Md. R. Ct. Admin. 16-912

As amended through November 13, 2024
Rule 16-912 - Access to Notice, Special Judicial Unit, License, and Domestic Partnership Records
(a) Notice Records

Except as otherwise provided by statute, a custodian may not deny inspection of a notice record that has been recorded and indexed by the clerk.

Cross reference: See Code, Real Property Article, § 3-111, precluding certain personal information from being included in recordable documents after June 1, 2010 and providing for the redaction of such information if included.

(b) Special Judicial Unit Records
(1) Generally

Subject to unwaived lawful privileges and subsection (b)(2) of this Rule, where a requested record falls within the confidentiality rules applicable to a special judicial unit, access to the record is governed by the confidentiality Rules applicable to that unit.

(2) Exception

Access to administrative records of special judicial units that are not subject to a confidentiality provision in the Rules governing the unit shall be governed by Rule 16-913.

Cross reference: See Rule 18-407, applicable to records and proceedings of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, the Judicial Inquiry Board, and Investigative Counsel; Rule 19-105, applicable to the State Board of Law Examiners, the Accommodation Review Committee, and the character committees; and Rule 19-707, applicable to records and proceedings of the Attorney Grievance Commission and Bar Counsel.

(c) License Records
(1) Business License Records

Except as otherwise provided by the Rules in this Chapter, the right to inspect business license records is governed by the applicable provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of the PIA.

(2) Marriage License Records

A custodian shall deny inspection of the following records pertaining to a marriage license:

(A) certificate of a physician or certified nurse practitioner filed pursuant to Code, Family Law Article, § 2-301, attesting to the pregnancy of a child under 18 years of age who has applied for a marriage license; and
(B) until the license becomes effective, the fact that an application for a license has been made, except to the parent or guardian of a minor party to be married who is 15 years old or older.

Cross reference: See Code, Family Law Article, § 2-301, which lists the conditions necessary to permit a minor between 15 and 17 years old to legally marry and Code, Family Law Article, § 2-402(e), which permits disclosure to a parent or guardian of such a minor prior to the license becoming effective.

(d) Domestic Partnership Records

A custodian shall deny inspection of the portion of a declaration of domestic partnership or declaration of termination that contains the home address of either domestic partner.

Cross reference: See Code, Estates and Trusts Article, § 2-214(d)(3).

Md. R. Ct. Admin. 16-912

This Rule is derived from former Rule 16-905(2019).

Adopted June 29, 2020, eff. 8/1/2020; amended April 5, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024.