Search Charles County Family Court Records
Charles County family court records are maintained by the Circuit Court for Charles County in La Plata. The court handles divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, name changes, and domestic violence cases for all county residents. This page covers how to search Charles County family court records online, how to request certified or plain copies, what fees you will pay, which records are public, and where to get free legal help if you need it.
Charles County Overview
Charles County Circuit Court and Clerk's Office
The Circuit Court for Charles County is located at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Sharon L. Hancock serves as the Circuit Court Clerk. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the clerk at (301) 932-3201 for direct matters, or use the general line at (301) 645-0500. The Maryland Courts website page for Charles County is at mdcourts.gov/clerks/charles.
Family Support Services is housed within the Circuit Court building. That office handles assistance to families involved in family court matters and can be reached at (301) 932-3451. A Family Support Services Coordinator is also available at (301) 600-2023. These are not legal aid services, but they can help people navigate the system, understand what to expect, and connect with the right resources.
The Charles County Law Library is at 200 Charles Street, Second Floor, La Plata, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone: (301) 932-3322. The library provides access to legal texts, family law resources, and self-help materials. It is open to the public without charge. The District Court for Charles County shares the same address at 200 Charles Street and handles certain protective order matters. A District Court location in Waldorf is also available at (301) 705-7300 for residents in that part of the county.
The Charles County Circuit Court Clerk's page on Maryland Courts covers contact information, office locations, and how to submit record requests.
This page is the starting point for any records request involving Charles County family court filings.
Charles County Family Court Records: Case Types and Contents
The Circuit Court handles all major family law filings in Charles County. Divorce cases are among the most common. Under Family Law Article Section 7-103, Maryland law now recognizes three grounds for divorce: mutual consent, a six-month separation period, and irreconcilable differences. These rules apply to Charles County cases as they do everywhere else in the state. Before the October 1, 2023, update to the law, longer separation periods and fault-based grounds were required. Cases filed before that date were resolved under the prior rules.
A divorce case file in Charles County typically includes the petition for divorce, summons and proof of service, financial statements and disclosures, any agreed property settlement, a parenting plan when children are involved, and the final judgment of divorce. Most of these documents are public. Financial statements in child support matters are restricted and not available through standard record access.
Charles County Circuit Court also handles child custody and visitation disputes, child support orders, paternity actions, adoptions, guardianship of minor children, name changes, and protective orders. Family Law Article Section 4-504 governs domestic violence protective orders. Those can be filed at either the circuit court or the district court. A person in immediate danger can request an interim protective order at any time the district court is open, including evenings and weekends at certain locations. The Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system supports e-filing for many case types in Charles County.
Note: Adoption records, juvenile cases, CINA proceedings, and any record sealed by court order are not accessible through standard public record requests.
How to Search Charles County Family Court Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the main tool for searching Charles County family court records online. Access is free. Search by party name, case number, or date of filing. The percent sign (%) works as a wildcard when you are uncertain about spelling. Results show party names, case type, filing date, hearing dates, and current case status. The system covers active and closed cases from all Maryland circuit courts, including Charles County.
Case Search shows docket entries but not the text of filed documents. A docket entry tells you when something happened in the case but not what the document says. To read the actual filings, you need to visit the clerk's office at 200 Charles Street or submit a copy request. That said, Case Search is the right starting point to confirm a case exists, identify the case number, and see how far along the matter is.
A Legal Resource Center is available at the Charles County Circuit Court for self-represented litigants. Staff there can help you use the public access terminals, find case information, and locate the right forms. If you are not sure where to start, the Legal Resource Center is a good first stop when you arrive at the courthouse.
Getting Copies of Charles County Family Court Records
Copy fees at the Charles County Clerk's Office follow Maryland's standard schedule. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. The first page of a certified copy costs $5.00, and each additional page is $0.50. An exemplified copy, which carries a higher form of authentication, costs $10.00 plus copy fees. A civil case filing without an attorney costs $165.00. Filing with an attorney costs $175.00. Modification motions cost $31.00 to file.
For in-person requests, visit the clerk's office at 200 Charles Street during business hours. Bring the case number or the full names of both parties and the approximate year of filing. Staff will pull the file and make copies, typically the same day. Payment can be made in cash, by check, or by money order. A self-represented litigant may also use the Family Law Self-Help Center on site to get guidance on how to request specific documents.
Mail requests should go to the Clerk of Circuit Court for Charles County at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Include the names of both parties, the date of divorce or filing if you know it, the case number if available, whether you need a plain or certified copy, and a return address. A self-addressed stamped envelope speeds up the process. Turnaround for mail requests is typically 7 to 10 business days. Payment by check or money order. Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 provide the public access right that governs all these requests.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the clerk about the family fee waiver application, form CC-DC-089. Qualifying applicants can have fees reduced or waived based on income. All standard family law forms, including this one, are available at the Maryland court forms page.
The Maryland court forms page provides all official family law forms for free, including the fee waiver application and forms used in Charles County cases.
You can download and fill in these forms before visiting the Charles County Clerk's Office to save time.
Legal Help for Charles County Residents
The Maryland Court Help Center is a statewide resource available to anyone with a family court question. Call (410) 260-1392, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Staff there explain court procedures, help you understand forms, and walk you through the steps of your case. They do not give legal advice but can give detailed process guidance. If you are dealing with a divorce, custody case, or support matter, this line is a practical first call.
Maryland Legal Aid has offices serving Charles County residents who qualify based on income. Legal Aid provides free representation or advice in divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence matters. The Women's Law Center Family Law Hotline at 1-800-845-8550 is open weekdays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and serves anyone in Maryland with family law questions.
The People's Law Library of Maryland offers free written guides on divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders. The guides are written in plain language and apply to Maryland law and courts specifically. The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service at (410) 539-6800 can also connect qualifying residents with free legal help in family law matters. Self-help legal materials and a Legal Resource Center are both available at the Charles County Circuit Court building on Charles Street.
Note: The Family Law Hotline at 1-800-845-8550 is open weekdays 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and can answer specific Charles County family court questions at no cost.
What Charles County Family Court Records Are Public
Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 establish public access rights for court records throughout the state, including Charles County. Divorce decrees, custody orders, child support judgments, paternity findings, and protective orders are public records that any person may access or copy. You do not need to be a party to the case, and you do not need to state a reason for your request.
Certain records are not public. Adoption files are sealed by statute. Juvenile delinquency cases and CINA proceedings are confidential. Financial statements submitted in support or alimony cases are restricted. Sealed cases, which occur when a judge orders a record closed, are not accessible to the public or to parties in the case without a separate court order. The clerk will tell you a record is sealed but cannot describe its contents.
Charles County uses the MDEC system for electronic filing, and many newer filings are accessible through the Case Search portal as docket entries. But document-level access still requires a direct request to the clerk's office. There is no self-service portal for downloading family court documents from Charles County at this time.
Waldorf Residents and Charles County Court
Waldorf is the largest community in Charles County and is served by the same circuit court in La Plata. Waldorf residents file divorce, custody, and other family law cases at 200 Charles Street, La Plata. A District Court location near Waldorf handles certain matters, but all circuit-level family law cases must go through the La Plata courthouse. See the Waldorf family court records page for city-specific information.
Nearby Counties
Charles County borders other Maryland counties in the southern region. If a case you are researching may involve a nearby jurisdiction, these pages cover court contacts and record access in those areas.