Cecil County was founded in 1674 and covers 418 square miles of the northeastern area of the State of Maryland. As of 2020, 103,725 individuals lived in the county. The Town of Elkton serves as the county seat.

Courts in Cecil County

Cecil County has three courts: the Circuit Court, District Court, and Orphan's Court. Each of these courts handles legal matters in the county under its jurisdiction.

As a trial court of general jurisdiction, the Circuit Court hears several criminal and civil cases in the county. It hears juvenile matters concerning minors who commit crimes and cannot be charged as adults. The Circuit Court also hears cases involving divorces, child custody, support, visitation rights, and other family law matters. Moreover, individuals may appeal decisions made by lower courts or administrative agencies to the Circuit Court.

Cecil County's District Court hears all misdemeanor criminal cases and certain felonies. The Court also has jurisdiction over cases involving landlord/tenant disputes, traffic violations, property disputes, and civil cases in which the monetary compensation does not exceed $30,000. Unlike the Circuit Court, the District Court does not conduct jury trials.

The Orphans' Court in Cecil County specializes in probate matters that involve the administration of decedents' estates. It hears cases concerning wills, guardianship for minors, rights of heirs, and similar probate issues.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Cecil County

The District Court and Circuit Court Clerks in Cecil County serve as the custodians of public court records obtained from the cases they handle. Likewise, the Register of Deeds Office maintains the case files and documents of the Orphans' Court. Public access to the District Court or Circuit Court case files is available online or at the Clerk's Office. Individuals can search or request copies of court records in person or by mail. Likewise, the Register of Deeds provides copies of probate records upon request.

Types of Public Court Records in Cecil County

The following types of public court records in Cecil County are available to anyone:

• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Orphans’ Court Records
• Traffic Court Records
• Family Law Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Cecil County

Some court records in Cecil County are sealed and inaccessible to the public to comply with Maryland law or court orders. Such records may contain private or sensitive information of the parties involved in case proceedings. Unlike publicly available records, confidential records in Cecil County are only available under court orders or to authorized persons.

In Maryland, the following court records are prohibited from public disclosure by law:

• Medical records
• Financial records
• Police records involving minors
• Juvenile exercise
• Child abuse and neglect records
• Psychiatric records

Juvenile Delinquency in Cecil, MD

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Cecil County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Maryland often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 326 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Cecil County. Of that total, 94% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 307 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Cecil County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Cecil County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Cecil County, MD

https://www.maryland.gov/

County Seat:	Elkton
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1674
Total Square Miles:	418
2019 Population:	102,746
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Cecil County, MD Courts