To get a Maryland death certificate, order a certified copy from the Maryland Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records (DVR), which handles deaths that occurred in the state.1Maryland Department of Health. Division of Vital Records You can apply online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at a local health department. The first certified copy is $10, and each additional copy ordered in the same transaction is $12.2Maryland Department of Health. Fees Walk-in orders can be issued the same day; mail and online orders currently take several weeks.
Who Can Request a Certified Copy
Maryland limits access to people with a “direct and tangible interest” in the record, but the eligible categories reach well beyond immediate family.3Cornell Law Institute. COMAR 10.03.01.08 – Inspection of Records and Disclosure You qualify if you are:
- A surviving relative or authorized representative of the deceased
- A beneficiary of the deceased, such as a life insurance or retirement account beneficiary
- An estate representative establishing or settling the estate
- A creditor of the deceased
- An insurance or benefits provider that paid benefits to the deceased or owes benefits to the deceased’s beneficiaries
- A party to a property transfer that needs proof of death to pass clear title
- A party to litigation where the person’s death is at issue
- A government official acting in an official capacity
- The funeral director who handled final disposition
Anyone holding a valid subpoena from a court or an administrative body with subpoena authority can also obtain a copy.3Cornell Law Institute. COMAR 10.03.01.08 – Inspection of Records and Disclosure
What You Need Before You Apply
Gather the deceased’s full legal name, date of death, and the city or county where the death occurred. The application also asks why you need the certificate, such as estate settlement, an insurance claim, or Social Security. The form is a downloadable PDF on the DVR website.4Maryland Department of Health. Request Death and Fetal Death Certificates
Acceptable ID
You must present a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID showing both an issue date and an expiration date. A Maryland driver’s license or a U.S. passport meets the requirement. If you don’t have a qualifying photo ID, Maryland accepts two alternative documents, and at least one must show your current mailing address. Alternatives include a utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, car registration, lease, tax return or W-2, or a letter from a government agency requesting a vital record.5Maryland Department of Health. Vital Statistics Administration – ID Requirements
How Many Copies to Order
Order more than you think you need. Banks, life insurance companies, retirement account custodians, brokerage firms, the Social Security Administration, and probate courts each typically require their own original certified copy, and photocopies aren’t accepted. For most estates, five to ten copies covers the work; if the deceased held property in multiple counties, several bank accounts, or multiple insurance policies, closer to a dozen is realistic. Ordering copies together at $12 each is cheaper than coming back later.
The Three Ways to Order
Online Through VitalChek
DVR takes online orders through its contracted vendor, VitalChek. You complete the application on the VitalChek portal, verify your identity, and pay by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the state certificate cost. Online orders currently take about five weeks with regular shipping, or roughly three weeks with expedited shipping.6Maryland Department of Health. Vital Statistics Administration – Processing Time
By Mail
Send the completed application, a copy of your photo ID (or two acceptable alternative documents), and a check or money order payable to “DVR” to:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-00364Maryland Department of Health. Request Death and Fetal Death Certificates
Mail orders currently take about six weeks to process, not counting time in the mail either way.6Maryland Department of Health. Vital Statistics Administration – Processing Time
In Person at a Local Health Department
If you need the certificate quickly, a walk-in at a local health department is the fastest route. Same-day processing is available.6Maryland Department of Health. Vital Statistics Administration – Processing Time Local health departments can issue certificates for deaths on or after January 1, 2015. For deaths before that date, you’ll need the state DVR office in Baltimore. Credit card payments at a health department may carry a small processing surcharge.
Correcting an Error on the Certificate
Mistakes on death certificates are common, especially with name spellings, dates, and demographic details filled in during a difficult time. To correct one, submit the “Request for Correction/Amendment to Death Certificate Form” to the DVR with the required supporting documentation and a $10 fee by check or money order.7Maryland Department of Health. Death Certificate Corrections The second page of the form lists what documentation is required for each type of change.
Pay attention to the three-year deadline. Any correction requested more than three years after the date of death requires a court order, meaning you’ll need to file a petition and have a judge authorize the change. The only exception: the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner can amend the cause of death at any time without a court order.8Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Health-General 4-214 – Amendments to Vital Records Corrections currently take about ten weeks to process.6Maryland Department of Health. Vital Statistics Administration – Processing Time
Records Older Than Ten Years
A Maryland death record more than ten years old is classified as an “unrestricted vital record” once it reaches the Maryland State Archives, meaning genealogists and researchers can access it without proving a personal connection.9New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland State Government Code 9-1015 – Vital Records and Indexes The Archives holds a limited collection of older death records; most remain with the DVR.10Maryland State Archives. Guide to Government Records – Death Records For records under ten years old, you still go through the DVR and meet the eligibility rules above. For decades-old family history research, start with the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis and expect a few weeks of turnaround.
If the Death Happened Outside Maryland
Maryland DVR only issues certificates for deaths that occurred in Maryland. If a Maryland resident died in another country, the foreign government issues the initial death certificate, and for a U.S.-recognized document you’ll need a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRODA) from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The embassy will ask for the original foreign death certificate, the deceased’s U.S. passport, and a completed informational questionnaire.11U.S. Mission Ireland. Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad The embassy emails the CRODA to the next of kin and returns the originals by mail. A CRODA is accepted as proof of death in U.S. courts for estate and benefits purposes.