Maryland Civil Court Records

Two trial courts and two appellate courts comprise the Maryland court system.

In this state, trial courts hear and decide various cases. It includes the District Court, which handles civil cases with claims of up to $5,000, and the Circuit Courts, which usually deal with more than $25,000.

On the other hand, Maryland appellate courts review trial court appeals to establish legality and precedent.

The Court of Appeals is the state's highest court that decides whether to hear appeals. While the Court of Special is the intermediate appeals court that only handles criminal cases.

Per the legislation, other courts exist in the state to handle unusual matters in addition to those mentioned above. These are the Orphan's Courts and the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Are Maryland Civil Court Records open to the general public? The Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) states that these records are accessible to the general public.

The Maryland Bankruptcy Records give official documentation of lawsuits registered with the Federal Bankruptcy Courts in the state.

In Maryland, the Federal Bankruptcy Court handles bankruptcy cases. This court supervises the paperwork for bankruptcy cases separately and only keeps court dockets for those cases.

Multiple types of bankruptcy exist in the state. But the most common types of personal bankruptcy filed by individuals are the following:

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A Maryland Chapter 11 bankruptcy permits a debtor to develop a repayment plan while maintaining business activities.

A debtor who effectively files this bankruptcy has the rights and responsibilities of a trustee regarding the assets. The debtor will also submit a reorganization plan with the court and the payment schedule, property, obligations, and company affairs.

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing stays on the debtor's records for up to ten years in Maryland.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges most of a debtor's debts by selling non-exempt property.

Under this sort of bankruptcy, the debtor can keep their residence, some private possessions, and other exempt assets while getting a debt discharge.

In Maryland, a debtor's income must be above the state's median for this type of bankruptcy case to be possible. A debtor will also undergo credit counseling before filing for this bankruptcy.

You must also understand that a dismissed case within 180 days will hinder you from petitioning for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in this state.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

In Maryland, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a type of debt settlement for individuals with stable incomes over three to five years.

A debtor who earns under the median in this state typically has a three-year payment plan, whereas a debtor who makes above the median has a five-year plan.

Due to the automatic stay order imposed by the court, creditors cannot enforce collection actions outside of the payment schedule following this type of bankruptcy filing.

In addition to Chapter 11, 7, and 13 bankruptcies, Maryland Bankruptcy Records also includes Chapter 12 bankruptcy.

How To Find Maryland Bankruptcy Records?

If you want to find Maryland Bankruptcy Records and make copies of them, you must first find out which court has custody of the document.

In Maryland, each bankruptcy court is in charge of the records of the cases they handle. Thus, you can go to the court that took your case and use the public terminals in the clerk of court to search for these records.

You can also access these records by using Public Access To Electronic Records (PACER). It is an online tool that the United States District Court system gives to individuals who want to get civil court records from a distance.

The other alternative is sending a Copy Work Request to the courthouse clerk. After you make a request, someone from the clerk's office will contact you about how much copies will cost.

However, the court must receive all payments before processing your request. You can check the District of Maryland Fee Schedule to know how much each record might cost.

Lastly, to access Maryland Bankruptcy Records, you can submit an Archives Record Request through the court clerk or the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

When you get these records, you can anticipate seeing the following information:

• Names of the filing party
• List of creditors
• Bankruptcy type
• Information about related matters (if any)
• Official financial reports

In Maryland Civil Court Records, property liens are valid claims or liabilities on a debtor's assets to enforce financial commitments or payback.

When placed on a property, this lien grants lenders or creditors the power to seize the property if the debtor fails to pay. It also restricts the debtor's ability to sell, refinance, or transfer the asset until the title's release.

The most common types of property liens in Maryland are the following:

Judgment Lien

In Maryland, a judgment lien is a legal privilege granted to creditors to collect financial judgments.

This property lien enables the creditor to seize or sell the debtor's property or interest upon noncompliance with the court's verdict.

If the county where the debtor's property lies made the judgment, you can file this type of property lien with the Circuit Clerk by completing form DC-CV-035. If they are in different places, you can file form DC-CV-034.

The duration of judgment liens in this state is 12 years from the time of recording, regardless of the property sale.

Mortgage Lien

This type of lien in Maryland applies to any individual who takes out a mortgage loan to purchase or refinance a home.

In this state, a mortgage loan automatically attaches this lien to the debtor's property, allowing the creditor to foreclose if the buyer stops paying.

UCC Lien

A loan agency or institution can file this type of property lien to secure repayment and have a legal claim on the borrower's property.

By registering a UCC lien in Maryland, the lender completes a security interest in the debtor's collateral assets and notifies the public. If a debtor fails to pay, the lender might sell or confiscate their property.

If interested, you can file this type of lien with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (MDAT). Check out the UCC Filing Statements page for more information about filing procedures, forms, and fees.

In Maryland Property Lien Record, you may also find tax liens and mechanic's liens in addition to the ones listed above.

How To Check Maryland Property Lien Record?

You can check and copy property liens in Maryland by visiting the Department of Land Records. This department keeps track of land records, such as property liens, and records them.

Apart from visiting this agency, you can remotely search the Maryland Land Records database to access these documents. This database's service is free, but you need an account.

Lastly, if you want to get Maryland Property Liens Records, you can use the Judgment and Liens Search portal of the state's judiciary.

Civil driving violation records in Maryland include non-criminal moving and non-moving violations committed by motorists within the state.

Examples of Maryland Civil Driving Violation Records include the following:

• Driving a motorcycle without a helmet
• Speeding over the limit
• Driving without a seatbelt
• Driving without a kid seat
• Driving without a valid license
• Improper U-turn

Unlike other traffic violations in this state, these minor offenses don't lead to jail time.

Instead, the courts give charges and other non-criminal punishments to people who break the law. Additionally, the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) may award demerit points to offenders convicted of these crimes.

How To Look Up Maryland Civil Driving Violation Records?

The Maryland District Court is in charge of handling cases and tickets for traffic violations in the state.

Therefore, if you wish to search for civil driving violation records, you can visit the District Court office in the county that handled your case. In this state, some clerk's offices feature kiosks where you can examine public case records for free.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is another way to find this information. This site summarizes official case files and makes case records available to the public for free.

This system has two main ways to look for something: by name or case number. By entering either one, you can get the defendant's name, birth date, case number, position, presiding court, filing date, and more.

The Maryland Legal Judgment Records have information about how a court decision on a case fell under its jurisdiction.

In this state, a judgment is the court's statement of a person's privileges and the suitable sanction for their violation. It may also authorize a defendant to do specific tasks or pay a fine.

Courts and Judicial Proceedings in Maryland describe the legal procedures defendants and plaintiffs must take to collect a judicial judgment. This law also sets the rules for how a legal decision in the state affects other legal matters.

How To Look Up Maryland Legal Judgment Records?

If you want to search and receive legal judgment records in Maryland, you can go to the clerk's office of the courthouse that heard your case.

When submitting a request to the clerk's office, you must supply the case number and the names of all parties involved.

You can also use the state's Judiciary Case Search, which will give you an overview of an actual case file. The summary offers the dates, case number, and kind of case, which may contain judgments.

Additionally, you can utilize the Maryland Electronic Court (MDEC), which delivers electronic case papers. However, it is essential to remember that the public usage of MDCE is subject to specific rules, such as MDCE processes and policies and Rules 20-101.

Small claim records, which include details, files, exhibits, and other items relating to small claims cases, are also part of Maryland Civil Court Records.

In Maryland, Small Claims Courts deal with civil cases involving claims worth $5,000 or less. Small Claims Courts are sections of the District Courts that strive to simplify civil case resolution by streamlining the procedure and evidentiary regulations.

Most of the cases in the state's Small Claims Court are:

• Personal injuries
• Loan repayments
• Safety deposits
• Evictions
• Contract violation

In Maryland, you must fill out a complaint form and give it to the court clerk if you want to submit a small claims lawsuit. You will also have to pay for the necessary papers filed and sent to the defendant.

Also, remember that you must be 18 or older to file a small claims case. So, if you are under 18, you must have someone older than 18 file the lawsuit on your behalf.

How To Look Up Maryland Small Claims Records?

In Maryland, you can get small claims documents on paper or electronically.

You must go to the proper courthouse to get a paper copy of these records. The clerk's court office can retrieve these records using a litigant's name or case number. But make sure to call the clerk's office first to find out if the information you need is available.

You can use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search if you want an electronic copy of these records. This database has basic information about cases, like the filing date, case number, and the type of case.

In Maryland, getting a divorce is a complicated process. Nonetheless, filing for divorce in this state begins with petitioning the court of jurisdiction.

To learn more about divorce in this state, you can read this basic information about how it works and what forms you need to file for divorce.

After the court grants the divorce in Maryland, the parties can get these legal records as proof of their separation, which can come in the form of:

Divorce Certificate

This divorce court record from the Maryland Department of Health (MDOH) Division of Vital Records proves the dissolution of the marriage of two individuals.

This type of divorce court record only includes basic information like:

• Full names of divorced people
• Type of divorce proceeding
• Divorce date
• Divorce county

In this state, anyone can look at these records and make copies of them. However, only qualified individuals can get certified copies of divorce certificates.

Divorce Decree

A divorce decree is a judicial file providing the final decision in a divorce case. It has the exact details as the divorce certificate and also lists the judicial terms of the divorce, such as:

• Alimony
• Child assistance
• Division of property
• Child custody
• Visitation privileges

In Maryland, this divorce file is only accessible to the individual who filed for divorce and the lawyers at the hearing.

Divorce Record

A divorce record is the complete piece of divorce paperwork because it shows every step of the legal process that led to the dissolution of the marriage.

It has the same information as the divorce certificate and decree. Besides these pieces of information, it also has:

• Evidence
• Motions
• Financial and health evaluations
• Orders
• Investigation reports

In contrast to the divorce certificate and decree, divorce records in Maryland are more accessible to the public.

How To Look Up Maryland Divorce Court Records?

You can find divorce court records on the MDOH Division of Vital Records site.

To view divorce records online using this website, you must give information about the divorce's location, date, and cause for the request.

Also, you can start looking for these records by finding the Circuit Court in the county where the lawsuit took place. Each Circuit Court has its ways of making a request, fees for court records, and ways to pay. Check the court of interest's official website for these details.

Alternatively, you can check for divorce records in the state online using the Maryland State Archives search room.

Probate is a legal procedure that specifies the distribution of a decedent's assets. During this process, the court oversees the tasks necessary to transfer the estate to the heirs.

Among the probate matters in Maryland are:

• Estate
• Lifetime trusts
• Wills

To start probate in this state, you must file an application for probate with the Maryland Orphan's Court in the district where the decedent lived before they died.

After you file, the court will choose or approve a personal representative for the estate and provide them documents testamentary to use when making decisions.

You can find the laws that govern the probate process on the state's government website.

Where can you find records about probate in Maryland? In this state, you can go to the court that handled the probate to look at and get these records.

Aside from going to the court that resolved your case, you can find Maryland Civil Court Records by utilizing the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool.

On this website, you can locate records made by the Circuit Court, District Court, and Court of Appeals.

Likewise, you may examine these records by visiting the MDEC. The MDEC is a countrywide Case Management System that is only mandatory for attorneys to utilize. However, it may provide public access under certain conditions.