Search Maryland Land Records

This page helps users handle land records needs in Maryland, including finding deeds, checking deed references, and understanding where recording questions belong.

Maryland land records are available through MDLandRec, the Maryland State Archives, and the Department of Land Records in each county or Baltimore City Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

MDLandRec land records search

MDLandRec is the statewide online repository for Maryland land records. It is created and verified by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts and presented by the Maryland State Archives.

Use search Maryland land records through MDLandRec to view deeds and other land record images. Users must create an account with the Maryland State Archives to view deeds online.

Helpful search details may include:

• Clerk or county selection
• Book or liber number
• Page or folio number
• Names tied to the deed or other recorded instrument

When searching by book and page, MDLandRec notes that the search returns a single page. If the deed reference is not known, use the owner or property information available through the Maryland Department of Assessments to locate the book and page reference.

• Create or log in to a Maryland State Archives account.
• Choose the appropriate clerk or county record set.
• Enter the available book, page, index, or name details.
• Review the scanned image and confirm the deed reference before relying on it.

Department of Land Records in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office

Every Maryland county and Baltimore City has a Department of Land Records located in that jurisdiction’s Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. These offices maintain real property records for the county or city.

The Department of Land Records may record instruments that affect legal interests in real property. Common recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, powers of attorney, and certain leases.

Clerks accept documents that meet recording requirements, reject documents that do not, keep the records, and may collect payments when documents are submitted. Clerks cannot prepare documents, review them before recording, complete a title search, decide whether a document will meet a user’s goals, or give legal advice.

Prepare documents before visiting. The clerk’s role is limited, and some counties require finance or treasurer endorsement and tax collection before a document can be accepted into land records.

Deed reference numbers and copies

A deed reference number points to the book and page where the deed is stored. Deeds may also use the terms liber for book and folio for page.

Maryland Courts explains that deed reference numbers can be found through the Maryland Department of Assessments by selecting a county and searching by property address. The reference appears under owner information, with the book number first, followed by a backslash, then the page number.

Deeds can be viewed for free online through MDLandRec. Courthouses may also have computer terminals for deed searches. If a user has a deed reference number or needs help locating a deed, a clerk in the Department of Land Records can help find it.

For certified copies needed for legal purposes, use the Maryland State Archives order process for deed or land record records. For non-certified images, users can generally view records online from home.

Recording deeds and land instruments

Recording a deed can involve fees, surcharges, taxes, local finance review, and required forms. Deeds and other documents may require payment to the Land Records Department, a local county or city finance office, or another local government office.

The review Maryland Courts land records guidance page explains common deed questions, recording costs, and limits on what clerk staff can do. Preparing a deed can have legal and tax consequences, so users with transfer questions may need help from a Maryland lawyer or title company.

The State of Maryland Land Instrument Intake Sheet is used by circuit court clerk offices, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, and county finance offices to process, record, and index land instruments. The instructions state that a completed intake sheet is required with every land instrument submitted for recordation, except releases and assignments of mortgages and deeds of trust, substitutions of trustees, powers of attorney, and financing statements and their modifications.

For deed transactions, prepare the original deed and a photocopy when required, complete the applicable intake sheet sections, and verify tax, fee, property, grantor, grantee, and contact information before submitting the instrument.

Electronic recording and electronic signatures

Maryland allows land record e-recording programs to operate in circuit courts. Electronic documents submitted to a clerk for recording must go through a vendor approved and pre-authorized by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Use check Maryland land records e-recording information to review statewide e-recording implementation details. Some counties, county finance offices, towns, cities, and municipalities are listed for land records e-recording implementation.

Paper documents with electronic or non-original signatures may be accepted for recordation if they are otherwise recordable and meet the Maryland Real Property Electronic Recording Act procedures. Depending on the document, this can involve a notary seal or an Affidavit of Intent to Use Electronic Signature.

Older land records and archive research

The Maryland State Archives provides access to Maryland land records from modern land records back to the earliest surviving land record for each county. Older land and property records formerly held at county courthouses are preserved through the Archives and are available online through MDLandRec.

The use the Maryland State Archives deeds and mortgages guide page explains how land records are organized and notes that MDLandRec now uses multi-factor authentication. Users with difficult land record research can contact the Archives Help Desk.

Liens, foreclosures, and related records

Some liens are recorded in land records with deeds, but not every lien will appear there. Court judgment liens may require a Maryland Case Search review against the property owner, and unpaid property taxes may require checking with the local county or city finance office.

Foreclosure cases are not kept at the Department of Land Records. Foreclosure cases are handled by the Civil Clerk at the Circuit Court and can be searched by owner name on Maryland Case Search.

A deed in lieu of foreclosure is different from a foreclosure case. It transfers ownership directly to the lender only if the lender agrees to accept it. Maryland Courts lists the Maryland HOPE Hotline for foreclosure help.

Land records help contacts

Use these contacts for account help, archive research questions, or Maryland legal information questions related to land records.

• Maryland State Archives Helpdesk
  Phone: (410) 260-6487
  Email: msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov
• Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401
  MD toll free: (800) 235-4045
  Phone: (410) 260-6400
  Email: msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov
• Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, 361 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401
  Phone: (410) 260-1430
  Phone: (888) 216-8156
  Email: lawlibrary@mdcourts.gov