Howard County Circuit Court Records

Howard County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk for Howard County is Wayne A. Robey. His office handles all civil, criminal, family, and land records filed in the 5th Judicial Circuit. The main courthouse address is 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043. You can reach the general line at 410-313-2111 or toll-free at 1-888-313-0197. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Chief Deputy Clerk Diana M. Liebno can be reached directly at 410-313-3803 for escalated matters.

The clerk's office has separate departments for different record types. Civil matters: 410-313-3844. Criminal and juvenile records: 410-313-3822 or 410-313-3824. Land records and licensing: 410-313-5850. The Trust Department handles estate-related court filings at 410-313-2160. Accounting can be reached at 410-313-3210, and Jury Services at 410-313-3804. Note that the Howard County clerk's office does not notarize documents and has no night drop box.

Some services remain available at the former courthouse location at 8360 Court Avenue. If you are unsure which location handles your specific matter, call the main number before making the trip to Ellicott City.

The Howard County Circuit Court Clerk's office page has current department contacts, forms, and fee schedules. You can also visit the Howard Circuit Court page on the Maryland Judiciary website for judge assignments, local rules, and court calendars.

Search Howard County Court Records Online

The fastest way to find Howard County court records is through Maryland Judiciary Case Search, the free statewide database maintained by the Maryland courts. It covers all 24 jurisdictions in Maryland, including Howard County. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Name searches default to exact match, but adding a percent sign (%) at the end of a name lets you do partial searches.

Results from the Case Search system include the case number, the names of all parties, the filing date, case type, current status, docket entries, and dispositions. You can filter by case type, county, date range, and court level. The database updates every night, so very recent filings may take a day to appear. Keep in mind that since 2024, certain dismissed, nolle prosequi, and acquittal cases were removed from the online system. Stet cases older than three years are also no longer available online. For those records, you need to contact the clerk's office directly.

Circuit Court records in Howard County generally go back to the late 1980s in the online system. District Court records are available from approximately 1991 forward.

What Howard County Court Records Contain

Howard County court records cover a wide range of case types filed in both the Circuit Court and the District Court. Civil court records include complaints, answers, motions, judgments, and orders in contract disputes, personal injury cases, and other civil matters. Criminal records show charges, pleas, trial dates, verdicts, and sentences for both felony and misdemeanor cases tried in Howard County. Family court files hold divorce decrees, custody orders, child support rulings, and protective orders.

Land records filed with the Howard County Circuit Court Clerk document deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases. These are also available through Maryland Land Records, a separate online system that provides free viewing with a free account. As of May 2025, copies of land records less than 100 years old cost $0.20 per page through that portal. Records over 100 years old are free to copy. Plat documents can be found through the Maryland State Archives plats database.

Probate and estate matters in Howard County are handled by the Register of Wills, not the Circuit Court Clerk. The statewide Maryland Register of Wills website provides access to those files.

Some records are not public. Sealed cases, expunged records, adoption files, juvenile delinquency cases, and mental health evaluations are restricted under Maryland law. The Case Search tool will not return results for those file types.

Getting Copies of Court Records

If you need official copies of Howard County court records, you can request them in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the Maryland Electronic Court (MDEC) portal if the case is managed electronically. Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 to $5.50 plus the per-page fee. Exemplified copies, which carry a triple seal and are used for official legal purposes, cost $10.00 plus the per-page fee. Mail requests add a $2.00 handling fee, and no self-addressed stamped envelope is required.

Audio recordings of proceedings are available on CD or USB flash drive for $25.00 per proceeding. If you need a written transcript, the Howard County clerk charges $3.00 per page. Expedited transcript delivery is available at higher rates. For land record recordings, the fee structure differs: a release of nine pages or fewer costs $10.00, other instruments of nine pages or fewer cost $20.00, and instruments over ten pages cost $75.00, plus a $40.00 surcharge. Recordation tax is $2.50 per $500 of value, with a state transfer tax of 0.5% and a county transfer tax of 1.25%.

Payment methods accepted include cash, check or money order made payable to the Clerk of Court, and Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit cards. American Express is not accepted at most Maryland courthouses.

All court forms used in Maryland are available through the Maryland Judiciary forms page. You can download and print them before your visit or request them at the counter.

Legal Resources in Howard County

Several resources exist for people who need legal help with court matters in Howard County. Maryland Legal Aid offers free civil legal assistance for those who qualify. Visit Maryland Legal Aid to find contact information and eligibility guidelines. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org provides free guides on court procedures, forms, and legal topics written in plain language.

The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center can be reached at 410-260-1392, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Staff there can answer general questions about how to navigate the court system, though they cannot provide legal advice. The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library in Annapolis at 361 Rowe Boulevard, reachable at 410-260-1430, holds extensive legal research resources open to the public.

The Howard County District Court is located at 3451 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Its main phone is 410-480-7700. District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims under $5,000, and civil disputes up to certain limits. The Maryland Courts Directory has addresses and contact details for every court in the state.

Howard County Clerk Office and Circuit Court

The Howard County Circuit Court Clerk's office maintains the official record of all filings and proceedings in the county's Circuit Court. The page lists current staff, department phone numbers, local fee schedules, and information about filing requirements unique to Howard County.

This screenshot shows the clerk's office portal, where you can find department contacts and filing guidance for Howard County court cases.

The Howard Circuit Court page on the Maryland Judiciary site gives information about the court's judges, local rules, and administrative operations in the 5th Judicial Circuit.

The circuit court page is useful for finding judge assignments, scheduled hearings, and local court rules that may affect your case in Howard County.

Cities in Howard County

Howard County has two qualifying cities with dedicated court records pages. Both cities are served by the same Circuit Court in Ellicott City.

Nearby Counties

Howard County shares borders with several other Maryland counties. Each has its own Circuit Court clerk and court records portal.