Kent County Property Records
Kent County property records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Chestertown and can be searched online through the Maryland Land Records system. This small Eastern Shore county holds about 19,000 parcels, including colonial-era deeds and waterfront land along the Chester River. The Clerk's office and the local SDAT office both serve property owners and researchers looking for land data in Kent County.
Kent County Overview
Kent County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk for Kent County, Sherise L. Kennard, maintains the official land records for the county. The office is at 103 N Cross St, Chestertown, MD 21620. You can reach the clerk by phone at (410) 778-7460. This is where deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land instruments are recorded under Real Property Article § 3-101. All documents recorded here become part of the permanent public record for Kent County.
The Clerk's office handles the actual recording of documents. When you bring a deed or mortgage to be recorded, staff will review it, apply the proper stamps, collect fees, and enter it into the land records system. The state recording fee is $20 for the first two pages and $5 for each additional page. There is also a $75 surcharge that applies to most instruments. State transfer tax runs 0.5% of the sale price, or 0.25% for first-time homebuyers. Kent County applies its own recordation and transfer taxes on top of the state amounts. Call the office before you come in to confirm current rates and any documents you need to bring.
The clerk's page at the courts website has contact details and guidance on record requests. Visit courts.state.md.us/clerks/kent for more information about the Kent County Clerk's office and how to access records there.
The courts website also covers how to request records from the Kent County Clerk. You can find that information at courts.state.md.us/clerks/kent/records. This page covers mail requests, in-person procedures, and what ID you may need to bring when you visit the Kent County courthouse.
The Kent County Circuit Court Clerk page at the Maryland courts website shows contact details, office hours, and guidance for people who need to access records in Chestertown.
The clerk's page is a good starting point before you visit the courthouse or call, since it lists what the office can help with and how to prepare your request.
For records requests and general information about accessing Kent County land records, the courts website provides guidance at courts.state.md.us/clerks/kent/records. This covers what you can request and the basic steps involved.
Knowing what to bring and which forms to use before you arrive at the Kent County clerk's office will save time and help your request go smoothly.
Search Kent County Land Records Online
Maryland Land Records at landrec.msa.maryland.gov is the main online system for Kent County deeds and land instruments. This is run by the Maryland State Archives and covers the entire state. You can search Kent County records by grantor/grantee name, document type, and date range. The system goes back many years and includes scanned images of older documents. Some older records require an in-person visit to the Archives or the clerk's office, but most modern records are online.
Maryland Land Records online gives you direct access to Kent County deed books and land instruments without going to the courthouse.
The system is free to search, though some document images may require a login through the Maryland State Archives. Most current deeds recorded in Kent County appear in the system within a short time after recording at the clerk's office.
PLATS.net is the tool to use for plat maps in Kent County. Log in with the public credentials (login: plato, password: plato#) to view subdivision plats and lot maps. This helps you see property boundaries, lot dimensions, and how parcels relate to each other in a given area of Kent County. Plat maps are separate from deed records and give you a visual picture of the land layout.
The Maryland State Archives at msa.maryland.gov holds older Kent County land records from the colonial period. Kent County was established in 1642, and some of its earliest land grants and patents are preserved at the Archives. If you are researching property history that goes back to the 1600s or 1700s, the Archives is the place to start. Call them at (410) 260-6400 to ask what they have for Kent County and how to access those records.
SDAT Assessments in Kent County
The State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) handles property assessment in Kent County. The local SDAT office is at 114-A Lynchburg St, Chestertown, and you can reach them at (410) 778-1410. SDAT uses the code 15 for Kent County in its system. The state uses a three-year assessment cycle, which means your property value is reviewed once every three years on a rotating basis.
You can search SDAT's Real Property database at sdat.dat.maryland.gov to look up any parcel in Kent County. The search works by address, account number, or parcel ID. SDAT does not allow owner-name searches through the public portal, so you need to know the address or account number to look up a property. The database shows assessed value, property class, owner of record, and tax information for Kent County parcels.
If you think your assessment is wrong, you have 45 days from the notice date to file an appeal. The first step is an informal review with SDAT. If you are not satisfied, you can appeal to the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board. The local SDAT office in Chestertown can walk you through the process. You can also call the state SDAT line at (410) 767-1184 or email sdat.411@maryland.gov for general help.
SDAT also administers the Homestead Tax Credit, which limits how much your assessment can increase each year if you own and live in the property. You apply once and the credit stays as long as you own the home. The Homeowners Property Tax Credit and Renters Tax Credit are also run through SDAT and can reduce what you owe in Kent County.
Historical Land Records in Kent County
Kent County is one of Maryland's oldest counties, established in 1642. Chestertown was an important 18th-century port and the home of Washington College, founded in 1782. The county's long history means its land records go back to the early colonial period. These older records are a valuable resource for historians, genealogists, and anyone tracing the chain of title on an older property in Kent County.
The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds many of the earliest Kent County land records. These include colonial patents, warrants, and early deed books that predate the current courthouse system. Some records have been microfilmed and digitized. The Archives also holds probate records, which often tied to land transfers in earlier centuries. If your research involves a property that changed hands in the 1700s or early 1800s, the Archives will likely have documents that the Clerk's office no longer keeps on-site. Call the Archives at (410) 260-6400 or visit msa.maryland.gov to find out what is available for Kent County.
Waterfront properties along the Chester River have been part of Kent County's land record history since the county was formed. Riparian rights and waterfront boundaries appear in many older Kent County deeds. If you are buying or researching a waterfront parcel, look carefully at the deed language about water boundaries. These descriptions can be complex and may reference old survey marks or natural features that have changed over time.
Recording Documents in Kent County
Kent County uses the standard two-step recording process that applies in most Maryland counties. Before you bring a deed or other instrument to the Circuit Court Clerk, you need to get the proper stamps from the county finance office. This step confirms that transfer taxes and recordation fees have been calculated and paid. Once the finance stamp is on the document, you take it to the Clerk's office on N Cross St to complete the recording.
Under Real Property Article § 8-703, documents must meet certain format requirements before they can be recorded. The first page needs to show the preparer's name and address, the return address for the document after recording, and the names of all grantors and grantees. Pages must be on white paper, at least 8.5 by 11 inches, with margins of at least one inch on all sides. Make sure your document meets these rules before you arrive at the Clerk's office in Chestertown, since documents that don't comply will be rejected.
The $75 state surcharge applies to most recorded instruments in Kent County. This is in addition to the per-page fee and any applicable transfer or recordation taxes. Some instruments are exempt, including those in the chain of title that correct errors or confirm prior conveyances. Ask the Clerk's office if you are unsure whether your document qualifies for an exemption.
Cities in Kent County
Kent County has no cities that meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Chestertown is the county seat and the largest community in Kent County, but its population is well below the qualifying level. All property records for Kent County, including those for Chestertown, are handled at the Circuit Court Clerk's office on N Cross St.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or are near Kent County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Property records for each are kept at the respective county clerk's office.