Find Divorce Decree Records in Dundalk
Dundalk divorce decree records are held at the Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson, approximately 12 miles from Dundalk. Dundalk is an unincorporated census-designated place in Baltimore County, so there is no local courthouse. The Circuit Court Clerk in Towson keeps all final divorce decrees on permanent file, and you can request copies in person, by mail, or by email. Maryland law requires that every final divorce decree be permanently recorded by the clerk under Family Law § 7-106.
Dundalk Overview
Where Dundalk Divorce Decrees Are Held
The Baltimore County Circuit Court handles all divorce cases for Dundalk. The court is located at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. The Circuit Court Clerk is Julie Ensor. You can reach the clerk's office at 410-887-2601. For record requests and copy inquiries, you can also email the clerk directly at CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov. This is one of the more convenient features Baltimore County offers. You can submit a records request by email and pay with a credit card, which saves a trip to Towson.
| Court | Baltimore County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Julie Ensor |
| Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 |
| Phone | 410-887-2601 |
| CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov | |
| Website | baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/circuit |
Getting from Dundalk to Towson takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway) connects both communities, and MTA bus routes also serve the area if you prefer not to drive. If you go in person, bring a valid photo ID and be ready to wait at the records counter during busy periods. Mornings mid-week tend to be less crowded than Mondays or Fridays.
How to Get a Copy of a Dundalk Divorce Decree
There are three ways to get a copy of a divorce decree from a Dundalk case: in person at the courthouse, by mail, or by email. Each method works. The right one depends on how fast you need it and whether you can visit Towson.
Email requests are especially useful for Dundalk residents. Send your request to CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov with the full names of both parties, the case number if you have it, and the approximate year the divorce was finalized. The clerk's office will confirm the fee and provide payment options, which include Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. They do not accept debit cards or out-of-state personal checks, so plan accordingly if you are paying remotely.
For mail requests, send a written letter to 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. Include the names of both parties, approximate divorce year, and a check or money order made payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County." Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return the copies to you. Processing times for mailed requests vary, but typically take one to two weeks.
Copy fees follow the standard Maryland schedule. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. A certified copy adds a $5.00 certification fee. Exemplification (a higher-level authentication some foreign jurisdictions require) costs $10.00. If you need the clerk to search for the case without knowing the case number, the search fee is $12.00 per five-year period. Call 410-887-2601 to confirm current fees before you send payment.
Before you request a physical copy, try the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. This tool lets you look up a case by name and confirm whether it was filed in Baltimore County. It shows case status and hearing dates but not the decree text itself. Use it first to find the case number, which will speed up your copy request.
Divorce Decree Records and Vital Records
For divorces finalized in Maryland since January 1, 1992, the Division of Vital Records also holds a verification record. This is a separate document from the full divorce decree. The screenshot below shows the Division of Vital Records website, which serves Dundalk residents who need a basic divorce verification rather than a complete decree copy.
A vital records divorce verification costs $12 and confirms the fact of divorce, names, and date. It is not the same as a certified copy of the decree, which contains the full court order. Most legal and financial institutions will ask for the full decree, not just a verification. Get the full decree from the Circuit Court Clerk in Towson if you need it for a legal matter in Dundalk or elsewhere.
The Division of Vital Records is part of the Maryland Department of Health. Their main page is at health.maryland.gov/vsa. For older divorces or those not covered by the vital records system, contact the Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401, or order through shop.msa.maryland.gov. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25.
Filing for Divorce as a Dundalk Resident
Dundalk residents file for divorce at the Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson. The residency requirement under Maryland Family Law § 7-101 says at least one spouse must have lived in Maryland for six months before filing. If you currently live in Dundalk and have been in Maryland for at least six months, you can file in Baltimore County.
Since October 1, 2023, Maryland has three grounds for divorce under § 7-103: mutual consent, a six-month separation, and irreconcilable differences. Mutual consent works when both spouses agree on all issues including property and any children. Six-month separation means the couple has lived apart for at least six months with no intent to reconcile. Irreconcilable differences is a newer no-fault option. Fault-based grounds were removed from Maryland law in 2023.
The filing fee is $165 if you are representing yourself, or $185 if you file with an attorney. Court forms are free at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. The self-help site at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp has step-by-step guides. For specific questions about the divorce process in Baltimore County, the court's family division at 410-887-2601 can answer procedural questions, though they cannot give legal advice.
Under § 7-105, either spouse can ask for a name change in the divorce decree or file a separate petition within 18 months of the final decree. This is best done before the judge signs the final order in your Dundalk case.
Note: Court forms and instructions change from time to time. Always download the most current version from mdcourts.gov rather than using older copies.
Legal Help for Dundalk Divorce Cases
Free and low-cost legal resources are available for Dundalk residents dealing with a divorce case. The Maryland Courts legal help page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce is a good starting point. It covers the basics of Maryland divorce law and links to court forms. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org explains the law in plain terms that most people can follow without a legal background.
Maryland Legal Aid serves Baltimore County and may be able to help Dundalk residents who qualify based on income. The Baltimore County Bar Association also has a lawyer referral service for people who need to find a family law attorney. For those filing without a lawyer, the Circuit Court Family Division counter staff can answer questions about procedures and forms, though they cannot advise on legal strategy. Call 410-887-2601 to ask what help is available before you go to the courthouse.
Nearby Cities
These nearby qualifying cities are also in or near Baltimore County and use the same Circuit Court system for divorce decree records:
Baltimore County Divorce Decree Records
Dundalk is part of Baltimore County. The county page has full details on the Circuit Court, all fee schedules, related record types, and links to official court resources. If you are researching a divorce decree from anywhere in Baltimore County, including Dundalk, the county page is a helpful reference.