How to Find Maryland Vital Records

Maryland vital records include birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Find out how you can best get the MD vital records you want and approximately how much these records will cost you.

Maryland, known as the 'Free State', has an estimated population of  5,600,388 (year 2005 estimates). Now that creates a lot of vital records doesn't it? Well, fear not; plenty of vital records or not, it is not that difficult to locate vital records in Maryland. That is, if you provide as many accurate information as you can.

Vital records represent four main life events: birth, death marriage, and divorce. You can thus imagine that everyday, thousands of these records are created so if you are looking for a specific MD vital record, the chances of it being found fast depends on how much data you provide and how accurate these information are.

MD Vital Records - What You Should Provide

Following is a quick run-down of the information you should have in hand even before you start on your search for MD vital records.

• The complete name of the person whose vital record is being located.

• County, city or town where the birth, death, marriage or divorce took place.

• Exact (or approximate) birth, death , marriage or divorce dates.

• The requesters' relationship to the individuals whose records they're asking for.

• Your (requester) full name, signature and contact details.

• Your reason for requesting copies of the records.

• Self-addressed and stamped envelopes.

How Much Will Maryland Vital Records Cost You?

Following is a quick rundown of approximately how much is required to get copies of pertinent vital records in Maryland from the resource mentioned below.

Copy of State Birth Record - $6.00 (Commemorative Birth Certificates are available for $25.00).

Copy of State Death Record - $6.00

Maryland state birth and death records are on file from the date August 1898 onwards. However, Baltimore birth and death record are available from January 1875.

Copy of State Marriage Record - $6.00 (record are available since June 1951.

Copy of County Marriage Record - rate varies depending on the county where the marriage took place. To find out how much it will cost (and for any other information you need), send a letter of request to the Clerk of Circuit Court of the county where the marriage license was issued. (For Baltimore city, you can direct your letter to the Clerk of Court of Common Pleas for licenses issued in this city.

Copy of State Divorce Record -  rate varies.

Copy of County Divorce Record - rate varies.

Maryland divorce records are on file from the date January 1961 onwards. To find out how much these records cost (and for any other information you need), send a letter of request to the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.

* Fees are quoted as of this writing. To check for any changes, pls. call the number cited below.

Useful Maryland Vital Records Resource

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Division of Vital Records
6550 Reistertown Avenue
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020

Tel: (410) 764-3038

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