Washington County Court Records Database
Washington County court records are filed with the 4th Judicial Circuit in Hagerstown and include civil, criminal, and family cases handled by the Circuit Court and District Court. This page explains how to search Washington County court records online, what information those records contain, and what to know before requesting documents from the clerk's office.
Washington County Court Records Overview
Washington County Circuit Court Clerk
Kevin R. Tucker serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Washington County. The courthouse is at 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. You can reach the office at 301-733-8660, or toll-free at 1-800-937-2062. Unlike most Maryland circuit courts, Washington County opens at 8:00 AM rather than 8:30 AM, closing at 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The 4th Judicial Circuit includes Allegany and Garrett counties alongside Washington County.
One important policy applies here: as of October 5, 2020, the Washington County clerk's office requires a case number for record searches. The office cannot search by name alone, and staff cannot certify that a record does not exist. If you plan to visit or send a mail request, having the case number in hand will save time and prevent a wasted trip. This is the same policy used in Prince George's County and reflects a statewide effort to manage high-volume record requests more efficiently.
The courthouse was renamed on August 6, 2024, to honor former Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson. The building at 24 Summit Avenue now carries his name officially. Washington County offers several self-help services at the courthouse. A Family Law Self-Help Clinic runs twice weekly in the Circuit Court Law Library: Tuesdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Clinic inquiries can be directed to Maryland Legal Aid at 301-694-7414. A Court Help Center is open Mondays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The county also offers an Adult Drug Court program. The Washington County Circuit Court Clerk page has current department contacts and filing guidance.
Note: Washington County opens at 8:00 AM, earlier than most Maryland circuit courts, and requires a case number for record retrieval as of October 5, 2020.
Search Washington County Court Records Online
The free statewide tool for Washington County court records is Maryland Judiciary Case Search. It covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, including Washington County. You can search by name, case number, or citation. Name searches use exact matching by default. To enable partial name matching, add a percent sign (%) after the last name. The system returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, case types, statuses, docket entries, and dispositions. Filters let you narrow results by case type, court level, county, and date range.
The database updates each night, so same-day filings may not appear until the following morning. Since 2024, dismissed cases, nolle prosequi entries, and acquittals have been removed from the public online results. Stet cases older than three years are also no longer accessible online. For those records, you will need to contact the Hagerstown clerk's office with the case number. Washington County Circuit Court records in the system generally go back to the mid-to-late 1980s. District Court records are typically available from approximately 1991.
What Washington County Court Records Include
Washington County court records cover the full range of cases filed in Circuit and District Court. Criminal records document charges, pleas, court dates, verdicts, and sentencing orders for felony and misdemeanor cases. Civil records hold complaints, motions, court orders, and judgments in money disputes, contract cases, property matters, and other civil claims. Family court files in Washington County contain divorce decrees, custody and visitation orders, child support rulings, and protective orders.
Land records filed with the Washington County clerk document deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and other property-related instruments. These can also be searched through Maryland Land Records online. Copies of records under 100 years old cost $0.20 per page as of May 2025. Records over 100 years old are free to copy. Property plats can be found at the Maryland State Archives plat database. Probate and estate matters are handled by the Register of Wills, accessible through the Maryland Register of Wills portal.
Records not available to the public include sealed cases, expunged files, adoption records, juvenile delinquency matters, and mental health evaluations. Failure-to-pay-rent cases without a possession judgment are automatically shielded within 60 days under Maryland's 2024 policy change.
How to Get Copies of Washington County Records
Copies of Washington County court records can be obtained in person at the Hagerstown courthouse, by mail, or through the Maryland MDEC e-portal for electronically filed cases. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 to $5.50 plus the per-page fee. Exemplified copies with a triple seal cost $10.00 plus per-page fees. Mail requests carry a $2.00 handling charge, and no self-addressed stamped envelope is required.
Audio recordings of proceedings are available on CD or USB for $25.00 per proceeding. 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 generally not accepted. All Maryland court forms can be downloaded free at the Maryland Judiciary forms library.
Note: A case number is required for all record requests at Washington County; the clerk's office cannot search by name alone, so gather that information before contacting the office.
Legal Resources in Washington County
Washington County residents who need legal help have several free options. Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to those who qualify. Maryland Legal Aid also staffs the Family Law Self-Help Clinic at the courthouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The People's Law Library offers free, plain-language guides to Maryland court procedures and forms. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, can explain court processes but cannot give legal advice.
The Court Help Center at the Washington County courthouse is open Mondays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM) for additional self-help resources. The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library in Annapolis at 361 Rowe Boulevard (410-260-1430) is another public resource for legal research. The Maryland Courts Directory has addresses and contact numbers for all Maryland courts.
Washington County Clerk Office
The Washington County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland Judiciary website has current department contacts, the case number policy, and filing instructions for court records in Hagerstown.
The clerk's page is the best place to confirm the case number requirement, check hours, and find department contacts for Washington County court records.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated court records page. All court filings for county residents are handled through the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown.
Nearby Counties
Washington County is in Western Maryland and shares the 4th Judicial Circuit with two other counties. Frederick County also borders Washington County to the east.