Maryland Divorce Records

How To Access Maryland Divorce Records
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Vital Statistics Administration, does not issue divorce records. It will provide verification that the Maryland divorce you are looking for is, or is not, on file statewide. Access to the actual divorce records in Maryland in order to request certified copies is mainly limited to the persons named on the document and their legal representatives. A court order may also result in viewing another person’s divorce records. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to access divorce records in Maryland that are not your own or a relative’s, if you have a signed letter from one of the parties named on the document and have the letter certified by a notary public.

The circuit courts can issue certified copies of Maryland divorce documents. If you require a certified copy of a Maryland divorce record, you should contact the court in the county where the dissolution of marriage was granted. If you only require verification that a divorce was granted, such as for a dating background check, you can obtain an “Application for Verification of Divorce Record” form from the Vital Statistics office. Another option when requesting this divorce record verification is to write a letter to the Vital Statistics office that contains the required information. (Please see the Divorce Records and Maryland Law section below for details.)

Contact And Fee Information For Maryland Divorce Records
When using either a form or signed letter to request Maryland divorce record verification by mail, you should include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) with your order. With your request, you must also send either a check or money order made payable to the Department of Health to cover the appropriate fee. Currently, the fee for verification of Maryland divorce records is $12. The verification can confirm the names, county and date of the Maryland divorce. The fee applies to the search and is non-refundable whether or not a record of the divorce is found.

Divorce Records And Maryland Law
By law, neither verification nor certified copies of Maryland divorce records can be provided unless the correct fee is paid and the required information is supplied. As a requestor of Maryland divorce information, you must include both full names that appear on the original document. Take care care to spell the names correctly to avoid inaccuracy in your divorce records search. You must show unexpired, government issued, photo ID at an in person divorce records request, and include a legible photocopy of this identification in a mail order application. Maryland privacy laws hold that divorce records do not become public information until 50 years after the date on the document.