Howard County Court Records
Howard County court records consist of files documenting the decisions, proceedings, and actions of the county's circuit, district, and Ophan's courts. Per Maryland statutes, these records are maintained by the official court custodians and are typically accessible to the public, except where prevented by law. Court records are necessary for several reasons. They help preserve legal transparency and accountability within the legal system. Court records also provide documentation of legal disorder as well as the evolution of laws and regulations.
Are Court Records Public in Howard County
Howard County court records are generally open to the public. Access to judicial records in Howard County is governed by Maryland statutes, which provide that anyone may request copies of a record by appearing in person or submitting a request to the office of the record custodian. However, record custodians have the right to deny the inspection of any record containing protected information. This includes requests for judicial records sealed by a court order, requests for records protected by lawful privilege or confidentiality, and requests for records containing professional work products. Expunged records and records containing information that may jeopardize public safety are also exempted from public view.
Where to Conduct a Howard County Case Lookup
Residents of Howard County have multiple options for looking up court case information. Some information may be accessible via an online case management system maintained by the judicial branch. Inquirers can also obtain case details by contacting the clerk at the courthouse where the case was filed.
Howard County Circuit Court
Howard County Courthouse
8360 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 313-2111
Howard County District Court
District Court/Multi-Service Center
3451 Courthouse Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 480-7700
How to Conduct a Howard County Case Records Search
Members of the public can conduct a Howard County case record by following some general steps.
Step 1. Identify the Right Court
Requests for court records must be directed to the appropriate court. Howard County is home to multiple courts, including a circuit court, district court, and orphans court, and each of these handles different types of cases. For instance, compared to the circuit, which has general jurisdiction, the district court has limited jurisdiction over some criminal and civil cases. On the other hand, records of cases involving guardianship and probate can be found at the orphans court.
Step 2. Collect Enough Information for the Search
To find a case record, inquirers will need to provide one or more details about the case. Some of the information that can be used to search for case records include the names of the parties involved in the case, the name of the attorney, the judge's name, and the court location. Other details include the case number, docket number, citation number, and the filing date.
Step 3. Search for Howard CountyCourt Records Online
Maryland's Judiciary provides online access to records of cases filed across the circuit court and county district court in Howard. Access to the records is governed by state laws, which means requesters may be unable to access certain types of confidential records, such as trade secrets, juvenile case records, or records sealed by a judge. Records of cases filed more than two decades ago may also be unavailable online. The platform allows users to conduct searches with different criteria, some of which include:
- Party Type
- Case Type
- Filing Date
- Court Type
Step 4. Contact the Record Custodian
Where records prove inaccessible online, state residents can inspect or obtain copies of a court record by contacting the official record custodians. The court clerk typically maintains court records. Interested parties can inspect records in person at the courthouse or request copies of a record by submitting a written request via mail. However, although access to public records is free, requesters will be expected to pay a nominal fee to cover the cost of making copies.
Howard County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are created during in-court civil proceedings filed in the circuit and district court. While the exact information may vary, records may include case files, transcripts, docket info, court orders, and more. Access to these records is generally open, except where restricted by law. This means almost anyone can obtain copies of a record by contacting the county court clerk at:
Howard County Circuit Court
Howard County Courthouse
8360 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 313-2111
Howard County District Court
District Court/Multi-Service Center
3451 Courthouse Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 410-480-770
Howard County Criminal Court Case Records
Howard County criminal court records are generated during criminal court proceedings at the circuit and district courts. Some of the information that may be contained in a record includes details of the criminal charges, records of conviction, dismissals or plea bargains, and case information. Criminal records are generally open to the public and can be accessed by almost anyone. Record seekers can obtain copies of a record by submitting a request to the circuit or district court clerk. Records may also be accessible online via the Maryland Case Search portal.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Maryland's judiciary maintains an online case search portal that provides free information on court cases filed across the different counties, including Howard County. Record seekers may also be able to obtain free court records online using third-party search platforms that offer this service. These non-governmental platforms provide access to a database containing records aggregated from multiple jurisdictions, allowing for broader searches. However, the accuracy and completeness of available records may vary. Third-party platforms generally have a user-friendly interface that allows easy searches using options such as case number, keywords, or party name. Some platforms may offer advanced search options that allow users to filter results using specific criteria such as the date.
Courts in Howard County
Residents who wish to obtain records in person can submit a request to the custodian at the respective court. Some of the courts in Howard County include:
Howard County Circuit Court
Howard County Courthouse
8360 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 313-2111
Howard County District Court
District Court/Multi-Service Center
3451 Courthouse Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 480-7700
Howard County Orphans' Court
Howard County Courthouse
8360 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 313-2133
Fax: (410) 313-3409
