How to get a Maryland marriage certificate
In Maryland, order a certified marriage certificate from the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.1 Before 2007: the circuit court of the county where the marriage took place, or the Maryland State Archives.1 Each certified copy costs $122. 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 day3.
On this page
- Ways to order
- What a Maryland marriage certificate costs
- How long it takes
- Who can order a Maryland marriage certificate
- ID you need
- What the application asks for
- Which office holds a marriage record
- 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. | $122, plus $132 internet surcharge + one extra charge | 5 weeks with regular shipping; 3 weeks with expedited shipping3 | Card1 |
| By mail | $124 | Up to 6 weeks3 | Check and money order2 |
| In person | $122 | Same day3 | Card2 |
| At a local office | $5.505 (Montgomery County) | – | – |
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.
- Vendor
- VitalChek Network, Inc.1
- Vendor status
- The state's only authorized vendor6
- Processing time
- 5 weeks with regular shipping; 3 weeks with expedited shipping3
- Expedited service
- $20. Expedited shipping; MDH lists online time as 3 weeks with expedited vs 5 weeks with regular shipping2
- Payment
- Card1
Good to know
By mail
In person
- Run by
- Division of Vital Records, Baltimore lobby8
- Fees
- Per copy $122
- Processing time
- Same day3
- Payment
- Card2
- Office
- Division of Vital Records, 6764B Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Road Plaza (rear), Baltimore, MD 212158
- Hours
- By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:00 pm8
- Appointment
- Required7
Good to know
- Same-day lobby service is only for applicants with valid photo ID; others are mailed9
At a local office
- Run by
- Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county where the license was issued4
What a Maryland marriage certificate costs
- First certified copy
- $122
- Each additional copy
- $124
- Expedite fee
- $202
- If no record is found
- The fee is kept as a search fee1
Types of copies
| Copy | Accepted for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of Maryland marriage certificate4 | – | $122 |
| Certification of Record Search1 | – | $1211 |
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 service4
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 shipping3 |
| By mail | Up to 6 weeks3 |
| In person | Same day3 |
Who can order a Maryland marriage certificate
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- The person named on the record1
- Attorney or legal representative:
Representative of either spouse named on the record.
1
Proof: Notarized letter of permission signed by one of the spouses1 Attorney representing either spouse named on the record.
1
Proof: Proof the attorney represents the spouse1- Person named in a court order4
ID you need
- Photo ID
- Required12
- 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
- Passport4
- 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
- ID copy with a mail order
- Include a copy of your ID4
What the application asks for
Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.4
- Requester details and relationship
- Names of spouses (and birth names if different)
- Date of marriage
- Place of marriage (county or Baltimore City)
- Person you represent (if applicable)
- Reason for request
- Number of copies
Which office holds a marriage record
Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license, and also from the state vital records office1; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.
Forms
Years held and older records
- Years the issuing office holds
- Jan. 1, 2007 to today1
- Older records
- Circuit court of the county where the marriage took place, or the Maryland State Archives (1952-2011/2015)1
Special situations
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 number13
- Phishing scams: VSA does not upload records to external accounts13
- DVR cannot correct marriage or divorce records14
The state office
- Office
- Division of Vital Records (DVR), Vital Statistics Administration15
- [email protected]13
- Mailing address
- Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-00367
- Walk-in address
- Division of Vital Records, 6764B Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Road Plaza (rear), Baltimore, MD 212158
- Hours
- By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:00 pm8
- Appointments
- Required7
- Website
- Official website13
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get a Maryland marriage 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.3
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: Division of Vital Records.2
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.4
Where are older Maryland marriage certificates kept?
Circuit court of the county where the marriage took place, or the Maryland State Archives (1952-2011/2015).1
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.
- Request Marriage 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
- Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Marriage RecordMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administrationdated April 1, 2018
- Montgomery County Circuit Court: How Do I Get a Marriage License?Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Clerk (Montgomery County Government site)
- Division of Vital RecordsMaryland 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
- Circuit Court Fee ScheduleMaryland Judiciary, Administrative Office of the Courtsdated September 2, 2026
- Md. Code, Health-General § 4-217Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code: Health-General Article)
- ID RequirementsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
- Vital Statistics Administration homeMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
- Request CorrectionsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
- Maryland Department of Health: ContactMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration