Maryland became the 7th state in the US on April 28, 1788. Early economic growth came from tobacco and wheat crops. Today's economy is comprised of agriculture such as poultry, dairy and corn. Coal mining and steel are 2 of Maryland's major natural resources. Maryland is the country's 42 largest state with 12,407 square miles of territory with a population of 5.7 million residents.
The state has executive, legislative and judicial branches with 24 counties including Baltimore. The county government consists of commissioners, councils, executives, courts and works to govern localities in the state. The state's governor is the chief executive of the state with its own appointed cabinet. Cities provide residents with services such as fire and police departments, municipal courts for smaller disputes, city managers, clerks, city council, public works and other local agencies. Maryland has one of the least number of local governments in the U.S.
All of Maryland governing agencies local or state fall under the state's open record laws named the Maryland Public Information Act. Government agencies under PIA laws have a duty to provide a requestor any records deemed public information. The statutes have limitations in place to protect against abuses such as identity theft. Maryland enacted open record laws in 1973, seven years after the federal FOIA enacted in 1966 to provide its citizens government transparency. Reporters, researchers and members of the public, without being required to provide a reason, can inspect and copy budget information, transactions, planning, employee pay and assembly meetings. The departments have 30 days to provide or reject the PIA request.
As all state agencies fall under this law, so do the records in any particular department. This includes records from courts where a member of the general public can inspect and copy cases, divorces, criminal trials and other records kept in all venues. Residents can request a criminal history search from the department of public safety and correctional services to conduct a background check on any other resident. Births, deaths and marriages occurring in Maryland can be obtained from the department of public health's vital record division. The PIA can also be used for verification of professional licenses since it is state issued. The department of assessments and taxation online real property search will show the recorded owner's name and the property's details. Simple forms with how to instructions from Maryland's agencies are available to the public online the help begin your search.
The Maryland judiciary case database offers public access to court records. Online look up of divorces in family court cases. Find judgments, criminal trials and civil lawsuits occurring in courts statewide and from county to county. Instructions to look up UCC filings in Maryland can be found at the department of assessments and taxation website.
Maryland Orphans Court has jurisdiction to hears guardianships of minors and acts as the state's probate court, (except where such cases are handled by circuit court in Montgomery and Harford counties).
District Courts hear torts, contracts of $2,500 to $25,000, real property rights, miscellaneous civil, small claims jurisdiction ($2,500). Criminal cases of felony, misdemeanor, domestic violence, exclusive traffic and ordinance violations.
Circuit Courts handle torts, contracts, real property rights from $2,500 with no maximum, estate, civil, mental health, civil appeals jurisdiction. Domestic relations. Felony, misdemeanor, miscellaneous criminal. Exclusive criminal appeals jurisdiction. Juvenile.
Court of Special Appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, interlocutory decision cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, original proceeding cases.
Court of Appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, original proceeding, interlocutory decision cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, interlocutory decision cases.
Search felony or misdemeanor criminal charges by requesting records from the Maryland state repository.
- Maryland Criminal Background Records
Request criminal history background check.- Maryland Judiciary Criminal Case Search
Public access to the criminal records of the Maryland Judiciary- Federal Bureau of Investigation Baltimore Office
Request FBI records, find crime statistics, crime alerts, most wanted terrorists and more.- Maryland Inmates and Offender Search
Find the location and release information of individuals incarcerated with the Maryland Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services.- Maryland Sex Offenders
Search the MD Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services Sex Offender Registry for registered offenders by name or location.- Maryland Most Wanted
Current posting of fugitives and absconders from Maryland State's Most Wanted.- Maryland Public and Criminal Record Expungements
Information and resources to assist in expunging criminal records state and nationwide.
Access arrest records directly from Maryland law enforcement agencies individually. Request information of incidents, charges and details from state and local police departments. Records division contact information and requirements to order official reports.
- Maryland State Police Department
Law enforcement, traffic, criminal investigations and more- Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Licenses, permits, information and more- Maryland Attorney General
Civil, criminal and appellate courts- University of Maryland Department of Public Safety
Law enforcement, traffic, reports and more- Maryland County Sheriff Arrest Reports
Directory to county Sheriff offices and reports in Maryland.
- Maryland Asset Search
Search government agencies open to the public to find assets of companies, corporations, or individuals.- Maryland Business Entity Search
Find active and inactive corporations by name or department identification.- Maryland Vital Records
Request birth and death certificates, marriage records and divorce filings in Maryland.- Maryland DMV Records
Access online forms from the state DMV to request a drivers license, complete registration and more.- Maryland Genealogy Records
Browse state archives, historical records, and online databases, search Maryland census records to find info about ancestors, family tree and more.- Maryland Judgments and Liens
Find judgments, liens and UCC filings of any individual in Maryland.- Maryland Lawyer Lookup
Verify an attorney's licensing status with the State Bar.- Maryland Missing Children
Search Maryland missing and exploited kids.- Maryland Real Property Records
Search Maryland real estate property records by county, street address, map or property sales.- Maryland Unclaimed Property
Search property and claim status by individual name or business through the Maryland State Comptroller.- Maryland Statewide Business Search
Business entity information.- Maryland Tax Information
Assessments and taxation.- Maryland Professional License Records
Search licensing of professional and verify status and more.- Maryland Elections and Voter Information
Voter Registrations, petitions and more.- Search For Maryland State Employees
Employee name search.- Search Maryland Law
Lookup Maryland codes and laws.- Directory of Maryland Agencies
Contact any agency statewide.- Search for State Financial Institutions
Financial institution regulation information.- Maryland Visitors Information
Guide to the state of Maryland.- Maryland State Data Information
Census and state facts.- Maryland State Library
Search public libraries in Maryland.- Office of the State Fire Marshal
Permits, licensing and regulation.- Maryland Maps
Cities, towns and districts.
Maryland's judiciary search is a public service from the state's court system with vast resources online. State level courts include the Court of Appeals being the highest court in Maryland (generally named Supreme court in other states) and the Court of Special Appeals serving as the intermediate appellate court.
- Maryland Criminal and Civil Court Records
Access to criminal, civil, and traffic records by district court.- Maryland Family Court
Resources for Divorce cases and more.- Maryland Court Records Search
Search criminal, divorces and other civil cases.- Maryland Small Claims
How to file information.- Maryland Courts of Appeal
Appellate court cases and information.- Maryland Court Forms
Search and find court forms.- Maryland Traffic Court
Traffic records and more.- Maryland Tax Court
Tax case summaries, petitions and more.- Maryland Court Services
Court information line and more.- Maryland Federal District Cases
Search the Maryland Court system to find information and public records on federal case filings.- Maryland Bankruptcy Records Search
Conduct a bankruptcy search through public records to find individual or corporate bankruptcy filings.- Juvenile Justice Services
Information for juveniles.