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.)