Find Wicomico County Court Records
Wicomico County court records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Salisbury as part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search Wicomico County court records online, what those files contain, and how to get certified copies from the clerk's office in downtown Salisbury.
Wicomico County Court Records Overview
Wicomico County Circuit Court Clerk
James B. (Bo) McAllister serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Wicomico County. The courthouse address is 101 North Division Street, Room 105, Salisbury, MD 21801. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 198, Salisbury, MD 21803. The main phone number is 410-543-6551, with a toll-free line at 1-800-989-6592. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The 1st Judicial Circuit includes Dorchester, Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico counties. Administrative Judge S. James Sarbanes oversees the circuit.
The Land Records Department in Wicomico County is supervised by Robin L. Justice, who can be reached at 410-543-6551, extension 161, or by email at robin.justice@mdcourts.gov. The clerk's office offers Self-Help Legal Assistance for family law matters, making it easier for people without attorneys to navigate family court cases in Wicomico County. This service handles questions about forms and basic procedures but does not provide legal advice.
The District Court for Wicomico County is the W. Paul Martin District Court Building at 201 Baptist Street in Salisbury. The Wicomico County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland Judiciary website provides current contact information, local filing rules, and department details.
Note: Wicomico County offers Self-Help Legal Assistance for family court matters at the clerk's office, which can help self-represented parties understand the filing process without an attorney.
Searching Wicomico County Court Records Online
The free tool for finding Wicomico County court records online is Maryland Judiciary Case Search, which covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. You can search by name, case number, or citation. By default the system requires an exact name match. Adding a percent sign (%) to the end of a last name opens up partial matching if you are not sure of the exact spelling. The system returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, case types, statuses, docket entries, and dispositions. You can filter results by case type, court level, date range, and county.
The database updates each night, so very recent filings may not appear until the next morning. Since 2024, dismissed cases, nolle prosequi entries, and acquittals no longer appear in public search results. Stet cases over three years old have also been removed from the online system. For those records, contact the Salisbury clerk's office directly. Wicomico County Circuit Court records generally go back to the late 1980s in the online system. District Court records date to approximately 1991. For older files or records not in the digital system, an in-person visit is needed.
What Wicomico County Court Records Contain
Wicomico County court records cover all major case types handled in the Circuit and District Courts. Criminal records include charges, pleas, hearing dates, verdicts, and sentences for felony and misdemeanor cases heard in the county. Civil records hold complaints, motions, court orders, and judgments in contract disputes, property matters, and other civil claims. Family law records in Wicomico County include divorce decrees, custody orders, child support judgments, and protective orders entered by the Circuit Court.
Land records in Wicomico County document deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases affecting real property. Supervisor Robin Justice manages these records, and they are also accessible through Maryland Land Records online with a free account. Copies of records under 100 years old cost $0.20 per page as of May 2025. Records over 100 years old are free. Plat documents can be searched through the Maryland State Archives plat database. Probate and estate matters are handled by the Register of Wills, available through the Maryland Register of Wills portal.
Records that are not open to the public include sealed cases, expunged records, adoption files, juvenile delinquency matters, and mental health evaluations. Under the 2024 rule, failure-to-pay-rent cases without a possession judgment are automatically shielded within 60 days of the case closing.
Getting Copies of Wicomico County Records
You can request copies of Wicomico County court records in person at the Salisbury courthouse, by mail, or through the Maryland MDEC e-portal for cases in the electronic filing system. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 to $5.50 plus the per-page fee. Exemplified copies with multiple seals for out-of-state use cost $10.00 plus per-page fees. Mail requests carry a $2.00 handling charge with no self-addressed stamped envelope needed.
Audio recordings are $25.00 per proceeding on CD or USB drive. Written transcripts are $3.00 per page. Payment is accepted in cash, by check or money order made out to Clerk of Court, and by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. American Express is generally not accepted. Court forms for civil, criminal, and family matters are available free at the Maryland Judiciary forms page.
Note: Land record inquiries in Wicomico County can be directed specifically to Robin L. Justice, the Land Records Supervisor, at extension 161 or by email at robin.justice@mdcourts.gov.
Legal Resources in Wicomico County
Wicomico County residents have access to several free legal resources. Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal assistance to those who qualify. The People's Law Library has plain-language guides to Maryland court processes that are helpful for anyone representing themselves. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center at 410-260-1392 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM) explains court procedures without giving legal advice.
The clerk's office in Salisbury also provides Self-Help Legal Assistance for family court matters, making it a good first stop for people with custody, divorce, or support questions who don't yet have an attorney. The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library in Annapolis at 361 Rowe Boulevard (410-260-1430) holds extensive legal research materials open to the public. The Maryland Courts Directory lists all Maryland courts with addresses and phone numbers.
Wicomico County Clerk Office
The Wicomico County Circuit Court Clerk page on the Maryland Judiciary website provides department contacts, filing instructions, and information about the Self-Help Legal Assistance program available at the Salisbury courthouse.
This page is the best source for current fee schedules, department contacts, and filing guidance for Wicomico County court records in Salisbury.
Cities in Wicomico County
Wicomico County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated court records page. All court filings for residents across the county are handled through the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 101 North Division Street in Salisbury.
Nearby Counties
Wicomico County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore and shares boundaries with three neighboring counties.