Search Frederick County Genealogy Records
Frederick County genealogy records stretch back to 1748 and cover one of Maryland's largest and most historically significant counties. The Circuit Court at 100 West Patrick Street in Frederick holds land records, marriage documents, court filings, and more. Researchers tracing family roots in Western Maryland will find Frederick County a rich source, with records also available through the Maryland State Archives, local historical societies, and the public library's Maryland Room in Frederick.
Frederick County Overview
Frederick County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court Clerk in Frederick is the central office for genealogy records in Frederick County. This office manages land recording, marriage licenses, court case files, and related documents. Staff can assist with basic records searches, but clerks cannot fill out documents for you, review papers before recording, perform title searches, or give legal advice. For records research, you will need to search on your own or bring an attorney or records researcher with you.
The court has several departments, each with its own phone number. For civil records call 301-600-2969. Criminal records are at 301-600-1932. Family and child support matters are at 301-600-1977. Land recording and licensing, including marriage licenses, are handled at 301-600-1965. The records room can be reached at 301-600-1957. Hours for all departments are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. The court is at 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701.
The Frederick County Circuit Court processes land records, marriage licenses, and court case files for genealogy researchers.
| Address | 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701 |
|---|---|
| Civil Records | 301-600-2969 |
| Land / Marriage License | 301-600-1965 |
| Records Room | 301-600-1957 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm |
| Website | courts.state.md.us/clerks/frederick |
Land Records in Frederick County
Frederick County land records go back to the county's founding in 1748. You can search and view these records online through MDLandRec.net at no cost. This statewide portal covers deeds, mortgages, releases, and other land instruments recorded with the Frederick County Circuit Court. Land records are one of the best genealogy sources available because they name buyers, sellers, neighbors, and sometimes heirs and family members.
As of October 1, 2025, a new Maryland law requires a three-inch top margin on the first page of all recorded documents in Frederick County. This matters if you are submitting new documents for recording. For older records used in genealogy research, this change does not affect access. Researchers seeking to view recorded land documents do not need to pay any access fee to use MDLandRec.net for Frederick County records.
Earlier land transactions in Frederick County are also documented in the Maryland State Archives land patent records, which predate the county's establishment. Since Frederick County originally covered much of Western Maryland, many early land patents from that region are indexed under Frederick County at the Maryland State Archives.
Marriage Records and Licenses
Marriage licenses in Frederick County are issued at the Circuit Court's land recording and licensing department, reached at 301-600-1965. The license fee is $75, payable by cash, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. A 48-hour waiting period applies after application; the license becomes valid at 6am on the second day and remains valid for six months, but only within Frederick County. Civil marriage ceremonies are available at the courthouse for $25, by appointment, Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Ceremonies can be held inside the courthouse or in the front courtyard.
As of 2022, Maryland changed the marriage application process for Frederick County. Only one party is now required to apply in person, though each party must provide a copy of a government-issued birth certificate. Minors under 17 are no longer permitted to marry in Maryland. Seventeen-year-olds may marry with the consent of all living parents or a court order. Non-resident applications are available; the official in the applicant's home county or state signs and mails the paperwork, with payment by bank certified check or money order only.
Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5.50 each, and plain (non-certified) copies are $0.50. Mail requests go to: Clerk of Circuit Court, Attn: Records, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. For historical marriage records, the Maryland State Archives holds the Female Index for 1778 to 1851 (MSA CM493) and a Circuit Court Marriage Index for 1865 to 1890 (MSA C830). FamilySearch also hosts Maryland County Marriages covering 1658 to 1940, which includes Frederick County records.
Birth, Death, and Historical Vital Records
Birth records for Frederick County from 1865 to 1899 were recorded by the Circuit Court and are now at the Maryland State Archives under MSA C1116. From 1898 onward, birth records are held by the Maryland Department of Health Vital Statistics Administration, accessible at health.maryland.gov/vsa. Birth records are restricted under Md. Code, Health-General § 4-208 for records less than 100 years old. For births before 1865, researchers typically rely on church records, census data, and family Bibles.
Death records from 1898 onward are also at the Maryland DOH. Older death records are at the Maryland State Archives. Church records are especially important for Frederick County because of the large German immigrant community that settled in the area during the 18th century. German Lutheran and Reformed church registers often pre-date state vital records by a century or more and are valuable for tracing immigrant families. Military records from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War (including records from the Battle of Monocacy, fought in Frederick County) are also relevant for genealogy research here.
Historical Society and Public Library
The Frederick County Historical Society at 24 East Church Street in Frederick holds manuscripts, family papers, and local records that complement what is available at the courthouse and state archives. Their collections are particularly strong on German immigrant families who came to the Frederick area in the 18th century and on Civil War-era records. The society's research resources are cataloged at frederickhistory.org. Visit or contact them directly for access to specific collections.
The Frederick County Historical Society holds family papers and manuscripts covering over 250 years of county history, useful for deep genealogy research.
The C. Burr Artz Public Library at 110 East Patrick Street in Frederick has a Maryland Room with dedicated genealogy resources. The collection includes local newspapers, family files, published genealogies, and reference materials specific to Frederick County and the surrounding region. Staff in the Maryland Room can help you locate materials and suggest search strategies for difficult research problems. Access is free, and the library's resources complement what is available through the courthouse and state archives. Visit fcpl.org for hours and contact details.
The C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick offers a Maryland Room with genealogy materials, local newspapers, and family files for county research.
State Archives and Online Tools
The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis holds a large collection of Frederick County genealogy records. These include will indexes from 1744 to 1946, early wills from 1744 to 1794, court records, and much more. Researchers can visit in person or search online. The MSA's Research Guide helps you identify what records exist and where they are held.
Court case records for Frederick County can be searched through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. The Register of Wills for probate matters is at registers.maryland.gov. Digitized and free records are also available through the Internet Archive's Maryland State Archives collection. The Frederick County government website provides additional guidance on local agencies and resources.
The Frederick County government site links to agencies and departments that hold or can direct you to genealogy records in the county.
Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted under Md. Code, Health-General § 4-208. Death records less than 20 years old are restricted under § 4-214. Older records are at the Maryland State Archives.
Cities in Frederick County
Frederick is the county seat and the only qualifying city in Frederick County. All genealogy records for communities throughout the county are filed at the Frederick County Circuit Court in the city of Frederick.
Other communities in Frederick County include Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Brunswick, Middletown, Walkersville, and New Market. Residents of all these communities file records at the Frederick County Circuit Court at 100 West Patrick Street in Frederick.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Frederick County. Records for families who lived near county lines may be held in more than one county courthouse, so checking adjacent counties is often worthwhile for genealogy research.