. Reach the District Court clerk at (410) 480-7700.
Below is a screenshot of the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us, the main tool for looking up Howard County court records online.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers both Circuit and District Court cases in Howard County and is free to use without an account.
Below is the Howard County Circuit Court page at mdcourts.gov, which provides more detail on the court's divisions and local rules.
The circuit court page covers local court rules, division contacts, and how to access the Howard County courthouse in Ellicott City.
Howard County Land Records
All land instruments in Howard County are recorded with the Land Records Department at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 9250 Judicial Way. This includes deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and releases. The land records staff can be reached at (410) 313-5850 during regular business hours.
Maryland's statewide land records portal is the best tool for searching Howard County deed and mortgage documents online. Most instruments recorded in recent years are available with full document images. Search by grantor name, grantee name, book and page number, or instrument type. This is useful for tracking deed transfers, verifying ownership, or reviewing mortgage history on a property.
Access the portal at landrec.msa.maryland.gov to search Howard County land records. Certified copies of recorded instruments can be ordered through the Land Records Department at (410) 313-5850 or in person at the courthouse.
Recording fees in Maryland follow a set 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 Howard County the same as elsewhere in the state.
Here is a view of the Maryland Land Records portal at landrec.msa.maryland.gov, where you can search Howard County deed and mortgage documents by name or document type.
The land records portal covers all Howard County instruments and allows free searching with document images available for most recent filings.
Howard County Property Records via SDAT
Property ownership and assessment data for Howard County is maintained by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, known as SDAT. Their real property search tool is free and accessible to anyone. It covers all parcels in the county and is updated regularly.
SDAT records show the current owner, assessed land and improvement values, property descriptions, sale history, and tax account status. This is useful for looking up who owns a specific address, checking your own assessment, or reviewing sales in an area. The data connects directly to Howard County's tax billing system.
Search Howard County property records at the SDAT Real Property Search. Choose Howard County from the menu and search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. Each result links to the full property record.
Howard County also maintains its own Finance Department, which handles local property tax billing, payment records, and tax sale information. That office is separate from SDAT but uses the same assessment data. Below is the SDAT real property search portal, the main starting point for property ownership research in Howard County.
The SDAT portal allows free lookups of Howard County parcel data including owner names, values, and sale histories.
Below is the Howard County Finance Department page at howardcountymd.gov/finance, which handles local tax billing and financial records tied to property ownership.
The Finance Department page covers property tax accounts, payment options, and financial records maintained by Howard County government.
Howard County Register of Wills and Probate
The Register of Wills for Howard County handles probate and estate matters. When a person dies, the estate is typically opened in the county where they lived. The Register supervises the administration of those estates and keeps records on file. The Howard County Register of Wills is at 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
Contact the Howard County Register of Wills at HowardCountyROW@registers.maryland.gov or by phone at (410) 313-2133. Probate records include wills, petitions to open estate, asset inventories, accountings, and final distributions. These are public records and can be requested through the Register's office. The statewide Register of Wills portal lets you search estates by decedent name or estate number. The Orphans Court, which oversees probate proceedings in Maryland, meets at 8360 Court Ave and can be reached through the same (410) 313-2133 number.
Genealogists, heirs, and creditors all use this office regularly. Most records are accessible without a formal request by visiting during business hours.
Vital Records in Howard County
Birth and death certificates for events that took place in Howard 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 in Baltimore.
Visit health.maryland.gov/vsa to start a request. You will need to show proof of identity and your relationship to the record subject. Fees and processing times are posted on the VSA website. Expedited service is available for an extra fee.
Marriage licenses in Howard County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 9250 Judicial Way. Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. The fee is $85. A 48-hour waiting period is required before the ceremony. The license is valid for 6 months from the issue date. Call (410) 313-2111 with questions about the marriage license process.
Divorce records are court records, not vital records. They are held by the Circuit Court Clerk and are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool or by contacting the clerk's office directly.
Howard County Police Records
The Howard County Police Department maintains records of incidents, arrests, and accidents. You can request records through the Records Section by emailing therecordssection@howardcountymd.gov or calling (410) 313-3200. The police department's online resources page has forms and instructions for submitting record requests electronically.
Copying fees are $0.25 per page for black and white paper copies. Electronic copies are provided free when available. Response times vary depending on the nature of the request. Crash reports and incident reports are the most common records requested from the police department. Some records may be restricted if they relate to ongoing investigations or involve information protected by law.
Visit the Howard County Police online resources page for request forms, instructions, and current contact information for the Records Section.
The HCPD online resources page links to request forms and explains how to submit MPIA requests to the police department's Records Section.
How to File an MPIA Request in Howard County
Maryland's open records law is the Maryland Public Information Act, found 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 records are exempt from disclosure, and agencies may charge fees for locating and copying materials.
Howard County's MPIA contact is Patrick Pope at piarecords@howardcountymd.gov or (410) 313-4305. For court records, requests go directly to the Circuit Court Clerk at (410) 313-2111. Agencies must acknowledge a request within 10 working days and provide a full response within 30 calendar days. If a request is denied, the agency must give a legal reason for the denial. You can appeal to the circuit court or the Office of the Attorney General.
- Submit requests in writing with as much detail as possible about the records you need
- Direct court record requests to the clerk at (410) 313-2111
- Direct county government requests to piarecords@howardcountymd.gov
- Direct police record requests to therecordssection@howardcountymd.gov
- Expect an acknowledgment within 10 working days
- The full response is due within 30 calendar days
The Howard County MPIA page at howardcountymd.gov/PIA has additional guidance, contact information, and links to request forms. Many records at the clerk's office can be viewed in person without any formal MPIA request during business hours.
The Howard County MPIA page explains how to submit requests, who to contact for different record types, and what to expect during the review process.
Below is the Howard County government homepage at howardcountymd.gov, which links to all county departments and online services.
The county homepage connects to all departments, including the clerk's office, police records, finance, and the MPIA contacts listed above.
Communities in Howard County
Howard County includes several large communities. Columbia and Ellicott City are the two largest and each has a dedicated public records page.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Howard County borders Anne Arundel, Carroll, Baltimore County, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties. Each has its own clerk's office and public records system.