Find Background Check Records in Caroline County

Caroline County background check records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Denton on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The clerk maintains criminal, civil, and family law case records that are open to the public. You can search case records online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search or visit the courthouse at 109 Market Street during regular business hours.

Caroline County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk's office for Caroline County is located at 109 Market Street, Suite 1100, in Denton. The phone number is (410) 479-1811. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Caroline County is a smaller jurisdiction on the Eastern Shore, and the courthouse serves the full county for all criminal, civil, and domestic records.

The clerk's office cannot provide legal advice. Staff will help you find case files and make copies, but questions about what records mean or what steps to take in a legal matter need to go to an attorney. The clerk maintains records for all court cases heard in Caroline County, from misdemeanors that were moved up from District Court to full felony trials at the Circuit Court level.

The state image below shows the Maryland CJIS background check information page, which is the state-level resource for official background checks. Caroline County court records cover cases in the courts, while CJIS handles formal criminal history requests with fingerprints.

The Maryland CJIS background check system at DPSCS is the official source for fingerprint-based criminal history records, serving Caroline County residents along with all other Maryland jurisdictions.

Searching Caroline County Background Check and Criminal Records

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers Caroline County Circuit Court and District Court records. This free public portal lets you search by name or case number at any time. The advanced search options allow you to filter by court type, case type, and date range. Case summaries include party names, charge descriptions, hearing dates, and case dispositions. No account is needed, but you must accept the terms before searching.

Since December 7, 2021, Case Search defaults to exact name matches. If you are not finding results, try using a percent sign at the end of the last name to search for partial matches. For example, "Smith%" will return Smith, Smithson, and other names that start with Smith. The percent sign cannot be placed at the start or middle of a name.

For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office at 109 Market Street in Denton during business hours. Bring the full name of the person you are looking for, plus a date of birth if you have it. A case number will speed up the search. Staff can look up records by name without a case number, but having one helps when multiple people share the same name. Bring payment for any copies you request.

Mail requests are processed by the Caroline County clerk's office. Write out what you need and include a self-addressed stamped envelope to avoid the $2.00 mail handling fee. Send payment by check or money order made out to the court. Call (410) 479-1811 before mailing to confirm the current fee and how to address your payment.

Caroline County Records Copy Fees

Standard copies of Caroline County court records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies, which carry an official court seal, cost $5.00 extra plus the per-page fee. Exemplified copies cost $10.00 extra plus the per-page fee. Mail requests include a $2.00 handling fee unless you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.

For older records that the current clerk's office no longer holds, the Maryland State Archives may have them. The Archives processes full case file requests for $50.00 and criminal disposition records for $25.00. Contact the Archives at (410) 260-6400 or toll-free at 1-800-235-4045 for information about Caroline County records they hold.

What Caroline County Court Records Are Available

The Circuit Court for Caroline County handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $30,000, domestic relations, and appeals from District Court. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and civil cases under $30,000. Both court levels appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal when you search for cases from Caroline County.

Some records are not publicly available. Juvenile cases are sealed by default. Cases where all charges were dismissed, acquitted, or entered with a nolle prosequi are not shown in Case Search results. Stet cases that are more than three years old are also excluded. For records that may have been removed from Case Search, visit the courthouse in person to view them directly. The clerk's office at 109 Market Street can help you determine what is available.

Marriage licenses from Caroline County are also available through the clerk's office, as are land records. If you are researching someone and need to check multiple record types, call ahead at (410) 479-1811 to make sure you contact the right department for each type of document you need.

Official Background Check Process for Caroline County

The Caroline County Circuit Court does not run background checks. For a complete, fingerprint-based criminal history record in Maryland, you need to contact the CJIS Central Repository. The toll-free number is 1-888-795-0011. CJIS is at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21215. Mail requests go to CJIS-CR, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708.

The cost for a state-only background check is $38.00 in person or $18.00 by mail, plus a $20.00 fingerprint service fee. For residents in the Eastern Shore area, authorized fingerprinting sites are available throughout Maryland. LiveScan electronic fingerprinting is required as of October 1, 2020 for most in-state applicants. Processing time is 10 to 15 business days after CJIS receives the full submission.

Note: Case Search is a public court records tool, not a background check system. The Maryland courts specifically state that Case Search should not be used for criminal background check purposes.

Nearby Counties

These Eastern Shore counties are close to Caroline County. Each keeps its own court records at the local Circuit Court clerk's office. Search the county where the case was filed.