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St. Mary's County, Maryland State Court Records

St. Mary's County court records are a collection of legal documents and information detailing cases handled by the St. Mary's County court system. These records are compiled and maintained by the clerk's offices of local courthouses.

Generally, information found in court records is usually featured in and essential to the creation of other records. For instance, vital records, such as divorce verification, issued by the Maryland Department of Health are derived from records of divorce proceedings heard by the county Circuit Courts. Additionally, information from arrest records or reports may be featured in court records of criminal cases prosecuting the crime that warranted the arrest.

Are St. Mary's County Court Records Public?

Yes. According to Rule 16-902 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure, St. Mary's County court records are presumed to be open to the public for inspection. As a result, the general public is allowed access and may request copies of these court records.

However, there are several exceptions to Rule 16-902. For example, records shielded, expunged, or sealed by court order are considered confidential and inaccessible to the public. Furthermore, certain types of court records are exempt from public access. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Adoption records
  • Income tax return
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Emergency mental health evaluations
  • Certain marriage licenses information
  • Child in need of assistance (CINA) cases
  • Action for judicial declaration of gender identity
  • Financial statements filed in child or spousal support cases

What Information is Available in St. Mary's County Court Records?

Information and documents available in St. Mary's County court records may differ depending on the type of case. Notwithstanding, some examples include the following:

  • Case information, such as case number, title, type, filing date, and status
  • Involved parties' information, including their full name and address
  • Judgment information
  • Docket entries
  • Court scheduling information
  • Charge and disposition information (for criminal cases)
  • Service information
  • Case files in the case, such as petitions, complaints, exhibits, orders, notices, pleadings, writs, summons, motions, and affidavits.

St. Mary's County Court Records Search

Certain information, such as a case number or the names of the case's parties, is typically required to conduct a St. Mary's County court record search, as it helps to identify the specific record being sought. Furthermore, court records are usually stored at the courthouse where the case was heard. Therefore, record seekers may need to ascertain the specific court that handled a case to direct their requests for court records appropriately. Generally, there are different options for conducting a court records search, including the following:

Online Access

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search website is the most convenient way to search for and access court case records. General information about public court cases is accessible through the website. Users may search the website by case number or party name. Note that some information about criminal cases is not available on the website. These include:

  • Criminal charges that resulted in nolle prosequi, dismissal, or acquittal/not guilty.
  • Criminal charges that were entered as stet, and three years have passed
  • Criminal case where a charge for possession of cannabis (marijuana) was the only charge in the case, and it was disposed of before July 1, 2023.
  • Convictions for possession of cannabis that the governor has pardoned.

In-Person Access

Public kiosks are available at local courthouses that individuals may use to access court case records electronically. They may visit local courthouses during regular business hours to use these kiosks. They may also view or request copies of court records in person at the court clerk's office. Although viewing records may be free, there are fees for requesting copies.

Mail and Phone Requests

Record seekers may call a local court clerk's office to ask if a specific court record is available at that location. It should be noted, however, that directly requesting copies of court records over the phone may not be possible.

For mail-in requests, interested persons may draft a written request. It should contain sufficient information identifying the sought record and the requester's contact information, such as a return address or phone number, to enable the custodian to send the requested record once found. The drafted request must be mailed along with the relevant fee payment. Before mailing requests, record seekers are advised to contact the court clerk to confirm if mail-in requests are accepted and find out the accepted payment methods. For instance, requesters may mail requests to or contact the St. Mary's County Circuit Court Clerk's office at:

P.O. Box 676,

41605 Courthouse Drive

Leonardtown, MD 20650

Phone: 301-475-7844

Fees for Court Records in St. Mary's County

According to the Maryland Circuit Court Fee Schedule and District Court Cost Schedule, requesters may be charged the following fees for court records in St. Mary's County:

  • Photocopies: $0.50 per page
  • Computer (public kiosks) printouts: $0.50 per page
  • Certified copies: $5.00 for each certification plus the photocopies fee
  • Exemplified copies: $10.00 fee for exemplifying a copy plus the photocopies fee

Note: Record seekers are usually not charged a fee for electronically viewing records through public kiosks or inspecting physical records in person at a court clerk's office. They are only charged for copies of records they request.

St. Mary's County Courthouse Locations

St. Mary's County court system is made up of three types of courts: a Circuit Court, a District Court, and an Orphans' Court. Listed below are the physical addresses and contact information of these courts:

Saint Mary's County Circuit Court

Saint Mary's County Courthouse

41605 Courthouse Dr,

PO Box 859,

Leonardtown, MD 20650

Phone: 301-475-4200 ext. 4567

Fax: 301-475-4658

Saint Mary's County District Court

Joseph D. Carter State Office Building

23110 Leonard Hall Drive,

PO Box 1509,

Leonardtown, MD 20650

Phone: 301-880-2700

Saint Mary's County Orphans' Court

Saint Mary's County Courthouse

41605 Courthouse Drive,

PO Box 602,

Leonardtown, MD 20650

Phone: 301-475-5566

Fax: 301-475-4968

Criminal Records Access in St. Mary's County

In St. Mary's County, interested persons may conduct state-level criminal history checks, also known as background checks, through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) of the DPSCS is responsible for processing background check requests. These checks are fingerprint-based. Thus, requesters must provide a fingerprint card to facilitate their request.

Per the Maryland Security and Privacy Act and the Code of Maryland Annotated Regulations (COMAR), it is prohibited for an individual to perform a background check on another person without their express permission.

Requesters are typically charged the following for background check requests processed by the CJIS of the DPSCS:

  • State background check: $18.00 for mail-In and $38.00 for in-person
  • State background check with Gold Seal: $19.00 for mail-in and $39.00 for in-person

Generally, individuals residing in Maryland may request a background check on themselves by visiting any authorized location that provides fingerprinting services. Meanwhile, out-of-state residents must request a fingerprint card by calling or writing to the CJIS - Central Repository at:

P.O. Box 32708,

Pikesville, Maryland 21282-2708

Phone: 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011 (toll free)

After receiving their fingerprint card, an out-of-state resident may mail it along with the associated fee (via check made out to the "CJIS Central Repository") to:

Criminal Justice Information System - Central Repository

P.O. Box 32708,

Pikesville, Maryland 21282 - 2708

Or sent overnight to:

Criminal Justice Information System - Central Repository

6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 217

Baltimore, Maryland 21215 - 2346

On the other hand, court records or general information about criminal cases in St. Mary's County are accessible through the judicial system. Individuals may use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website to access these records or information online. Alternatively, they may visit the courthouse where the case was heard and use the available public kiosks to access the sought-after criminal case's court records electronically. They may also request physical copies of the case court records from the court clerk's office for a fee.

St. Mary's County Probate Records

St. Mary's County probate records document the transfer of a decedent's property to beneficiaries named in their will and people entitled to inherit it under the laws of intestacy, after paying their creditors. These records are subject to Rule 16-902 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure, similar to other court records. As a result, most probate records are public. However, there are certain exceptions. For example, last wills and testaments of living persons filed for safekeeping are not public record.

St. Mary's County Family Court Records

In St. Mary's County, family law cases fall under the jurisdiction of the County Circuit Court. These cases include, but are not limited to, divorce, adoption, child custody, child support, paternity matters, guardianship, and domestic violence cases. Record seekers may use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website to access general information or court records of these cases. Alternatively, they may request certified copies of these cases' court records through the County Circuit Clerk's office. They may submit a written request or visit the clerk's office during normal business hours to make an in-person request.

Note: Court records of some family law cases are not public. They are usually only released to eligible persons, such as parties to the case, or by court order. Some examples include adoption and guardianship cases. As a result, they are not accessible through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website, and requesters may need to provide acceptable identification or a court order to request and obtain certified copies.

Federal Court Records in St. Mary's County

St. Mary's County falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (D. Md.). Thus, this court handles all federal cases originating in the county. Federal cases generally involve the United States government or federal law, such as the U.S. Constitution. They may also arise from disputes between parties from different states or countries, or where the claim amount exceeds a specific dollar threshold ($75,000).

Interested persons may access records of federal cases heard by the D. Md. at its courthouses. Public terminals are available at these courthouses for individuals to view public federal records electronically. They may also request copies of records from the courthouse's clerk's office during regular business hours for a fee. The D. Md. has three courthouses across Maryland, located at:

Northern Divison

101 West Lombard Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

Southern Divison

6500 Cherrywood Lane

Greenbelt, MD 20770

129 E. Main Street, Rm. 104

Salisbury, MD 21803

Alternatively, federal records are accessible online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) website. Users must log in or register an account to use PACER. Furthermore, they are charged $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document, to access records through PACER. However, these fees are waived if they accrue $30.00 or less in charges in a quarter.

St. Mary's County Court