Maryland - Obtain a Death Certificate

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Procedure

Division of Vital Records

By Mail

Complete and mail an application along with photocopies of required identification, fee, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

The Division of Vital Records,

P.O. box 68760,

Baltimore, MD 21215-0036.

In Person

You may also submit a request in person and receive the certificate on the same day by going to the Division of Vital Records Office in Baltimore located at 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

You must present a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID displaying a date issued and an expiration date. Applicants unable to supply valid photo ID must present two (2) different pieces of alternative documentation. See 'Required Documents' section to know more.

Online

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene does not accept credit cards or online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that the office have partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc.

Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. Orders may be placed Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted. You will receive an e-mail notification once your certificate is shipped. If your shipment is via UPS, you will also receive the UPS tracking number.

VitalChek can be reached either through its website, www.vitalchek.com, or through the Division of Vital Records by telephone at 410-764-3170.

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Required Documents

An applicant is required to present valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification. The identification must have a date issued and an expiration date.

Applicants who are unable to supply valid photo identification must present two (2) pieces of alternative documentation. The two pieces of alternative documentation must be different types, i.e., a pay stub and a telephone billnot two pay stubs or two telephone bills. At least one of these documents must contain the applicants current mailing address. The certificates will be mailed to the address displayed on the document(s) provided for identification. Acceptable documents are:

• Pay stub
• Current car registration
• Bank statement
• Letter from a government agency requesting a vital record
• Lease/rental agreement
• Utility bill with current address
• Copy of income tax return/W-2 form

Mailed in requests: a self-addressed, stamped, legal size envelope, must be sent along with the completed application and the payment.

Office Locations & Contacts

The Division of Vital Records
6550 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215

For general information regarding birth, death, or marriage certificates: 410-764-3038 (Baltimore local call)

Vital Statistics Administration - Website

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Allegany County : 3 Pershing Street Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: 301-777-5911 Website

Anne Arundel County : 7 Church Circle Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-222-7000 Website

Baltimore County : 400 Washington Ave Towson, MD 21204-4606
Phone: 410-887-2601 Website

Baltimore (Independent City) : Courthouse East 111 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Website

Calvert County : 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: 410-535-1600 Website

Caroline County : P O Box 207 109 Market Street Room 123 Denton, Maryland 21629
Phone: 410-479-1811 Website

Carroll County : 225 North Center St. Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: 410-876-2085 Website

Cecil County : 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite 2100 Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: 410-996-5201 Website

Charles County : PO Box B 200 Baltimore Street La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: 301-645-0550 Website

Dorchester County : 206 High Street/501 Court Lane P O Box 26 Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: 410-228-0480 Website

Frederick County : 12 East Church Street/100 W Patrick Street Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: 301-600-9000 Website

Garrett County : 203 South Fourth Street, Room 207 Oakland, Maryland, 21550
Phone: 301-334-8970 Website

Harford County : Room 304 20 West Courtland Street Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: 410-838-6000 Website

Howard County : 3430 Courthouse Drive Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 410-992-2025/410-313-3000 Website

Kent County : 400 High Street / 103 N Cross Street Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: 410-778-7435 Website

Montgomery County : 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 240-777-9466 Website

Prince George's County : 14735 Main Street Landover, Maryland 20772-3050
Phone: 301-350-9700 Website

Queen Anne's County : 107 N. Liberty St. Centreville, MD 21617
Phone:

Eligibility

• Surviving relative of the deceased
• Authorized representative of a surviving relative of the deceased
• Funeral director who was in charge of the final disposition of the body of the deceased
• An individual who has a proven legal need
• Court of law

Fees

Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

In person

• Certified copy: $12.00
• Additional copy: $12.00 each

Mail

• Certified copy: $12.00
• Additional copy: $12.00 each

Notes:

• Requests submitted in person: You may pay for the fee in cash, check, or money order.
• Mailed in requests: Include a check or money order only, made payable to the Division of Vital Records.
• If a record cannot be located, the certificate fee is not refunded and a Certification of Record Search will be provided.
• If you wish to obtain a copy of a certificate from a local health department, please be advised that you may be charged a processing fee in addition to the certificate fee. Get in touch with the local health department in your jurisdiction for more information on additional charges.
• Fees for current or former members of the armed forces: The Department does not collect a fee for:
  • a copy of a certificate of a current or former armed forces member that is requested by the member; or
  • a copy of a certificate of a current or former armed forces member or of a surviving spouse or child of the member, if the copy will be used in connection with a claim for a dependent or beneficiary of the member.

VitalChek

VitalChek, a nongovernmental agency, provides a credit card service (MasterCard, Visa, Visa Debit Card, Discover, and American Express) that may be used for telephone, online, and fax orders only. There is an additional $9.75 charge per order for this service. There is an additional fee of $15.50 if express mail is requested.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:

• Application for a copy of a Death Certificate - Word File / PDF / (Ingls / Espaol)-PDF

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

• Mailed in Request: You may receive your certificate in 3-4 weeks.
• In Person: Same day service available

Instructions

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. The Division issues certified copies of death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland in 1969 or thereafter. For copies of records for deaths that occurred prior to 1969, contact the Maryland State Archives

Local Health Department: 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, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County health departments. You must apply in person at the appropriate local health department.

Ways to obtain a copy of the death certificate: You may send your request by mail, in person or online.

Required Information

• Date of application
• Name of deceased (first/middle/last)
• Date of death (month/day/year)
• Place where death occurred (city or county and state)
• Number of copies requested
• Reason for request
• Relationship to deceased
• Applicant's full name (Name should be both printed and signed.)
• Current address

Need for the Document

A Death Certificate is a document issued by a registrar of vital statistics that declares the date, location and cause of a person's death.

A copy of the death certificate is often necessary when you execute the will or make funeral arrangements.

Following are procedures on how you can obtain a death certificate in Maryland.