Garrett County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Garrett County dissolution of marriage records are maintained at the Circuit Court for Garrett County in Oakland, Maryland. Located at the Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse on South Fourth Street, the clerk's office stores all divorce filings and decrees for this county going back to 1872. If you need to search for a dissolution case, obtain a copy of a final decree, or verify that a divorce was recorded in Garrett County, the clerk's office handles all requests by phone, mail, email, or in-person visit during regular business hours.
Garrett County Overview
Circuit Court for Garrett County
The Circuit Court for Garrett County handles all dissolution of marriage cases in Maryland's westernmost county. Clerk William L. Bittinger runs the office at the Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse, located at 203 South Fourth Street, Room 109, in Oakland. The court has jurisdiction over all family law matters in Garrett County, and the dissolution records it holds go back to when the county was formed in 1872. That kind of depth is useful when searching older divorce cases that may predate online record systems.
The main phone number for the court is 301-334-1937. For civil matters, call 301-334-1938 directly. For domestic relations cases, including dissolution inquiries, call 301-334-1935. Maryland residents can also use the toll-free line at 800-989-3292. The court's email address for judicial records inquiries is gbcojudicialrecords@mdcourts.gov. The mailing address is: William L. Bittinger, Clerk, Garrett County Circuit Court, 203 S. 4th St., P.O. Box 447, Oakland, MD 21550. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Additional information on the court is available at the county's own page at garrettcounty.org/circuit-court, which covers local contacts and procedures. The image below is from that site:
This page confirms the court's location, contact details, and the services available for Garrett County dissolution of marriage cases.
| Court Name | Circuit Court for Garrett County |
|---|---|
| Clerk | William L. Bittinger |
| Address | 203 South Fourth Street, Room 109, Oakland, MD 21550 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 447, Oakland, MD 21550 |
| Main Phone | 301-334-1937 |
| Civil Division | 301-334-1938 |
| Domestic Division | 301-334-1935 |
| Toll-Free (MD) | 800-989-3292 |
| gbcojudicialrecords@mdcourts.gov | |
| Judge | Raymond G. Strubin |
| Family Magistrate | Tracey L. Henline |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
How to Search Garrett County Dissolution Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers Garrett County Circuit Court cases and is free to use. You can search by name using the percent sign (%) as a wildcard, which helps when spellings vary. Searching by case number works too if you already have it. Case Search shows the parties' names, filing dates, case status, and a list of docketed documents. It does not show document text, but it gives you enough to know what case you need and what documents to request from the clerk in Oakland.
The general information page for the clerk at courts.state.md.us/clerks/garrett/generalinfo has an overview of what the clerk's office provides. The records request page at courts.state.md.us/clerks/garrett/recordsrequests gives specific instructions for how to ask for copies of Garrett County dissolution documents. The general info page screenshot is shown below:
This page from the Maryland Courts website confirms how to contact the Garrett County clerk and what to include when making a records request.
For in-person searches, go to Room 109 at 203 South Fourth Street in Oakland. Bring the names of both parties as they appeared at the time of the divorce, the approximate year of the case, and your contact details. Having the case number speeds things up. Staff can pull the file and tell you what documents are available. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.50 each. Payment by cash, money order, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover) is accepted. Checks are not accepted, so plan ahead.
Mail requests go to: William L. Bittinger, Clerk, Garrett County Circuit Court, 203 S. 4th St., P.O. Box 447, Oakland, MD 21550. You can also email gbcojudicialrecords@mdcourts.gov. Include both parties' names, the year of the divorce, the case number if known, the specific documents you want, your return address, and your contact phone or email. Send a money order for the estimated copy costs.
The records request page below shows what the clerk expects when you reach out for Garrett County dissolution of marriage documents:
Review this page before you send your request so you include everything the Garrett County clerk needs to process it without delay.
Dissolution of Marriage Filing in Garrett County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Garrett County, you go to the Circuit Court at the Thayer Courthouse on South Fourth Street in Oakland. The filing fee is $165 if you represent yourself, or $175 if an attorney files on your behalf. Under Maryland Family Law § 7-101, at least one spouse must have lived in Maryland before filing. Once you pay and file, you receive a case number. Family Magistrate Tracey L. Henline may handle preliminary matters before the case goes to Judge Strubin for a final ruling.
Grounds for dissolution in Garrett County follow state law under Maryland Family Law § 7-103. Mutual consent divorce is available when both parties agree on all terms and either have no minor children or have a signed parenting plan. Separation-based divorce requires the parties to have lived apart for the required period without cohabitation. Once the court issues a final decree, that document is part of the public record and can be requested from the clerk's office at any time going forward.
Property division in Garrett County dissolution cases follows Maryland Family Law § 8-205. The court weighs factors like the length of the marriage and each spouse's contributions when dividing marital assets. If the parties reach a settlement, that agreement is filed with the court and becomes part of the case record. The Family Services Coordinator at 301-334-7602 can help point residents to local resources during the dissolution process in Garrett County.
Garrett County Dissolution Records: What They Include
A dissolution of marriage file in Garrett County contains every document submitted from the time the complaint is filed to the final decree. The complaint itself names both parties, lays out the basis for dissolving the marriage, and states what the filing spouse is asking the court to order. Any response from the other side, along with temporary orders entered while the case was pending, is also part of the record. All of this sits in the case file at the Thayer Courthouse and can be requested by the public.
The final decree is the most requested document in any Garrett County dissolution file. It is the judge's signed order that formally ends the marriage. It covers property terms, any spousal support that was ordered, child custody arrangements if children are involved, and child support amounts. In many cases, a marital settlement agreement is attached or incorporated into the decree. Certified copies of this document are commonly needed for tasks like changing a name on a driver's license, updating a deed, or handling financial accounts. The clerk charges $5.50 per certified copy in Garrett County.
Garrett County dissolution records go back to 1872, the year the county was formed. There is no known courthouse disaster history that would have destroyed records, so the holdings are relatively complete from that founding date forward. Land records, marriage records, and military records from the same period are also held at the Thayer Courthouse. Naturalization records from 1908 to 1929 are another resource on file. Older records not held by the clerk may be available through the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis at 410-260-6400 or 800-235-4045.
Verification and Historical Garrett County Divorce Records
For Garrett County divorces that took place from 1992 onward, the Maryland Department of Health Division of Vital Records offers a verification service at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/divorce.aspx. A divorce verification costs $12 and confirms that the divorce occurred, names both parties, and gives the date and county. It is not a full decree copy, but it works for many common purposes. For cases before 1992 or when you need the complete decree with all terms, go directly to the Garrett County Circuit Court clerk or to the Maryland State Archives.
The Archives guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov explains which Maryland divorce records are held at the Archives, covering gaps that predate what circuit courts currently maintain. For remote Garrett County, this can be especially useful for genealogy and legal research involving older dissolution cases.
Note: Court forms for dissolution of marriage are available statewide at courts.state.md.us/family/family-forms, and the Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile helps self-represented parties fill out their paperwork correctly before filing in Garrett County.
Other Garrett County Court Resources
Several other offices at the Thayer Courthouse support dissolution of marriage cases in Garrett County. The State's Attorney office is at 301-334-1974, and the Public Defender is at 301-334-9196. The Family Services Coordinator at 301-334-7602 can help people find local services tied to family law matters, including referrals for mediation, counseling, or legal aid that may be relevant during a dissolution proceeding.
For statewide legal help, Maryland Legal Aid serves low-income residents across the state, including those in western Maryland counties like Garrett. The Maryland Courts website at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce has general guidance on the divorce process in Maryland that applies to Garrett County as well. The court records access page at courts.state.md.us/legalhelp/courtrecords explains how members of the public can access court files, what is sealed and what is open, and how to make requests properly. All of this applies to Garrett County dissolution records.
Cities in Garrett County
Garrett County is Maryland's least populous county and its westernmost. Oakland is the county seat and the location of the Circuit Court. No cities in Garrett County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All dissolution of marriage cases in the county are filed at the Thayer Courthouse in Oakland.
Nearby Counties
Garrett County borders just two other Maryland counties. If your address is near one of these borders, confirm which county you live in before filing your dissolution case, since the filing must go to the court in the county where you or your spouse resides.