Search Washington County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Washington County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Circuit Court for Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland, where Clerk Kevin R. Tucker oversees all civil filings. To search for a specific case, you must have the case number before visiting or contacting the clerk's office. You can get a case number through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal online or by using the public kiosks at the courthouse. The office is open Monday through Friday and handles in-person, mail, and phone requests for dissolution of marriage records.

Circuit Court for Washington County

The Circuit Court for Washington County is at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown and handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed in the county. Clerk Kevin R. Tucker leads the office. Civil records, including divorce decrees and domestic relations filings, fall under the Civil division. You can reach the Civil line directly at 301-790-4972 (Option 2 on the phone menu). The general line is 301-733-8660 and connects to all departments through the phone menu. Land Records can be reached at 301-790-7413 (Option 4). The mailing address is P.O. Box 229, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Email the office at Washcocc_clerk@mdcourts.gov for general inquiries.

Washington County has an important rule that sets it apart from other Maryland counties: as of October 5, 2020, the clerk's office requires a case number for all dissolution of marriage record requests. Staff cannot search by name alone, and the office cannot certify that a record does not exist. This means you must look up the case number yourself before you call, write, or visit. The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us lets you search by party name and find your case number. Public kiosks at the courthouse provide the same access if you prefer to look it up on-site. More information about the clerk's office is at mdcourts.gov/clerks/washington.

Finding Washington County Dissolution Records

The case number requirement in Washington County means you have one extra step before you can request records. Go to casesearch.courts.state.md.us and search by party name. Write down the case number from the results. Once you have it, you can call the Civil division at 301-790-4972, send a mail request, or visit in person. Without a case number, the clerk's office will not be able to process your request. This rule has been in place since October 5, 2020.

The site at marylandcourtrecords.us/washington provides additional background on Washington County court records. The image below is taken from that resource and shows what a Washington County dissolution of marriage records search looks like when using county court records tools.

This resource gives an overview of the types of dissolution records available in Washington County and how to approach the search process effectively.

In-person visits work well if you want to review a file and get copies the same day. Go to 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown. Bring your case number and a photo ID. Staff will pull the file and let you know the copy costs. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplification is $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. Payment in person is accepted by cash, check, money order, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover. American Express, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are not accepted. Credit cards are only accepted in person, not for mail requests.

For mail requests, send your written request to P.O. Box 229, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Include the case number, your name, the specific documents you need, a return address, and a check or money order for the fees. Allow extra time for processing. You can also email the office at Washcocc_clerk@mdcourts.gov before mailing to confirm fees and availability.

Note: The clerk's office cannot certify that a dissolution of marriage record does not exist; it can only confirm and provide records it can locate by case number.

Contents of Washington County Dissolution Files

A dissolution of marriage file at the Washington County Circuit Court contains every document filed during the case. The complaint is the starting point. It identifies both spouses, states the grounds for divorce under Maryland Family Law § 7-103, and lays out what the person filing is asking for. The other spouse's answer or counter-complaint is also part of the file. Motions, orders, and any temporary relief granted by the court during the case all appear in the docket. Washington County civil records start from 1776, and divorce decree records are available from 1908 through the current date.

Most people searching Washington County dissolution records are looking for the final decree. This is the judge's signed order that formally ends the marriage and sets out all the terms. Property division is governed by Maryland Family Law § 8-205 and the terms appear in the decree. So do any alimony awards, child custody and visitation schedules, and child support amounts. Settlement agreements incorporated into the decree are also part of the public record. Banks, courts in other states, and federal agencies typically require a certified copy of the final decree as proof of a Washington County dissolution of marriage.

Chancery records from Washington County go back to 1815, and marriage license records start from 1799. These may be relevant if you need to establish when or where a prior marriage occurred as part of a current legal matter tied to a dissolution case.

Self-Help Resources in Washington County

Washington County offers a Family Law Self-Help Clinic for people who are handling their own dissolution of marriage cases. The clinic is held at the Circuit Court Law Library at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown. Hours are Tuesday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Staff can help you understand the forms you need and the steps to follow. The clinic does not provide legal advice, but it can help you make sure your paperwork is complete before you file.

Standard Maryland divorce forms are available at mdcourts.gov/COURTFORMS. Washington County also has local forms for name changes and gender identity orders, available through the clerk's office. These include the Adult Name Change Order, Minor Name Change Order, Adult Declaration of Gender Identity Order, and Minor Declaration of Gender Identity Order. The Guide and File tool at courts.state.md.us/guideandfile walks self-represented filers through the dissolution process step by step. For general legal guidance on Maryland divorce law, the Maryland Courts page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce is a solid starting point.

Divorce Verification for Washington County Cases

For divorces granted in Maryland since 1992, the Department of Health provides a statewide verification certificate at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/divorce.aspx. The fee is $12. The certificate shows both names, the date, and the county but not the full settlement terms. For Washington County dissolution cases before 1992, contact the circuit court directly using the case number process described above, or search through the Maryland State Archives, which holds older records from across the state.

Filing for Dissolution in Washington County

Filing a dissolution of marriage case in Washington County starts at the Circuit Court clerk's office at 24 Summit Avenue. The filing fee is $165 for a self-represented petitioner or $175 if filed by an attorney. Under Maryland Family Law § 7-101, at least one spouse must satisfy Maryland's residency requirement before the court accepts the case. After you file and receive a case number, your case enters the Civil division docket. Once the judge issues the final dissolution decree, it becomes a permanent public record in Washington County and can be requested using the case number through the clerk's office.

Cities in Washington County

Hagerstown is the county seat of Washington County and the location of the Circuit Court where all dissolution of marriage cases are filed and maintained. No cities in Washington County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All dissolution of marriage filings in the county are processed at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County in western Maryland. Each has its own circuit court for dissolution of marriage filings. You must file in the county where you or your spouse lives at the time of filing for the court to have proper jurisdiction.