Court records in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, are maintained by the clerks of the Circuit Court and the District Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. AnneArundelCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for the county. You can also search records through the Maryland Judiciary's JPortal, visit the clerk's office in person, or use state government resources such as the Maryland Courts access page to locate case files, dockets, and related documents.
Anne Arundel Court System Overview
Anne Arundel County is part of Maryland's Fifth Judicial Circuit for the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County is the court of general jurisdiction and sits in Annapolis, the county seat and state capital. Maryland also operates a statewide District Court system; Anne Arundel County falls within District 7 of the District Court of Maryland. The District Court handles high-volume matters such as traffic cases, misdemeanors, landlord/tenant disputes, and smaller civil claims. The Circuit Court hears major civil cases, serious criminal matters, family law, and juvenile cases. Both the Supreme Court of Maryland and the Appellate Court of Maryland are also physically located in Annapolis.
Courts Serving Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County residents may have cases in several courts depending on the type and severity of the matter:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County | 8 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401 | (410) 222-1397 |
| District Court of Maryland — Annapolis | 251 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401 | (410) 260-1350 |
| District Court of Maryland — Glen Burnie | 7500 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 | (410) 590-2278 |
| U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Greenbelt Division) | 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Greenbelt, MD 20770 | (301) 344-0660 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland | 101 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 | (410) 962-2688 |
Anne Arundel County does not operate separate municipal courts. All state-level matters flow through the Circuit Court or District Court.
What Types of Cases Anne Arundel Courts Hear
Courts serving Anne Arundel County handle a broad range of case types:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims
- Landlord/tenant disputes
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, paternity
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance (CINA) cases
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
The sections below explain which court handles each category.
District Court Cases in Anne Arundel
The District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County is a court of limited jurisdiction. It hears:
- Criminal misdemeanors and certain felonies
- Traffic violations
- Civil cases up to $30,000
- Small claims up to $5,000
- Landlord/tenant disputes, including failure to pay rent and tenant holding over
- Replevin actions
- Peace orders and interim protective orders
District Court judges preside without juries. If a defendant in a criminal case requests a jury trial, the case is transferred to the Circuit Court. Cases are assigned to judges sitting at either the Annapolis or Glen Burnie location based on where the incident occurred or where the defendant resides.
Magistrate Court Cases in Anne Arundel
Maryland does not use a separate magistrate court in the traditional sense. Instead, the District Court employs commissioners who perform certain judicial functions around the clock, including:
- Issuing charging documents and arrest warrants
- Setting initial bail and conditions of release
- Issuing interim peace orders and protective orders
- Conducting initial appearances
Within the Circuit Court, magistrates (formerly called masters) may be assigned to hear family law matters such as divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence cases. Their recommendations are reviewed by a Circuit Court judge. The jurisdictional dollar limit for District Court civil cases is $30,000; small claims may be filed for amounts up to $5,000.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Anne Arundel
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protective orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Family magistrates often preside over hearings and issue recommendations to the assigned judge. Family law court forms are available through the Maryland Judiciary website.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships of the person and property, and conservatorships are administered through the Register of Wills for Anne Arundel County. The Register of Wills office is located at the Circuit Court building. You can search estate records online or download probate forms from the Register of Wills website.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and CINA (Child in Need of Assistance) cases are heard by the Circuit Court. Juvenile court records are confidential under Maryland law and are not available through public case search tools. Contact the Juvenile Clerk's office at the Circuit Court for information about accessing these records.
How Cases Move Through the Anne Arundel Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a charging document filed by law enforcement or a grand jury indictment. Civil cases start with a complaint filed by the plaintiff. Family and probate matters begin with a petition.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, an initial appearance or arraignment occurs where charges are read and bail is addressed. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or an answer deadline.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange evidence through discovery. Motions may be filed. In criminal cases, plea negotiations often take place during this phase.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to trial (bench or jury in Circuit Court; bench only in District Court), or they resolve through plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal defendants may be sentenced. Civil judgments may be enforced. Either party may file an appeal — District Court cases are appealed to the Circuit Court; Circuit Court cases are appealed to the Appellate Court of Maryland.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Anne Arundel
The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County is administered by an Administrative Judge appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland. The District Court locations in the county operate under the Administrative Judge for District 7.
- Local rules: The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County follows the Maryland Rules of Procedure along with local rules specific to the Fifth Judicial Circuit. These are published on the Anne Arundel County courts page of the Maryland Judiciary website.
- Public access: Under Maryland Rule 16-902 through 16-934, most court records are open to public inspection. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed records, certain family law filings, and records shielded by court order. You can request that a record be sealed or shielded using the appropriate form.
- Attending hearings: Hearings are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely via video. Check with the clerk's office for the specific hearing format.
- Expungement: If your case meets certain conditions, you may petition for expungement of criminal records through the court where the case was heard.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Anne Arundel
- Case Search (Docket Search): The Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides free public access to case information from both the District Court and Circuit Court, including case status, charges, and disposition.
- JPortal: JPortal is the Maryland Judiciary's gateway to online court records, including case search, attorney information, and filing tools.
- Court Forms: District Court forms and family law forms are available for download from the Maryland Judiciary website.
- Land Records: Deeds, liens, and other land records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and can be searched online through Maryland's land records portal.
- Property Records: The SDAT Real Property Data Search provides ownership, assessment, and tax information for properties in Anne Arundel County.
- Marriage Records: The Circuit Court holds marriage records for Anne Arundel County from 1905 to the present. The Maryland Division of Vital Records and the Maryland State Archives also maintain marriage record indexes.
- Divorce Records: Divorce indexes are available through the Maryland State Archives. The Division of Vital Records verifies divorces that occurred on or after January 1, 1992.
- Background Checks: Criminal history checks should be requested through the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The Maryland State Police Central Records Division also processes certain record requests.
- Incarcerated Individual Locator: The DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator allows you to search for individuals in the custody of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
- Historical Records: The Maryland State Archives holds historical government records for Anne Arundel County in electronic, microfilm, and original formats, including early county court records.
- Clerk's Office and Paper Records: Paper court records are kept at the courthouse where the case was heard. Visit the Maryland Courts access page for guidance on requesting copies in person or by mail. Certified copies typically require a fee payable to the clerk.