Maryland law limits public access to some divorce records

A new Maryland law that took effect Oct. 1 narrows public inspection of certain divorce case records, including divorce applications, financial records, settlement records and custody orders. Final divorce decrees remain governed by Maryland’s general court-record access rules.

Why it matters: - Maryland families now have more privacy protection for sensitive divorce filings. - The change reduces public access to records that can contain financial, custody and settlement information. - A final divorce decree is not covered by the new restriction, so the end-of-marriage record remains subject to Maryland’s general court-record access rules.

What happened: - Senate Bill 426 took effect Oct. 1, 2026. - The law requires a records custodian to deny public inspection of an application for divorce, a financial record submitted in a divorce proceeding, a divorce settlement record and a custody order, unless an exception applies. - Blattner Family Law Group, a Towson-based family law firm serving Baltimore County and nearby Maryland counties, is informing local families about the change.

The details: - The law still requires release of covered records to a “person in interest,” that person’s lawyer, or someone authorized by a court order. - The restriction does not apply to a final divorce decree. - Before this year, Maryland already required protections for personal information in family law filings, including a notice process for restricted information and standard language shielding exhibits and agreements in family law orders. - Maryland judges could also seal or shield a specific filing on request. - Supporters of Senate Bill 426 argued those case-by-case protections were not enough because divorce filings were still generally open to public records requests unless extra steps were taken. - The Maryland General Assembly passed Senate Bill 426 earlier this year. - Gov. Wes Moore vetoed the bill on May 22, citing the existing protections and preferring a case-by-case approach to privacy and public access. - The General Assembly overrode that veto on Aug. 4.

Between the lines: - The new law marks a broader shift toward automatic privacy for certain divorce records instead of relying mainly on sealing requests and other court-by-court safeguards. - The change is also part of a larger update to Maryland divorce law after the state eliminated fault-based grounds for divorce. - Since Oct. 1, 2023, Maryland has recognized six-month separation, irreconcilable differences and mutual consent as the three grounds for absolute divorce under Md. Code, Family Law § 7-103. - Blattner Family Law Group says it provides client information on those grounds and the filing process.

What's next: - Families with a pending or upcoming Maryland divorce can schedule a confidential consultation with Blattner Family Law Group’s Towson office in person or by phone. - The firm is directing clients to review the divorce grounds and filing process before the records rule takes effect in practice.

The bottom line: - Maryland has tightened access to several divorce records, but the final divorce decree remains public under the state’s broader court-record rules. - The practical result is stronger privacy for financial and custody-related filings with limited access for the people directly involved.