Towson Divorce Decree Records
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County, and the Baltimore County Circuit Court sits right here in town. If you need to search or get a copy of a divorce decree filed in Towson or anywhere else in Baltimore County, the Circuit Court clerk's office at 401 Bosley Avenue is where you go.
Towson Overview
Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson
The Baltimore County Circuit Court is located in Towson, which serves as the county seat. This is not a coincidence. Since Towson is the seat of county government, the Circuit Court has been here for a long time. The clerk of the circuit court is Julie Ensor, and her office handles all divorce decree filings and records requests for Baltimore County, including Towson residents.
The main court address is 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. If you are mailing anything to the court, use the P.O. Box address: P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Do not mail to the physical street address; mail sent there may be delayed. The general phone line is 410-887-2601. For records by email, you can reach the clerk's office at CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov. The court's website is at baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/circuit.
| Court | Baltimore County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Julie Ensor |
| Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754 |
| Phone | 410-887-2601 |
| CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/circuit |
Getting to the courthouse in Towson is straightforward. MTA bus routes serve the Towson area, and Towson University shuttle connections are close by. Several parking garages sit within a short walk of the courthouse if you drive. Bring a photo ID when you come in person. The court checks IDs at the entrance.
How to Search Towson Divorce Decree Records
The free starting point for any search is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. This covers all Baltimore County cases, including Towson. Enter a party name or case number, then filter by case type. Divorce cases appear under the "DA" case type, which stands for absolute divorce. The tool shows filing dates, hearing history, and case status. It does not give you the full text of the decree, but it confirms the case exists and gives you the case number you need for ordering copies.
Once you have the case number, you have three ways to get the actual divorce decree. In person is the fastest. Go to the clerk's office at 401 Bosley Avenue during business hours. Staff can pull the file and make copies while you wait. Mail requests also work. Write a letter with both party names, the year of the divorce, the case number if you have it, and your return address. Mail it to the P.O. Box, not the street address. The clerk will reply with a fee total before processing.
Email requests are accepted at CCBaltCoClerkRecords@mdcourts.gov. This is a bit less common, but the Baltimore County Circuit Court does allow it. You would need to include the same info as a mail request and be prepared to pay by credit card. The court accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for email and phone requests. In-person payments can be made with cash or a check or money order made out to "Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County." Note: the court does not accept out-of-state personal checks or debit cards.
Standard copy fees across Maryland courts are $0.50 per page for plain copies and $5.00 for a certification stamp. If you need older records that the court no longer holds, contact the Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401. Certified copies from the archives cost $25. Order through their online shop at shop.msa.maryland.gov.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search Tool
The screenshot below shows the Maryland State Archives divorce records portal at guide.msa.maryland.gov, which explains what historical divorce records are available and how to request them for Baltimore County cases including Towson.
The State Archives holds records that predate the court's current filing system. For older Towson divorce decrees, the archives may be the only source. The online guide explains exactly what years are covered and what documents you can request.
Filing for Divorce in Towson
Towson residents file for divorce at the Baltimore County Circuit Court, which is conveniently located right in Towson. Maryland law governs the entire process. Under Maryland Family Law § 7-101, at least one spouse must meet the state's residency requirement before the court can take the case. You or your spouse must have lived in Maryland long enough to qualify. If you live in Towson now, that typically satisfies the requirement.
Maryland updated its divorce law effective October 1, 2023. Under § 7-103, there are now three grounds for divorce: a 6-month separation, irreconcilable differences, and mutual consent. Mutual consent works well when both spouses agree on everything. You sign a written settlement agreement covering property, debt, and any children. The court can grant the divorce without a hearing in many mutual consent cases. There is no mandatory waiting period once all the paperwork is in order.
The filing fee at the Baltimore County Circuit Court is $165 without an attorney or $185 with one. These fees cover the initial complaint only. Service of process, motions, and modifications each carry their own fees. Call 410-887-2601 to ask about the current full fee schedule before you file. Under § 7-106, the clerk permanently records all final divorce decrees, so your record will remain on file at the court indefinitely. Section 7-105 lets either spouse request a name change in the decree itself, or petition for one within 18 months after the divorce is final.
Free court forms are at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. The self-help section at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp walks through each step of the divorce process in plain language. The Maryland Courts family law page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce covers what to expect from filing through final decree.
Legal Aid and Self-Help Resources in Towson
If you cannot afford a lawyer for your divorce in Towson, several resources can help. The Maryland Courts self-help page at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp has forms, guides, and a self-help line at 410-260-1392. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org gives a plain-language overview of Maryland divorce law and is a good first read if you are new to the process.
Maryland Legal Aid provides free legal help to low-income residents in Baltimore County. They handle divorce cases involving domestic violence and other family law matters. Call their statewide line or visit mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce to find the contact for your area. The Maryland Courts website also has a general legal help section that lists organizations serving the Towson and Baltimore County area.
If you need a fee waiver, file Form CC-DC-089 with your divorce papers at the Baltimore County Circuit Court. You must show you receive public benefits or that your income falls below the state threshold. A judge reviews it and decides whether to waive the fees. This applies to filing fees as well as some copy fees for divorce decrees. Ask the clerk about the waiver form when you go to file.
Note: The Baltimore County Circuit Court clerk's office can answer questions about how to file, but staff cannot give legal advice. For legal questions, use the self-help or legal aid resources listed above.
Vital Records and State Archives for Towson Divorce Decrees
There are two state-level options for finding divorce records in Towson and Baltimore County beyond the circuit court. The first is the Maryland Division of Vital Records, which tracks divorces since January 1, 1992. They issue a divorce verification letter for $12. This is not the full decree but proves the divorce happened. Visit health.maryland.gov/vsa for details on that service. A verification letter is useful when a full certified copy is not needed.
The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401 is the other option. The archives hold historical divorce records going back much further than the vital records office. Certified copies cost $25. Their guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov explains exactly what years of records they hold and how to submit a request. For very old Baltimore County divorce decrees, the archives may be the only place to find a copy.
The Division of Vital Records and the State Archives serve different purposes. Use vital records for recent verification needs. Use the archives for older certified copies or historical research involving Towson divorce decrees.
Nearby Cities
Towson sits just north of Baltimore City and close to several other communities in the region. These nearby cities also have divorce decree pages with local court and records information.
Baltimore County Divorce Decree Records
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County, and the circuit court here serves all of Baltimore County. For full county court details, fees, related records, and additional resources covering all of Baltimore County, visit the Baltimore County divorce records page.