Baltimore County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Baltimore County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Towson, Maryland. The office handles all requests for divorce filings, final decrees, and case documents from the county's circuit court. You can request records by email, mail, or in person at the Towson courthouse. This guide explains the search process, what information you will need, and how to get copies of Baltimore County dissolution of marriage records quickly and correctly.
Baltimore County Overview
Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk
Julie L. Ensor is the Circuit Court Clerk for Baltimore County. Her office handles all dissolution of marriage records for the county. The public counter is at 401 Bosley Avenue, 2nd Floor, Towson, MD 21204. For mail requests, use the mailing address: P.O. Box 6754, Judicial Records, Towson, MD 21285-6754. The general phone line is 410-887-2601 and the records line is 410-887-3494. You can also reach the office by fax at 410-887-3062 or by email at CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Baltimore County is one of the few clerk offices in Maryland that accepts email requests for dissolution of marriage records. This makes it easier to get what you need without a trip to Towson. The clerk's office also has a Family Law Self-Help Center at the same address, Room 103, which you can reach by phone at 410-887-3162. This resource is available to people handling their own divorce cases without a lawyer.
The Baltimore County clerk's general information page at mdcourts.gov covers services, contact details, and how to request records from the clerk's office.
The clerk's page at mdcourts.gov/clerks/baltimore/general lists hours, contact info, and directions for reaching the Baltimore County records office.
| Clerk | Julie L. Ensor |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, 2nd Floor, Towson, MD 21204 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 6754, Judicial Records, Towson, MD 21285-6754 |
| General Phone | 410-887-2601 |
| Records Phone | 410-887-3494 |
| Fax | 410-887-3062 |
| CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Self-Help Center | Room 103, 401 Bosley Avenue, Phone: 410-887-3162 |
How to Search Baltimore County Dissolution of Marriage Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the best free tool for finding Baltimore County dissolution of marriage cases online. You can search by party name or case number at any time. The portal shows case status, docket entries, and key dates. It does not include images of court documents. Use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard when you search by name if you are not sure of the exact spelling.
Once you find a case number in the Case Search system, you can request copies from the clerk's office by email, mail, or in person. Baltimore County offers email requests, which tend to be the fastest option. Send your request to CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov and include the last four digits of your credit card. Staff will call you to complete the payment. This method can return results the same day or within a few business days.
Baltimore County has an official request form for divorce decree copies. You can download it as a PDF at mdcourts.gov. The form asks for the full names of both parties, the case number if you have it, the date or year range, whether you need certification, and your contact details. You must also include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID with your request. Without the ID copy, the office will not process your request.
Note: All requests for Baltimore County dissolution of marriage records must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID regardless of how you submit the request.
Baltimore County Dissolution of Marriage Record Fees
Plain copies of dissolution of marriage documents cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document plus the $0.50 per page copy fee. So a five-page certified divorce decree would cost $7.50. Payment options depend on how you submit your request. In person, you can pay by cash. By email request, you provide your card number and staff call to collect the full payment. By mail, you can send a check or money order.
Baltimore County accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards for phone and email payments. Debit cards are not accepted. Personal checks are accepted for mail requests. The clerk does not accept cash for mail-in orders, so a money order or check is required if you send your request by post to the Towson P.O. Box.
Filing a new dissolution of marriage case in Baltimore County costs $165 without an attorney or $175 with one. These fees are set at the state level under Maryland law. Additional costs may apply for service of process and other motions during the case. The Baltimore County official page on marriage and divorce records has current fee information and links to related services.
Note: Debit cards are not accepted at Baltimore County for dissolution of marriage record payments, even in person. Use cash, check, money order, or a credit card.
What Baltimore County Dissolution of Marriage Files Contain
A dissolution of marriage file in Baltimore County holds all the papers filed from the start of the case to the end. The complaint comes first and names both parties. It states the grounds for divorce and what the filing party is asking for. Maryland law defines the grounds for absolute divorce under Family Law § 7-103. These include a six-month separation, mutual consent, and irreconcilable differences. All of this information is public once the case is filed in Baltimore County.
Property division terms become part of the final decree in Baltimore County dissolution of marriage cases. Under Family Law § 8-205, the court uses equitable distribution to divide marital assets. This means the judge looks at what is fair given the facts of the case. The settlement agreement that both parties sign, or the court's ruling after a contested hearing, both end up in the public file. The final decree also includes custody arrangements, visitation, support amounts, and any name change orders.
Most of the file is open to the public. Some financial data may be redacted and details about minor children can be limited in public copies. But the core documents, including the complaint, the decree, and the settlement, are available to anyone who asks at the Baltimore County clerk's office.
The Baltimore County divorce records page provides more detail on what records are kept and how to request them from the Circuit Court in Towson.
This resource page covers Baltimore County dissolution of marriage records, including what the file contains and how to submit a request to the clerk in Towson.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Baltimore County
To start a dissolution of marriage in Baltimore County, you file a complaint at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. Under Maryland Family Law § 7-101, at least one spouse must be a Maryland resident before you can file. The filing fee of $165 is due at the time you submit the complaint. You will receive a case number when the clerk accepts the filing.
After filing, your spouse must be served with the divorce papers. You can use a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail. Proof that your spouse was served goes into the case file at Baltimore County. If you and your spouse agree on all terms, you may be able to get a final decree without a hearing once any required separation period has passed. Contested cases may go to mediation or a trial before a judge. All of these steps create records that become part of the public file in Baltimore County.
If you need help filling out forms, the Maryland Guide and File system at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through the process step by step. Official family law forms are also at courts.state.md.us/family/family-forms. Both of these tools are free and available to anyone filing a dissolution of marriage case in Baltimore County without an attorney.
Legal Help for Baltimore County Residents
The Family Law Self-Help Center at 401 Bosley Avenue, Room 103, is open to anyone who is handling their own dissolution of marriage case in Baltimore County. Staff there can help you understand the forms, point you in the right direction, and explain the process. They do not give legal advice, but they can help you get organized before you file or appear in court. Call 410-887-3162 to reach the center.
The Maryland Courts divorce overview at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce has a broad overview of dissolution of marriage in Maryland. It covers everything from residency requirements to what happens at a final hearing. This page also links to legal aid resources across the state, which may be able to provide free or low-cost help to Baltimore County residents who qualify based on income.
If you need a divorce verification rather than a full decree, Maryland Vital Records at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/divorce.aspx can provide one for $12. This service is limited to divorces from 1992 to the present and is available only to the parties and their attorneys. For older cases or full decree copies, go directly to the Baltimore County clerk's office in Towson.
Cities in Baltimore County
Baltimore County surrounds Baltimore City but is a separate jurisdiction. All dissolution of marriage cases for Baltimore County residents are filed at the Circuit Court in Towson, not at any city or town office. The county includes a number of large communities, and several have individual pages on this site. Note that Baltimore City is an independent jurisdiction and has its own separate court and clerk.
Other communities in Baltimore County include Catonsville, Essex, Pikesville, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, and White Marsh. All of these file dissolution of marriage cases at the Towson courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Baltimore County borders several other Maryland counties and Baltimore City. If you are unsure which court handles your case, use your current home address. You must file where you or your spouse currently lives. Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction with its own circuit court.