Frequently Asked Questions
International Orders
International orders can only be made by mail or by phone, as our online ecommerce credit card processor does not accept international addresses. To place an order by phone, please call our Help Desk at 410-260-6487. We accept Visa or Mastercard.
To place an order by mail, please print and fill out a copy of the order form and mail along with payment to:
Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Blvd
Annapolis, MD 21401
Checks should be made out to Maryland State Archives. Please do not send credit card information via email as this is a security risk. There is no additional fee to mail an order to an international address.
Birth Records
What birth certificates can I order?
The Archives has birth certificates from 1875 to 1922 for Baltimore City and 1898 to 1922 for Maryland counties. These birth years do not require any supporting documentation from the requestor.
Birth certificates from 1923-1924 require supporting documentation. You must either:
How do I order birth certificates for births after 1924?
For certificates after 1924, please contact:
The Maryland Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
6764B Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-764-3038
Do you have older birth records?
For information on birth records prior to the dates above please see our Guide to Government Records.
Can I order a long-form birth/death/marriage certificate?
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record, and is the only legal record of that birth/death/marriage. If you want a statement from us to that effect please note that in the “Additional Information” field on the order form.
Death Records
What death certificates can I order?
The Archives has death certificates from 1875 to 2012 for Baltimore City and 1898 to 2012 for Maryland counties. For death records prior to these dates please see Colonial Death Records and Parish Registers.
I need a recent death certificate. How do I get that?
For deaths after 2012, please contact:
The Maryland Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
6764B Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-764-3038
You may also place an order online at the Division of Vital Records website.
I need to order a Maryland resident’s death certificate, but they died elsewhere.
The Archives only has records for deaths that occurred in Maryland. A list of where to order vital records for events that occurred in each US state or territory can be found at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics website.
Can I order a long-form birth/death/marriage certificate?
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record, and is the only legal record of that birth/death/marriage. If you want a statement from us to that effect, please note that in the Additional Information field on the order form.
Marriage Certificates
What marriage certificates can I order?
The Archives has marriage certificates from 1914-2011. Additionally, we have marriage certificates from 2012-2013 for Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties only. For information on marriage records prior to these dates, by county, please see our Guide to Government Records.
Should I enter the bride’s maiden name or married name?
Please provide the name used at the time the marriage took place. This is most often a maiden name, but if the woman was divorced or widowed it could be the last name taken with that previous marriage. Please use the additional information field if you are unsure.
I need a copy of a marriage record for a foreign government and they are asking for a long-form certificate that gives the names of the bride and groom’s parents.
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record, and is the only legal record of that marriage. Maryland marriage certificates do not give the names of the bride and groom’s parents. If you want a statement from us to that effect, please note that in the Additional Information field on the order form.
Date not available for selection on order form
If the drop down menu for “Year” does not include the year of the case file you want, it is because the Archives does not yet have the files for that year. In that case, you will need to contact the appropriate court for further assistance:
Chancery Court records are the exception to this. Please use the Additional Information field to provide specific dates and details for Chancery Court record requests. Please email us at msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov if you have any questions or would like to verify dates.
Uncertified Copies
It says a certificate number is required, how do I find that?
You must use an index for that information. Indexes are available online through our research guides.
Can I get an uncertified copy of a marriage before 1951?
No. Many of our pre-1951 marriage records have not been digitized, or require a fair amount of research to locate, so we are currently unable to offer uncertified copies of those records.
What if I don’t know the exact date?
The exact month and year are needed for uncertified copies of marriage, birth, and death records.
As a service to family researchers who do not need a certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage record, we offer uncertified copies at a lower cost. To make this service possible, we require that you provide all the information needed to retrieve the record, in order to save staff the time needed to research the order. This information includes:
How do I know whether I need a certified or uncertified copy?
If you need a legally recognized copy of a record you need a certified copy. Record copies needed for IDs and passports, application for benefits, remarriage, or any other legal purposes must be certified. However, it is always best to check with the organization or individual that requested the record to see if an uncertified record might suffice for their specific purposes.
The index gave me a number for the county code. How do I find out what that means?
County codes are as follows:
The 19th century Baltimore City death record index I’m using only has a year, no date. What should I do?
We are aware that for 1875-1882, most Baltimore City death record indexes only give a year, not the exact day of death. Please provide the year and the certificate number, as well as the month, if given. You can make the month and day January 1st if the online order form refuses to process the order without a date. Please note this in the “Additional Information” field.
The exact date is required for all other years, unless you are ordering a certified copy.
Other Order Issues
Can I use a debit card?
You may use a Visa or Mastercard debit card.
If I order a certified copy, does it cost extra to check the “Provide Digital Copy” box?
There is no additional cost to receive a digital copy in addition to the certified hard copy.
How long will it take to receive my order?
The turnaround time for births/deaths/marriages is approximately two weeks.
Orders for all other types of records, such as divorce decrees, case files, criminal dispositions, and tax assessments, take approximately three weeks due to the additional research needed to locate and copy the record, as many are located at our off-site warehouse.
Can I pick up my online order in person?
Yes. In the “Additional Information” field, please note that you want to pick up your order in our lobby. Be sure to provide an email address and/or a phone number so we can contact you when your order is ready for pickup. We are located at:
Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Blvd
Annapolis, MD 21401
Please check our hours of operation for more information.
Can I order a long-form birth/death/marriage certificate?
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record. Please note that Maryland marriage certificates do not give the names of the bride and groom’s parents. If you want a statement from us to that effect, please note that in the Additional Information field on the order form.
Can the Archives produce translated copies of records?
No, the Archives can only provide copies of the original English-language records.
I want to get the original copy of a record. How can I do that?
The Archives does not give out original records. When creating certified copies, we produce black and white copies printed on regular printer paper accompanied by a letter stating that the copy is a true and accurate representation of the original. The record and accompanying letter are both embossed with the Archive’s seal.
How do I order a record with the blue paper?
The Archives does not use the blue paper that the Division of Vital Records uses when creating copies. Instead, the Archives produces copies on regular printer paper.
Does the Archives offer triple sealed or exemplified copies of records?
No, the Archives does not offer triple sealed copies as these typically come from a court of law, as they are signed by a judge and the clerk of court. As the official custodian of the records sent to us by the courts, the Archives’ raised, embossed seal on a record certifies that it is a true copy.
International orders can only be made by mail or by phone, as our online ecommerce credit card processor does not accept international addresses. To place an order by phone, please call our Help Desk at 410-260-6487. We accept Visa or Mastercard.
To place an order by mail, please print and fill out a copy of the order form and mail along with payment to:
Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Blvd
Annapolis, MD 21401
Checks should be made out to Maryland State Archives. Please do not send credit card information via email as this is a security risk. There is no additional fee to mail an order to an international address.
Birth Records
What birth certificates can I order?
The Archives has birth certificates from 1875 to 1922 for Baltimore City and 1898 to 1922 for Maryland counties. These birth years do not require any supporting documentation from the requestor.
Birth certificates from 1923-1924 require supporting documentation. You must either:
- prove that you are the person whose birth certificate you are ordering, or
- provide a Power of Attorney which shows you represent that person, or
- provide a death certificate showing that the person whose birth certificate you seek has died
How do I order birth certificates for births after 1924?
For certificates after 1924, please contact:
The Maryland Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
6764B Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-764-3038
Do you have older birth records?
For information on birth records prior to the dates above please see our Guide to Government Records.
Can I order a long-form birth/death/marriage certificate?
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record, and is the only legal record of that birth/death/marriage. If you want a statement from us to that effect please note that in the “Additional Information” field on the order form.
Death Records
What death certificates can I order?
The Archives has death certificates from 1875 to 2012 for Baltimore City and 1898 to 2012 for Maryland counties. For death records prior to these dates please see Colonial Death Records and Parish Registers.
I need a recent death certificate. How do I get that?
For deaths after 2012, please contact:
The Maryland Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
6764B Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-764-3038
You may also place an order online at the Division of Vital Records website.
I need to order a Maryland resident’s death certificate, but they died elsewhere.
The Archives only has records for deaths that occurred in Maryland. A list of where to order vital records for events that occurred in each US state or territory can be found at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics website.
Can I order a long-form birth/death/marriage certificate?
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record, and is the only legal record of that birth/death/marriage. If you want a statement from us to that effect, please note that in the Additional Information field on the order form.
Marriage Certificates
What marriage certificates can I order?
The Archives has marriage certificates from 1914-2011. Additionally, we have marriage certificates from 2012-2013 for Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties only. For information on marriage records prior to these dates, by county, please see our Guide to Government Records.
Should I enter the bride’s maiden name or married name?
Please provide the name used at the time the marriage took place. This is most often a maiden name, but if the woman was divorced or widowed it could be the last name taken with that previous marriage. Please use the additional information field if you are unsure.
I need a copy of a marriage record for a foreign government and they are asking for a long-form certificate that gives the names of the bride and groom’s parents.
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record, and is the only legal record of that marriage. Maryland marriage certificates do not give the names of the bride and groom’s parents. If you want a statement from us to that effect, please note that in the Additional Information field on the order form.
Date not available for selection on order form
If the drop down menu for “Year” does not include the year of the case file you want, it is because the Archives does not yet have the files for that year. In that case, you will need to contact the appropriate court for further assistance:
Chancery Court records are the exception to this. Please use the Additional Information field to provide specific dates and details for Chancery Court record requests. Please email us at msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov if you have any questions or would like to verify dates.
Uncertified Copies
It says a certificate number is required, how do I find that?
You must use an index for that information. Indexes are available online through our research guides.
Can I get an uncertified copy of a marriage before 1951?
No. Many of our pre-1951 marriage records have not been digitized, or require a fair amount of research to locate, so we are currently unable to offer uncertified copies of those records.
What if I don’t know the exact date?
The exact month and year are needed for uncertified copies of marriage, birth, and death records.
As a service to family researchers who do not need a certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage record, we offer uncertified copies at a lower cost. To make this service possible, we require that you provide all the information needed to retrieve the record, in order to save staff the time needed to research the order. This information includes:
- Name(s)
- Correct month & year
- County
- Certificate number of the record, if included in the index
How do I know whether I need a certified or uncertified copy?
If you need a legally recognized copy of a record you need a certified copy. Record copies needed for IDs and passports, application for benefits, remarriage, or any other legal purposes must be certified. However, it is always best to check with the organization or individual that requested the record to see if an uncertified record might suffice for their specific purposes.
The index gave me a number for the county code. How do I find out what that means?
County codes are as follows:
- Allegany (01)
- Anne Arundel (02)
- Baltimore (03)
- Baltimore City (30 or 24)
- Calvert (04)
- Caroline (05)
- Carroll (06)
- Cecil (07)
- Charles (08)
- Dorchester (09)
- Frederick (10)
- Garrett (11)
- Harford (12)
- Howard (13)
- Kent (14)
- Montgomery (15)
- Prince George's (16)
- Queen Anne's (17)
- St.Mary's (18)
- Somerset (19)
- Talbot (20)
- Washington (21)
- Wicomico (22)
- Worcester (23)
The 19th century Baltimore City death record index I’m using only has a year, no date. What should I do?
We are aware that for 1875-1882, most Baltimore City death record indexes only give a year, not the exact day of death. Please provide the year and the certificate number, as well as the month, if given. You can make the month and day January 1st if the online order form refuses to process the order without a date. Please note this in the “Additional Information” field.
The exact date is required for all other years, unless you are ordering a certified copy.
Other Order Issues
Can I use a debit card?
You may use a Visa or Mastercard debit card.
If I order a certified copy, does it cost extra to check the “Provide Digital Copy” box?
There is no additional cost to receive a digital copy in addition to the certified hard copy.
How long will it take to receive my order?
The turnaround time for births/deaths/marriages is approximately two weeks.
Orders for all other types of records, such as divorce decrees, case files, criminal dispositions, and tax assessments, take approximately three weeks due to the additional research needed to locate and copy the record, as many are located at our off-site warehouse.
Can I pick up my online order in person?
Yes. In the “Additional Information” field, please note that you want to pick up your order in our lobby. Be sure to provide an email address and/or a phone number so we can contact you when your order is ready for pickup. We are located at:
Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Blvd
Annapolis, MD 21401
Please check our hours of operation for more information.
Can I order a long-form birth/death/marriage certificate?
The State of Maryland does not create separate long and short form certificates. The certified copy of the record we provide is a true copy of the original record. Please note that Maryland marriage certificates do not give the names of the bride and groom’s parents. If you want a statement from us to that effect, please note that in the Additional Information field on the order form.
Can the Archives produce translated copies of records?
No, the Archives can only provide copies of the original English-language records.
I want to get the original copy of a record. How can I do that?
The Archives does not give out original records. When creating certified copies, we produce black and white copies printed on regular printer paper accompanied by a letter stating that the copy is a true and accurate representation of the original. The record and accompanying letter are both embossed with the Archive’s seal.
How do I order a record with the blue paper?
The Archives does not use the blue paper that the Division of Vital Records uses when creating copies. Instead, the Archives produces copies on regular printer paper.
Does the Archives offer triple sealed or exemplified copies of records?
No, the Archives does not offer triple sealed copies as these typically come from a court of law, as they are signed by a judge and the clerk of court. As the official custodian of the records sent to us by the courts, the Archives’ raised, embossed seal on a record certifies that it is a true copy.