MD · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Maryland?
Partly — some Maryland counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
Official source
Open an official county search Opens an official county site in a new tab. Coverage varies by county — a name that isn’t listed does not rule out a warrant in another county or court.Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage Some countiesJurisdiction Maryland
The official online lookup
Maryland has no single statewide public 'active warrant' search.
The statewide Maryland Judiciary Case Search (casesearch.courts.state.md.us) is a public court-records portal you can search by name, but it shows case and docket information, not whether an arrest or bench warrant is currently outstanding, and open/unserved warrant records are frequently not displayed.
However, some Maryland counties publish official online active-warrant lists at the county level.
For example, the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office maintains a public active-warrant database, browsable by name and updated weekly, listing county warrants that have been outstanding for six or more months (recently served warrants may still appear until the database refreshes).
Availability varies by county; where a county does not publish a list online, warrant status is confirmed by contacting the issuing court or the county sheriff.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Maryland
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Check your county sheriff's online active-warrant list, where one is published
Some Maryland counties post an official public active-warrant database online. The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office publishes a name-browsable active-warrant list, updated weekly, covering county warrants outstanding for six or more months. Search by name; where a listing exists it is county-specific, so check the sheriff's office for the county where you believe a case may exist. Not every county publishes such a list.
Open official site -
Call the clerk of the District Court or Circuit Court where charges are filed
Most Maryland warrants originate in the District Court. Contact the clerk's office for the county/city where you believe a case exists and ask whether an active warrant is on file; provide your full name and date of birth. Court directory is on the Maryland Courts site.
Open official site -
Contact the county/city sheriff's office warrant section
Sheriffs serve warrants in Maryland. The sheriff's warrant unit in the relevant jurisdiction can confirm whether a warrant is outstanding.
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Search Maryland Judiciary Case Search to see whether a case exists
This statewide portal shows court case records by name. It confirms whether a case exists and its docket status but does not reliably show active-warrant status; treat it as a case lookup, not a warrant check.
Open official site
Types of warrants in Maryland
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Bench warrant
- issued by a judge for failure to appear or failure to comply with a court order
- Arrest warrant
- issued on a charging document supported by probable cause to take a named person into custody
- Search warrant
- authorizes a search of a place or property; a police tool, not a public lookup
What happens if a warrant is ignored
An unserved warrant generally stays active until the court recalls it or the matter is resolved; warrants do not expire on their own.
While it is outstanding you can be arrested during any law-enforcement contact, such as a traffic stop.
The court may set or raise bail.
In some traffic or fine-related matters, a failure to appear or pay can be reported to the Motor Vehicle Administration, which may flag or hold your license or registration, depending on the case.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Confirm whether a warrant exists and get its details by contacting the clerk of the issuing court: ask for the case or warrant number, the charge, whether a court date is set, and any bail amount.
Note any scheduled court date and plan to appear.
If you decide to resolve it, ask the court or sheriff how to proceed.
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Maryland
Is there an online warrant search in Maryland?
Some Maryland counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Maryland?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Check your county sheriff's online active-warrant list, where one is published; Call the clerk of the District Court or Circuit Court where charges are filed; Contact the county/city sheriff's office warrant section.
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Maryland?
An unserved warrant generally stays active until the court recalls it or the matter is resolved; warrants do not expire on their own. While it is outstanding you can be arrested during any law-enforcement contact, such as a traffic stop. The court may set or raise bail. In some traffic or fine-related matters, a failure to appear or pay can be reported to the Motor Vehicle Administration, which may flag or hold your license or registration, depending on the case.
What should I do about a warrant in Maryland?
Confirm whether a warrant exists and get its details by contacting the clerk of the issuing court: ask for the case or warrant number, the charge, whether a court date is set, and any bail amount. Note any scheduled court date and plan to appear. If you decide to resolve it, ask the court or sheriff how to proceed.
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 4 official sources