Find Public Records in Kent County
Kent County public records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Chestertown, the county government, and several state agencies. This guide covers how to find court cases, land documents, property records, probate files, and vital records. Most records can be searched online through free state portals, and the clerk's office at 103 North Cross Street handles in-person and written requests during business hours.
Kent County Public Records Overview
Kent County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk for Kent County is located at 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone number is (410) 778-7460. Kent County is part of Maryland's 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Caroline, Cecil, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties.
The clerk's office maintains civil case files, criminal records, family law matters, and land instruments for the county. Staff can help you locate a case by number or party name, tell you which division handles your matter, and walk you through how to get copies of court documents. If a file is older and not yet digitized, staff can usually locate it and provide copies for a per-page fee. For the most straightforward access, visiting in person during business hours is often faster than a formal written request.
Kent County is one of Maryland's smaller counties by population. The courthouse in Chestertown serves the entire county and handles both Circuit Court and certain support functions. The District Court for Kent County is also in Chestertown and handles traffic, small civil, and misdemeanor cases. For questions about which court handles a specific matter, call (410) 778-7460.
Filings can be submitted in person or through Maryland's electronic filing system for attorneys and some self-represented parties. Copies of filed documents can be obtained at the clerk's counter during business hours. Certified copies require additional processing time and a higher fee than plain copies.
Kent County Court Records Search Online
Court records for Kent County are searchable for free through the 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 matters. Search results show party names, charges or claims, case status, scheduled hearings, and a full docket of events.
Go to casesearch.courts.state.md.us and choose Kent County from the county list. Enter the party's last name or a case number. Results include all docketed events. For cases filed through the MDEC system, some documents can be downloaded directly. Older records that predate electronic filing must be requested through the clerk's office in Chestertown.
Not all records are public. Sealed files, juvenile matters, and cases restricted by court order will not appear in the public search. If a case is not coming up and you believe it should be accessible, contact the clerk at (410) 778-7460.
Below is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal, the main tool for locating Kent County court records online without a fee.
The Case Search tool covers both Circuit and District Court cases in Kent County and is free to use without registration.
Kent County Land Records
All land instruments in Kent County are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 103 North Cross Street in Chestertown. This includes deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and releases. The clerk's office handles both recording and copies for the land records division. Call (410) 778-7460 to reach the land records staff.
Maryland's statewide land records portal makes it possible to search Kent County deed and mortgage documents online. Most instruments recorded in recent years are available with full document images. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, book and page number, or instrument type. This is the most efficient way to track deed transfers, verify ownership, or review lien history on a specific property without going to the courthouse.
Access the portal at mdlandrec.net to search Kent County land records at no cost. Certified copies of recorded instruments can be ordered through the clerk's office in Chestertown. Standard recording fees apply statewide: $20 for documents with 9 or fewer pages, $75 for documents with 10 or more pages, a $40 surcharge on all instruments, and $10 for releases.
Here is the Maryland Land Records portal, where Kent County deed and property documents can be searched by name or document type.
The land records portal covers all Kent County instruments and allows free document image access for most recent filings.
Kent County Property Records via SDAT
Property ownership and assessment data for Kent County is maintained by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, known as SDAT. Their real property search tool is free and open to anyone. It covers all parcels in the county and is updated on a regular basis.
SDAT records show the current owner of record, assessed land and improvement values, property descriptions, sale history, and tax account status. This is useful for checking who owns a specific address, reviewing your own assessment, or researching property sales in the area. The data links to the county's tax billing records. Kent County is a rural Eastern Shore county, so parcel data can include farm and waterfront properties that require careful review of the property description fields.
Search Kent County property records at the SDAT Real Property Search. Select Kent County from the county dropdown and search by owner name, property address, or parcel identification number. Each result shows the full property record with all available assessment and ownership data.
Below is the SDAT real property portal used to look up ownership and assessment data for Kent County parcels.
SDAT's real property search is the standard tool for finding Kent County property ownership records and current assessment values.
Note: SDAT assessed values are used for property tax purposes. They may differ from current market values or appraised values used in real estate transactions.
Kent County Register of Wills and Probate Records
The Register of Wills for Kent County handles all probate and estate matters in Chestertown. When a person dies with or without a will, the estate is opened in the county where they lived. The Register supervises estate administration and keeps all related records on file. Probate records include wills, petitions to open estate, inventories of assets, accountings filed by the personal representative, and final distribution records.
These records are public. Anyone can request copies or search for a filed estate. The statewide Register of Wills portal lets you search by decedent name or estate number. Visit the Kent County Register of Wills page for the local office address, phone number, and links to the online search tool. The Register also handles minor estate proceedings and inheritance tax filings, which are separate from probate but maintained in the same office.
Genealogists, heirs, creditors, and estate attorneys all use this office regularly. If you need a copy of a will or other probate filing, the Register's office is the right place to start. Most records from estates opened in recent decades are accessible without a formal written request by visiting in person during business hours.
Below is the state Register of Wills portal page for Kent County, which covers office details and links to the estate search tool.
The Kent County Register of Wills page lists the office address, contact information, and instructions for searching probate records online.
Vital Records in Kent County
Birth and death certificates for events that took place in Kent 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 VSA office in Baltimore.
Visit health.maryland.gov/vsa to start a request. You will need proof of identity and your relationship to the record subject. Fees and processing times are listed on the website. Expedited processing is available for an extra fee. Birth and death records for older events are sometimes held by the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, which maintains historical vital records dating back to the 19th century.
Marriage licenses in Kent County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 103 North Cross Street in Chestertown. Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. The fee is $85. A 48-hour waiting period is required before the ceremony can take place. The license stays valid for 6 months from the issue date. Divorce records are court records and are not issued by the VSA. They are held by the Circuit Court Clerk and are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool or by contacting the clerk at (410) 778-7460.
Criminal Records and Background Checks
Criminal case records for Kent County are available through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool at no cost. The tool shows publicly accessible charge information, case status, and disposition data for both Circuit and District Court cases. Results include felony and misdemeanor matters handled in Chestertown.
For full criminal history 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 licensing and certain employment screenings. Visit dpscs.maryland.gov for instructions on requesting a criminal history record check. Full background checks through DPSCS require authorization and a fee; the process is separate from the free court case search.
For court-based records in the Circuit Court, contact the criminal division of the clerk's office at (410) 778-7460. Shielded and expunged records are not available through public search tools and require a court order to access.
How to Request Kent County Public Records
Maryland's open records law is the Maryland Public Information Act, codified at General Provisions Article, Sections 4-101 and following. The MPIA gives the public the right to request and inspect most government records. Some categories are exempt from disclosure, and agencies may charge fees for locating and copying materials.
To request records from Kent County government, submit a written request to the appropriate county department. For court records, requests go to the Circuit Court Clerk at 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620, or by phone at (410) 778-7460. The agency receiving the request must acknowledge it within 10 working days and provide a full response within 30 calendar days. If a request is denied in full or in part, the agency must give the legal basis for denial. You can appeal to the circuit court or the Office of the Attorney General.
- Describe the records you need as specifically as possible in writing
- Direct court record requests to the clerk at (410) 778-7460
- Direct county agency requests to the relevant department head
- Direct probate record requests to the Register of Wills
- Expect acknowledgment within 10 working days
- The full response is due within 30 calendar days
- Fees may apply for large requests requiring significant staff time
Many court records and land documents can be viewed in person at the courthouse without a formal MPIA request. Visiting during business hours and asking the clerk staff is often the fastest route. The clerk's office at (410) 778-7460 can tell you what is available and whether a specific file has been digitized.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Kent County borders Cecil, Queen Anne's, Caroline, and Talbot counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Each maintains its own clerk's office and public records system.