Montgomery County Family Court Records
Montgomery County family court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville, Maryland. As one of Maryland's most populous counties, the Circuit Court handles a large volume of family law cases each year, including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, paternity, name changes, gender declaration, and domestic violence matters. All family law filings go through the Family Department on the first floor of the South Tower. Records are searchable online and available by request through several methods including an online copy request form, a 24-hour drop box, and in-person visits.
Montgomery County Overview
Circuit Court for Montgomery County
The Circuit Court for Montgomery County is at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. The main phone is (240) 777-9400. You can also email the court at circuitcourt@montgomerycountymd.gov. Court Clerk Karen A. Bushell oversees the office. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Family Department is in the South Tower, 1st Floor, Room 1460. Call (240) 777-9426 for family case inquiries. This department handles divorce filings, custody motions, child support petitions, and other domestic relations matters. Staff can help you find a case number, confirm a filing, and direct you to the right resource.
The court has 25 Circuit Court judges, which reflects the high volume of cases filed in Montgomery County each year. Family cases may be assigned to any judge in the rotation. You will receive notice of your assigned judge when your case is filed.
Montgomery County has two District Court locations for civil and protective order matters. The Rockville District Court is at 191 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850, reachable at (301) 563-8800. The Silver Spring District Court is at 8552 2nd Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, with a phone of (301) 563-8500. Interim protective orders are issued at District Court; final protective orders come from Circuit Court.
The Montgomery County Circuit Court website provides department contact details, services, and links to online tools including the copy request form and e-filing portal.
The website is one of the more detailed county court sites in Maryland and includes information on all case types handled by the court.
How to Request Copies of Montgomery County Family Court Records
Montgomery County offers more ways to request records than most Maryland counties. You can submit a request online, by mail, in person, or through a 24-hour drop box outside the courthouse.
The online copy request process starts on the court's copying and files page. You fill out a form online, specify the documents you need, and submit payment. Electronic delivery via ShareFile is available, which means you can receive your documents by email rather than waiting for mail. This is faster for time-sensitive requests.
Use the Montgomery County Circuit Court copy request form to order family court record copies online, by mail, or for drop box submission.
The copy request page explains all available delivery methods including ShareFile electronic delivery, which is often the fastest option for getting documents.
The 24-hour drop box is located outside the courthouse at 50 Maryland Avenue. You can drop off a written request and payment any time, day or night. This is useful if you cannot visit during business hours. Processing times for drop box requests depend on workload but are generally handled the next business day.
In-person requests are accepted during business hours at the clerk's office. Public kiosks are available for viewing scanned case documents at no charge. You pay copy fees only if you want a printed copy to take with you.
Mail requests are also accepted. Send your written request with the case number, party names, documents needed, and payment to 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.
Searching Montgomery County Family Court Cases Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the free statewide tool for finding court cases. It covers all Maryland Circuit Courts including Montgomery County.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search lets you search Montgomery County family court cases by party name, case number, attorney, or filing date at no cost.
Search results show case type, status, filing date, and the names of all parties. This is a good first step before contacting the clerk's office for copies.
Montgomery County also participates in the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) e-filing system. Attorneys have automatic remote access to electronic case files. Parties to a case who are not represented by an attorney can request remote access through Maryland Courts E-filing. This system allows documents to be viewed and submitted without a trip to the courthouse for qualifying users.
The court maintains public access kiosks at the courthouse for viewing records on-site. These terminals display scanned documents from cases filed in Montgomery County and are available during courthouse business hours.
Family Law Case Types in Montgomery County
The Circuit Court for Montgomery County handles all major family law matters. Divorce cases, both contested and uncontested, are filed in the Family Department. Maryland grounds for divorce under Family Law Article Section 7-103 include mutual consent, a six-month separation, and irreconcilable differences. When both spouses agree on all issues and have a written settlement, a mutual consent divorce can move through the court more quickly.
Child custody cases cover both legal and physical custody. Legal custody covers decision-making authority for the child's education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Physical custody covers where the child lives. The court can order sole custody, joint legal custody, shared physical custody, or a combination. The best interest of the child is the controlling standard in all Montgomery County custody decisions.
Child support is calculated using Maryland's income-sharing formula. Both parents' gross incomes, along with costs for health insurance and childcare, are factored in. Either parent can petition to modify a support order when circumstances change. The filing fee for a modification motion is $31.
Paternity actions establish legal fatherhood when the parents were not married. The court can order genetic testing if paternity is disputed. Once established, the court can enter child support and custody orders in the same proceeding or in a separate action.
Adoption cases are handled in Circuit Court. Adoption records are sealed under Maryland law and are not available to the public without a court order. The court also handles guardianship of minors when parents are unable to care for their children and a relative or other adult seeks legal custody.
Name changes and gender declaration actions are Circuit Court matters in Montgomery County. These petitions require a court hearing in most cases. The court issues an order that can be used to update the petitioner's name or gender marker on official documents.
Domestic violence protective orders involve both District and Circuit Court. The District Court issues interim and temporary orders. Circuit Court holds a final hearing and issues a final protective order if warranted. Under Family Law Article Section 4-504, these orders can restrict contact, address temporary custody, and require the respondent to leave a shared residence.
The Family Division Services program in Montgomery County helps parents resolve disputes without court intervention when possible. This service is available to parties in custody and visitation cases and can be a useful way to work toward an agreement before a contested hearing.
Copy Fees and Filing Costs
Montgomery County uses the statewide Maryland fee schedule for court record copies. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus the per-page fee. Triple seal copies, which carry three official seals, cost $10.00 plus copy fees. These are used in certain international or multi-state legal matters.
Civil case filing fees depend on whether you have an attorney. Filing without an attorney starts at $165 and can go up to $210 depending on the case type. Filing with an attorney has similar base fees. A motion to modify an existing family court order costs $31 to file. These fees are set by Maryland law and are the same across the state.
Fee waivers are available for low-income parties. File form CC-DC-089 at the time you submit your initial petition. The clerk will review your income documentation and notify you whether the waiver is approved before your case proceeds. If approved, you will not need to pay the filing fee.
Download family law forms for Montgomery County including the fee waiver form CC-DC-089 from the Maryland Courts family forms page.
Forms are available in fillable PDF format. Completing forms at home before your court visit saves time at the clerk's counter.
Family Law Self-Help Center and Legal Resources
The Family Law Self-Help Center for Montgomery County is in the South Tower of the courthouse at 50 Maryland Avenue, Room 1500, Rockville. The phone number is (240) 777-9145. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Center staff explain forms, procedures, and court expectations but do not give legal advice or represent parties.
The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center statewide line is (410) 260-1392. This line handles general procedural questions for any Maryland county. For legal advice specific to your case, you need to speak with an attorney.
The Montgomery County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Call (301) 279-9100 Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM. The bar association can connect you with attorneys who handle family law matters in Montgomery County, including those who offer free initial consultations.
Maryland Legal Aid serves income-eligible residents of Montgomery County with free legal help on divorce, custody, support, and protective order cases. Visit mdlab.org to check eligibility and find the local office contact.
The People's Law Library of Maryland has free guides on family law topics including divorce, custody, and protective orders for Montgomery County residents.
These guides are written in plain language and cover each step of common family law processes, from filing the initial petition to attending the final hearing.
The Family Law Hotline at 1-800-845-8550 provides legal information and referrals by phone. Call this line to learn about your options and find legal help in Montgomery County.
Records That Are Not Public in Montgomery County
Certain records filed in Montgomery County family court are not open to the public. Adoption files are sealed. Juvenile delinquency and CINA cases are confidential. Financial statements submitted in child support cases are not accessible to the public.
Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 govern statewide access to court records and set out which records are public, which are restricted, and how to request access to non-public files. Montgomery County follows these rules. If you cannot find a case in the online system, contact the clerk's office to confirm whether the case has been sealed or is not yet indexed.
To access a sealed record, you must file a written motion in the case explaining why you need access. The judge decides whether to grant access. This process applies even to parties in the original case. Sealed records are not released without a court order.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County has more qualifying cities than any other county in this guide. All residents of these communities file family court cases at the Circuit Court in Rockville.
Residents of smaller communities in Montgomery County not listed above also file family court cases at the same courthouse in Rockville. County of residence, not city or town, determines which Circuit Court has jurisdiction over your case.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County borders three other Maryland counties, each with its own Circuit Court for family law matters.
- Howard County - Circuit Court in Ellicott City, MD
- Frederick County - Circuit Court in Frederick, MD
- Prince George's County - Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro, MD
Cases involving parties in different counties are typically filed where the minor children reside or where the original order was entered. Contact the clerk at (240) 777-9400 if you are unsure about jurisdiction in your case.