Baltimore County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

The third most populous county in Maryland, Baltimore County has its county seat in Towson and around 851,000 people call it home. The Baltimore County trial court system consists of Circuit Courts, District Courts, and Orphans' Courts. Although the Baltimore County Circuit Court is generally limited to hearing cases that fall outside the purview of other courts, it has comprehensive jurisdiction over all civil and criminal proceedings. Certain categories of criminal and civil cases fall within the limited jurisdiction of the Baltimore County District Courts, and certain categories of guardianship and probate proceedings fall under the limited jurisdiction of the county's Orphans' Court.

When it comes to common civil disputes, the Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson hears cases totaling more than $5,000, excluding interest, expenses, and fees. In addition, it considers cases involving felonies, peace orders, protection orders against domestic abuse, divorce, child support, custody, and protection, termination of parental rights, and the majority of cases for equitable relief. The majority of misdemeanors, most infractions of county or local laws, motor vehicle and boating infractions, and some crimes with preliminary hearings are heard by the three Baltimore County District Courts, located in Towson, Catonsville, and Essex. Each District Court has a Small Claims division for the majority of common civil disputes for $5,000 or less, excluding interest, costs, and fees. The Orphans' Court typically handles most probate matters, some tax issues related to probate cases, some issues involving the ownership of land related to probate cases, and some guardianships.

Baltimore County's court system handles a significant caseload of roughly 20,600 annually, reflecting the county's active legal environment. This high volume underscores the need for an efficient judicial system, especially considering the county's crime rate of approximately 2423 incidents per 100,000 people. Baltimore County's court records are preserved digitally and are managed via the CaseSearch system. Case files from the District and Circuit courts are accessible to the public through this system. Public access is not permitted to records that a court order has erased, protected, or sealed. Additionally, certain case types, like adoptions, guardianships, termination of parental rights, and juvenile delinquency, require a court order or specific legal authorization for public viewing.

In summary, the court system in Baltimore County is an integral part of the county government and is committed to enforcing justice in a range of legal matters. The county's legal system is comprised of the Circuit Courts, District Courts, and Orphans' Courts, which allow it to effectively handle the diverse range of cases that it hears.