Maryland Divorce Records Online
You will not be able to find Maryland divorce records online as this is private information and you will need to be vetted before you may view just a single record. That may access the divorce records of another in Maryland is exceptionally limited and no third parties have direct access to Maryland vital records. It is also important to note that the Maryland government does not keep original divorce records, but may verify a divorce for certain interested parties. To obtain copies of the original divorce decree, you will need to consult the Clerk of the circuit court district where the divorce was granted.
Obtaining a divorce decree
To obtain the divorce decree, which notes the terms of the divorce and other information pertinent to the divorce agreement, you must contact the county clerk where the divorce was granted. You will have to follow the procedures and fees from that county in order to verify your identity. These procedures are fairly standard across counties but you should ensure these procedures are followed correctly to avoid delays.
Divorce Verification
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, through the Vital Statistics Administration, can verify a divorce, which consists of stating the names, place and date of the divorce as well as the type of divorce action. Only the following persons may apply for a divorce verification
— Ex-wife
— Ex-husband
— Representative of the ex-wife or ex-husband (with letter stating permission from either spouse, signed and certified by a notary)
— Attorney representing the ex-wife or ex-husband (proof of representation must be provided)
— Court of law
The fee for verification is $12 and you must complete the application properly for the request to be considered. Additionally, you must display a government ID that states your mail address. Verifications may be issued by mail or in person. Online processing for verifications are also available through the VitalChek processing system.
Online processing
VitalChek is the only third party affiliated with the Maryland state government and will process online orders on their behalf. This is the only way to order Maryland divorce records online. VitalChek also provides credit card processing for the government agency. You will complete the application through the online system. You will be paying fees mandated by the state, in addition to fees for VitalChek services, including searches and rush processing of documents.
Old records
Records fifty years of older may no longer be private information and will be considered public record. This is useful for genealogy research. Third parties may sell access to this data and you may use that service or research the record yourself at the Maryland archives.
Using a third party
VitalChek is the only service approved by the state of Maryland to process payments on behalf of the state of Maryland. There are strong protections against the leak of secured data and unauthorized access of private records. Access cannot be sold for Maryland divorce records online and you will never be able to view private records without proper authorization.
