Queen Anne's County Court Docket
Queen Anne's County court docket records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Centreville and are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. This page explains how to search the docket, what courts serve Queen Anne's County, how to get copies of case records, and who to contact at the Circuit and District Court levels for this Eastern Shore county.
Queen Anne's County Court Docket Overview
Queen Anne's County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County is located at 200 North Commerce Street in Centreville. The Circuit Court Clerk is Katherine Beane Hager, who was elected in 2026. Her direct line is (410) 758-1773, ext. 5116. You can also reach the main clerk's office through the toll-free line at 1-800-987-7591. For TTY users, the number is (410) 758-6739. Fax is (410) 758-4408. Email goes to katherine.hager@mdcourts.gov.
Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone line routes to different departments depending on what you need. Press option 4 for civil, criminal, or juvenile matters. Press option 2 for land records and licensing. If you call after hours or need to reach the office quickly, the toll-free number often connects faster than the local line.
Several court officers support daily operations. Chief Deputy Douglas Arnold can be reached at ext. 5122. Court Administrator Kara J. Pollak handles administrative matters at (410) 758-0216, ext. 5111, or kara.pollak@mdcourts.gov. Family Magistrate Jean D. Meta handles domestic matters. Assignment and Jury Commissioner Nicole M. Luckett is at ext. 5149. Court Reporter Tracy Whitzel is at ext. 5172. Family Services contact Elisa Dickens is at ext. 5128.
The Maryland Courts clerk page for Queen Anne's County has current contact details, hours, and service descriptions for the Centreville courthouse.
This page is the official source for clerk contact information, hours, and services at the Queen Anne's County Circuit Court.
| Address | 200 North Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (410) 758-1773 |
| Toll-Free | 1-800-987-7591 |
| TTY | (410) 758-6739 |
| Fax | (410) 758-4408 |
| katherine.hager@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial Circuit | 2nd Judicial Circuit (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot) |
Queen Anne's County District Court
The District Court serving Queen Anne's County is located in the Centreville area. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic and motor vehicle violations, civil claims up to $30,000, small claims up to $5,000, peace orders, and landlord-tenant disputes. District Court cases are decided by a judge -- there are no jury trials at this level.
Queen Anne's County District Court is part of District 3, the Upper Eastern Shore district. This district covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties. Note that the District 3 grouping is the same five counties as the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which means both courts share the same geographic reach in this region. For questions about which court handled a specific case, the online Case Search tool separates Circuit from District Court results clearly.
If you're trying to find a case but are unsure whether it ended up in Circuit or District Court, the case number format gives it away once you pull it up. You can also call the Circuit Court clerk line -- they can often point you to the right location even for District Court matters.
Searching the Queen Anne's County Docket Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the main free tool for searching the Queen Anne's County docket. No account needed. You can search by party name, case number, citation number, or attorney. Results cover both Circuit and District Court cases and include criminal, civil, family law, and traffic matters for Queen Anne's County.
Name searches match exactly by default. Use a percent sign (%) as a wildcard if you're unsure of spelling -- for instance, "Hartman%" would catch Hartman, Hartmann, Hartmans, and similar names. The system caps results at 500 per query. If you're searching a common surname, add a first name or narrow the date range to keep results manageable. The docket updates overnight, so what you see reflects the prior day's activity, not real-time filings.
Online results show docket entries, case status, and party names -- but not scanned document images. To see actual documents, you'll need to visit the clerk's office at 200 North Commerce Street or send a written mail request. Also worth knowing: a 2024 Maryland law change removed certain dismissed, nolle prosequi, and acquittal cases from the online system. If a Case Search returns nothing for a name you expected to find, that change may explain it.
The Queen Anne's County court records information page details what records are available, how to request them, and what fees apply for copies.
Review this page before submitting a records request to understand what to include and how to pay.
For land records tied to court matters -- deeds filed after property disputes or judgment liens recorded against real estate -- search MDLandRec.net for free after registering. Queen Anne's County land records go back several centuries, covering the full history of this Eastern Shore county. The land records system is separate from the court docket but is often relevant in civil litigation involving property.
Types of Cases in the Queen Anne's County Docket
The Circuit Court docket for Queen Anne's County includes felony criminal cases, major civil suits over $30,000, divorce and legal separation proceedings, custody and child support matters, domestic violence cases, juvenile delinquency and CINA proceedings, guardianship petitions, and appeals from the District Court. Case numbers carry letter prefixes that tell you the type: "K" for criminal, "C" for civil, "F" for family law matters.
The District Court docket covers misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic cases, civil claims under $30,000, peace order petitions, and small claims. If you know the case number already, searching by it is faster and more precise than a name search, especially for common surnames. When using the online tool, you can filter by court level to focus on just Circuit or just District results.
Probate matters are not part of the court docket in the usual sense. Wills, estate proceedings, and guardianship of adults go through the Register of Wills, which is a separate office from the Circuit Court Clerk. If you are looking for probate records from Queen Anne's County, contact the Register of Wills directly -- their contact information is separate from the clerk numbers listed above.
Getting Copies of Queen Anne's County Court Records
Plain copies of court records are $0.50 per page. Certified copies -- needed for many legal and official purposes -- cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies, which carry a triple seal and may be required for use in proceedings outside Maryland, cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. These are standard Maryland fee rates applied statewide, including at Queen Anne's County.
You can get copies in person at 200 North Commerce Street in Centreville during business hours. Mail requests are also accepted -- send a written request with the case number or party name, the specific documents needed, your return address, and payment. Make checks or money orders payable to the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County. If you're unsure of the cost, call (410) 758-1773 before sending, or the office will follow up for additional payment.
Electronic document access through MDEC (Maryland Electronic Courts) is available for those who set up a public access account at mdcourts.gov/mdec/efilingpublic. This gives remote access to electronically filed documents in MDEC-enabled cases. If you prefer to review documents on-site without setting up a remote account, public access terminals are available at the courthouse.
Legal Resources for Queen Anne's County
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org is the best starting point for self-represented individuals in Queen Anne's County. It covers Maryland court procedures, how to fill out forms, what to expect at hearings, and explanations of common legal topics without requiring a law degree to understand. It's free and covers both Circuit and District Court processes.
Maryland Legal Aid serves Queen Anne's County residents who need free civil legal help. Their focus is on housing, family law, and consumer matters for qualifying individuals. Reach their intake line and find office information at mdlab.org. Blank court forms for all Maryland courts -- including Queen Anne's County -- are free at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. These include family law forms, civil forms, and the standard petitions used in the Circuit Court.
Cities in Queen Anne's County
All court filings for Queen Anne's County communities go through the Circuit and District Courts in Centreville. No cities in Queen Anne's County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.
Communities in Queen Anne's County include Centreville, Queenstown, Stevensville, Chester, Grasonville, Sudlersville, Millington, and several smaller unincorporated areas. All residents and businesses in these communities file cases at the Queen Anne's County courthouse on North Commerce Street.
Nearby Counties
Queen Anne's County sits in the upper middle of Maryland's Eastern Shore, bordered by counties that share the 2nd Judicial Circuit. If a case was filed across the county line, use the links below to find the right court docket page.