Search Queen Anne's County Property Records
Queen Anne's County property records date back to 1658, making this one of Maryland's oldest land record collections on the Eastern Shore. The county has 27,031 parcels, with many waterfront and rural properties. Records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Centreville. One critical rule in this county: the Finance office must stamp all deeds before they go to the Clerk. Skipping that step will get your document rejected.
Queen Anne's County Overview
Finance Office Stamp: Required First Step
Important: In Queen Anne's County, ALL deeds and taxable instruments must be stamped by the County Finance office BEFORE you bring them to the Circuit Court Clerk. Documents presented to the Clerk without the Finance stamp will not be accepted for recording. This is not optional and there are no exceptions for standard deed recordings.
The Finance office reviews the deed, calculates the recordation tax at $4.95 per $500 of consideration, and stamps the document to confirm the tax has been paid. Only after you have that stamp can you proceed to the Clerk's office to complete the recording. The Finance office and the Clerk's office are both in Centreville. You can reach the Finance office at (410) 758-0414. Their page at qac.org/1163/Over-the-Counter-Services has information about what you need to bring and what services they offer over the counter.
The Queen Anne's County Finance office processes recordation tax stamps and over-the-counter services for property transactions.
Plan your visit so you have time to stop at the Finance office first, get the stamp, and then go to the Clerk's office. Both offices are in Centreville, so this is usually done in one trip.
The state recording fee of $20 for the first two pages and $5 per additional page applies in Queen Anne's County, as does the $75 state surcharge and the state transfer tax of 0.5% (0.25% for first-time buyers). The county recordation rate of $4.95 per $500 is separate from the state recordation tax. Make sure you have the full amount ready before you go, since both the Finance office and the Clerk's office collect different parts of the total cost. Bring a check or call ahead to confirm what forms of payment are accepted.
Circuit Court Clerk: Katherine Hager
Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Hager maintains Queen Anne's County's land records at 107 N Liberty St, Centreville, MD 21617. This is the official repository for deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land instruments recorded under Real Property Article § 3-101. The Clerk's office indexes all recorded documents and makes them available to the public. Once a deed is recorded here, it becomes part of the permanent land record for Queen Anne's County.
Staff at the Clerk's office can help you search for recorded documents, request copies, and understand the basic steps for recording. They cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you what the office needs and point you to the right forms. If you are not sure what to bring or how the process works, call the office before you come in. Having everything in order before you arrive at the Clerk's office will make the process faster.
Search Land Records Online
The Maryland Land Records system at landrec.msa.maryland.gov covers Queen Anne's County deeds and land instruments. You can search by name, document type, or date. The system has scanned images for many records. Older instruments may only exist in microfilm or original paper form at the courthouse or the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. For deeds recorded in recent years, the online system is a reliable and fast way to find records without going to Centreville.
Maryland Land Records is the primary online tool for searching Queen Anne's County deeds, mortgages, and other recorded land instruments.
The system is run by the Maryland State Archives and is free to use. Some older records require a paid subscription to view full images, while basic search results are available to all users without charge.
SDAT's Real Property portal at sdat.dat.maryland.gov lets you look up any Queen Anne's County parcel by address or account number. This is the right tool when you want assessment data, property class, owner of record, or tax information. The SDAT code for Queen Anne's County is 18. Keep in mind that SDAT does not allow owner-name searches through the public portal. You need the address or parcel number to pull up a record.
SDAT Real Property search shows current assessment data and ownership information for Queen Anne's County parcels.
SDAT data is useful when you want to confirm the assessed value of a property, see if a homestead credit is in place, or check the owner of record before making an inquiry about a specific parcel in Queen Anne's County.
Colonial Land Records from 1658
Queen Anne's County was formed in 1706, but land records for the area date back to 1658. These are among the oldest surviving property records in Maryland. The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds many of these early records, including colonial patents, warrants, and original deed books. If you are tracing a chain of title on an older property in Queen Anne's County or doing historical research, the Archives is an essential resource. You can reach them at (410) 260-6400 or visit msa.maryland.gov.
The county sits across the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis, connected today by the Bay Bridge. Many of its 27,031 parcels are waterfront or near the Bay, and these properties often have complex title histories going back to the colonial period. Waterfront boundaries in older deeds may reference natural features that have shifted over time. If you are researching a waterfront parcel in Queen Anne's County, pay close attention to the deed language about water boundaries and riparian rights.
PLATS.net provides plat maps for Queen Anne's County. Use the public login (plato / plato#) to access subdivision plats and lot maps. Plats show property boundaries and lot dimensions and are a useful complement to deed records when you want a complete picture of a parcel's boundaries and surrounding area.
Property Assessments and Tax Credits
Queen Anne's County properties are assessed on a three-year cycle by SDAT. The local SDAT office serves the county, and you can contact the state SDAT office at (410) 767-1184 or by email at sdat.411@maryland.gov for questions about assessments. If you believe your assessment is too high, you have 45 days from the date on your assessment notice to file an appeal. The first step is an informal review with the SDAT assessor. If that does not resolve the issue, you can appeal to the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board for Queen Anne's County.
The Homestead Tax Credit limits annual increases in assessed value for owner-occupied homes in Queen Anne's County. You apply once and the credit stays as long as you own and live in the property as your primary residence. The Homeowners Property Tax Credit and the Renters Tax Credit are also available through SDAT and can lower your tax bill. These programs are worth checking if you own or rent in Queen Anne's County, especially if your income is limited or your assessment has risen sharply.
Under Real Property Article § 8-703, recorded documents in Queen Anne's County must meet format standards, including proper margins, white paper, and clear identification of all parties. Meet these requirements before you arrive at the Clerk's office or your document may be turned away.
Cities in Queen Anne's County
Queen Anne's County has no cities that meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Centreville is the county seat and the largest community in the county. All property records for the county, including Centreville, are handled through the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 107 N Liberty St.
Nearby Counties
These counties are close to Queen Anne's County. Each has its own Clerk's office and land record system. If you are not sure which county a property is in, the SDAT portal can help you confirm the location by address.