Maryland Court Records - Unexpected Genealogical Info Resources

Sometimes, searching for Maryland court records can be a daunting task. RecordsSiteReviews takes the headache out of searching for such records by providing you with valuable information and important Maryland court records links below.

Many consider court records in Maryland, Kansas, Missouri and other states as being the most underused sources of genealogical information. You seldom see genealogists make a beeline for the courthouses to get further details regarding people's ancestors. Now, why is that? There are a couple of reasons. One is court records aren't exactly the easiest documents to research. Another reason is that such records hold relevance only for people with rich ancestors.

The first reason is true, but the second one, not quite. Some people's ancestors regardless of wealth have appeared in courts concerning different types of court action. Sometimes they're plaintiffs and sometimes they're defendants. They could be deceased and there are arguments relating to property distribution. On rare occasions, there are even divorce suits.

MD Court Records – A Treasure Trove of Information

Researchers who take time out to utilize court records in Maryland or some other place will most likely find themselves reaping the rewards such records contain. How much information court files hold can vary significantly with each case and from one region to the next, but you might find yourselves pleasantly surprised. Let us take a look at some examples.

A Maryland court case in the early 1800s involved disputes over property lines documents an 1817 move by the defendant to Ohio. The Maryland court records included signed papers from the parents of the defendant promising the defendant that he'd inherit the property from his parents upon their death. The case revolved around a boundary description that was incorrect, not the property's land title. A highly detailed plat of the estate in question was included in the stack of court documents. This is an excellent find for a researcher.

Another case, this time in 1890 involved a widow who wanted her inheritance split from her children's. The court papers included information regarding the offspring of the deceased and the widow. Names and birthdates were given for each of the children. Some of the kids were born prior to the implementation of statewide vital events registration. In this situation, the court documents that listed the birth particulars served as the earliest and only records of such information.

Sometime in the 1890s, a foreclosure on a deceased 80-year-old man's property listed all of his descendants that were still alive. The court records likewise included their mailing addresses. Most of the descendants had relocated and the case was able to provide new details on their whereabouts. Another great find!

Whether it's MD court records or some other places, there's no doubt about it – they can be a real treasure trove of information. Sure, searching the Internet for genealogical leads works too, but if you want the lowdown on your ancestral origins, court records in Maryland and elsewhere are worth a look-see.
 

Maryland Court Records Websites 

Circuit Courts

Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County

Court of Appeals

Court of Special Appeals

District Courts

Judicial Branch

Maryland Judiciary Home Page  

A Selection of Maryland County Courthouses You Can Visit 

Allegany County
P.O. Box 359
Cumberland, MD 21502
Telephone: (301) 777-5922

Anne Arundel County
Box 71
Annapolis, MD 21404
Telephone: (410) 222-1434

Baltimore City (Independent City)
110 N. Calvert St., Room 628
Baltimore, MD 21202
Telephone: (410) 333-3780

Baltimore County
401 Bosley Ave., 2nd Floor
Towson, MD 21204
Telephone: (410) 887-2607

Calvert County
175 Main St.
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Telephone: (410) 535-1660

Caroline County
P.O. Box 458
Denton, MD 21629-0458
Telephone: (410) 479-1811

Carroll County
55 N. Court St., Room G8
Westminster, MD 21157
Telephone: (410) 876-2085

Cecil County
129 E. Main, Room 108
Elkton, MD 21921
Telephone: (410) 996-5200

Charles County
P.O. Box 970
La Plata, MD 20646-0970
Telephone: (301) 932-3240

Dorchester County
206 High St. (location)
P.O. Box 150
Cambridge, MD 21613
Telephone: (410) 228-0480

Frederick County
100 W. Patrick St.
Frederick, MD 21701
Telephone: (301) 694-1976

Garrett County
P.O. Box 447
Oakland, MD 21550-1535
Telephone: (301) 334-1937

Harford County
20 W. Courtland St.
Bel Air, MD 21014
Telephone: (410) 638-3426

Howard County
8360 Court Ave.
Ellicott City, MD 21043-4300
Telephone: (410) 313-2111

Kent County
103 N. Cross St.
Chestertown, MD 21620-1512
Telephone: (410) 778-7460

Montgomery County
50 Maryland Ave., Room 111
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: (301) 217-7075

Prince George's County
14735 Main St.
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Telephone: (301) 952-3288

Queen Anne's County
100 Courthouse Square
Centreville, MD 21617
Telephone: (410) 758-1773

Saint Mary's County
P.O. Box 676
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Telephone: (301) 475-5621

Somerset County
P.O. Box 99
Princess Ann, MD 21853-0099
Telephone: (410) 651-1555

Talbot County
11 North Washington St.
Easton, MD 21601
Telephone: (410) 822-2611

Washington County
P.O. Box 229
Hagerstown, MD 21741-0229
Telephone: (301) 733-8660

Wicomico County
101 North Division
Old Courthouse, Rm. 101A
Salisbury, MD 21801
Telephone: (410) 543-6551

Worchester County
P.O. Box 40
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Telephone: (410) 632-1221

Visiting Maryland County Courthouses are great options to have to find the court record(s) you want. However, going this route may take quite a while. For time-efficient, hassle-free searching, give online court record search service providers a try!