Montgomery County Divorce Decree Search
Montgomery County divorce decree records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Rockville and can be searched online for free through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system, requested by mail, dropped off at the courthouse drop box, or picked up in person at 50 Maryland Avenue. The Family Department of the clerk's office handles all divorce decree requests for this large and busy court.
Montgomery County Overview
Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk
Barbara H. Meiklejohn is the Circuit Court Clerk for Montgomery County. Her office is located at 50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower, 3rd Floor, Office 3200, Rockville, MD 20850. This is the primary location for divorce decree records in Montgomery County. The Family Department within the clerk's office is the section that handles divorce filings and copy requests. When you arrive in person, go to the North Tower and look for Room 3200 on the third floor.
The main phone number is 240-777-9400. For family law matters and divorce records specifically, call 240-777-9426. The marriage and business line is 240-777-9460. A toll-free line is available at 888-287-0593. Reach the office by email at montgomeryclerk@mdcourts.gov. The clerk's office has its own section on the county website at montgomerycountymd.gov/cct, which includes forms and information on records requests. The Maryland Courts statewide site at courts.state.md.us/clerks/montgomery also covers this office.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court is accessible by Metro Red Line to Rockville station. That makes it easy to get there without driving into downtown Rockville.
| Clerk | Barbara H. Meiklejohn |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower, 3rd Floor, Room 3200, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Mailing (Family) | South Tower, First Floor, Room 1460, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| General Phone | 240-777-9400 |
| Family/Divorce | 240-777-9426 |
| Toll-Free | 888-287-0593 |
| montgomeryclerk@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
How to Get Montgomery County Divorce Decrees
The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the best starting point. Search by name or case number. Case type "DA" means absolute divorce. Results show case numbers, party names, filing dates, and current status. The search does not show the text of the decree itself, only the case index. Use it to confirm a divorce was filed and to get the case number before requesting copies.
Montgomery County has a few ways to request divorce decree copies. In person at the North Tower clerk office is the most direct. Mail requests go to the Family Department mailing address at South Tower, First Floor, Room 1460. A drop box outside the Circuit Court office is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Mark your envelope "Family Department" clearly. Do not include payment in drop box submissions. Staff will contact you once they find the record, and you pay then. For faster turnaround on mailed copies, include a self-addressed prepaid FedEx or express envelope with your request.
A Court Record Copy Request Form (fillable PDF) is available on the Montgomery County clerk forms page at montgomerycountymd.gov/cct/forms.html. Include the case number or names of both parties and specify which documents you need. Staff will pull the file and calculate the total cost before payment is due.
Note: Montgomery County divorce records from 1983 to 1999 are on microfilm at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, not at the clerk office. For cases in that range, the Archives may be the better source.
Montgomery County Divorce Decree Fees
Fees for divorce decree copies in Montgomery County follow the Maryland statewide schedule. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certification is $5.00 per document. A one-page certified copy therefore costs $5.50 in total. Exemplified copies with triple seal cost $10.00. A search fee of $12.00 applies per five-year period when staff must manually search older records.
Filing a new divorce case costs $165 without an attorney. With an attorney, the fee rises to $185. Montgomery County processes a high volume of family law cases, so fees are collected carefully and the clerk may contact you to confirm the exact amount owed before releasing copies. Payment options and timing depend on how you submit your request. For mail and drop box requests, payment comes after the records are found.
Fee waivers are available for qualifying individuals. The Maryland Courts Self-Help line at 410-260-1392 has information on how to apply. A Family Law Self-Help Center is also available at the Montgomery County courthouse for people handling their own divorce cases.
| Copy Fee | $0.50 per page |
|---|---|
| Certification | $5.00 per document |
| One-Page Certified Copy | $5.50 total |
| Exemplification | $10.00 |
| Search Fee | $12.00 per 5-year period |
| Filing (no attorney) | $165.00 |
| Filing (with attorney) | $185.00 |
Maryland Divorce Law for Montgomery County Cases
Montgomery County divorces are governed by Maryland Family Law. Under Maryland Family Law § 7-101, the residency rule applies when the grounds for divorce arose outside Maryland. In that case, the filing spouse must have lived in Maryland for at least six months before the filing date. If both spouses live in Maryland and the grounds occurred here, no extended residency period is needed.
Effective October 1, 2023, Maryland updated its divorce law under Maryland Family Law § 7-103. The state now allows divorce on grounds of a six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, or mutual consent. Mutual consent requires a signed settlement agreement covering all issues, including property, children, and support. Once that agreement is filed with the court, the case can move quickly to a final decree without a long wait.
Under Maryland Family Law § 7-106, every final divorce decree must be permanently recorded by the Circuit Clerk. In Montgomery County, that means the Family Department keeps a permanent file for every case. Maryland Family Law § 7-105 lets a person restore a former name in the decree or within 18 months after the decree is entered. Court forms for all divorce filings are at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. The legal help guide for divorce is at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce.
What Montgomery County Divorce Decrees Contain
A divorce decree from Montgomery County is a final court order signed by a circuit court judge and sealed with the court seal. It contains the full names of both parties, the date the divorce was granted, and the grounds on which it was based. The body of the decree sets out all the terms of the case.
Property division is spelled out, including which party keeps which assets and who takes on which debts. If the parties had children, the decree or an attached order includes a custody arrangement, visitation schedule, and child support amount. Alimony, if ordered, appears with the amount and end date. Any name restoration is written into the decree. Most banks, government agencies, and legal offices need a certified copy of the full decree, not just a verification, when they ask for proof of divorce in Montgomery County.
Other Sources for Montgomery County Divorce Records
As noted above, divorce records from 1983 to 1999 for Montgomery County are on microfilm at the Maryland State Archives. The Archives are at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401, and can be reached at 410-260-6400. Certified copies through the Archives cost $25 and can be ordered at shop.msa.maryland.gov. The research guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov explains how the Archives organizes divorce records across all Maryland counties.
For divorces from January 1, 1992 onward, the Maryland Division of Vital Records offers a divorce verification. A verification is not the full decree. It is a brief document that confirms a divorce happened and shows the parties and date. The fee is $12. Visit health.maryland.gov/vsa to order. For the complete decree, the Montgomery County Circuit Court Family Department is the right place to request it.
The Maryland Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov/vsa provides divorce verifications for cases statewide, including Montgomery County, dating back to January 1992.
A Vital Records verification confirms the divorce occurred but does not include the full terms of the decree. For complete records, use the Montgomery County Circuit Court clerk office.
Legal Help for Montgomery County Divorce Cases
The Montgomery County Circuit Court has a Family Law Self-Help Center for people handling their own divorce cases. It provides guidance on forms, procedures, and court rules. The Maryland Courts Self-Help system at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp and its phone line at 410-260-1392 are good starting points for general questions.
Maryland Legal Aid has an office in Montgomery County and serves residents who qualify based on income. They handle family law matters including divorce. For a referral to a private attorney, the Maryland State Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org explains Maryland divorce law in plain English and is updated to reflect the 2023 law changes. The court records access guide at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/courtrecords explains how to get copies of court documents in Montgomery County.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County is the most populous county in Maryland, with numerous cities and communities. All of them file divorce cases at the Circuit Court in Rockville. The qualifying cities in the county with pages on this site are listed below.
Other communities in Montgomery County include Olney, Potomac, Kensington, Chevy Chase, and Damascus. All divorce filings from these areas go to the Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County shares borders with several Maryland counties. Divorce cases must be filed in the county where one spouse currently lives. If you are near a county line, confirm your county before filing.