Search Montgomery County Court Records
Montgomery County court records are public documents filed with the 6th Judicial Circuit in Rockville. The county has one of the largest court systems in Maryland, covering hundreds of thousands of civil, criminal, and family cases each year. This page explains how to search Montgomery County court records online, what information they include, and how to get official copies from the clerk's office.
Montgomery County Court Records Overview
Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk
Karen A. Bushell serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Montgomery County. The main courthouse is at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850, in the North Tower on the 3rd Floor. The general phone is 240-777-9467, with an alternate line at 240-777-9400 and a toll-free number of 888-287-0593. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Note that the Public Law Library on the 3rd Floor closes at 4:00 PM, slightly earlier than the rest of the clerk's departments.
Montgomery County has separate departments for different case types. Civil matters: 240-777-9401. Criminal cases: 240-777-9440. Family court filings: 240-777-9426. Juvenile matters: 240-777-9530. Land records: 240-777-9480. Finance: 240-777-9490. Central Files: 240-777-9430. One feature that sets Montgomery County apart from most Maryland counties is that its District Court has original jurisdiction over juvenile matters. This is not the case in most other Maryland jurisdictions.
Three self-scan kiosks are available in the courthouse for public use. One is in Central Files on the 1st Floor in Room 1100, one is in the Criminal Department on the 1st Floor in Room 1260, and one is in the Circuit Court Public Law Library on the 3rd Floor in Room 3420. A 24-hour drop box outside the Circuit Court office allows after-hours filing submissions.
Visit the Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk's page for current staff listings, department contacts, and local filing information. The broader Montgomery County Circuit Court portal has judge information, local court rules, and case management tools.
Note: Triple seal copies in Montgomery County carry an added fee of $10.00 on top of standard certified copy rates, so confirm the exact copy type you need before ordering.
Montgomery County Court Records Search Online
The primary tool for searching Montgomery County court records is Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This free state-run database covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. You can search by name, case number, or citation. Name searches are exact match by default. Add a percent sign (%) after the last name to enable partial matching if you are unsure of the spelling.
Search results show the case number, party names, filing date, case type, status, docket history, and dispositions. Filters let you narrow results by case type, court level, date range, and county. The system updates overnight, so filings from the same day may not appear until the following morning. Since 2024, dismissed cases, nolle prosequi entries, and acquittals are no longer shown online. Stet cases older than three years have also been removed from the public system. The clerk's office in Rockville can help locate those files if you have a case number or other identifying information.
Montgomery County Circuit Court records in the online system generally go back to the late 1980s. District Court records are available from approximately 1991. For older files, an in-person visit to Central Files at the courthouse is likely required.
What Montgomery County Court Records Include
Montgomery County court records span a broad range of case types. Criminal records include charges, pleas, court dates, verdicts, and sentences for felony and misdemeanor cases tried in the county. Civil case files hold complaints, motions, court orders, and judgment details for disputes involving money, property, contracts, and other civil matters. Family law records contain divorce decrees, custody and visitation orders, child support rulings, and protective orders.
Land records filed with the Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk cover deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases affecting real property in the county. You can also search land records through Maryland Land Records online. Records under 100 years old cost $0.20 per page to copy as of May 2025; records over 100 years old are free. Plats can be searched at the Maryland State Archives plat database. Estate and probate matters are handled by the Register of Wills, not the Circuit Court Clerk. The Maryland Register of Wills site covers those records.
Certain records are withheld from public access under Maryland law. Sealed cases, expunged records, adoption proceedings, juvenile delinquency files, and mental health evaluations are not available in public searches. Starting in 2024, failure-to-pay-rent cases are automatically shielded within 60 days if no possession judgment was entered.
Getting Copies of Montgomery County Court Records
Copies of court records can be obtained in person at the Rockville courthouse, by mail, or through the Maryland MDEC electronic portal for cases managed in the e-filing system. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 to $5.50 plus the per-page fee. Exemplified copies, which carry a triple seal for use in other jurisdictions, cost $10.00 plus per-page fees. Mail requests carry a $2.00 handling fee, and no self-addressed stamped envelope is required.
Audio recordings of proceedings cost $25.00 per proceeding on CD or USB flash drive. Written transcripts are $3.00 per page. Payment options include cash, check or money order made out to the Clerk of Court, and Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. American Express is generally not accepted. Court forms for all case types are available at no charge through the Maryland Judiciary court forms page.
Note: The Montgomery County clerk's office has a 24-hour drop box outside the Circuit Court entrance, which is useful for submitting documents after normal business hours.
Legal Resources in Montgomery County
Montgomery County residents have strong access to free and low-cost legal help. Maryland Legal Aid provides civil legal services to those who qualify. The People's Law Library offers free guides covering Maryland court procedures written for non-lawyers. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM) can walk you through court processes without giving legal advice.
Two District Court locations serve Montgomery County. The Rockville District Court is at 191 East Jefferson Street, reachable at 301-563-8800. The Silver Spring District Court is at 8552 Second Avenue, with a phone of 301-563-8500. The Maryland Courts Directory has full listings for every court in the state.
The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library in Annapolis at 361 Rowe Boulevard (410-260-1430) is open to the public for legal research. It holds Maryland statutes, case law reporters, and secondary legal sources.
Montgomery County Clerk and Circuit Court
The Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk page lists all department contacts, current staff, and filing instructions for court records in Rockville.
The clerk's page is the best place to confirm department phone numbers, fee schedules, and specific filing requirements for Montgomery County court matters.
The Montgomery County Circuit Court portal on the county government website provides information about judges, local court rules, and case management resources for the 6th Judicial Circuit.
The circuit court portal is useful for finding judge assignments, upcoming hearings, and administrative resources tied to Montgomery County court records.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County has several large cities and communities with dedicated court records pages. All court filings are handled through the Circuit Court in Rockville.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County borders several Maryland counties, each with its own court clerk and records system.