Find Deed Records in Kent County

Kent County deed records are held at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Chestertown, Maryland. The county has some of the oldest land records in the entire state, with deed books going back to 1648. You can search Kent County deed records online through MDLandRec.net or visit the Clerk's Office in person during business hours. This page covers where to search, how to request copies, what fees apply, and details on the county's remarkable historical land record archive.

Kent County Circuit Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Chestertown handles all land records for Kent County. This includes deeds, mortgages, releases, and plats. The office is on Cross Street in Chestertown and is open Monday through Friday. Staff can assist you with name searches, book and page lookups, and copy requests. The research room is available during regular hours for self-service work.

Kent County is one of Maryland's original counties, and the Clerk's Office holds deed records going back to 1648. That makes it one of the longest-running land record archives anywhere in the state. The early records are fragile and some gaps exist, particularly in the first Liber A from 1648 to 1654, where nearly 100 pages are missing. For most modern property research in Kent County, the records are complete and easy to access either online or at the office.

Search Kent County Deed Records Online

The best way to search Kent County deed records from home is through MDLandRec.net, the statewide land records system operated by the Maryland State Archives. Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Once logged in, you can search Kent County deed books going back to 1648. Enter a name, a book and page number, or a document type to find what you need. Scanned images are available for most documents in the system.

For plat records in Kent County, use Plats.net with username plato and password plato#. Kent County has advanced plat search features. You can search by filing date or by description, and multiple copies of some plats may exist. Print options include 11 by 17 inch format for larger plats. The Kent County plat help page at the Maryland State Archives walks you through how to use the plat system for this county specifically, which is worth reading before you start.

The screenshot below shows the Kent County Circuit Court page where you can access land records information and office contact details.

The Kent County Circuit Court page links to land records and provides contact details for the Clerk's Office in Chestertown.

Register for free at MDLandRec to search Kent County deed books by name or document reference.

Use the Kent County plat help page to learn advanced search features before you start your plat research.

How to Request Kent County Deed Records

If you want to search in person, go to the Clerk's Office on Cross Street in Chestertown. The research room is open during regular hours. You can search by name or by book and page number on the public terminals. Staff can pull older books from storage if needed. It helps to know the approximate year the deed was filed before you arrive, especially for older records.

You can also request records by mail. Send your request to the Clerk's Office at Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. Include the name you are searching, the year range you need, and a check or money order for copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, so plan ahead if you need records quickly. The Maryland Courts land records FAQ has tips on how to write a records request and what information to include.

Note: For genealogy research using historical Kent County land records before 1800, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds original documents and can assist with research requests.

Kent County Deed Copy and Recording Fees

Kent County follows the standard Maryland fee structure for copies and recordings. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies. If you need a certified copy, add $5.00 to the total. Plat copies are available in 11 by 17 inch format at the Clerk's Office.

Recording fees match the statewide schedule. Releases that are 9 pages or less cost $10. Other instruments under 9 pages cost $20. Principal residence deeds cost $20 regardless of length. Instruments with 10 or more pages cost $75. The standard $40 surcharge applies to most instruments. State and county recordation and transfer taxes apply on top of these fees. Call the Clerk's Office at (410) 778-7460 to confirm the exact total before you arrive to record a deed in Kent County.

Kent County Historical Land Records

Kent County holds a special place in Maryland land records history. The deed books here go back to 1648, making them among the oldest in the state. The county was one of Maryland's original counties established under the early colonial government. Researchers who study colonial land grants, early property ownership, and historic chain-of-title cases often turn to Kent County deed records as a primary source.

The earliest records are Liber A, which covers 1648 to 1654. However, nearly 100 pages from that liber are missing. Despite this gap, the records that do exist for that period are remarkable. Later deed books from the late 1600s through the 1700s are largely intact and available through MDLandRec. For very old or fragile records that are not in the digital system, contact the Maryland State Archives at msa.maryland.gov. Archivists there can assist with requests for colonial-era Kent County deed records and provide guidance on how to read old handwritten documents.

Under Maryland Real Property Article Section 3-201, all deeds must be recorded to give notice to third parties. This rule has been in place since colonial times in Maryland, which is why Kent County's long record archive is both historically significant and legally important for property research today.

Nearby Counties

Kent County is on the Eastern Shore and borders two other Maryland counties. If your property is near the county line, confirm which county holds the deed record before you search.