Dorchester County
Dorchester County was created in 1669 and named after the Earl of Dorset. Its total area of 983 square miles is the largest of all counties in Maryland. Its water bodies cover 45% (442 square miles) of its total area. According to the 2020 US census, 32,531 persons live within the county. Cambridge is its largest city and county seat.
The Dorchester County court system comprises Circuit, district, and Orphan's courts. As the county's highest court, the Dorchester County Circuit Court hears all cases that fall outside the purview of other county courts. It considers felony cases, domestic violence protection orders, and civil matters with more than $5,000 in claims. Additionally, it considers domestic relations cases, including adoptions, child support, legal separation, divorce, and annulment.
The Dorchester County District Court handles landlord-tenant matters, domestic violence protective orders, some juvenile cases, peace orders, lawsuits for replevin, and civil claims under $25,000. It also deals with most offenses, traffic violations, and violations of local ordinances. The Dorchester County Orphan's Court handles guardianship of minors, some land-related cases, and most probate cases.
In Dorchester County, public court records are documents generated in the county courts and are accessible to the public. These records include court filings, docket listings, court transcripts, depositions, warrants, writs, sentences, orders, and other non-sealed court information. The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dorchester County keeps these records up-to-date in compliance with county and state laws.
Dorchester County makes the following types of records available unless sealed by court orders:
- Criminal Case Records
- Traffic Case Records
- Probate Case Records
- Civil Case Records
- Family Law Case Records
Anyone can use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website to search for public court records from Dorchester County. Using the Advanced Search tab, the search should be narrowed to only yield entries from Dorchester County. The platform can be searched by party name, date, or case number. Alternatively, they can visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court to examine and request the county's public court records at:
Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dorchester County
206 High Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 228-0481
