Baltimore County Courts

Baltimore County, with a population of over 850,000, is the third most populous county in Maryland. Its county seat is Towson, and its largest community is Dundalk. Data from the Maryland Judiciary shows that an average of 24,500 cases are filed in the Baltimore County Circuit Court annually, with about 7,500 criminal cases, 6,600 civil cases, 9,400 family law cases, and 1,156 juvenile cases. Similarly, the county's District Court hears about 200,000 cases yearly, out of which 11,500 are criminal cases, 25,000 are civil cases, 36,000 are motor vehicle offenses, and over 110,000 are landlord-tenant issues.

Baltimore County residents are served by circuit, district, orphans', and federal courts. These courts are located in Towson, Catonsville, and Essex. They handle different types of cases, including civil, criminal, family law, mental health, probate, and juvenile cases, depending on each court's jurisdiction:

• Baltimore County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, but typically handles felonies, domestic relations matters, juvenile cases, and civil cases with claims exceeding $10,000.
• Baltimore County District Court typically hears misdemeanors, traffic offenses, county ordinance violations, small claims, and civil cases with claims under $30,000. It shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over civil cases with claims between $10,000 and $30,000. The District Court is located in Towson, Catonsville, and Essex.
• Baltimore County Orphans' Court usually handles appointment of conservatorships and guardianships, management of estates and trusts, and admission of wills.

How to Access Baltimore County Court Records

Baltimore County court records are generally accessible to the public. The Maryland Public Information Act permits members of the public to inspect and obtain records of court cases in the county, provided they are not restricted from public access by law or court orders. Restricted court records in the county typically include juvenile records, adoption records, expunged/sealed court records, medical and mental health records, child protection orders, and mental health commitments.

Additionally, court records that include restricted information may have those portions redacted. Trade secrets, social security numbers, financial accounts, and information that could compromise public or personal safety are examples of such restricted information.

Finding a court record in Baltimore County usually requires a case number, although the party's full name and filing date may also be used. Before a record seeker can access county court records, they may need to present a valid government-issued photo ID. The following methods may be used to access court records in Baltimore County:

Online

Baltimore County court records may be accessed through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. Records of all cases heard in the county's courts may be accessed on the portal, including those of criminal, traffic, civil, domestic relations, and probate cases. Court records may be searched by case number or party name. For a more refined search, select the court and "Baltimore" under the Advanced Search tab. Court records may also be searched by date of filing on the portal.

Furthermore, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service provides access to court records of federal cases heard in Baltimore County. To access court records on the platform, record seekers must first register for a free account, but may be required to pay certain fees.

Additionally, interested parties may use CourtCaseFinder to look up court records from Baltimore County. By compiling publicly accessible court records, the website offers court records from every county in the U.S.

In-Person

Record seekers may access Baltimore County court records in person by visiting the relevant clerk of court. Typically, the Clerks of the Circuit and District Courts maintain records of cases heard by their courts. Interested parties may find out the requirements for in-person access to court records by contacting the relevant court clerk's office before the visit. A requester may be required to submit an application form or a written request, depending on the court, and there may be associated copy fees. Record seekers may also use public-access computers in some of the county court premises to view court records.

Old and Archived Court Records

Old Court records that are not available on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search platform may be accessed at the court clerks' offices. Baltimore County Circuit and District Court Clerks maintain old court records for their respective courts. A record seeker may contact the relevant clerk's office to make the request.

In addition, the Maryland State Archives maintains old and historic court records. It may have some old court records that are no longer available in the county courthouses. Individuals interested in accessing such court records may contact the state archives at:

Maryland State Archives

How To File a Case in Baltimore County

To file a case in Baltimore County, one must first determine which court has the authority to hear the case. They may contact the court clerks to verify which court can handle the case they intend to file. Once the court has been identified, they may file the case in person, by mail, or electronically. It is important to ensure that a case is within the applicable time limit (statute of limitations) before filing it in the county.

The plaintiff may need to prepare the complaint detailing the facts of the case, the parties involved, and the relief the plaintiff is seeking from the court. They may also prepare the summons to officially notify the other party (defendant) that a case has been filed against them. If the case is a small claims case, with claims under $5,000, the plaintiff may use the Complaint form (DC-CV-001) to prepare the complaint. The plaintiff may then submit the complaint and any required documents and evidence to the appropriate clerk's office.

Those considering filing their case online may use the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) platform. While electronic filing is not compulsory in Baltimore County for filing cases, once a plaintiff registers and uses the service, they must continue to use it to file future documents and cases. Interested persons may review the MDEC Policies and Procedures document as a guide.

Typically, filing a case in Baltimore County attracts specific filing fees depending on the court and case type. The filing cost for the Circuit Court varies from that of the District Court. Persons unable to pay the filing fees may apply for a fee waiver.

To get a waiver, an individual must complete the Request for a Waiver of Costs form and the Notice Regarding Restricted Information form (Form MDJ-008). They should indicate if they are requesting for waiver of prepaid filing costs and hope to pay the fees by the end of the case. On the other hand, they may indicate that they want the filing fees to be waived completely, in which case they will also apply for waiver of open costs at the end of the case (CC-DC-090). The judge will review the request and grant or deny the request. If the waiver request is denied, the plaintiff has 10 days to pay the filing fee or the case will be considered to have been withdrawn.

After filing the case, the plaintiff must serve the defendant with copies of the complaint and summons. The plaintiff must complete and submit the Proof of Service form to prove that the defendant has been formally notified of the lawsuit.

To file a case in Baltimore County, you typically need to do the following:

• Determine the case type and the Court that has jurisdiction.
• Complete the required forms and prepare the necessary documents. The documents should have details of the events that necessitated the lawsuit and the parties involved in the case. Attach relevant documents, exhibits, and evidence to support the case.
• Pay the applicable filing fees or if eligible, obtain fee waivers. Baltimore County court Fees may be paid by cash, credit/debit cards, check, or money order made payable to the Clerk of the Court.
• File the complaint with the relevant court and serve the opposing party (defendant) with copies of the complaint and summons.
• File the proof of service with the court.

Persons interested in filing a federal case with the United States District Court for the District of Maryland may use the Electronic Case Filing System CM/ECF portal. Instructions on how to successfully file a federal case are available on the portal.

However, individuals are advised to get the services of attorneys in filing cases in Baltimore County. Persons of limited means may contact legal aid groups in the county for pro bono legal services.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Litigants who are unable to pay for legal representation in Baltimore County may get help from pro bono panels and local legal aid groups. These groups typically assist in such cases as housing, domestic and sexual violence, public benefits, sex trafficking, seniors, and veterans. Indigent litigants in the county may use the following self-help and legal aid resources:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Maryland Legal Aid Services
• Maryland Center for Legal Assistance
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
• Disability Rights Maryland (provides free legal services for persons with disabilities)
• Public Lawyers Pro Bono Program
• Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• Maryland State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
• American Bar Association Program

Other legal aid services and self-help resources available to Baltimore County residents include the following:

• Maryland Court Help Centers
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
• Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP)
• University of Baltimore's Saul Ewing Civil Advocacy Clinic
• University of Baltimore's Innocence Project Clinic

Types of Courts in Baltimore County, Maryland

Several courts, including circuit, district, orphans, and federal courts, serve the residents of Baltimore County. Below is a list of each court's jurisdiction and contact details:

Baltimore County Circuit Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: All jury trials, felonies, divorces, annulments, child custody, child support, civil cases with claims exceeding $10,000, juvenile matters, legal separation, paternity, spousal support, domestic violence protection orders, child visitation rights, medical malpractice cases, and appeals from other courts in the county.
• Address and Contact Information

Baltimore County District Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Replevin, misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, traffic violations, county ordinance violations, infractions, landlord/tenant disputes, certain felonies, domestic violence protective orders, small claims, contract breaches, employment disputes, civil equity cases, mortgage foreclosures, landlord/tenant relations, professional malpractices, liens, tort, automobile personal injury cases and civil cases with claims under $30,000.

Baltimore County District Court - Essex

Address and Contact Information

Baltimore County District Court - Catonsville

Address and Contact Information

Baltimore County District Court - Towson

Address and Contact Information

Baltimore County Orphans' Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Appointment of guardianships, admission of wills, management of estates and trusts, and tax issues relating to probate cases.
• Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in Baltimore County

The following are the federal courts in the county:

United States District Court for the District of Maryland

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Criminal and civil cases about federal laws, the U.S. Government, and the United States Constitution.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Baltimore County Courts

Answers to some frequently asked questions about the courts in Baltimore County, Maryland, are provided below: