Queen Anne's County Court Records Lookup
Queen Anne's County court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Centreville, covering all civil, criminal, and family cases filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. This guide explains how to search Queen Anne's County court records online, what those records contain, and how to get certified copies from the clerk's office on the Eastern Shore.
Queen Anne's County Court Records Overview
Queen Anne's County Circuit Court Clerk
Katherine Beane Hager serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Queen Anne's County. The office is located at 200 North Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617. You can reach the office at 410-758-1773 or toll-free at 1-800-987-7591. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties.
The clerk's office handles e-service for both attorneys and self-represented litigants, making it easier to file and receive documents without appearing in person. Certified copies of divorce decrees and name change orders are mailed directly to the parties after they are processed. If you need to visit the courthouse, note that parking is available in the garage behind the District Court building on North Commerce Street.
The Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's County handles probate and estate matters separately from the Circuit Court. It is located at P.O. Box 59, 107 North Liberty Street, Centreville, and can be reached at 410-758-0585. Register of Wills Laura Nan Cook oversees those records. The Queen Anne's County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland Judiciary website has current department contacts and local filing information.
Note: Certified copies of divorce decrees and name change orders are mailed directly to parties by the Queen Anne's County clerk's office, so you may not need to pick them up in person.
Search Queen Anne's County Court Records Online
The best starting point for finding Queen Anne's County court records is Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This free tool covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions and lets you search by name, case number, or citation. Name searches default to exact matching. Adding a percent sign (%) to the end of a name performs a partial search, which can help if you are unsure of the exact spelling.
The system returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, case types, statuses, docket entries, and dispositions. You can filter by court type, county, date range, and case status. The database updates overnight, so very recent filings may take a day to appear. Since 2024, dismissed cases, nolle prosequi entries, and acquittals no longer show up in public results. Stet cases older than three years have also been removed. For those records, contact the Centreville clerk's office directly.
Circuit Court records in Queen Anne's County generally go back to the late 1980s in the online system. District Court records are available from around 1991.
What Court Records in Queen Anne's County Contain
Queen Anne's County court records span the full range of case types filed in Circuit and District Court. Criminal records document charges, pleas, hearing schedules, trial outcomes, and sentencing orders for felony and misdemeanor cases. Civil records include complaints, motions, court orders, and judgments in disputes involving money, contracts, property, and similar matters. Family court files hold divorce decrees, custody and visitation orders, child support rulings, and protective orders issued in Queen Anne's County.
Land records filed with the clerk document deeds, mortgage recordings, liens, and other instruments affecting real property in the county. You can also search Queen Anne's County land records through Maryland Land Records online using a free account. Copies of records less than 100 years old cost $0.20 per page as of May 2025. Records over 100 years old are free to copy online. Plat documents are searchable through the Maryland State Archives plat database. Probate matters are handled by the Register of Wills, accessible through the Maryland Register of Wills portal.
Restricted records not available to the public include sealed cases, expunged records, adoption files, juvenile delinquency cases, and mental health evaluations. Starting in 2024, failure-to-pay-rent cases are shielded within 60 days if no possession judgment was entered.
Getting Copies of Queen Anne's County Records
Copies of Queen Anne's County court records are available in person, by mail, or through the Maryland MDEC e-portal for electronically filed cases. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 to $5.50 plus the per-page fee. Exemplified copies with multiple court seals, used for out-of-state legal purposes, cost $10.00 plus per-page fees. Mail requests carry a $2.00 handling charge with no SASE required.
Audio recordings cost $25.00 per proceeding on CD or USB. Written transcripts are $3.00 per page. Payment is accepted by cash, check or money order payable to Clerk of Court, and Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. American Express is typically not accepted at Maryland courthouses. Court forms are free to download at the Maryland Judiciary court forms page.
The Carter M. Hickman District Court/Multi-Service Center at 120 Broadway in Centreville handles District Court matters. Its phone is 410-819-4000.
Note: Queen Anne's County has implemented e-service for both attorneys and self-represented parties, which means filings and service of process can be completed online without a courthouse visit.
Legal Resources for Queen Anne's County
Free legal help is available for Queen Anne's County residents dealing with court matters. Maryland Legal Aid offers free civil legal services to those who qualify based on income. The People's Law Library provides free plain-language guides to Maryland court procedures and forms. Neither of these organizations gives advice on criminal defense matters, but both are valuable for civil and family cases.
The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM) answers process questions without providing legal advice. The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library at 361 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis (410-260-1430) is open to anyone for legal research. The Maryland Courts Directory lists every court in Maryland with addresses and phone numbers.
Queen Anne's County Clerk Office
The Queen Anne's County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland Judiciary website provides current contact details, filing instructions, and guidance specific to court records in Centreville.
The clerk's page is the most reliable source for department contacts, local fee schedules, and filing procedures for Queen Anne's County court records.
Cities in Queen Anne's County
Queen Anne's County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated court records page. All court filings for residents throughout the county are handled through the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Centreville at 200 North Commerce Street.
Nearby Counties
Queen Anne's County sits on the Eastern Shore and is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit along with several neighboring counties.