Court records in St. Mary's County, Maryland, are maintained by the Circuit Court and District Court Clerk's Office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court clerk's office. StMarysCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about the county's court records. Additionally, you can use the Case Search on the Maryland Courts portal, contact the Clerk's Office, or visit the courthouse in person.
St. Mary's Court System Overview
The court system of St. Mary's County consists of two levels: Circuit Court (general jurisdiction court) and District Court of Maryland (limited jurisdiction court). The Circuit Court handles serious criminal cases, civil claims without monetary limits, and real estate-related cases. The District Court focuses on minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and civil cases with smaller claim amounts.
St. Mary's County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit of Maryland, which also serves Calvert, Charles, and Prince George's counties. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is Debra J. "Debbie" Burch. Information about the county judiciary can be found on the Maryland State Archives website.
Circuit Court for St. Mary's County
Courts Serving St. Mary's
Residents of the county are served by several state and federal courts.
Circuit Court for St. Mary's County (state general jurisdiction court)
District Court of Maryland for St. Mary's County (state limited jurisdiction court)
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Southern Division) — a federal court serving St. Mary's County. Sessions are primarily held in Greenbelt, MD.
There are no separate municipal courts in St. Mary's County — all cases are heard at the Circuit Court or District Court level.
What Types of Cases St. Mary's Courts Hear
The county courts handle a wide range of cases. Below is a general list of categories, each of which is further detailed in the following sections:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Civil claims of any size, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile and child protection cases
- Adoption
District Court Cases in St. Mary's
The District Court of Maryland in St. Mary's County is a court of limited jurisdiction where cases are heard by a judge without a jury. It hears minor criminal cases (misdemeanors), traffic violations, DUI/DWI cases, and civil claims up to $30,000. Preliminary hearings in felony cases also start in the District Court, after which the case may be transferred to the Circuit Court.
Small claims cases up to $5,000 also fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court. Judges are assigned administratively, and the schedule of hearings is determined based on the category of the case. Appeals from District Court decisions are filed with the Circuit Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in St. Mary's
In the Maryland system, the role of magistrates is performed by District Court Commissioners — they work around the clock and play an important role at the initial stage of criminal proceedings. Commissioners set bail, issue arrest and search warrants, and accept initial complaints.
The District Court hears civil cases with a maximum claim amount of $30,000. For small claims, the limit is $5,000 — the procedure is simplified, and an attorney is not required. Traffic violations, including DUI, are also heard at this level. If the volume of cases is large, a judge may distribute cases across different hearing days by category.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in St. Mary's
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, alimony, paternity, and protective order cases are heard by the Circuit Court. The Vital Records Division of the Maryland Department of Health verifies records of divorces and annulments.
Probate Matters. The Orphans' Court for St. Mary's County (or Register of Wills) handles inheritance cases, appointing guardians for incapacitated individuals, and related matters. The Orphans' Court is a separate court that operates alongside the Circuit Court.
Juvenile Matters. Juvenile matters — cases involving juvenile offenses and child protection — are heard by the Circuit Court. Juvenile case records are confidential under Maryland law. For information, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
How Cases Move Through the St. Mary's Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or arrest; a civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the court clerk's office.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to a specific judge according to the court's internal rules.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases, this is the arraignment (announcement of charges and defendant's response). In civil cases, it is a scheduling conference or preliminary hearing.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial. The trial, verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal, enforcement of the court's decision.
Appeals from the District Court are filed with the Circuit Court. Appeals from the Circuit Court are heard by the Appellate Court of Maryland.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in St. Mary's
The administrative management of the county courts is conducted under the leadership of the Administrative Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. The daily operations of the Circuit Court Clerk's Office are coordinated by the Clerk of Court — currently Debra J. "Debbie" Burch.
Local court rules for the Seventh Judicial Circuit are published on the Maryland Courts portal. These rules regulate filing procedures, deadlines, and procedural requirements.
Public Access to Records. Most court records in Maryland are public under the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records (Title 16, Chapter 1000). Some records — including juvenile cases, sealed cases, and certain family proceedings — have restricted access. More details about rules for accessing court records can be found on the Maryland Courts website.
Attending Hearings. Court hearings in St. Mary's County are generally open to the public. Some hearings may be held remotely — check with the court clerk's office at 301-475-7844.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in St. Mary's
In addition to directly contacting the court clerk's office, there are several online resources for searching court records and related information.
- Case Search. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search system provides public access to District Court and Circuit Court records statewide, including St. Mary's County.
- Property and Land Records. Land records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The SDAT online search is also available for property assessment information.
- Court Clerk Records. The Circuit Court Clerk's Records page contains information about available record types: real estate deeds, mortgages, liens, court judgments, and official oaths.
- Criminal History Checks. Official criminal background checks are conducted through the CJIS of the Maryland Department of Public Safety. The Central Records Division of the State Police also publishes relevant information.
- Inmate Locator. The Incarcerated Individual Locator allows you to find individuals in custody of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
- County Sheriff's Office. The official St. Mary's County website contains information about the Sheriff's Office and Detention Center. The county sheriff is Steven A. Hall, who has held this position since December 2022.
- Archival Records. County government records in electronic, microfilm, and original formats are available through the Maryland State Archives.
- Tax Information. To search for tax bills, use the Treasurer's Office page of St. Mary's County.
- County Contact Directory. A complete contact directory for the St. Mary's County government is available online.
For a comprehensive search of the county's public court records, you can also use the resource StMarysCourt.us.