The Division of Vital Records will be closed for the following holidays:
New Year's Day**	Friday, December 31, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr Birthday	Monday, January 17, 2011
President's Day	Monday, February 21, 2011
Service Reduction Day	Friday, May 27, 2011
Memorial Day	Monday, May 30, 2011
Independence Day	Monday, July 4, 2011
Service Reduction Day	Friday, September 2, 2011
Labor Day	Monday, September 5, 2011
Columbus Day	Monday, October 10, 2011
Veteran's Day	Friday, November 11, 2011
Service Reduction Day	Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanksgiving Day	Thursday, November 24, 2011
American Indian Heritage Day	Friday, November 25, 2011
Service Reduction Day	Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas Day*	Monday, December 26, 2011
Service Reduction Day	Friday, December 30, 2011
* When a State holiday occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday is observed on the Friday before or the Monday after the actual holiday, respectively. ** The New Year's Day holiday for 2011 will be observed in the 2010 calendar year because the holiday occurs on a Saturday.

The 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 provides information on procedures to follow for registering an adoption, legitimation, or an adjudication of paternity. Refer to each section on this site for more information in each area.

The Division of Vital Records is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Offices are closed on State holidays.

For a recorded message about birth, death, or marriage certificates, call 410-764-3038 (Baltimore local call) or 1-800-832-3277 (toll-free call).

TO APPLY IN PERSON OR BY MAIL:

Come in or write to:

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

Map and Directions

Most birth certificates for individuals born in Maryland after 1939 are also available for same day service at local health departments in all jurisdictions except Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County. In order to receive same day service, an applicant will be required to present valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification. The identification must have a date issued and an expiration date.

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 we have partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc. VitalChek can be reached either through its website, http://www.vitalchek.com.  An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.

FOR RETURN MAIL SERVICE: Enclose a self-addressed, stamped, legal size envelope and proper payment.

FEES*

Fees vary depending on type of certificate and type of service requested. When applying in person, you may use cash, check, or money order. When mailing an application, 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.  Please check with the local health department in your jurisdiction for more information on additional charges.

Birth certificates and related services

When obtaining a birth certificate or a related service from the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore, there is a $24 fee:

• For each certified or abridged copy of a birth certificate;
• For a report that a search of the files was made and the requested record is not on file; or
• For each change to a certificate made later than one year after the certificate has been registered with the Department.

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. Orders may be placed Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. 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.

*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.