Calvert County, Maryland Court Records
Calvert County court records (or case records) are documents, information, exhibits, and other things that the county's courts maintain in connection with cases. They typically document and provide information about cases from inception through resolution. The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Calvert County and the District Court of Maryland for Calvert County maintain these records for litigation filed or hearings held in the county.
In Calvert County, court records are just one type of "judicial records," which include administrative, license, notice, and special judicial unit records. Court records can generally be linked to or used to complement other records, such as arrest and vital records. For example, an individual may review a criminal trial record to determine whether an arrest led to a conviction.
Are Calvert County Court Records Public?
Yes, Calvert County court records are public. This is made possible by the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA), which governs the disclosure (i.e., inspection and copying) of records held by state and local government agencies, and by the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records (Title 16, Chapter 900), which provides that judicial records are presumed open to the public for inspection, except as restricted by the Constitution of the United States, the Maryland Constitution, the Maryland Rules of Procedure, federal law, applicable state law, a court order, or case law.
To this end, most court records are public and can be accessed through the custodian or via an official portal. Those that are restricted and therefore cannot be accessed include:
- Case records involving children (e.g., adoption, guardianship, delinquency)
- Any file or document not yet docketed, recorded, or indexed
- Expunged or sealed records
- Presentence investigation report
- Grand jury investigation records
- Case records of the federal, state, or local tax return of an individual
- Certain records containing medical information
- Child abuse or neglect case records
What Information is Available in Calvert County Court Records?
The types of information commonly found in Calvert County court records include:
- Case details-such as case number, filing date, case type, and status
- Party or participant details-name of plaintiff(s), defendant(s), petitioner(s), respondent(s), and claimant(s)
- Transcripts (if prepared)
- Docket entries
- Filed exhibits
- Criminal cases-charges, pleas, verdicts, dispositions, sentencing information, fines, etc.
- Civil cases-complaint/claim, court orders, decrees, motions, judgments, responses, etc.
- Divorce cases-divorce decree, petitions, orders, etc
Calvert County Court Records Search
The majority of Calvert County court records are public. As a result, interested persons can inspect, search, or obtain copies of these records. The methods to do this include online access, in-person access, and requests by mail or phone.
Online Access
Online access is available through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal, which allows individuals to search for and access case records originating within the Circuit and District Courts. The portal is free to use and offers case number and party name search options. Note that the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records govern the use of this portal to access case records. And under these rules, not all kinds of case records are available to the public.
In-Person Access
Most court records are in the custody of the clerk of the court where the case was filed or heard. With in-person access, interested persons can visit the clerk of the court to review a case file or request documents within the file. To use in-person access, visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court or the District Court of Maryland for Calvert County from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Under the Maryland court rules, many records and documents are available immediately upon request.
Mail and Phone Requests
Persons who cannot visit the clerk's office or the courthouse can request court documents and case information through mail to the following addresses:
Circuit Court Clerk's Office,
175 Main Street,
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
District Court of Maryland for Calvert County
200 Duke Street, Room 2200,
Prince Frederick, MD 20678-4132
Acceptable payment methods for copies of records requested by mail include check or money order. While court records are generally available immediately upon request, processing times for mail-in requests typically vary by custodian. Note that phone requests are typically limited to inquiries, as custodians usually do not process case record requests over the phone (e.g., the circuit clerk's office).
Fees for Court Records in Calvert County
There is no fee to use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal to search for and access case records originating from the Calvert County Circuit and District Courts. However, the following fees apply to obtain court records and case documents from these courts, respectively (per the Circuit Court Fee Schedule and the District Court Cost/Fee Schedule).
Circuit Court of Calvert County
- Photocopies - $0.50 per page
- Certified copies - $5.00 for each certification of a copy
- Exemplified copies - $10.00 for each exemplification of a copy
District Court of Maryland for Calvert County
- Photocopies - $0.50 per page
- Computer printouts - $0.50 per page
- Certified copies - $5.00 per request (plus photocopy fee)
- Transcripts- $75.00 deposit & $3.00 per page for original and 1 copy
- Recordings - $15.00 per case
- Recordings (electronics) - $10.00 per case
Calvert County Courthouse Locations
There are three (3) courts and two (2) courthouse locations in Calvert County.
Circuit Court of Calvert County
175 Main Street
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: (410) 535-1600
District Court of Maryland for Calvert County
200 Duke Street, Room 2200
Prince Frederick, MD 20678-4132
Phone: (443) 486-4000
175 Main Street
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: (410) 535-1600, ext. 2256, or (301) 855-1243
Criminal Records Access in Calvert County
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), through its Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository, handles official state-level background checks for arrest and prosecution information, not Calvert County Courts. The fee is $38.00 for in-person requests and $18.00 for mail-in requests. However, individuals who wish to access local criminal case records can do so online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal or request them in person or by mail.
Calvert County Probate Records
Calvert County probate records are documents, information, exhibits, and other materials the county maintains regarding decedent estate cases, wills, and other probate matters, such as guardianships and conservatorships. These records are generally open to the public, with a few exceptions, such as those involving guardianship terminating parental rights.
To search probate records, interested persons should use the Estate Search portal. The portal provides public access to estate case records, including wills, from the State of Maryland's Register of Wills Offices. Alternatively, individuals may search, inspect, or obtain estate records in person at the Calvert County Orphan's Court (the county's probate court), obtain wills in person or by mail from the Register of Wills, or obtain guardianship records from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Fees for copies of probate records are $0.50 per page for plain copies, $0.50 per page plus $2.00 for certified copies, and $0.50 per page plus $6.00 for exemplified copies.
Calvert County Family Court Records
Family court records include information and case documents the court maintains for domestic relations or family law cases, such as divorce, child support, adoption, custody, and paternity. The Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court files and processes these cases and, as such, interested persons can request family court records from the clerk's office. They can do this either in person or through mail. Copies cost $0.50 per page, plus $5.00 per document if certified.
Alternatively, interested persons can search family court records online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal. It is free to use and allows searches by name or case number. Note that the following family court records are not open to inspection or copying without a court order:
- Adoption
- Financial statements filed in spousal or child support cases
- Medical records
Federal Court Records in Calvert County
Federal court records include documents, information, exhibits, and any other materials federal courts maintain concerning cases. Federal courts hear only cases that fall under federal law, such as civil rights violations, bank fraud, and drug trafficking. Federal court records in Calvert County can be accessed either online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), an electronic system that allows the search, review, and download of case documents from any federal court in the US, or in person at the clerk's office of the federal courthouse where the case was filed or heard.
