Court Records in Prince George's County
Prince George's County court records are filed with the 7th Judicial Circuit in Upper Marlboro and cover a wide range of civil, criminal, family, and land-related cases. This page covers how to search Prince George's County court records online using the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, what those records include, and what you need to know before requesting copies from the clerk's office.
Prince George's County Court Records Overview
Prince George's County Circuit Court Clerk
Mahasin S. El Amin serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Prince George's County. The clerk's office is at 14735 Main Street, Room D-1015, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. The main phone is 301-952-3318, with a toll-free line at 1-800-937-1335. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Chief Deputy Bonita M. Rabalais can be reached at 301-952-3319, and Assistant Chief Deputy Roxanne L. Young at 301-952-3429.
One important policy applies specifically to this courthouse. As of October 5, 2020, a case number is required for efficient record retrieval at Prince George's County. The clerk's office cannot conduct name-only searches, and it cannot certify that a record does not exist. If you plan to visit or submit a mail request, come prepared with the case number whenever possible. This policy was put in place to manage the high volume of record requests the office receives.
The county also operates several problem-solving courts: Adult Drug Court, Juvenile Drug Court, Re-Entry Court, Truancy Reduction Court, and Veterans Court. Probate and estate matters are handled by the Orphans' Court located at 14735 Main Street, Suite D4001, reachable at 301-952-3790. Two District Court locations serve the county: one at 14735 Main Street, Suite 173B in Upper Marlboro, and one at 4990 Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville.
The Prince George's County Circuit Court Clerk page and the Circuit Court portal have current filing information, local rules, and contact details.
Note: A case number is required for record searches at Prince George's County; the clerk's office cannot search by name alone, so gather your case information before visiting.
Searching Prince George's County Court Records
The main tool for finding Prince George's County court records is Maryland Judiciary Case Search, the free statewide database that covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. You can search by name, case number, or citation. Name searches use exact matching by default. Adding a percent sign (%) at the end of a last name enables partial matching for names you are not sure how to spell. The system returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, case types, statuses, docket entries, and disposition information.
Filters allow you to narrow results by case type, court level, county, and date range. The database is updated overnight, so same-day filings typically won't appear until the next morning. Since 2024, the system no longer shows dismissed cases, nolle prosequi entries, or acquittals online. Stet cases more than three years old have also been removed from public view. For those records, contact the clerk's office directly with the case number if you have it.
Prince George's County Circuit Court records are generally available in the online system from the late 1980s onward. District Court records go back to around 1991.
What Prince George's County Court Records Contain
Court records in Prince George's County cover the full scope of cases handled by the Circuit and District Courts. Criminal case files include charge information, arraignment dates, plea entries, hearing schedules, verdicts, and sentencing orders for felonies and misdemeanors. Civil case records hold complaints, answers, motions, court orders, and final judgments in disputes involving money, contracts, property, and other non-criminal matters. Family court records include divorce decrees, custody arrangements, child support orders, and protective orders.
Land records are a significant part of the Prince George's County clerk's workload. These documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and other instruments that affect real property title. Land records can be searched and viewed through Maryland Land Records online with a free account. As of May 2025, copies of records less than 100 years old cost $0.20 per page. Records over 100 years old are free to copy. Plat documents are searchable through the Maryland State Archives plat system. Probate and estate records for Prince George's County are kept by the Orphans' Court, not the Circuit Court Clerk, and can be accessed through the Maryland Register of Wills.
Restricted records in Prince George's County include sealed cases, expunged records, adoption files, juvenile delinquency cases, and mental health evaluations. The 2024 change to failure-to-pay-rent cases means those records are automatically shielded within 60 days if no possession judgment was entered, making them unavailable in public searches.
Getting Copies of Prince George's Court Records
Copies of Prince George's County court records can be obtained in person at the Upper Marlboro courthouse, by mail, or through the Maryland MDEC e-filing portal for cases in the electronic system. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 to $5.50 plus the per-page rate. Exemplified copies with multiple court seals cost $10.00 plus per-page fees. Mail requests include a $2.00 handling charge. No self-addressed stamped envelope is needed.
Audio recordings of court proceedings cost $25.00 per proceeding on CD or USB drive. Written transcripts are $3.00 per page. Payment is accepted by cash, check or money order payable to Clerk of Court, or Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. American Express is not accepted at most Maryland courthouses. Court forms for all case types are available free at the Maryland Judiciary forms library.
Note: Land records less than 100 years old through the Maryland Land Records portal cost $0.20 per page as of May 2025, while older records remain free to view and copy.
Legal Resources in Prince George's County
Several free and low-cost legal resources serve Prince George's County residents. Maryland Legal Aid provides civil legal services to qualified individuals. The People's Law Library has plain-language guides to Maryland court processes and forms. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center is available by phone at 410-260-1392, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Staff explain court procedures but do not provide legal advice.
The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library at 361 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis (410-260-1430) is open to the public and has extensive legal research materials. The Maryland Courts Directory provides contact information for every court in the state, including the two District Court locations in Prince George's County.
Prince George's County Clerk and Circuit Court
The Prince George's County Circuit Court Clerk page lists department contacts, policy updates, and filing requirements, including the case number requirement in effect since October 2020.
The clerk's page is the authoritative source for record retrieval policies and contact details specific to the Prince George's County courthouse in Upper Marlboro.
The Prince George's County Circuit Court page describes the courts that make up the 7th Judicial Circuit and links to the court's local administrative resources.
This page covers judge assignments, specialty courts, and administrative information tied to Prince George's County court records and proceedings.
Cities in Prince George's County
Prince George's County has one qualifying city with a dedicated court records page. All court filings are processed through the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro.
Nearby Counties
Prince George's County shares borders with four other Maryland counties, each served by its own Circuit Court and clerk's office.