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Maryland Public Records
Maryland is a closed records state, meaning there are restrictions on certain types of records. However, there are still many records that are accessible to the public. Maryland court records, including civil and criminal court records, are open to the public. A statewide court case search tool is available through the Maryland Judiciary website. Other Maryland public records include vital records, although official copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records in Maryland are restricted to authorized individuals. These may be requested from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Maryland criminal records require fingerprints and may be requested only by the person of record through the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Historic Maryland public records can be viewed at the State Archives in Annapolis, which include Maryland military records, vital records, cemetery records and obituaries.
About Maryland Public Records
Despite Maryland being a closed records state, there is still available access to certain records. Although Maryland birth records are highly restricted compared to other vital records, these still become public record after 100 years.
Whereas copies of Maryland death records, marriage and divorce records are listed as restricted through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, many fairly recent records are available through the Maryland State Archives for genealogical purposes. Since official copies of these Maryland public records can be used to establish identity, they are restricted to the person of record, a family member or person with a legal interest or reason.
However, circuit courts also possess local Maryland marriage records and divorce records and have varying levels of restrictions. For example, Maryland divorce records can be viewed online through the Maryland Judiciary public access portal, although marriage records are not included in an online index.
Searching Maryland Public Records Online Free
The Maryland Judiciary website offers public and free access to its case records search web portal. This provides case details on various types of Maryland court records, including civil, criminal and divorce. These Maryland free online public records can be searched by county or statewide, by name or case number. Also, contact information for the specific court that handled the case is available with the online record in case copies are desired. This online access to Maryland court records is limited to 1989 and later. Earlier court records must be viewed at the court where the case was heard.
Free Maryland public records online are limited to court records and some historic records available through the State Archives. However, the available historic records are mostly searchable indexes and not the actual records.
Performing a Public Records Search in Maryland
The Maryland State Archives is the state’s repository for many types of historically significant records pertaining to the state and its government. However, there is a large genealogy section with historic records important to anyone researching family history in Maryland. A public records search in Maryland for genealogy purposes will ultimately lead to the State Archives, located in Annapolis. Available are many historic Maryland military records. Some of the subjects include the Civil War, Whiskey Rebellion, Revolutionary War, Colonial Wars, Spanish American War and World War II.
Other interesting and important subjects in a Maryland public records search at the Archives include Maryland cemetery records, which are broken down by county online. Cemetery records are also found under church records at the Archives. Maryland obituaries are also available to search. Historic Maryland court records prior to 1776 are featured at the Archives as well. Anyone may visit, although the Archives accepts orders for certain types of indexed records, such as vital records, by mail, email, phone or fax if a physical visit isn’t possible. Taking note of the various records of interest from their website will make a visit more productive.
Accident Reports
1711 Belmont Ave
Baltimore, MD 21244
200 St Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
Division of Vital Records
PO Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020
Charter Corporation Division
301 W Preston St, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21201
Public Safety & Correctional Records
PO Box 32708
Pikeville, MD 21282-5743
Division of Vital Records
PO Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020
Division of Vital Records
PO Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020
Driver Records Unit, Rm 145
6601 Ritchie Hwy, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
GED Office
200 W Baltimore St, 6th Fl
Baltimore, MD 21201
State House, 100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Licensing & Registration Service
1804 West St, #300
Annapolis, MD 21404
Maryland Division of Corrections
6776 Reistertown Road, Suite 310
Baltimore, MD 21215-2342
Library & Information Services
90 State Circle, Basement Level
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
Division of Vital Records
PO Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020
PO Box 32708
SOR Unit
Pikeville, MD 21282-5743
Hall of Records
350 Rowe Blvd
Annapolis, MD 21401
580 Taylor Ave
Annapolis, MD 21401
Department of Assessments & Taxation
301 West Preston St
Baltimore, MD 21201
Vehicle Registration Division
Room 204, 6601 Ritchie Hwy, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
10 E Baltimore St
Baltimore, MD 21202