How to get a Maryland death certificate

In Maryland, order a certified death certificate from the Maryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration, Division of Vital Records.¹ DVR issues deaths from 2012 on; earlier deaths from the Maryland State Archives; some local health departments also issue.² The first copy costs $10³ and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $12³. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day⁴.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Maryland death certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Maryland death certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	$10³ first, $12³ each extra copy, plus $13³ internet surcharge + one extra charge	5 weeks with regular shipping; 3 weeks with expedited shipping⁴	Card²
By mail	$10¹ first, $12¹ each extra copy	Up to 6 weeks⁴	Check and money order³
In person	$10³ first, $12³ each extra copy	Same day⁴	Card³
At a local office	Set by each office, for example $18⁵ or $25⁵	–	Cash, check, money order and card⁵

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor: VitalChek Network, Inc.²
Vendor status: The state's only authorized vendor⁶
Fees: First copy $10³
Each additional copy in the same order $12³
Internet surcharge $13³
Expedited shipping (internet orders only) $20³
Processing time: 5 weeks with regular shipping; 3 weeks with expedited shipping⁴
Expedited service: $20. Expedited shipping; MDH lists online time as 3 weeks with expedited vs 5 weeks with regular shipping³
Payment: Card²

Good to know

Other internet vendors are not controlled by MDH²
Other online services only request the record by mail on your behalf⁶
Funeral homes use a separate VitalChek Funeral Home Portal (orders processed in 1-2 business days; UPS flat rate $18)⁷

Go to the ordering site²

By mail

Fees: First copy $10¹
Each additional copy in the same order $12¹
Processing time: Up to 6 weeks⁴
Expedited service: Not offered²
Payment: Check and money order³
Make payable to: Division of Vital Records³
Mail to: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036
⁸

Good to know

Entitlement documentation must accompany mail requests²

Open the application or mail instructions²

In person

Run by: Division of Vital Records, Baltimore lobby⁹
Fees: First copy $10³
Each additional copy in the same order $12³
Processing time: Same day⁴
Payment: Card³
Office: Division of Vital Records, 6764B Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Road Plaza (rear), Baltimore, MD 21215
⁹
Hours: By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:00 pm⁹
Appointment: Required⁸

Good to know

Same-day lobby service is only for applicants with valid photo ID; others are mailed¹⁰

Open the official page⁹

At a local office

Run by: Maryland local (county) health departments⁵
Fees: First copy $18⁵
Each additional copy in the same order $20⁵
Per copy $25⁵
Payment: Cash, check, money order and card⁵

Good to know

Baltimore City and Baltimore County health departments do not issue certificates⁵
Local fees vary by county³

Find a local office⁵

What a Maryland death certificate costs

First certified copy: $10³
Each additional copy, same order: $12³
Expedite fee: $20³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee²

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy of Maryland death certificate¹	–	$10³
Certification of Record Search²	–	$10¹¹

No-fee copies

Who: current or former armed forces member (own certificate), or member/surviving spouse/child for a dependent or beneficiary claim; Fee: none; Proof: proof of service¹
Who: surviving spouse or child of a first responder killed in the line of duty, for a dependent/beneficiary claim; Fee: none¹¹

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	5 weeks with regular shipping; 3 weeks with expedited shipping⁴
By mail	Up to 6 weeks⁴
In person	Same day⁴

Who can order a Maryland death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

Attorney or legal representative²
Executor or estate administrator¹²
Proof: Letter of Administration¹²
Funeral director: Funeral director who was in charge of the final disposition of the body of the deceased.²
Person named in a court order¹²
Proof: Copy of the court order¹²
If making an insurance claim or other type of business need, you must provide documentation such as¹²

ID you need

Photo ID: Required¹³
Accepted ID: Valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID displaying issued and expiration dates
State issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID with requestor's current address
Passport¹
Without that ID: Pay stub
Current car registration
Bank statement
Letter from a government agency requesting a vital record
Lease/rental agreement
Utility bill with current address
Copy of income tax return/W-2 form
¹³
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID¹

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.¹

Requester signature, date, name, address, phone, email
Relationship to decedent
Entitlement documentation
Name of decedent
Date of death
Age at death
Sex
Place of death (county or Baltimore City)
Name of funeral home
Reason for requesting
Number of copies

Forms

Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record Rev. 10/21¹

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 2012 to today²
Older records: Maryland State Archives (deaths before 2012; Archives holds 1875/1898-2014)²

Special situations

Fetal death: Fetal death certificates: $12 per copy³ Details
Military and veterans: Who: current or former armed forces member (own certificate), or member/surviving spouse/child for a dependent or beneficiary claim; Fee: none; Proof: proof of service¹ Details

Warnings from the office

Vital Chek is the only authorized online vendor; other online services just request the record by mail⁶
Phone scam targeting people who misdial the DVR number¹⁴
Phishing scams: VSA does not upload records to external accounts¹⁴
Only applicants with a direct and tangible interest (COMAR 10.03.08) may get a copy¹

The state office

Office: Division of Vital Records (DVR), Vital Statistics Administration¹⁵
Email: [email protected]¹⁴
Mailing address: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036
⁸
Walk-in address: Division of Vital Records, 6764B Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Road Plaza (rear), Baltimore, MD 21215
⁹
Hours: By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:00 pm⁹
Appointments: Required⁸
Website: Official website¹⁴

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Maryland death certificate?

The first copy costs $10 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $12.³

How long does it take to get a Maryland death certificate?

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.: 5 weeks with regular shipping; 3 weeks with expedited shipping. By mail: up to 6 weeks. In person: same day.⁴

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Division of Vital Records.³

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID displaying issued and expiration dates; State issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID with requestor's current address; passport.¹

Where are older Maryland death certificates kept?

Maryland State Archives (deaths before 2012; Archives holds 1875/1898-2014).²

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death RecordMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administrationdated October 1, 2021
Request Death and Fetal Death CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Maryland Department of Health: FeesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Processing TimeMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Local Health DepartmentsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Division of Vital RecordsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Information for Morticians and Funeral DirectorsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Request Birth CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
DVR Location, Directions and HoursMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Application for Verification of Divorce Record (VRC-81)Maryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administrationdated June 1, 2017
Md. Code, Health-General § 4-217Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code: Health-General Article)
Death Certificate Entitlement DocumentationMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
ID RequirementsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Vital Statistics Administration homeMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Maryland Department of Health: ContactMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration