Cecil County Court Records

Whenever there is a court case in Cecil County, Maryland, details of everything that transpired (the legal proceeding) as the lawsuit progresses are documented to form what is referred to as Cecil County court records. Cecil County court records are sourced in two ways:

• Case Filings

These are documents that are filed or submitted to the court by the parties involved in a particular case with the aim of strengthening their positions. Examples include complaints, petitions, pleadings, exhibits, motions, and affidavits.

• Court-Generated Records

Unlike case filings, court-generated records are created by the court to accurately announce the judge’s decisions or instructions regarding various issues in the case. They include court orders, decrees, and judgments.

Whether court-generated or filed by parties, Cecil County court records are essential components of the county’s legal system because they explain and justify the decisions made by the court in each case. They are also necessary documents for:

• Conducting background checks
• Researching the position of the law
• Deriving public policies
• Educating law students, teachers, and stakeholders
• Ensuring transparency and accountability in the legal system
• Judicial precedent

Are Court Records Public in Cecil County?

Yes. According to the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), Marylandians have a broad right of access to records maintained by public offices in the state, including Cecil County courts. As such, members of the public can request court records from their custodians without adducing reasons for their search.

Interested parties should note, however, that some court records may be restricted from public access for several reasons, including compliance with an extant statute. Examples of such records include:

• Adoption
• Guardianship terminating parental rights
• Juvenile delinquency
• Child in need of assistance cases (CINA)
• Certain marriage license information
• Emergency mental health evaluations
• Income tax returns
• Financial statements filed in a case about spousal or child support.
• Reports filed by a physician concerning the medical condition of an alleged disabled adult
• Reports filed by a guardian concerning the property of an alleged disabled adult
• Actions for judicial declaration of gender identity

Cecil County Court Records Search

Individuals have several options for searching court records filed and generated in Cecil County. They include:

• Physical visits to the Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
• Electronically through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool
• Email and fax requests
• Third-party repositories

Cecil County Court Records Search by Name

The Office of the Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk is the official custodian of court records in the county and is responsible for dispensing court records to members of the public. These documents are cataloged by numerous parameters, including name. As such, any individual requesting court records from the Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk’s office through any official means will be able to conduct a name-based search.

Cecil County Courts

Cecil County Court System comprises a circuit court, district court, and orphans’ court. The locations of these courts are highlighted below:

Cecil County Circuit Court
Cecil County Circuit Courthouse
129 East Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: (410) 996-3024

Cecil County District Court
District Court/Multi-Service Center
170 East Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: (410) 996-2700

Cecil County Orphans' Court
129 East Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: (410) 996-5330
Fax: (410) 996-1039

Cecil County Superior Court Case Search

There is no Superior Court in Cecil County. As such, Cecil County Superior Court case searches are non-existent.

Cecil County District Court Records

Cecil County District Court records can be obtained by contacting the clerk's Office of the district court that presided over the case through any official means. This can be in-person at the Court clerk's physical location where searchers can take advantage of the available public terminals to inspect court documents. Furthermore, the Cecil County District Court regularly updates a docket of court cases to be heard the following week. Interested individuals can access these records by clicking on the “Weekly Docket” icon on the Cecil County District Court’s General Information Page.

Note: Cecil County District Court has limited jurisdiction and hears or tries minor civil/criminal cases such as misdemeanors, landlord/tenant matters and small claims. The Cecil County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction in the county and records from this court will be the subject of subsequent discussions.

Cecil County Criminal Records

Cecil County criminal records refer to documents of the interactions a person has with the law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in Cecil County. These records are public information and can be accessed by querying their various custodians, chief of whom is the Cecil County Sheriff's Office.

Members of the public can obtain Cecil County arrest records and criminal records from the Agency's Central Records during normal business hours. They are to submit a written request and pay the stipulated fees via check or money order to obtain copies of the requested documents.

One can also access Cecil County criminal history records by contacting the Criminal Justice Information Service (CJIS) central repository maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. However, they must be the subject of the record or have proper authorization to access criminal records from this agency.

Cecil County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Criminal Court case information generated in Cecil County can be accessed by members of the public through the following means:

• The Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk's Office

As custodian of court records generated and filed in Cecil County’s Circuit Court, the Cecil County Circuit Court clerk maintains a repository of criminal court case records. Individuals can view these records by querying the clerk’s office Criminal Department physically at the Cecil County Circuit Courthouse. They are advised to present the defendant's name, case number (if known), and any other relevant information regarding the required document to the appropriate personnel at the department to facilitate their search.

Other means for querying the Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk's Office for criminal court records include:

• Email requests to CCcriminal@mdcourts.gov
• Fax requests to (410) 996-5058
• Mail requests to:

The Clerk of the Circuit Court
129 East Main Street
Room 114
Elkton, Maryland 21921

Requests for copies of documents should be made by submitting a Request for Copies Form to the Cecil County Circuit Court clerk through any of the aforementioned means. Certified copies of documents cost $5 plus 50 cents per page for each copy.

• The Maryland Judiciary Case Search Platform

Maryland maintains a central repository of court case records where criminal case information, including those generated in Cecil County, can be accessed. The information obtainable from the database is gathered from various courts including the Cecil County District and Circuit Courts.

One can access the repository through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search page and conduct their search for criminal court records via case number or party name. There is also an Advanced Search option for individuals who wish to narrow their searches.

Get Cecil County Civil Court Records

Cecil County civil court records refer to documents pertaining to non-criminal court cases where an individual sues another person or corporate body. Examples include cases bordering on foreclosures, debt recovery, personal injury, and landlord/tenant matters. Accessing civil court records in Cecil County requires a similar process as criminal court records—querying the Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk's Office and conducting an online search through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Platform.

However, interested parties should note these differences when requesting civil court records from the Cecil County Circuit Court’s Office:

• Physical requests should be made at the Cecil County Circuit Court’s Office civil department at:

The Clerk of the Circuit Court
129 East Main Street
Room 110
Elkton, Maryland 21921

• Fax requests should be sent to (410) 996-5234
• Email requests should be made to cecilcountycivil@mdcourts.gov
• Mail requests are to be submitted to:

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Cecil County
Attention: Civil Department
129 East Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921

Cecil County Family Court Records

Cecil County family court records refer to documents of legal proceedings involving domestic matters such as adoption, alimony and spousal support, annulment of marriage, child support/custody, divorce, guardianship, and paternity. Except in exceptional cases, such as adoption and juvenile matters, these records are public documents and can be obtained in the same way as other civil court case records (as discussed above).

Cecil County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage refers to the legal process involved in putting an end to a marital relationship. In Maryland, this is referred to as “divorce” or “absolute divorce” and the processes for obtaining these records are comprehensively discussed below.

Cecil County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records are public documents in Cecil County. To access Cecil County marriage records, individuals are advised to query the Licensing Department of Cecil County Circuit Court’s Office through any official means. For copies of documents, they are to fill out and submit a Request for Certified Copy of Marriage License in person at the Licensing Department or via mail to:

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Cecil County
Attention: Licensing Department/Marriage
129 East Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921

Alternatively, they can send their request via email to cecilcountylicensing@mdcourts.gov or via fax to (800) 569-0648.

Information needed to facilitate a search for marriage records in Cecil County include:

• Names of the spouses at the time of marriage
• Date of marriage (or a best estimate if accurate date is unknown)
• A credit card information and authorization or a money order payable to the Clerk of the Court (personal checks are not accepted, payments for email or fax requests must be by credit card and cash is only accepted for in-office requests)
• Return address for mailing copies
• A telephone number or email address

It costs $5.50 to obtain a certified copy of a marriage record in Cecil County.

The process for accessing divorce records is similar to that of civil court case records described above. However, individuals should take note of the following when obtain them:

• Requests for certified copies of documents would require completing a Request for Certified Copy of Divorce Decree
• Information needed to facilitate the request includes the names of the parties at the time of divorce, divorce or filing date and case number.
• The cost for obtaining copies of Cecil County divorce records are similar to that of marriage records

Cecil County Birth and Death Records

In Cecil County, birth and death records can be accessed through the Cecil County Health Department or the Maryland Department of Health. However, Maryland law imposes limitations on accessibility:

• Birth records: Restricted to the individual, parents, guardians, or authorized representatives for 100 years from the birth date.
• Death records: Available to the public after 20 years from the death date, but certified copies are only issued to family members or authorized representatives.

Note: Certified copies of these records may require proof of relationship or authorization, and some information may be redacted for privacy protection.

Cecil County Probate Court Records

In Cecil County, probate court records pertain to cases involving:

1. Estate administration (wills, intestacy, and probate)
2. Guardianship (minor and adult incapacitated individuals)
3. Trusts (establishment, management, and termination)
4. Adoption (minor and adult)
5. Name changes

These records are maintained by the Cecil County Register of Wills, who serves as the custodian. To obtain probate court records:

1. Visit the Cecil County Register of Wills office in person
2. Submit a written request by mail or email
3. Provide required identification and proof of relationship (if applicable)
4. Pay applicable fees for search, copying, and certification

Available records include:

1. Estate files (wills, inventories, accounts, and distributions)
2. Guardianship files (petitions, reports, and accountings)
3. Trust documents (agreements, amendments, and terminations)
4. Adoption files (petitions, decrees, and related documents)
5. Name change records (petitions and orders)

Cecil County Property Records

In Cecil County, property records can be accessed through the Cecil County Clerk's Office or the Maryland State Archives. These records provide various property-related information, including:

• Property ownership and deed records, revealing chain of ownership and transfer history
• Mortgage and lien information, showing outstanding debts and encumbrances
• Property tax records, detailing tax assessments and payment history
• Plat maps and surveys, illustrating property boundaries and dimensions
• Easements and restrictions, outlining limitations on property use
• Zoning and land-use records, indicating permitted uses and development requirements

These records are valuable for:

• Real estate transactions and title searches
• Property research and genealogy
• Tax assessment and payment verification
• Development and zoning planning
• Identifying potential property issues or liabilities

Note: Some records may be restricted or require permission to access.

Cecil County Court Records Online

In Cecil County, independent online resources such as Marylandcourtrecords.us provide convenient remote access to court records, saving time and effort. However, accuracy and reliability concerns exist, and outdated information may be present. Fees for access or subscription-based models apply, and privacy and security concerns arise. Official records should be verified through the court for authenticity.