Search Maryland People Records
Maryland people search tools give you access to public records across all 24 counties and Baltimore City. You can look up court cases, find property owners, check criminal records, and search for people through state and county databases. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search handles over 200,000 lookups each day. It covers records going back to 1979 in some areas. State agencies keep many types of records that help you find someone or learn about their public history. This guide covers the main databases, how to request records, and where to search at the county and city level in Maryland.
Maryland People Search Overview
Maryland Judiciary Case Search
The main tool for a Maryland people search is the Judiciary Case Search. This is the state court records database. It covers all 24 jurisdictions in Maryland, which means every circuit court and district court in the state. You can search by party name, case number, or use date range filters to find what you need. The system went live in January 2006 and was given a full redesign on February 5, 2024. An integrated portal launched on March 14, 2026 that now combines Case Search with the Maryland Judiciary Record Search.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the most used people search tool in the state. It shows names of all parties, city and state of each party, case numbers, partial date of birth, trial dates, charges with statute codes, case disposition, and attorney names. Criminal records in Maryland go back to 1979 for Montgomery County, 1982 for Prince George's County, and 1984 for Baltimore County.
By default the system uses exact name matching. You can add the % symbol at the end of a name for partial matches. For example, "Smith%" will show Smith, Smithson, and other variants in Maryland. The search covers criminal cases, civil cases, traffic violations, peace orders, and family law cases. It does not include case documents like pleadings or orders. For those, you must visit the courthouse in person or use the Maryland Electronic Courts kiosks in Maryland.
Note: Case Search does not show expunged, shielded, or sealed records in Maryland, so some people search results may be limited.
Maryland Criminal People Search
Maryland has several tools for criminal people search beyond court records. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services runs both an inmate locator and a sex offender registry. These are free to use. The Incarcerated Individual Locator lets you search for people currently held in Maryland state prisons. You can search by first name, last name, or both. Results show the person's full name, ID number, current facility, date of birth, mugshot, and tentative release date.
The inmate locator does not include people held in local jails or pretrial detention facilities in Maryland. It only covers state correctional institutions. If you need to find someone in a county jail, contact that county's detention center in Maryland.
The Maryland Sex Offender Registry is another key people search tool. You can search by name, address, zip code, or county. It runs on the iCrimeWatch system. Each profile shows the person's full name, all known aliases, a recent photograph, physical description, home address, work address, conviction details, and registration tier. Maryland uses three tiers: Tier I for 15 years, Tier II for 25 years, and Tier III for lifetime registration. The registry also lists vehicle information and risk level for each person in Maryland.
Victims in Maryland can also sign up for VINE, the Victim Information Notification system. Call 1-866-634-8463 for 24/7 automated updates on custody status, releases, transfers, and court dates. You must re-register at each stage of proceedings to keep getting alerts in Maryland.
Maryland Property Records Search
Property records are a useful way to search for people in Maryland. The State Department of Assessments and Taxation runs the Real Property Search tool. You can look up who owns a property by searching with their name, an address, or a parcel number. Property records show the owner name and mailing address, assessment value, property size, number of rooms, year built, sales history with dates and prices, and zoning info. This is a free tool that covers all of Maryland.
Maryland Land Records is another people search resource run by the Maryland Judiciary. It holds deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents for the whole state. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, or property reference. A free account is needed to search. There is no fee for looking up records, but printing documents costs $1.00 per page in Maryland. The system holds records of property transfers, which can help you trace where someone lives or has lived in Maryland.
More Maryland People Databases
Maryland keeps several other databases that can help with a people search. The Business Entity Search lets you find people linked to businesses registered in Maryland. You can search by business name or by the name of an officer or agent. This is useful when you need to find out who runs a company in Maryland.
The Maryland Voter Lookup tool shows voter registration status. Search by name and date of birth, by address, or by driver's license number. Results show registration status, polling place, and legislative district. This can help confirm where someone is registered to vote in Maryland.
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration holds driver records. These records contain name, address, license status, and driving history. Access to MVA records in Maryland has limits based on privacy laws, but you can request your own record or get someone else's with proper authorization. The MVA site has details on how to make a request in Maryland.
Request Maryland Public Records
The Maryland Public Information Act, found at Md. General Provisions Code Ann. §4-101 et seq., gives you the right to access records held by state and local agencies. Under §4-103, any person can ask for public records in Maryland. The agency must respond within 30 days under §4-203. This law is the backbone of any people search that goes beyond what the free online databases show in Maryland.
The fee structure for records requests in Maryland is set by §4-206. The first two hours of search and prep time are free. After that, fees are based on the salary of the employee doing the work. Copies cost $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 per page for color. Electronic records are free if they already exist in digital form in Maryland. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. If your income is below 50% of the Maryland median, you can get an automatic fee waiver with an affidavit.
You can submit a records request to any state or local agency in Maryland. The Maryland State Police has an online portal for public information requests. Include your name, mailing address, phone number, the specific records you want, date range, and the most you are willing to pay. Be as specific as you can. If your request is denied, the agency must cite the exact statutory reason. You can appeal first to the Public Access Ombudsman at (410) 576-6310, then to the PIA Compliance Board, and finally to circuit court in Maryland.
The Maryland Courts website has more detail on how to access court records for a people search. You can visit a courthouse in person to view full case documents at public computer terminals. Some courts have MDEC kiosks for electronic access. Copies are $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00 in Maryland.
Note: Some records in Maryland are exempt from public access, including personnel records (§4-311), medical data (§4-329), and active police investigation files (§4-351).
Browse Maryland People Search by County
Each county in Maryland has its own court system and law enforcement agencies that keep public records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, search tools, and resources for a people search in that area.
People Search in Maryland Cities
Maryland cities are served by county or municipal police departments. Pick a city below to find the right agency for your people search in that area.