To get a Maryland birth certificate, send a completed application, a photocopy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $10 check or money order to the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. That agency issues certified copies for any birth that occurred in Maryland from 1925 forward; earlier records are held by the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. You can also order online through VitalChek or apply in person by appointment.
Who Can Order One
Maryland limits access to birth records to people with a direct and tangible interest in the document. That includes the person named on the record, either parent listed on the certificate, a court-appointed legal guardian, a surviving spouse if the person named is deceased, and an authorized representative such as an attorney or someone holding power of attorney.1Cornell Law Institute. Maryland Code Regulations 10.03.01.08 – Inspection of Records and Disclosure of Information
An adoptee at least 21 years old can request their original birth certificate if the adoption was ordered on or after January 1, 2000, and a biological parent of such an adoptee can request it as well.
If you don’t fit one of these categories, the Division of Vital Records won’t issue you a certified copy. Genealogy researchers looking into relatives they aren’t directly connected to commonly hit this wall, though records older than 100 years held by the State Archives may fall under different access rules for historical research.
Information and ID You’ll Need
The application asks for identifying details so staff can pull the right file. Have this ready:
- Full name at birth
- Date of birth
- Place of birth, including the county or city and hospital if you know it
- Full name of the father
- Full maiden name of the mother
Get the mother’s maiden name right. It’s one of the primary identifiers the state uses to match records, and a mismatch is one of the most common reasons applications come back unfilled.
You also need to prove who you are. Maryland uses a tiered system. A single valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with an expiration date works on its own — a driver’s license, state nondriver ID card, or passport. If you don’t have one of those, submit a signed statement explaining why, plus two documents showing your name and current address, such as a utility bill, car registration, pay stub, bank statement, tax return, W-2, or lease agreement. If you have neither, you’ll need a signed statement plus another document the registrar can use to verify your identity.1Cornell Law Institute. Maryland Code Regulations 10.03.01.08 – Inspection of Records and Disclosure of Information
Send a photocopy of the ID with a mail application. Bring the original if you apply in person. The application itself is a downloadable PDF from the Maryland Department of Health.2Maryland Department of Health. Vital Statistics Administration – Request Birth Certificates
Three Ways to Order
By Mail
Send the completed application, a photocopy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $10 check or money order payable to the Division of Vital Records to: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036.3Maryland Department of Health. Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Birth Record Mail orders currently take about four weeks, so plan around any deadline you’re facing.4Maryland Department of Health. Division of Vital Records
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for Maryland vital records. Other sites claiming to process Maryland certificates are just forwarding your paperwork by mail, which adds cost without saving time. The $10 certificate fee still applies online, plus a $13 internet processing fee, and an optional $20 expedited shipping charge on top of that.5Maryland Department of Health. Fees If you aren’t in a rush, a $10 check in the mail is substantially cheaper.
In Person
The Division of Vital Records lobby in Baltimore takes walk-in requests by appointment only.4Maryland Department of Health. Division of Vital Records Some local health departments across Maryland also process requests for Maryland births. Bring your original photo ID, not a copy. Call ahead to confirm appointments and accepted payment methods, since not every local office handles vital records the same way.
Each additional certified copy is another $10. If you know several agencies will want originals, order them together and each will arrive with its own seal and signature.
Births Before 1925 and Out-of-State Births
The Division of Vital Records only holds Maryland birth records from 1925 to the present. For anything earlier, you need the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, which holds Maryland birth records from the mid-1800s through 1924. The Archives cannot process requests for records after 1924, and the Division cannot help with anything before it, so confirm the birth year before applying.6Maryland State Archives. Birth – Guide to Government Records
If you were born in another state but live in Maryland, the Division of Vital Records cannot help you. Birth certificates come from the state where the birth happened, so you’ll need to contact that state’s vital records office.
Note the difference between a certified copy and an informational copy. A certified copy carries the registrar’s seal and signature and is the only version accepted for legal purposes such as passports, school enrollment, and REAL ID. An informational copy is a photocopy without certification and won’t clear those uses.
Fixing an Error on the Certificate
Errors happen more often than people expect, from misspelled names to wrong dates. Maryland allows amendments under Health-General § 4-214, and the Division of Vital Records handles them directly. Clerical corrections require an affidavit and supporting evidence such as hospital records. Parents can add a first name that wasn’t recorded at birth, or change their child’s name within the first 12 months, by affidavit — no court order required in that window. Sex designation changes and establishing parentage each go through their own affidavit process. Substantial changes after the first year of life, including most name changes, need a court order.7Maryland Department of Health. Birth Certificate Corrections
The amendment fee is $10, plus another $10 for a new certified copy showing the change. Submit the paperwork by email to dvr.corrections@maryland.gov or by mail. The Division reviews the documentation after receiving your request and fee, and writes back if anything else is needed.7Maryland Department of Health. Birth Certificate Corrections
Using It for a Passport, REAL ID, or Abroad
A certified Maryland birth certificate is an accepted identity document for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card,8USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel and it serves as proof of citizenship for a U.S. passport application. Both uses require the certified copy with the registrar’s seal. A photocopy or informational copy will be rejected.
If you need the certificate for use in another country, you’ll likely need an apostille, an authentication recognized under the Hague Convention. The Maryland Secretary of State handles this for $5 per document, by mail or in person. The certificate must already be a certified copy with an official seal before it can be apostilled, and it does not need further authentication from the U.S. State Department afterward.9Maryland Secretary of State. Certifications and Apostilles