Washington County Divorce Decree Records

Washington County divorce decree records are held at the Circuit Court in Hagerstown, where Clerk Kevin Tucker and the Civil Department handle all requests for certified copies and case information. This western Maryland court serves a large and active jurisdiction, and there is one key rule you should know before you contact the office: staff will not search by name alone, so you must provide a case number with your request.

Washington County Circuit Court Clerk

Clerk Kevin Tucker heads the Washington County Circuit Court office at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown. The Civil Department at extension 2 of 301-790-4972 handles divorce record requests. You can also reach the main office at 301-733-8660, extension 265 for the Clerk. The fax number is 301-791-1151. Email contact is available at kevin.tucker@mdcourts.gov or washcocc_clerk@mdcourts.gov.

There is an important rule specific to Washington County that you need to know before you contact the clerk. Staff will not search for a divorce case by name alone. You must provide the case number with your request. This is a firm policy, and it will not be waived by calling in or explaining the situation. Before you reach out to the clerk's office, use the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool to find the case number. Enter the names of either party, select Washington County as the jurisdiction, and look for cases with the "DA" case type code. Once you have the number, the clerk can locate and copy the record.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Credit cards are accepted in person, including VISA, MasterCard, and Discover, but not after 4:00 p.m. as of August 2025. If you plan to pay by card, arrive before 4:00 p.m. to complete the transaction. Mail requests require a check or money order made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Note: You must have the case number before making a request at this office. The clerk will not search by name. Use Maryland Judiciary Case Search first to get the case number, then contact the office.

How to Find Your Case Number

Because Washington County requires a case number for all requests, this step is not optional. Go to casesearch.courts.state.md.us and enter the name of either party to the divorce. The search is free and covers all Maryland circuit courts. When results appear, look for cases in Washington County with the "DA" case type, which stands for absolute divorce. Note the case number from the result.

If the name search returns too many results, narrow it by adding a date range or the other party's name. If the case does not appear in the online system, it may predate the database coverage or may have been filed under a name variation. In that situation, contact the clerk's office directly to explain the gap and ask for guidance. Older cases that are not in the online system may require a different approach, and staff can tell you what options are available for pre-database records.

Once you have the case number, write it down and include it with every request you make to the clerk's office. For mail requests, put the case number at the top of your written request so staff can locate it without any additional searching.

Copy Fees and Payment Methods

Washington County follows the statewide Maryland fee schedule. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus $0.50 per page. A short decree of two or three pages will cost around $6.00 to $6.50. Longer decrees with settlement agreements and exhibits will cost more based on total page count. The clerk's office can tell you the exact page count of a file once they locate it, so you can calculate the total before paying.

In person, credit cards are accepted (VISA, MasterCard, Discover) before 4:00 p.m. Cash is also accepted. For mail requests, use a check or money order made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Do not send cash in the mail. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with mail requests to get the copies returned to you without additional delay.

For older divorces held at the Maryland State Archives rather than the local courthouse, the Archives charges $25 per certified copy. You can order through their online form at shop.msa.maryland.gov or visit them in person at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Family Law Self-Help Clinic in Hagerstown

Washington County Circuit Court runs a Family Law Self-Help Clinic that provides free help with family law matters, including divorce. The clinic meets on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Circuit Court Law Library at 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown. No appointment is needed. Staff can help you understand court forms, explain the divorce process, and answer procedural questions.

This clinic is a significant local resource. It is run through the courthouse itself and is staffed by people familiar with Washington County divorce procedures specifically. If you are not sure how to file, what forms to use, or what a particular section of your decree means, this is a good place to get answers at no charge. The clinic does not provide legal advice from an attorney, but it can help you navigate the process on your own.

The Maryland Courts self-help center at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp also covers divorce forms and procedures statewide. Court forms are available free at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. The family law help page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce gives step-by-step guidance on the Maryland divorce process.

What a Washington County Divorce Decree Contains

A certified divorce decree from Washington County is a signed order from a circuit court judge. It is the controlling legal document of the divorce and defines all terms that the court ordered or the parties agreed to. The decree carries the court seal and the clerk's certification, making it acceptable to government agencies, financial institutions, and courts in other states as proof of the divorce.

The decree names both parties by their full legal names, states the date of marriage and the effective date of the divorce, and identifies the legal grounds for the dissolution. Maryland now allows three grounds for absolute divorce: six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, or mutual consent under the 2023 law changes. The decree states which ground applied. Under Family Law § 7-101, at least one party must be a Maryland resident for the court to have jurisdiction.

Property division terms, support payments, and custody arrangements are set out in the decree or in attached agreements. Name change orders, if requested during the divorce, appear in the decree or can be sought within 18 months after the final order under Family Law § 7-105. Maryland Family Law § 7-106 requires the Washington County Clerk to keep all final divorce decrees permanently on file and accessible to parties and others with a legitimate need.

Maryland State Archives for Older Washington County Records

The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds divorce records transferred from Washington County Circuit Court after local retention periods. If you are searching for a divorce that predates the online case search system or that occurred many decades ago, the Archives may have the record even if the local clerk no longer holds it. Their research guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov shows what is available for Washington County.

The screenshot below shows the Maryland State Archives divorce records guide, which covers western Maryland counties including Washington County and helps researchers locate and order historical decrees.

Certified copies from the Archives cost $25 and can be ordered online at shop.msa.maryland.gov or requested in person at their Annapolis location.

Divorce Verification Through the Division of Vital Records

The Maryland Division of Vital Records at health.maryland.gov/vsa offers divorce verifications for cases filed since January 1, 1992. The fee is $12. A verification confirms the divorce happened and gives the names and date, but it does not include the terms of the decree. For situations where only confirmation is needed, this is a faster and cheaper option than a full certified copy. For anything requiring the actual decree text, use the Washington County Clerk or the State Archives.

Cities and Towns in Washington County

Hagerstown is the county seat of Washington County and the site of the Circuit Court at 24 Summit Avenue. All divorce filings for Washington County residents go through this courthouse. Hagerstown does not have a qualifying city page on this site. Other communities in Washington County, including Boonsboro, Williamsport, Sharpsburg, and Smithsburg, are all served by the same Circuit Court in Hagerstown.

Nearby Counties

Washington County is located in western Maryland and borders Allegany County to the west and Frederick County to the east. Both have their own circuit courts and clerks' offices. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers all three at once if you need to check multiple jurisdictions.