Family Tree Circles Locations
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Maryland
Locations
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Requests
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Wiki
State Offices
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Vital Statistics Administration
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Mailing address:
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 764-3038
Email: DESmith@dhmh.state.md.us
Website
Maryland State Archives
Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse
State Archives Building
350 Rowe Boulevard
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 260-6400
Email: archives@mdsa.net
Website
Maryland State Law Library
Robert C. Murphy
Courts of Appeal Building
361 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD. 21401
Phone: (410) 260-1430
Fax: (410) 260-1572
Email: lawlibrary@mdcourts.gov
Website
The Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issues certified copies of birth, death, fetal death, and marriage certificates for events that occur in Maryland. The Division also provides divorce verifications.
Remarks: All requests must include an
unexpired copy of Government or State-issued Photo ID, and the
completed & notarized request form with signature of the person
requesting the certificate.
How to order a certified copy:
By Mail - Enclose a self-addressed, stamped, legal size envelope and proper payment;
Same day service: - Same day service is also available at local health departments in all jurisdictions except Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County for individuals born after 1939;
VitalCheck - Secured online applications to request for vital records, which accepts all major credit card payments, can be made through VitalCheck with an additional charge for their service.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Vital Statistics Administration
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Mailing address:
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 764-3038
Email: DESmith@dhmh.state.md.us
Website
A certified copy of the birth certificate which may be used for retirement purposes, passports, social services, school enrollment, and other legal reasons. If the search provides no record, a Certification of Record Search will be provided.
Beginning June 1, 2011, the fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate obtained from the Division of Vital Records will increase to $24. Fees will also increase for birth certificates obtained from local health departments.
Fee: $24.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since August 1898
Notes: A copy of a birth record may only be
issued to the person named on the Certificate; a parent or
court-appointed guardian; a representative with a notarized letter
signed by the person named on the Certificate
Remarks: Records for city of Baltimore are available from January 1875. Records of births that took place in Baltimore City from 1875 through 1910 are not available for same day service.
Commemorative Birth Certificate
The State of Maryland offers a specially designed Commemorative Birth Certificate for any person born in Maryland. This legal document is a unique keepsake that can be used to celebrate a birth or honor a life.
FEE: The fee for each Commemorative Birth Certificate is $30.00, of which $15.00 is tax deductible. If the requested birth certificate cannot be found, $18.00 will be refunded along with a Certificate of No Record; a $12.00 search fee must be retained as required by Maryland Law.
Remarks: A portion of the funds collected from the sale of each Commemorative Birth Certificate will be paid into the Children's Trust Fund to provide funding for the Child Abuse and Neglect Centers of Excellence Initiative.
Death
Location:
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Vital Statistics Administration
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Mailing address:
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 764-3038
Email: DESmith@dhmh.state.md.us
Website
The Division issues certified copies of death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland in 1969 or thereafter. Records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives.
Fee: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since August 1898
Notes: A copy of a death certificate may only
be issued to applicants who have a direct and tangible interest in
the content of the record as described in Code of Maryland
Regulations (COMAR) 10.03.07.
Remarks: Within 30 days of a death, copies of the record may also be obtained from the local health department in which the funeral director filed the death certificate, with the exception of Baltimore City and Baltimore County health departments. Records for city of Baltimore are available from January 1875.
Marriage
Location:
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Vital Statistics Administration
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Mailing address:
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 764-3038
Email: DESmith@dhmh.state.md.us
Website
The Division issues certified copies of certificates for marriages that occurred on or after January 1, 1990. For marriages performed before January 1, 1990, contact the circuit court of the Maryland county where the marriage took place, or the Maryland State Archives. Records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives.
Fee: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: January, 1990
Notes: A Copy of a Certificate of Marriage can
be released to the married parties, a representative of the married
parties (provided the representative shows a notarized letter
stating he or she has permission to obtain a copy of the marriage
certificate), an attorney representing the married parties, or a
court of law.
Remarks: Certified copies of marriage
certificates maybe obtained throught the Clerk of Circuit Court in
county where license was issued or Clerk of Court of Common Pleas
of Baltimore City (for licenses issued in City of
Baltimore.
Divorce
Location:
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Vital Statistics Administration
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Mailing address:
The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 764-3038
Email: DESmith@dhmh.state.md.us
Website
Decrees of Divorce and Annulment of Marriage can be obtained from the Circuit Court that granted the decree. The Division of Vital Records can only verify a divorce or annulment. Records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives.
Verification of divorce or annulment is provided for a $12 fee. Reports of Divorce and Annulment of Marriage are available from the Division of Vital Records from January 1, 1992 to the present.
Fee: $12.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since January, 1992
Notes: The divorce decree must be obtained
from the circuit court granting the divorce.
Remarks: The Division of Vital Records does not issue certificates of divorce. The Division can verify the names of the persons divorced, the type of divorce action, the county in which the divorce took place, and the date of the decree. Certified divorce decrees may be obtained through the Clerk of Circuit Court in the city/county where the divorce was granted.
