St. Mary's County Court Docket
St. Mary's County court docket records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Leonardtown and are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. This page covers how to access the docket, what courts serve this Southern Maryland peninsula county, how to get certified copies of case records, and what resources are available for self-represented litigants.
St. Mary's County Court Docket Overview
St. Mary's County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court for St. Mary's County is located at 41605 Court House Drive in Leonardtown. This is the main courthouse for the county, handling the full range of serious matters: felony criminal cases, civil suits over $30,000, divorce and separation proceedings, custody and child support, juvenile matters, domestic violence cases, and appeals from the District Court. The clerk's office is the public-facing entry point for filing, requesting records, and getting certified copies of documents.
St. Mary's County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Calvert, Charles, and Prince George's counties. Judges rotate among these four counties, but each county maintains its own separate docket. For St. Mary's County cases, all records and filings are at the Leonardtown courthouse. The clerk page on the Maryland Courts website at mdcourts.gov/clerks/stmarys has current contact details and hours.
St. Mary's County is the oldest settled county in Maryland, and the original colonial capital at St. Mary's City is within its borders. That history means the county's court records go back further than most, and the courthouse in Leonardtown holds records that reflect the full arc of Maryland's legal development. For older records, the Maryland State Archives may supplement what the clerk holds on-site.
The Maryland Courts clerk page for St. Mary's County lists current clerk contact information, hours, services, and links to key forms and court resources.
Use this page to find current phone numbers, hours, and service options at the Leonardtown courthouse.
| Address | 41605 Court House Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650 |
|---|---|
| Clerk Page | mdcourts.gov/clerks/stmarys |
| Judicial Circuit | 7th Judicial Circuit (Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, St. Mary's) |
| District Court | District 4 (Southern Maryland: Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's) |
St. Mary's County District Court
The District Court serving St. Mary's County is part of District 4, the Southern Maryland district, which covers Calvert and Charles counties as well. District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic and motor vehicle violations, peace order petitions, civil claims under $30,000, small claims up to $5,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. All cases are decided by a judge. There are no jury trials at the District Court level in Maryland.
If you're not sure whether a case is in Circuit or District Court, the online Case Search tool at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers both and labels each result by court type. You can also call the Circuit Court clerk's office in Leonardtown -- they can often confirm which court a case is in even for District Court matters.
The geographic split between the 7th Circuit (four counties) and District 4 (three counties, no Prince George's) is a quirk worth knowing if you're doing research across Southern Maryland. Prince George's County is in the 7th Circuit but belongs to a different district court grouping, so court structures don't perfectly overlap in this region.
Searching the St. Mary's County Docket Online
The free online search for the St. Mary's County docket is through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. No login or account is needed. You can search by name, case number, citation number, or attorney. The system returns cases from both the Circuit and District courts for St. Mary's County, covering criminal, civil, family, and traffic matters.
By default, name searches require an exact match. Add a percent sign (%) as a wildcard at the end -- or anywhere in the name -- to catch variants. The tool limits results to 500 per search, which matters when you're looking for a common surname in a county this size. Adding a first name or date range helps narrow it down. The system updates overnight, not in real time, so recently filed cases may not show until the next day.
Online results show docket entries and case status. They do not show scanned document images. If you need copies of actual documents -- motions, orders, filings -- you must visit the clerk's office at 41605 Court House Drive or submit a written mail request. The 2024 Maryland law change is also in effect here: certain cases where charges were dismissed, nolle prosequi entered, or the defendant was acquitted were removed from the online search results. A name that doesn't show up online doesn't necessarily mean no record exists.
The St. Mary's County courts directory page lists both Circuit and District Court contact details, addresses, and jurisdiction information for the county.
This directory is useful if you need phone numbers or addresses for both court levels in a single place.
Land records in St. Mary's County -- including deeds, mortgages, and related instruments -- are searchable at MDLandRec.net for free after registering. These records are separate from the court docket but become relevant in civil cases involving property, estate disputes, or judgment liens recorded against real estate. St. Mary's County has some of the oldest land records in Maryland given its position as the original colonial settlement.
Marriage Licenses and Vital Records
Marriage licenses in St. Mary's County are issued through the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Leonardtown. The clerk maintains a dedicated marriage license page at mdcourts.gov/clerks/stmarys/marriage with current requirements, fees, and how to apply. Both parties typically need to appear in person to apply for a license in Maryland.
The St. Mary's County marriage license page on the Maryland Courts site explains the application process, required documents, fees, and waiting period before the license is valid.
Check this page before visiting the courthouse to make sure you bring the right documents and are prepared for any waiting period.
Marriage licenses are part of the public record and can be accessed at the clerk's office. They are not part of the court docket but are held by the same office. For birth and death records, contact the Maryland Vital Statistics Administration rather than the court clerk, as those records are managed separately at the state level.
Case Types in the St. Mary's County Docket
The Circuit Court docket includes felony criminal cases, major civil suits, divorce and separation, custody and child support, juvenile proceedings (including CINA -- child in need of assistance), domestic violence cases, guardianship petitions, and District Court appeals. Case numbers carry type prefixes that identify the category. If you have a case number, searching by it is faster than a name search and avoids the 500-result cap.
The District Court docket covers misdemeanors, traffic cases, civil claims under $30,000, peace orders, and small claims. District Court cases use a distinct case number format from Circuit Court cases. The online Case Search covers both and lets you filter by court level. If you can't find a case and expected one to exist, check whether expungement applies -- expunged records are not visible online or through most public access channels.
Getting Copies of St. Mary's County Court Records
Plain copies of court documents are $0.50 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's seal and are required for many legal purposes, cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies with a triple seal for out-of-state use cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. These fees apply statewide across Maryland, including at St. Mary's County.
In-person requests are handled at the clerk's office at 41605 Court House Drive in Leonardtown during business hours. For mail requests, write to the Circuit Court Clerk with the case number or party names, the documents you need, your return address, and payment. Call first if you're unsure of the total cost -- the clerk can give you an estimate before you send a check.
Electronic access through MDEC is available for those who set up a public access account at mdcourts.gov/mdec/efilingpublic. This allows remote viewing of electronically filed documents in MDEC-enabled cases. For on-site electronic access without a remote account, public terminals are available at the courthouse.
Legal Resources in St. Mary's County
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org offers free guides for self-represented litigants on Maryland court procedures. Topics cover everything from how to file a civil complaint to what happens at a custody hearing. It's written to be accessible to non-lawyers and is a good first stop before visiting the courthouse.
Maryland Legal Aid serves St. Mary's County. They provide free civil legal assistance to income-qualifying residents in housing, family law, and consumer matters. Find intake information and office locations at mdlab.org. Court forms for all Maryland courts, including St. Mary's County Circuit and District, are available free at mdcourts.gov/courtforms. These include petitions, motions, and standard civil and family law documents used in Leonardtown proceedings.
Cities in St. Mary's County
All court filings for St. Mary's County communities are handled at the Circuit and District Courts in Leonardtown. No cities in St. Mary's County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site.
Communities in St. Mary's County include Leonardtown, Lexington Park, California, Great Mills, Mechanicsville, Tall Timbers, and several other unincorporated areas spread across this peninsula county. Residents throughout St. Mary's County file cases at the Leonardtown courthouse on Court House Drive.
Nearby Counties
St. Mary's County shares the 7th Judicial Circuit with two neighboring Southern Maryland counties. If a case was filed across the county line, use the links below to find the right court docket page.