Washington County Deed Records
Washington County deed records start from 1776 and are held at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Hagerstown. You can search land records online through MDLandRec.net, use the Western Maryland Historical Library for older patents, or visit the courthouse in person. Washington County covers western Maryland and has a diverse set of land records including deeds, plats, chancery filings, and military discharges. This page tells you how to find deed documents, what the fees are, and what payment options the clerk accepts.
Washington County Overview
Washington County Circuit Court Land Records
The Clerk of the Circuit Court at 95 W. Washington Street in Hagerstown maintains all deed records for Washington County. Land records dating from 1776 to the present are stored at this office. Beyond deed books, the clerk also holds plat records from 1776, chancery records from 1815, corporation records from 1803 through 1991, and military discharge records from 1919. This is one of the more complete records offices in western Maryland.
Public access terminals in the courthouse let you search Washington County deed records during regular business hours. Grantor and grantee indexes are available electronically for records going back to 1776 on MDLandRec.net. For help with older handwritten records or records not yet digitized, staff at the counter can assist. Credit card payments are accepted for copy fees. Washington County takes VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. They do not accept American Express, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. Credit cards are not accepted for bond payments.
| Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 95 W. Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740 |
| Phone | (301) 739-3440 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Circuit Court | courts.state.md.us/clerks/washington |
| Records Page | courts.state.md.us/clerks/washington/records |
| Online Records | landrec.msa.maryland.gov |
Washington County Land Records Online
The main online portal for Washington County deed records is MDLandRec.net. The system has deed books going back to 1776. Register for a free account to view scanned deed images. Search by name, book and page, date range, or instrument type. Most records are available at no charge once you log in. This system is the fastest way to find Washington County deed records without a courthouse trip.
The Western Maryland Historical Library (WHILBR) is a unique resource for Washington County land research. WHILBR holds land patents from 1730 through 1830 for the western Maryland region. This is especially useful for tracing early property ownership before statewide deed indexing was common. You can access WHILBR online and search patent records at no cost. This resource fills a gap in early land research for Washington County that MDLandRec.net does not cover.
For plat maps and subdivision records, use Plats.net with the public login plato/plato#. Plats show lot lines, easements, and road dedications for recorded subdivisions in Washington County. This is helpful when deeds reference a recorded plat by name or number. The Maryland Courts land records FAQ answers common questions about searching and recording deeds statewide.
Washington County Record Types at the Clerk
Washington County has a wider set of record types at the clerk's office than many other Maryland counties. Understanding which record type you need will help you search more effectively. The following records are held at the courthouse in Hagerstown.
- Land Records: deed books from 1776 to present
- Plat Records: subdivision and survey plats from 1776
- Chancery Records: equity case filings from 1815
- Corporation Records: business filings from 1803 through 1991
- Military Discharges: DD-214 and similar forms from 1919
Deed records are the most commonly requested type. They document every transfer of real property in Washington County since the late 18th century. Chancery records may contain older property disputes and can help trace chains of title when standard deed books have gaps. If you are researching a property with a complex history, chancery records are worth checking in Washington County.
Note: Military discharge records at the Washington County clerk's office are restricted and not open to general public access. Contact the clerk for guidance on who may request these records.
Fees for Washington County Deed Records
Copy fees follow the statewide Maryland schedule. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $5.00 to the base copy cost. Recording fees for new deeds are $20 for nine pages or fewer and $75 for ten or more pages. A $40 surcharge applies to all land record filings in Washington County. State and local transfer taxes apply to the consideration amount and are paid at the time of recording.
The recordation tax is calculated per $500 of consideration under Maryland Code, Real Property Article § 3-201. Washington County collects both state and local recordation taxes at the time of recording. Be ready to pay these taxes by check or accepted credit card when you bring a deed to the clerk's office. American Express, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are not accepted at this office, so plan accordingly.
Washington County Deed Record Sources
The Washington County Circuit Court clerk page lists office hours, contact details, and links to land records resources specific to this county.
The clerk's records page gives direct access to deed book indexes and document images for Washington County land records from 1776 forward.
The statewide MDLandRec.net portal provides online access to Washington County deed records going back to 1776. Free registration is required to view full document images.
MDLandRec.net is the most complete online source for Washington County deed books and is updated regularly as new instruments are recorded.
The Western Maryland Historical Library holds land patents from 1730 through 1830 for Washington County and surrounding areas. This fills an important gap for early property research in western Maryland.
WHILBR is free to search online and covers pre-statehood land grants and patents that predate the regular deed book series at the Washington County clerk's office.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes Hagerstown and several smaller communities. No cities in Washington County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All deed records for Hagerstown and other towns in the county are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk at 95 W. Washington Street in Hagerstown. There is one courthouse and one set of deed books for the entire county.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders Frederick County to the east and Allegany County to the west. Property near county lines can sometimes be recorded in either county, depending on where the parcel lies. Check the exact property address to confirm which county holds the deed.