Prince George's County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Prince George's County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro. If you need to search or get a copy of a divorce decree filed in this county, the Civil Domestic Division handles those requests. Cases go back to 1815 at the Maryland State Archives, and anything filed after 1984 is held at the courthouse. Most searches start with the statewide case search tool or a direct visit to Room D1022 at the Main Street courthouse.
Prince George's County Overview
Circuit Court Clerk in Prince George's County
The Circuit Court Clerk for Prince George's County is Mahasin El Amin. The Civil Domestic Division handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed in the county. This division keeps track of filings, stores case files, and processes requests for copies of divorce decrees and related orders. Staff can help you find cases whether they are new or many years old.
The courthouse sits in Upper Marlboro, which is the county seat. All divorce filings go through the Civil Domestic Division at Room D1022. You can reach that division directly at 301-952-3322, or send an email to ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov. The main clerk line is 301-952-3318. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you need to drop off documents after hours, there is a depository in the atrium on the ground floor of the Marbury side of the courthouse on Judges Drive. Papers left there are picked up the next business day.
The Prince George's County Circuit Court Clerk page lists contact details and services for the Civil Domestic Division.
The clerk's page shows contact info, hours, and details on how to reach the Civil Domestic Division for dissolution of marriage filings and record requests in Prince George's County.
| Clerk | Mahasin El Amin |
|---|---|
| Address | 14735 Main Street, Room D1022, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 |
| Main Phone | 301-952-3318 |
| Civil Domestic | 301-952-3322 |
| ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | princegeorgescourts.org |
How to Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Prince George's County
The fastest way to start is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. This tool covers all Circuit Court cases in Prince George's County, including dissolution of marriage. You can search by the names of the parties or by case number. Use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard if you are not sure of the full spelling. The site shows basic case details and status for free.
To search in person, go to Room D1022 at the Upper Marlboro courthouse. Bring the names of both parties as they appeared at the time of the divorce. A filing date or case number helps speed things up, but the staff can search by name alone. Maryland law does not allow clerk staff to conduct searches beyond their standard duties, so having as much information as possible on hand is helpful. You will need a valid ID for record requests. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies of a divorce decree cost $5.00 plus copy fees.
You can also email the Civil Domestic Division at ccpgclerkdomestic@mdcourts.gov to ask about a case. The division also accepts reports of absolute divorce or annulment by email. For records from 1815 through 1984, contact the Maryland State Archives, which maintains older dissolution of marriage records for the entire state.
The Prince George's County divorce records page provides guidance on where to search for dissolution of marriage filings and how to obtain copies.
Note: Maryland law limits what clerk staff can do during a records search. Come prepared with full names, a date range, and a case number if you have one.
Forms for Dissolution of Marriage in Prince George's County
All standard family law forms are available from the Maryland Courts at courts.state.md.us/family/family-forms. Prince George's County also maintains a local forms page at princegeorgescourts.org/411/Forms. The key form for starting a dissolution of marriage case is the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, which is also known locally as the Blue Form. You file this form with the Civil Domestic Division to open a case.
All attorneys who file in Prince George's County must do so electronically under Maryland Rule 20-106. Self-represented parties may still file in person at Room D1022. If you are not sure which forms you need, the Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks you through the process step by step and helps you fill out the right paperwork for your situation. The tool covers absolute divorce under Maryland Code, Family Law Article, Section 7-103, which sets the grounds and conditions for dissolving a marriage in Maryland.
The forms page at princegeorgescourts.org lists all local family division forms used in Prince George's County dissolution of marriage cases.
Maryland Law and Dissolution of Marriage
Maryland handles dissolution of marriage through the Circuit Court system. The basic definitions and structure of marriage under state law are found in Family Law Article, Section 7-101. This section covers what the law means when it refers to a marriage and the parties involved. All divorces in Prince George's County go through the Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over family law matters in the 7th Judicial Circuit.
When it comes to property, the court uses Family Law Article, Section 8-205 to guide how marital property gets divided. This statute allows the judge to grant a monetary award to one party if a straight split of property would not be fair. The court looks at things like how long the couple was married, what each person contributed, and what each person will be left with after the divorce. These orders become part of the public dissolution of marriage record in Prince George's County.
For more on the legal process, the Maryland Courts site at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce explains the steps in plain language. It also links to forms and contact info for all counties, including Prince George's.
Divorce Verification Through Vital Records
Maryland's Vital Statistics Administration issues a short-form divorce verification for divorces that took place from 1992 to the present. This document is not the same as a full court decree. It confirms that a divorce occurred and lists the names and date but does not include property terms or custody orders. The fee is $12, and you can request it from the state health department at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/divorce.aspx.
If you need the full dissolution of marriage decree for Prince George's County, you must get it from the Circuit Court Clerk. The vital records office does not have copies of the actual court order. Most legal or financial matters need the full decree rather than the short verification. Think of the vital records document as a quick proof of the event, and the court decree as the full legal record.
Additional Services at the Prince George's Courthouse
The Prince George's County courthouse offers a free Children's Waiting Room for parents and guardians who have court business. This service is available for children aged 3 to 12 who are potty trained. The room holds up to 20 children and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It is a helpful option for parents who need to visit the Civil Domestic Division but cannot arrange childcare.
The courthouse also handles a range of other domestic relations matters beyond dissolution of marriage. These include domestic violence cases, guardianships, adoptions (call 301-952-5206 for that division), name changes, and registration of foreign orders. If you need to reach the adoptions division, the direct line is 301-952-5206. The Civil Domestic Division is the main contact point for most family law matters in Prince George's County.
Note: The Maryland Courts directory listing for Prince George's County has current contact details for all divisions within the Circuit Court.
Cities in Prince George's County
Prince George's County includes several large cities and communities. All dissolution of marriage cases filed by residents of these areas go through the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro. Bowie is the largest city in the county but has no Circuit Court of its own. Residents who need to file or access dissolution of marriage records must make the 12 to 15 mile trip to the Upper Marlboro courthouse, which typically takes 25 to 35 minutes.
Other communities in Prince George's County include College Park, Laurel, Hyattsville, Greenbelt, Seat Pleasant, and Capitol Heights. These areas do not have their own Circuit Courts and file dissolution of marriage cases in Upper Marlboro.
Nearby Counties
Prince George's County borders several other Maryland counties. If you live near a county line, confirm your home address falls within Prince George's County before filing a dissolution of marriage case. You must file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.