Maryland handles court business through a single statewide judiciary, not a patchwork of city and town courts. A traffic ticket in Oakland and one in Ellicott City follow the same state rules. Our directory lists 42 courthouses, from Annapolis District Court on Rowe Boulevard to Garrett District Court on South 3rd Street in Oakland. This page explains how those courts divide the work, so you can pick the right building before you drive there.

Courts in Maryland: A Four-Level Statewide System

At the top sits the Supreme Court of Maryland, which was called the Court of Appeals until the name changed in December 2022. Below it is the Appellate Court of Maryland, formerly the Court of Special Appeals. These two courts hear appeals only. You do not file a new case there, and no witnesses testify.

Most residents deal with the two trial-level courts: the District Court of Maryland and the circuit courts. The state is divided into eight judicial circuits. Each of the 23 counties has a circuit court, and Baltimore City, an independent city, has its own. Circuit judges are appointed by the governor and later stand for election. District Court judges are appointed by the governor, confirmed by the state Senate, and serve ten-year terms.

The District Court is a single statewide court divided into 12 districts, each with its own administrative judge and clerk's staff. Because it is one court, the basic rules and forms follow the same pattern across the state, which helps if your case lands in a county you do not know.

Maryland has no municipal courts and no justices of the peace. Whether you live in a small Eastern Shore town or a Washington suburb, your ticket, small claim or landlord dispute goes to the same state District Court. The Administrative Office of the Courts in Annapolis supports both trial levels, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland leads the judiciary.

Wills and estates follow a separate track. Each county has a Register of Wills, an elected official who opens estates and handles probate paperwork. Orphans' courts decide contested estate matters. In Harford and Montgomery counties, circuit court judges sit as the orphans' court. Elsewhere, a panel of three elected orphans' court judges does the job.

District Court or Circuit Court: Which Maryland Courthouse Handles Your Matter

The most common mistake is going to the wrong courthouse. The type of case, not just your address, decides where it is heard. As a rule of thumb, the District Court handles everyday, high-volume matters, while the circuit court handles serious crimes and most family law.

The two levels overlap in places. A defendant facing certain charges can request a jury trial, which moves the case from the District Court to the circuit court. Civil claims between $5,000 and $30,000 can be filed in either court. Appeals from the District Court usually go to the circuit court rather than straight to the appellate courts.

Examples from our listings show the split. Towson District Court at 120 East Chesapeake Avenue serves the Baltimore County seat for traffic, landlord-tenant and misdemeanor matters. The Cumberland Circuit Court at 30 Washington Street in Allegany County hears felonies and divorces. Prince George's Circuit Court at 14735 Main Street in Upper Marlboro does similar work for a much more populous county.

Metro Courthouses and Rural County Seats Across Maryland

In the Baltimore region, one county can have several District Court locations. Our records list eight courts under Baltimore County, including Towson, Catonsville at 900 Walker Avenue, Essex at 8914 Kelso Drive, and Baltimore District Court II at 1400 East North Avenue. Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction from Baltimore County, so check which one your paperwork names.

Anne Arundel County splits District Court work between Annapolis, the state capital, and Glen Burnie on Ritchie Highway. In the Washington suburbs, Prince George's County includes Hyattsville District Court at 4990 Rhode Island Avenue, while the circuit court sits in Upper Marlboro. Montgomery County lists Rockville District Court at 27 Courthouse Square, in the county seat.

Outside the metro belt, the county seat is often the center of legal life. Cumberland and Oakland serve Western Maryland's Allegany and Garrett counties, and Hagerstown serves Washington County. On the Eastern Shore, courts sit in Denton, Easton, Centreville, Chestertown and Cambridge. Southern Maryland relies on Prince Frederick, La Plata and Leonardtown. A rural courthouse may be the only one for miles, so plan your travel time and watch for weather closures.

The eight circuits group counties by region. Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties form the Second Circuit. Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties form the Fourth. Baltimore County and Harford County share the Third. Grouping mostly affects judge assignments and administration, but it helps explain how courts in neighboring counties coordinate.

Metro courts run heavy dockets, so expect security lines and tight parking. Rural courts are quieter but may schedule certain case types on particular days. Read the date and time on your notice rather than assuming a daily session for your matter.

Before You Go to a Maryland Courthouse

A little preparation saves a second trip. Confirm the location first. Maryland tickets and summonses name a specific courthouse, and the District Court often has several buildings in one county. If your notice is unclear, call the clerk's office, or search your name or case number on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, a free online tool.

Check whether you must appear at all. Many traffic citations are marked as payable without a court date. Others require you to attend. The citation says which applies, and ignoring it can lead to a license suspension or a warrant.

Bring a government photo ID, your notice or citation, and every document that supports your side. Courthouses use metal detectors, so leave knives, tools and anything that looks like a weapon in the car. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Silence your phone, since some judges ask you to turn it off entirely.

Clerks answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice. If cost is a barrier, you can ask the court to waive filing fees based on your income. Many courthouses have a Court Help Center where staff attorneys offer free guidance to people without lawyers. Free court interpreters are available for people with limited English, so tell the clerk as early as possible. Request disability accommodations ahead of time too.

After an arrest, a District Court commissioner, available around the clock, reviews the charges and sets initial release conditions. A judge then reviews bail on the next court day. Commissioners also issue interim protective orders when the courts are closed.

Most clerk's offices keep weekday business hours and close on state holidays, but hours differ by county. Call before a long drive, especially to a rural courthouse.

Courts in Maryland operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Maryland Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 29 cities across Maryland. They are spread across 23 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Baltimore, Rockville, Upper Marlboro, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Maryland should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Maryland who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Maryland to find the nearest location.

Reading the Maryland Court Listings Near You

Our database covers 29 Maryland cities, and the entries are most useful when you pair them with your case type. Start with the county seat: Elkton for Cecil County, Bel Air for Harford County, Frederick for Frederick County. Several listings include a direct phone line, such as Elkton District Court at 410-996-2700, Harford District Court at 410-836-4528 and Frederick District Court at 301-600-2000.

In Southern Maryland, La Plata District Court (301-932-3300) and Leonardtown District Court (301-880-2700) serve Charles and St. Mary's counties. Out west, Garrett District Court in Oakland lists 301-334-8020. If an entry shows no number, such as Caroline County Court on Market Street in Denton, call the circuit court clerk in that county seat. You can also browse our pages for Allegany County and Caroline County.

Phone numbers and addresses change when courthouses move or consolidate. Confirm hours and your courtroom before you leave, and keep your notice or case number handy when you call.

Frequently Asked Questions About Courts in Maryland

Read the citation first. It tells you whether you can pay the fine without appearing or whether a court appearance is required, and it names the District Court location. If you pay, you are admitting guilt, and the violation can add points through the Motor Vehicle Administration. If you want to contest it, request a trial and appear on the assigned date with photos, receipts or witnesses. You go to the court named on the citation, even if you live elsewhere, such as Towson or Glen Burnie. If you cannot make the date, contact the clerk before it passes.

Small claims of up to $5,000 are filed in the District Court. You generally file in the county where the defendant lives, works or does business, or where the problem happened. Complete the civil complaint form at the right clerk's counter, such as Rockville District Court at 27 Courthouse Square or Annapolis District Court on Rowe Boulevard, or file online if your court offers it. Pay the filing fee, or ask for a waiver if you cannot afford it. The court sets a trial date, and the defendant must be served. Bring contracts, photos, invoices and witnesses, and organize your papers by date.

Marriage licenses come from the clerk of a circuit court, not the District Court. Maryland imposes a 48-hour wait before the license takes effect, and it expires after six months, so schedule your ceremony inside that window. Counties differ on appointments, accepted payment methods and fees. Ask the clerk whether both partners must appear and what identification is required. You can call the clerk at the courthouse in your county seat, such as Prince George's Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro or Cumberland Circuit Court in Allegany County. Some clerks also offer short civil ceremonies, so ask about availability and cost.

Go to the District Court in the county where you or the other person lives, or where the incident happened. Domestic violence protective orders and peace orders, which cover harassment and similar conduct outside a domestic relationship, are filed there, and there is no filing fee. If a judge finds a danger, a temporary order can be issued, and a final hearing is typically set within seven days. When the courthouse is closed, a District Court commissioner can issue an interim order. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first. Court Help Center staff or legal aid can help you prepare the petition.

Yes. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is free and covers most District Court and circuit court cases statewide. Search by name or case number to see charges, hearing dates and docket entries. Some records do not appear, including juvenile cases, sealed cases and expunged matters. Online status can also lag behind what happened in the courtroom, so confirm any hearing date with the clerk before you travel. Maryland also uses an electronic filing system called MDEC, which lets attorneys and self-represented litigants file documents online in participating courts. Ask your clerk whether your county's court accepts e-filing.

Ask the clerk for a request to waive prepaid court costs based on your income, which a judge reviews. Many courthouses host Court Help Centers where attorneys give free, limited guidance on civil and family cases. Maryland Legal Aid and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service offer free representation to people who qualify, and local bar associations run lawyer referral lines. Clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can explain filing steps and deadlines. For criminal charges that could bring jail time, you may be entitled to the Office of the Public Defender, so raise the question at your first appearance.