Worcester County Court Records

In Worcester County, court records refer to all forms of materials, including documents and case files, gathered from legal proceedings in the county’s courts. These Maryland court records provide insight into the legal process and decisions made within the county court system. Worcester County court records typically contain the following information:

• Court Dockets
• Petitions
• Charging Documents
• Trial Transcripts
• Judgments and Orders
• Jury Verdicts
• Case Information
• Party Name

Are Court Records Public in Worcester County?

Yes, court records are available to members of the public in Worcester County. Maryland's Public Information Act (PIA) guarantees public access to most public records in the state, including Worcester County court records. However, the provisions of the PIA also restrict public access to certain documents to safeguard government interests and citizens’ privacy.

In Worcester County, the following court records are considered confidential and restricted from public disclosure:

• Expunged/Sealed Records
• Juvenile Records
• Medical Records
• Adoption Records
• Parental Rights Termination Records
• Mental Health Evaluation Reports
• Financial Statements

Worcester County Court Records Search

Worcester County court records are primarily kept with the custodian at the county courthouse. Record seekers may contact or visit the appropriate custodian’s office where the case was filed or hearing occurred to search for records in their custody. Also, certain official and third-party searchable online databases allow users to access court records in Worcester County.

Worcester County Courts

The court system in Worcester County includes the Orphans’, District, and Circuit Courts. The Circuit Court generally handles criminal and civil cases, including serious felonies, family law matters, and appeals from the other county courts. On the other hand, the District Courts adjudicate civil actions, misdemeanors, traffic cases, and certain felonies, while the Orphans’ Court specializes in probate matters. Below are the contact details of Worcester County Courts:

Worcester County Circuit Court
Worcester County Courthouse
1 West Market Street
Room 104
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Phone: (410) 632-5500

District Courts in Worcester County
Worcester County District Court - Ocean City

6505 Coastal Highway
Ocean City, MD 21842-7313
Phone: (410) 723-6935

Worcester County District Court - Snow Hill
301 Commerce Street
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Phone: (410) 219-7830

Worcester County Orphans' Court
1 West Market Street
Room 102
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Phone: (410) 632-1529
Fax: (410) 632-5600

Worcester County Criminal Records

Worcester County criminal records are official documents and files on individual criminal histories in the county. These records may be created by law enforcement agencies, such as the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, upon arrests or incarceration of offenders and other criminal-related incidents.

Interested persons may obtain Worcester County arrest records and other public criminal records maintained by the Sheriff’s Office by visiting the office at:

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

One West Market Street
Room 1001
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Fax: (410) 632-3070

Also, requesters may complete the Public Information Act Request Form and mail it to the Sheriff’s Office to request criminal records. Additionally, they can call the Sheriff's Office at (410) 632-1111 during office hours to inquire about obtaining Worcester County criminal records.

Get Worcester County Civil Court Records

In Worcester County, civil court records are official documents and files on non-criminal matters heard in the District or Circuit Courts. These records encompass documents from the following types of civil cases:

• Landlord/Tenant Disputes
• Replevin Actions
• Civil Traffic Violations
• Breaches of Contract
• Debt Recovery
• Personal Injury
• Small Claims Matters
• Libel and Slander
• Medical Negligence

Generally, Worcester County civil court records are in the custody of the Clerk’s Office at the courthouse where the case was filed. Interested persons must locate and contact the appropriate court to request these records.

To obtain records of civil cases filed at the Circuit Court, requesters may contact or visit the Circuit Court Clerk at Worcester County Courthouse. They may also inquire about these records by email or call the civil department at (410) 632-5501. Likewise, interested individuals may visit or contact Worcester County District Courthouses and inquire about how to obtain the civil court records in their custody. Alternatively, individuals may use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website to search for Worcester County civil court records by case number or party name.

Worcester County Marriage Records

Worcester County marriage records are considered public records and may be obtained by anyone, provided the marriage license was issued in the county. They are official documents or certificates that contain information on marital unions.

Interested persons may obtain certified copies of a Worcester County marriage certificate from the Clerk's Office in person or by mailing their requests to the Worcester County Courthouse. Requests for marriage certificates must include the couples’ names, the marriage date, applicable fees, and a return address. A certified copy of a Worcester County marriage certificate costs $5.50, payable by check or money order to the Clerk of Court.

Worcester County Divorce Records

Worcester divorce records are generally open to the public. However public access to certain documents or information is restricted, such as financial documents or details regarding minors. Interested individuals may access the summary of divorce records on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search site. They may also contact or visit the Circuit Court Clerk to inspect or obtain copies of divorce decrees and other public documents in the case files. Requesters may be required to provide identification and pay associated copy fees to obtain Worcester County divorce records from the Clerk.

Worcester Birth and Death Records

Worcester County birth records encompass documents on birth events within the county, while death records are created upon the death of individuals. Per Maryland state laws, Worcester County vital records like birth and death certificates are only available to eligible persons.

Custodians may only provide certified copies of a Worcester birth certificate to the following persons:

• Individuals named on the certificates
• Parents named on the certificates
• Legal guardians
• Spouses of the certificate owners
• Representatives of eligible persons with notarized and signed letters that authorize them to obtain the certificates

On the other hand, certified copies of Worcester death certificates are available to decedents’ family members, authorized representatives, and funeral directors handling the final arrangements. The Worcester County Health Department issues certified copies of birth and death certificates. To obtain birth or death records, interested persons may complete the birth certificate application form or death certificate application form and submit it in person to the Health Department at:

Snow Hill Health Center
6040 Public Landing Road
Snow Hill, Maryland 21863
Phone: (410) 632-1100

The department provides same-day service on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Requesters must provide valid photo identification, such as their driver's licenses, U.S. passports, or service personnel military ID. In Worcester County, obtaining a certified copy of a birth or death certificate from the Health Department costs $22, and additional copies cost $20.

Alternatively, interested persons can get Worcester County birth or death records by mailing the completed birth or death certificate application forms to the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore at:

Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, Maryland 21215-0036

The Maryland Department of Health charges $10 for a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, and $12 for each additional copy in the same transaction. Acceptable payment methods include checks or money orders.

Worcester County Probate Court Records

Worcester County probate court records are official documents on probate proceedings at the Orphans’ Court. Typical probate matters handled by this court include:

• Administration and Distribution of Decedent Estates
• Wills and Codicils
• Trusts
• Guardianships
• Conservatorships

Worcester County probate court records are maintained by the Office of the Register of Wills and publicly accessible to anyone. To access these records, call the Orphans’ Court to make an appointment to use the public viewing station for viewing or printing documents/images in estate case files. Printing documents from this station costs $0.50 per page. Members of the public may also access probate case records involving decedent estates or claims on the Estate Search portal.

Worcester County Property Records

In Worcester County, property records are official documents containing details of real estate within the county’s borders. Typical property-related information found in these records include:

• Plats and Maps
• Mortgages
• Deeds
• Liens
• Conveyance Documents
• Property Sales History
• Current and Past Property Owner Information
• Zoning Details

The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office is responsible for recording and maintaining Worcester County property records. Interested persons may contact the Clerk’s Office in person, by email, or by calling the Land Records Department at (410) 632-5500 to inquire about obtaining property records.

Worcester County Court Records Online

Anyone interested in obtaining Worcester County court records online may use third-party sites like Marylandcourtrecords.us. These sites provide user-friendly search features to access public court documents and files remotely. Also, they save users time visiting the county courthouse or records custodians’ offices. However, third-party online resources are managed by private entities. Hence, the accuracy or recency of the records available on these sites may not be guaranteed.