Maryland Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Who Can Get One

The Maryland Department of Health's Division of Vital Records (DVR) issues certified copies of Maryland birth certificates, and some county health departments issue them too. The state fee is $10.00 per copy.

You can order online through VitalChek, by mail, in the DVR lobby by appointment, or at a participating local health department. For other states, see our guide to birth certificates by state.

Information last verified on October 8, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

This page covers ordering, fees, eligibility, corrections, sex designation changes and delayed registration for Maryland birth certificates, based on the Maryland Department of Health's vital records pages and Title 4, Subtitle 2 of the Health-General Article of the Maryland Code.

How to order a Maryland birth certificate

DVR's birth certificates page describes three routes: online, by mail, and in person at the DVR lobby or at some local health departments.

Online through VitalChek. DVR says you can process online requests through an independent company it has partnered with, VitalChek Network, Inc. An extra fee applies. Expedited shipping is available only on internet orders.

By mail. Complete the application and mail it with your payment, a self-addressed envelope and a photocopy of your identification to the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036. Pay by check or money order payable to the Division of Vital Records. DVR notes that expedited shipping is not available when ordering by mail.

In person. The DVR lobby serves customers by appointment only. DVR's recorded information line is (410) 764-3038 or (800) 832-3277.

At a local health department. Some county health departments issue birth certificates; see the county section below.

DVR also warns about phone scams: it says it will never ask for your Social Security number or credit card PIN. DVR says it has no control over the fees or services of Internet vendors other than VitalChek and cannot guarantee the confidentiality of data given to them, so order from DVR, VitalChek or a local health department on DVR's list.

How much does a Maryland birth certificate cost?

These fees come from DVR's fee schedule and its mail application.

Under Health-General 4-217(c), the Department collects a $10 fee for each certified or abridged copy of a birth certificate. DVR accepts major credit cards for lobby and internet orders.

Free copies for service members and veterans

The mail application says there is no fee for a current or former armed forces member's own certificate requested by the member, or for the certificate of the member or of the member's surviving spouse or child when it will be used for a claim as the member's dependent or beneficiary, with proof of service. Health-General 4-217(c)(6) also bars the Department from charging a homeless individual for one copy of a birth certificate per transaction, with a signed statement from a Maryland homeless services provider.

How long does it take?

DVR's processing-time page lists these estimates and says it has temporarily increased processing times because of high demand:

• DVR lobby: same day.
• Mail: 6 weeks.
• Online: 5 weeks with regular shipping, 3 weeks with expedited shipping.
• Corrections: 10 weeks.
• Commemorative birth certificate: 8 to 12 weeks.

These are the agency's published estimates, not guarantees.

Who can get a certified copy of a Maryland birth certificate?

Maryland restricts certified copies. Under Health-General 4-217(b)(1), a certified or abridged copy of a birth certificate may be issued only on a court order; on request of the individual named; on request of a parent, guardian, surviving spouse or other authorized representative; or under Title 5, Subtitle 3A or Subtitle 4B of the Family Law Article (adoption). The statute also bars giving out birth certificate information for commercial solicitation or private gain.

DVR's mail application spells out who that means in practice:

• The person named on the certificate
• A parent named on the certificate
• A court-appointed guardian, with proof (a foster care appointment is not acceptable)
• A representative with a notarized letter signed by the person named, a parent or a guardian granting permission
• A surviving spouse
• An individual with a court order

For how Maryland compares with other states, see are birth certificates public records.

ID requirements

DVR's ID requirements page says the applicant must present a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID showing issue and expiration dates. If you do not have one, you can submit two different alternative documents, at least one showing your current mailing address. Examples include a pay stub, car registration, bank statement, government letter, lease, utility bill, or tax return or W-2.

Certificate of Birth vs. Certification of Birth

DVR's page on how to identify a certified birth certificate says only a document titled Certificate of Birth or Certificate of Live Birth is a certified birth certificate. It warns that documents containing the term "Certification of Birth" are not birth certificates; they were birth registration notices. If you hold one of those, order a certified copy before you apply for a passport or license.

For a first U.S. passport, federal rules generally require a birth certificate that shows your full name, place and date of birth and your parents' full names, is signed by the official custodian of birth records, carries the issuing office's seal, and shows a filing date within one year of birth (22 CFR 51.42). The federal REAL ID rule lists a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the vital statistics office of your state of birth as an acceptable identity document (6 CFR 37.11).

County health departments

Under Health-General 4-217(a)(2), a local health department may provide authorized persons with a certified or abridged copy of a birth certificate. DVR's local health department list shows which ones do, and their fees vary by jurisdiction. Examples from that list:

• Allegany County: issues birth certificates to walk-in customers; $20.
• Anne Arundel County: birth certificates by appointment only.
• Baltimore City and Baltimore County: no certificate issuance service.

Check DVR's list for your county's hours, fee and whether you need an appointment before you go.

Correcting or amending a Maryland birth certificate

DVR's corrections page says to mail the request to amend a birth record form with a $10 amendment fee and a $10 certificate fee. DVR's fee page says there is no cost for birth corrections made within the first year of the event. Amendments are governed by Health-General 4-214, and DVR lists processing at about 10 weeks.

DVR provides separate forms for correcting information, adding a given name, changing the sex designation, the Affidavit of Parentage, and amending under a court order.

Adding a parent

DVR's amendment forms include an Affidavit of Parentage. DVR says the affidavit cannot be used if the parent who gave birth was married at any time during the pregnancy.

Changing a child's name or a legal name

DVR's name change page says a child's name may be changed once within the first 12 months by a notarized affidavit and a written request from both parents, or from the only parent if just one is named on the certificate. Additional changes, or changes once the child is over one year old, require a court order. Our guide to Maryland name change laws covers the court process.

Changing the sex designation

DVR's sex designation page says an individual born in Maryland whose sex has been changed or who has been diagnosed with an intersex condition may apply for a Certificate of Live Birth that reflects a change in sex designation. Under Health-General 4-211(b), the request needs a signed statement, under penalty of perjury, from a licensed health care practitioner who treated or evaluated the person, or a court order. Changing the name on the certificate requires a court order.

The DVR page is undated; we read it on October 8, 2026. Confirm the current form and process with DVR before applying.

Delayed registration: a birth never recorded

DVR says a person born in Maryland whose birth was never registered may apply for a delayed certificate of birth by contacting DVR at (410) 764-3038. Under Health-General 4-210, if the Secretary rejects a delayed certificate, the person may petition a court for an order establishing a record of birth. DVR's pages do not list the evidence required or a fee, so call the office before you gather documents.

For a passport, a certificate filed more than a year after birth does not meet the federal standard for primary evidence on its own (22 CFR 51.42).

Adoption

After an adoption, Maryland may prepare a new birth certificate. Under Health-General 4-211, the Secretary may not make a new certificate if the court, the adoptive parents or an adult adoptee so directs. Access to the original record depends on state law, and our guide to Maryland adoption records covers those rules.

Older records and genealogy

DVR's mail application says birth records filed over 100 years ago are available through the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis (410-260-6400). DVR's genealogy page refers researchers to archives and libraries for older records.

This article is general legal information about Maryland birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change, so confirm current requirements with the Maryland Department of Health's Division of Vital Records before you order. Information last verified on October 8, 2026.

Related

• Birth certificates by state
• Are birth certificates public records?
• Maryland adoption records
• Maryland name change laws

Last updated: October 8, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a birth certificate in Maryland?

The Division of Vital Records charges $10.00 per certified copy. Online orders through VitalChek carry an extra $13.00 internet fee on DVR's fee table, and local health departments set their own fees (Allegany County charges $20).

Can I get a Maryland birth certificate the same day?

DVR lists lobby orders as same day, but its lobby is open by appointment only. Some local health departments, such as Allegany County, also serve walk-in customers.

How long does it take to get a Maryland birth certificate by mail?

DVR's processing-time page lists mail orders at 6 weeks. Expedited shipping is not available on mail orders.

Who can order a Maryland birth certificate?

Under Health-General 4-217(b), a certified copy goes only to the person named, a parent, guardian, surviving spouse or other authorized representative, on a court order, or under the adoption provisions of the Family Law Article.

Can I get a birth certificate in Baltimore City?

Not from the Baltimore City or Baltimore County health departments, which DVR lists as offering no certificate issuance service. The Division of Vital Records lobby takes orders by appointment.

How do I correct a birth certificate in Maryland?

Send DVR the request to amend a birth record form with a $10 amendment fee and a $10 certificate fee. DVR lists corrections at about 10 weeks.

Is a Certification of Birth the same as a Maryland birth certificate?

No. DVR says documents containing the term Certification of Birth are not birth certificates; they were birth registration notices. Only a Certificate of Birth or Certificate of Live Birth is a certified birth certificate.

Where can I find old Maryland birth records?

DVR says birth records filed over 100 years ago are available through the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis (410-260-6400).