Access Wicomico County Divorce Decree Records
Wicomico County divorce decree records are kept at the Circuit Court in Salisbury, Maryland's largest city on the Eastern Shore. Clerk James "Bo" McAllister oversees the office, which handles all divorce case records for the county and accepts requests for certified copies by walk-in, mail, and email.
Wicomico County Overview
Wicomico County Circuit Court Clerk
The Wicomico County Circuit Court Clerk office is located at 101 North Division Street, Room 105, in Salisbury. Clerk James "Bo" McAllister runs the office. You can call the main line at 410-543-6551 or reach the Civil Department directly at 410-543-1427, Option 3. The fax number is 410-546-8590. Email requests can go to wicomico.clerk@mdcourts.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the records office is in Room 105.
Walk-in requests are accepted during regular hours. Bring a valid photo ID and as much case information as you have. You will need the names of both parties as they appeared in the case, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Providing the case number makes the process faster and avoids a search fee. If you do not have a case number, the online case search tool can get you one for free before your visit.
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 198, Salisbury, MD 21801. Include a written request with the required case details, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the returned copies. The office accepts written requests by email as well. If you send your request by email, follow up by phone to confirm it was received and to provide payment information. Some historical Wicomico County records have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives, so if the local office cannot locate a very old case, that is the next place to check.
| Clerk | James "Bo" McAllister |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 North Division Street, Room 105, Salisbury, MD 21801 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 198, Salisbury, MD 21801 |
| Phone (Main) | 410-543-6551 |
| Phone (Civil) | 410-543-1427, Option 3 |
| Fax | 410-546-8590 |
| wicomico.clerk@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Room 105 |
| Website | courts.state.md.us/clerks/wicomico |
Note: For very old cases that may have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives, contact the Archives at 410-260-6400 before making a trip to Salisbury.
Fees for Certified Copies
Wicomico County follows the statewide Maryland fee schedule. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $5.00 per document plus $0.50 per page. For a five-page decree, that comes to $7.50 total. Longer files with multiple exhibits or a detailed settlement agreement will cost more based on page count. The clerk can tell you the page count once they locate the file, so you know the exact total before you pay.
No search fee applies if you already have the case number. If you need staff to search by name, a $12 fee covers each five-year period searched. Running a free search on Maryland Judiciary Case Search before you reach out eliminates this charge entirely. Divorce cases in Wicomico County appear as "DA" case types in the online system, and the case number is shown right in the search results.
For cases held at the Maryland State Archives, certified copies cost $25 and are ordered through the Archives at shop.msa.maryland.gov. The Archives is best for older Wicomico County divorces that predate the local court's current holdings.
Searching Wicomico County Divorce Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers all Maryland circuit courts, including Wicomico County. The tool is free, requires no login, and is available any time. Search by the name of either party. For divorce cases, look for "DA" in the case type field. The system shows case numbers, filing dates, and whether a final judgment was entered. It does not display the text of the decree or other documents.
Using Case Search before you contact the clerk's office is the single most useful step you can take. It gets you the case number, saves the $12 search fee, and speeds up your request. Even if you only know the approximate year and one party's name, the search usually narrows results enough to find the right case. Once you have the number, call or email the clerk's office with it, and the rest of the request process is straightforward.
The Maryland Courts homepage at mdcourts.gov also links to court records resources, self-help guides, and the Wicomico County clerk's page. The screenshot below shows the main Maryland Courts site, which is a good starting point for any records request.
The Maryland Courts site links directly to the case search tool and provides contact information for the Wicomico County clerk and all other Maryland circuit courts.
What the Divorce Decree Contains
A final divorce decree from Wicomico County is a signed court order that ends the marriage. It carries the circuit court judge's signature and the clerk's seal, making it the official legal record of the divorce. Most agencies and institutions that need proof of a divorce will ask for a certified copy with the court seal.
The decree lists the full names of both parties as they appeared on the original filing, the date of marriage, and the date the divorce takes effect. It states the grounds for the divorce. Maryland Family Law allows for absolute divorce on three grounds as of October 2023: six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, and mutual consent. The decree specifies which ground applied in the case. Under Family Law § 7-101, at least one party must have been a Maryland resident at the time of filing for the court to have jurisdiction.
Terms covering the division of property and debts, spousal support, child custody, visitation, and child support are either written directly into the decree or incorporated from a settlement agreement that was filed with the case. Name change orders appear in the decree or can be sought within 18 months of the final order under Family Law § 7-105. Maryland Family Law § 7-106 requires the Wicomico County Clerk to permanently retain all final divorce decrees and make them accessible. There is no time limit on when you can request a certified copy.
Older Wicomico County Records at the State Archives
Some historical Wicomico County divorce records have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. If you are looking for an older divorce and the Salisbury clerk's office cannot locate it, the Archives is the next step. Their research guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov shows what collections cover Wicomico County and how to search them.
You can visit the Archives in person at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401, or call 410-260-6400. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25 per copy and can be ordered online at shop.msa.maryland.gov. The Archives collection often goes back further than what local circuit courts retain, making it useful for research into older Wicomico County cases.
Maryland Vital Records Divorce Verification
The Maryland Division of Vital Records maintains a statewide record of divorces finalized since January 1, 1992. A divorce verification shows the names and date for a fee of $12. Their website is at health.maryland.gov/vsa. This service is useful when you only need to confirm that a divorce took place and when it was finalized, rather than the full terms of the decree. For official purposes requiring the complete document, the Wicomico County clerk is the right source.
Legal Help and Filing Resources
The Maryland Courts self-help center at mdcourts.gov/selfhelp covers divorce from start to finish. Court forms are available free at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. The family law page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce provides step-by-step guidance. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org is a free resource with a plain-language overview of Maryland divorce law including the grounds and what to expect from the court.
The standard filing fee in Maryland is $165 without an attorney and $185 with one. If you cannot afford this, ask the clerk's office for form CC-DC-089, which is the income-based fee waiver request. Legal aid referrals for Wicomico County are available through the Maryland courts legal help directory, and some organizations serving the Eastern Shore can assist residents who need free or low-cost legal advice.
Cities and Towns in Wicomico County
Salisbury is the county seat of Wicomico County and the location of the Circuit Court at 101 North Division Street. Salisbury is the largest city on Maryland's Eastern Shore and serves as the regional center for the lower shore. All divorce cases for Wicomico County residents are filed and stored at the courthouse in Salisbury. Salisbury does not have a qualifying city page on this site. Other communities in the county, including Fruitland, Delmar, and Pittsville, are also served by the Salisbury courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Wicomico County is surrounded by Somerset, Worcester, and Dorchester counties on the Eastern Shore. If you need to check whether a divorce was filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search to search all Maryland courts at once rather than contacting each county individually.