Access Harford County Divorce Decrees

Harford County divorce decree records are filed and stored at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 20 West Courtland Street in Bel Air, Maryland, and you can request certified copies in person, by mail, or search cases at no cost through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. The courthouse also has a Family Law Self-Help Center and a public law library for people who want to review their records or file their own divorce case in Harford County.

Harford County Circuit Court Clerk

Michelle Karczeski is the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County. The courthouse is at 20 West Courtland Street in Bel Air, Maryland 21014. You can reach the clerk at 410-638-3426, or call the toll-free line at 1-800-989-8296 if you are calling from outside the local area. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk's website is at courts.state.md.us/clerks/harford.

To get a certified copy of a Harford County divorce decree in person, bring valid photo ID and as much case information as you have. Staff can search by name or case number. They will pull the file, make copies, and certify them while you wait if the file is available locally. For mail requests, send to 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your check. Include both parties' names, the approximate divorce date, and the case number if you have it. Having the case number avoids the name search fee.

One important detail: the Licensing Office, where marriage licenses are issued, is at a separate location, 7 W. Courtland Street, just across from the main courthouse. The Licensing Office also holds marriage license records which may be relevant if you are gathering documents related to a divorce case. Hours there are 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Do not confuse the two buildings when you go.

Fees for Harford County Divorce Decree Copies

Harford County uses Maryland's standard fee schedule. Here is a breakdown of what to expect when requesting divorce decree records.

Certification of a Judgment of Divorce costs $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. A 12-page decree would cost $11.00 certified. If you need an exemplified copy, the fee is $10.00 plus the per-page copy rate. When you don't have a case number and need a name search, the clerk charges $5.00 per name searched. Exemplification is typically used for legal matters in other states or foreign countries, and it carries a higher level of court authentication than a standard certified copy.

The filing fee to start a divorce case in Harford County is $165.00 without an attorney. If you file with an attorney, the fee is $185.00. Attorney appearance fees are $20.00 per firm. These are the state-set rates. If you cannot afford these fees, ask the clerk about a waiver application.

Note: Always call the clerk at 410-638-3426 to confirm current fees before mailing a check. Fees can change and it's better to confirm than to have your request delayed.

What a Harford County Divorce Decree Contains

A final divorce decree from Harford County is a court order that ends the marriage and sets out all the terms the judge has approved. The full case file that leads to the decree can be substantial. Knowing what is in these records helps you figure out which document you actually need.

The case file typically includes the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, the Summons and proof that it was served on the other party, any financial statements or property settlement agreements the parties filed, child custody and support arrangements if children are involved, and the Final Judgment of Absolute Divorce. The Final Judgment is the page most people need for name changes, remarriage, or legal proceedings. It is signed by a Harford County Circuit Court judge and stamped by the clerk.

If you divorced in Harford County within the last six months and now need to get a marriage license in Maryland, you will need to bring a copy of your divorce decree to the Licensing Office at 7 W. Courtland Street. Maryland requires proof of the most recent divorce before issuing a new marriage license. The clerk's office and the Licensing Office are both in Bel Air, so you can take care of both stops on the same visit if needed.

Searching Harford County Divorce Cases Online

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search system lets you look up Harford County divorce cases for free. You can search by name or case number. Results include case type, filing date, current status, and any scheduled hearings. The system does not show the full decree document, but it gives you the case number and enough info to confirm the case exists and to request a copy from the clerk.

Visit casesearch.courts.state.md.us to run a search. If you find your case number there, you can skip the $5.00 name search fee when you contact the Harford County clerk. That's a small thing, but it's worth doing.

The screenshot below shows the Division of Vital Records page, one of the alternate sources for divorce information that covers Harford County cases filed since 1992.

Vital Records can provide a $12.00 divorce verification for Harford County cases from January 1, 1992, onward. This is a lighter document than a full certified copy, but it works for some administrative purposes. Visit health.maryland.gov/vsa to order one.

Harford County Family Law Self-Help Center

The Family Law Self-Help Center at the Harford County courthouse is on Level A of the building at 20 West Courtland Street. You can reach the center at 410-638-3426, the same number as the main clerk's office. The Self-Help Center helps people who are filing for divorce, modifying a custody order, or dealing with other family law matters without a lawyer. Staff can help you find and fill out the right forms and explain the filing process step by step.

The Harford County courthouse also has a public law library. You can use it to review court forms, research Maryland family law, and read case files that are part of the public record. The law library is open to anyone, not just attorneys. If you want to review the contents of a divorce file before paying for copies, this is a good way to do that in Harford County.

The statewide Maryland Courts self-help resources are at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp with a phone line at 410-260-1392. All court forms, including divorce petitions and financial statements for Harford County, are at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. For step-by-step guidance on how divorce cases work in Maryland, go to mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce.

Maryland Divorce Law in Harford County

Harford County divorce cases are governed by the Maryland Family Law Article. Under Family Law § 7-101, at least one spouse must be a Maryland resident to file for divorce in this state. If you live in Harford County, you file at the Circuit Court in Bel Air.

Maryland updated its divorce law in October 2023. Under Family Law § 7-103, the main grounds for divorce now include a six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, and mutual consent. Mutual consent is the fastest path because it doesn't require you to wait six months, but it does require both spouses to agree on everything in writing before the court date. Irreconcilable differences can be used without a waiting period as long as both parties confirm the marriage is over. The six-month separation ground requires that the spouses have lived apart for at least six months before filing.

Under Family Law § 7-106, the Harford County Circuit Court Clerk is required by state law to permanently record every final divorce decree. These records do not get purged or expire. You can get a copy years or decades after the divorce, and the clerk will still have it. For name changes, Family Law § 7-105 allows you to ask for restoration of a former name either in the final divorce decree itself or by filing a separate petition within 18 months after the divorce is final. The Harford County Circuit Court handles both options.

The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org has a clear plain-language summary of Maryland divorce law that covers what Harford County residents need to know about grounds, process, and court requirements.

Maryland State Archives for Older Harford County Decrees

For older Harford County divorce decrees that may no longer be held locally, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis is the backup source. The Archives holds historical court records from all Maryland counties. A certified copy costs $25.00 and can be ordered online at shop.msa.maryland.gov. You can also call 410-260-6400 to ask what Harford County records they hold and whether they have the one you need. Their divorce records guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov lists coverage years by county.

Cities in Harford County

Bel Air South is the largest community in Harford County and has a dedicated page on this site. All divorce decree filings for Bel Air South residents go through the Circuit Court Clerk at 20 West Courtland Street in Bel Air. The county seat of Bel Air is the address of the courthouse that serves all Harford County residents.

Other communities in Harford County include Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Edgewood, Joppatowne, and Fallston. All of these file divorce cases at the same Circuit Court in Bel Air.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Harford County. Divorce cases must be filed in the county where you or your spouse lives. If you are near a county line, confirm your address before you file.