Bowie Dissolution of Marriage Lookup
Dissolution of marriage records for Bowie residents are filed and kept at the Circuit Court for Prince George's County in Upper Marlboro, about 12 to 15 miles west of Bowie. Bowie is the largest city in Prince George's County, but it does not have its own circuit court. All divorce filings, decrees, and related family law case documents for Bowie residents go to the courthouse in Upper Marlboro. You can search Bowie dissolution of marriage cases online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal, visit the Upper Marlboro courthouse during business hours, use the after-hours drop in the courthouse atrium, or contact the Civil Domestic Division directly for help finding a specific record.
Bowie Overview
Where Bowie Residents File for Dissolution
Bowie residents must go to the Circuit Court for Prince George's County at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 to file for dissolution of marriage or to get copies of divorce records. The courthouse is the county seat location and houses the Civil Domestic Division, which handles all dissolution of marriage filings. The general phone number is 301-952-3318. The Civil Domestic Division direct line is 301-952-3322. Email for domestic cases is ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Clerk of the Circuit Court Mahasin El Amin oversees all Prince George's County dissolution of marriage records.
| Court | Circuit Court for Prince George's County |
|---|---|
| Address | 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 |
| Phone (General) | 301-952-3318 |
| Phone (Civil Domestic) | 301-952-3322 |
| Email (Domestic) | ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov |
| Clerk | Mahasin El Amin |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| After-Hours Drop | Atrium on ground floor, Marbury side, Judges Drive (collected next business day) |
| Children's Waiting Room | Free; ages 3-12 (potty trained); capacity 20; M-F 8:30-4:30 |
| Website | mdcourts.gov/clerks/princegeorges |
The after-hours drop location is in the courthouse atrium on the ground floor, Marbury side, near Judges Drive. Any documents left there are collected and processed the next business day. This is helpful for Bowie residents who cannot make the trip to Upper Marlboro during regular hours. If you use the drop, make sure your filing is complete and any payment by check or money order is included. Credit card payments require an in-person visit during business hours.
The courthouse also has a Children's Waiting Room. It is free, open to children ages 3 to 12 who are potty trained, has a capacity of 20, and operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you are bringing children while dealing with dissolution of marriage matters at the Upper Marlboro courthouse, this service is available without advance reservation.
The Prince George's County Clerk of Circuit Court page at princegeorgescourts.org is the official source for Bowie dissolution of marriage records and filing information.
This page links to the Civil Domestic Division, forms, fee schedules, and contact details for Bowie dissolution of marriage cases.
Search Bowie Dissolution of Marriage Cases
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the free online tool for finding Bowie dissolution of marriage cases. Enter one spouse's last name and filter results to Prince George's County. The system returns case numbers, filing dates, hearing dates, and case status. Use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard when searching uncertain name spellings. Case Search does not display document images, but it gives you the case number and basic details needed to request records from the Civil Domestic Division.
To request copies, contact the Circuit Court for Prince George's County at 301-952-3322 for the Civil Domestic Division, or email ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees are $5.00 each. When submitting a written or email request, include the full case number, both party names, and the approximate year the dissolution was filed. You can also visit the clerk's office in person at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro during regular hours.
Prince George's County records from 1815 to 1984 are held at the Maryland State Archives. Records from 1984 onward are at the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro. If you are searching for a Bowie dissolution of marriage case from before 1984, start with the Maryland State Archives at guide.msa.maryland.gov. For more recent cases, the circuit court clerk is the right contact.
The Maryland courts directory page at mdcourts.gov shows the full contact listing for the Prince George's County courthouse that handles Bowie cases.
Use this directory to look up office hours and alternate contact information for dissolution of marriage records tied to Bowie.
Prince George's County also has a dedicated records page that covers how to request dissolution of marriage records for Bowie.
This page provides an overview of copy fees, what documents are available, and how to submit requests for Bowie dissolution of marriage records.
Filing Dissolution of Marriage from Bowie
To file for dissolution of marriage in Prince George's County, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Maryland Family Law § 7-101. That means one spouse must have lived in Maryland for six months before the filing date. Bowie residents who meet that rule file their complaint at the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro. The fee is $165 without an attorney, or $175 with legal counsel. Bring your completed forms to the clerk's office at 14735 Main Street, or use the after-hours atrium drop if you cannot come during business hours.
Grounds for dissolution of marriage in Maryland are set out in Maryland Family Law § 7-103. Bowie residents can file on grounds of a six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, or mutual consent. Mutual consent is often the most direct path when both spouses have already worked out all issues. No separation period is required. Both parties sign a written agreement on property, support, and any parenting arrangements, and submit it with the complaint. The Prince George's County court can act on a mutual consent case without a waiting period or contested hearing.
After the complaint is filed and the other spouse is served, the case moves through the court process. Cases with children may be sent to mediation for custody and parenting plan disputes. If the case is contested, the court issues a scheduling order with deadlines for discovery and hearings. Property division matters that reach the court are governed by Maryland Family Law § 8-205, which describes how courts weigh marital assets when splitting property between spouses.
Bowie is the largest city in Prince George's County by population. The volume of dissolution of marriage filings from Bowie in the Upper Marlboro courthouse is significant. The Civil Domestic Division at 301-952-3322 can answer procedural questions specific to your case before you file. If you are not sure which forms to use or how to start, call or email before making the trip to Upper Marlboro.
Help for Bowie Dissolution Cases
The Circuit Court for Prince George's County in Upper Marlboro has self-help resources for dissolution of marriage cases. The clerk's office can direct you to public legal help materials and forms available in the courthouse. Maryland Courts also maintains a free online library of dissolution forms at courts.state.md.us/family/family-forms. This is a practical starting point for Bowie residents who plan to file without an attorney and want to understand what documents are needed before visiting the court.
The Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through completing dissolution of marriage forms step by step online. The state legal help page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce explains each stage of the divorce process in plain language. Both are free to use. If you want to review your options with an attorney before filing, the Prince George's County Bar Association runs a Lawyer Referral Service that can connect Bowie residents with local family law attorneys.
Maryland Legal Aid serves Prince George's County and offers free legal help to eligible residents. Call the statewide intake line to find out if you qualify for no-cost legal assistance with your Bowie dissolution of marriage case. Legal aid attorneys can help with both contested and uncontested cases and can advise on custody, support, and property matters as part of the overall dissolution.
Divorce Certificates for Bowie Residents
Two documents can confirm a dissolution of marriage that was granted in Prince George's County. The first is a certified copy of the final divorce decree from the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. This is the complete court order with all terms of the dissolution, including any decisions on property, support, or custody. Certified copies cost $5.00 each and are available from the Civil Domestic Division by calling 301-952-3322 or emailing ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov. This document is what most financial institutions, property agencies, and government offices require.
The second option is a state divorce certificate from the Maryland Department of Health. These certificates cover cases from 1992 forward and are available at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/divorce.aspx for $12 per copy. The certificate is a shorter document showing only the names, date granted, and county. For Bowie dissolution of marriage records from before 1984, contact the Maryland State Archives at guide.msa.maryland.gov. Records from 1984 through 1992 may require direct contact with the Prince George's County Circuit Court clerk to determine availability and the proper request process.
Prince George's County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Bowie is located in Prince George's County, and all dissolution of marriage filings for Bowie residents are handled by the Circuit Court for Prince George's County in Upper Marlboro. The county page has full details on the Civil Domestic Division, fees, clerk contact information, and related records resources for Prince George's County.
Nearby Cities
Bowie is the only qualifying city in Prince George's County with a dissolution of marriage page on this site. There are no other qualifying cities in the immediate surrounding area.