Anne Arundel County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Included in the Baltimore–Columbia–Towson metropolitan statistical area, Anne Arundel County has a population of 588,100. Its county seat is Annapolis, the capital city of Maryland. There are three types of trial courts in Anne Arundel County: Circuit, District and Orphans' Courts. General jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases is vested in Circuit Courts. Orphans' and District Courts have restricted authority. Specific categories of criminal and civil cases are handled by District Courts, whereas specific categories of guardianship and probate proceedings are handled by Orphans' Courts.

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, located in Annapolis, typically tackles significant cases. This includes civil disputes exceeding $5,000, felony crimes, domestic violence and peace orders, and family law matters like divorce, child custody, and support. They also handle cases seeking equitable relief. The Circuit Court even has dedicated departments specializing in Family and Civil matters to manage these cases efficiently. The Anne Arundel County District Court, in Annapolis and Glen Burnie, deals with preliminary hearings for felonies and most misdemeanors, violations of local ordinances and traffic violations. It also handles civil claims up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence orders, and some juvenile cases. They even have a Small Claims Division specifically for cases under $5,000. In some instances, District Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts for specific civil cases with a value between $5,000 and $25,000. A separate Orphans' Court exists to handle probate matters like wills and estates. They also address some tax and land ownership issues related to probate, along with certain guardianships. Occasionally, they share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over guardianships of minors.

The fact that Anne Arundel County's court system handles more than 10,540 cases a year, shows just how far the county's judicial system has come. With a crime rate of 1,792.8 per 100,000 residents, the county is an excellent illustration of the need to have a strong judicial system. Court records in the county are maintained electronically. To access these records, use the Maryland Judicial Case Search portal.

In summary, the court system in Anne Arundel County is a vital part of the county government and is committed to upholding justice across the legal system. Together, the county's District, Circuit, and Orphans' Courts offer a strong legal framework that can manage a variety of cases. The public's confidence in the Anne Arundel County legal system has increased since the establishment of an electronic system that ensures transparency and accessibility while protecting court records.