Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County is located in central Maryland, with Annapolis, the county's economic and political hub serving as the county seat and the state capital. The county was established in 1650 and is named after Lady Anne Arundell, the wife of Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. Its varied terrain, which includes suburban and rural areas and waterfront communities along the Chesapeake Bay, covers an area of approximately 414.8 square miles. The county's rich history is strongly linked to Maryland's participation in the American Revolution, maritime legacy, and colonial origins. Today, it is home to several significant military and government institutions, including the United States Naval Academy and Fort George G. Meade, which houses the National Security Agency (NSA).
Anne Arundel County's judicial system is part of Maryland's unified court system. It includes the Circuit Court, District Court, and Orphans' Court (similar to Probate Courts in other states). The Circuit Court handles major criminal and civil cases, as well as appeals from the District Court and Orphans' Court. The District Court located in Annapolis and Glenn Burnie deals with civil claims not exceeding $30,000, criminal cases such as misdemeanors and certain felonies, landlord-tenant disputes, replevin actions, and traffic violations while the Orphan's Court oversees the administration of deceased individuals' estates who owned property in their single name and either had a will or not, conservatorships, and guardianship of minors.
Anne Arundel County makes the following types of records available for public viewing:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
Public court records in Anne Arundel County are generated through legal trials of civil, criminal, and family court cases within the county. These records include documents such as pleadings, filings, motions, judgments, minutes, and transcripts of hearings. They are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and can be accessed online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal to ensure transparency and accountability in the county's judicial system. This system allows the public to search for case details by party name, case number, party type (plaintiff/defendant), or other criteria. Interested individuals may view docket information and other public record files per the Maryland Public Information Act, although there may be restrictions on sensitive information.
