Carroll County
Carroll County was founded in 1837 and named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a former United States Senator. The City of Westminster is the county seat, while Eldersburg is the county's most populous city. Carroll County is Maryland's 10th largest county by land, occupying about 448 square miles and home to 172,891 residents.
Carroll County has three trial courts: the Circuit, District, and Orphans Courts. The Circuit Court is the county's general jurisdiction trial court. It presides over all major criminal and civil cases in Carroll County. Furthermore, it has appellate jurisdiction over decisions from the county's District Court. Other legal proceedings that occur at the Circuit Court in Carroll County include family law matters, juvenile cases, and all other jury trials. The District Court presides over minor cases, including misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and civil lawsuits involving up to $30,000 in financial settlements. Carroll County's District Court also handles replevin actions as well as landlord-tenant cases. The county's Orphans' Court resolves all probate matters, such as disputed wills, contested estates, and guardianship issues.
The Circuit Court Clerk typically creates and maintains the following court records in Carroll County.
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Traffic records
- Juvenile records
- Civil records
- Family law records
These records contain information on legal proceedings, including dockets, transcripts, and court orders. The Maryland Public Information Act allows any individual the right to obtain or view Carroll County court records. Public access to case files usually promotes public trust and transparency in the county's judicial system. As such, interested persons can request Carroll County public court records by completing the copy request forms. Afterward, send the forms by mail, email, or in-person to:
Carroll County Circuit Court
55 North Court Street
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: (410) 386-8720
