How to Get Maryland Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Maryland — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Maryland DHMH Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

What this page covers: Maryland vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Maryland DHMH Division of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Division of Vital Records - Maryland Department of Health
Parent agency
Vital Statistics Administration - Maryland Department of Health
Records back to
Division of Vital Records - Maryland Department of Health
Online ordering
Request Birth Certificates - Maryland Department of Health
Marriage license issued by
How Do I Get a Marriage License? - Circuit Court - Montgomery County, MD
Local intake
Where to Write for Vital Records - Maryland
Population
6,263,220
Households
2,293,800
Median Income
$100,045
Median Home Value
$396,900
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Maryland vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at health.maryland.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Maryland Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Maryland — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Maryland vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Maryland Vital Records

2026
Maryland vital records portal active
The official Maryland portal at health.maryland.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Maryland state records.
2026
Maryland access in 2026
For 2026, Maryland continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check health.maryland.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Maryland's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Maryland Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Maryland, start with the Maryland health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Maryland typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Maryland records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Maryland Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Maryland birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Maryland) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Maryland marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Maryland death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Maryland counties: Allegany · Anne Arundel · Baltimore · Calvert · Caroline

Vital Records Databases

13 official Maryland vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Death Records - Guide to Government Records - Maryland.gov
Official Free
Find a soundex code An ongoing, nearly complete index exists for state deaths through the Baltimore County Genealogical Society. 1914-1919 MSA CM1140 available online. We hold a small collection, but most remain with Vital Statistics.Baltimore City 1973 - 1987. These indexes vary with each county and may include abbreviations, challenging handwriting, etc. Please contact msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov, call 410-260-6487, and read our tips page for any assistance. 1969-1972 no index available An incomplete index exists for state deaths through the Baltimore County Historical Society.
🌐 guide.msa.maryland.gov
Maryland State Archives - Guide to Government Records
Official Free
Images of entries on 4X6 inch cards include name of decedent, place and cause of death, age, place of birth and names of parents, race, occupation, marital status and name of spouse, if any. Arranged chronologically by month and year, then alphabetically by surname for each county. Indexed for 1898-1910 by the BOARD OF HEALTH Death Record, Counties, Index series [MSA S1177]. ; microfilm, [MSA SM156]; online [MSA SE58]. Note that the Maryland law mandating the recordation of vital records by the counties, excluding Baltimore City, begins in May 1898 (Chapter 312, Article 43 of the Code of…
🌐 guide.msa.maryland.gov
Maryland Church Records, Deaths and Burial Index
Official Free
Then use the Find key in your browser to search for the last name. You can also use the Search the Archives to find a particular name. Provides access to records of the following churches:. St. James' Church (Protestant Episcopal), Lothian, 1663-1856 Baltimore City:
🌐 msa.maryland.gov
Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Official Free
NOTICE: For existing Odyssey Portal users, before your first login here, please watch the video titled - "Training Video for New Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal" at E-filing - Attorneys | Maryland Courts Case event comments restored to legacy case search configuration.
🌐 casesearch.courts.state.md.us
Group Gathers to Celebrate Progress in Clearing Historic Black Cemetery near Keedysville • Town of Keedysville
Official Free
https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/2021/10/23/historic-black-cemetery-near-keedysville-uncovered-volunteers/6133441001/; Herald Mail Media, October 23, 2021
🌐 keedysvillemd.com
Maryland Death Record Index, Baltimore City, 1875-1880
Official Free
(Death Record, BC, Index) 1875-1880 · MSA S1483 · Click on the letter of the last name of the person you wish to find. Then use the Find key in your browser to search for the last name. This index was keyboarded by Archives' archival assistants in their spare time.
🌐 msa.maryland.gov
Maryland Death Record Index, Baltimore City, 1943-1949
Official Free
(Death Record, BC, Index) 1943-1949 · MSA S1483 · Click on the letter of the last name of the person you wish to find. Then use the Find key in your browser to search for the last name. This index was keyboarded by Archives' archival assistants in their spare time.
🌐 msa.maryland.gov

Maryland Counties

All 24 Maryland counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Montgomery Baltimore Anne Arundel Howard Harford Frederick Carroll Allegany Calvert Caroline Cecil Charles Dorchester Garrett

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Maryland are issued by the Official Maryland Vital Records at health.maryland.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Maryland death certificates are issued by the Official Maryland Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at health.maryland.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Maryland marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Maryland Vital Records (health.maryland.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Maryland vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Maryland Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at health.maryland.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Maryland Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at health.maryland.gov.