Certified Copies in Maryland: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Maryland
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Maryland, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $10.00
- Death certificate
- $10.00 first copy, $12.00 each additional on the same order
- Marriage
- $12.00
- Divorce
- $12.00
Vital records
Issued by: Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
Post to: Division of Vital Records, Department of Health, 6764-B Reisterstown Road, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-2306
Verify current fees: (410) 764-3038
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $10.00 |
| Death | $10.00 first copy, $12.00 each additional on the same order |
| Marriage | $12.00 |
| Divorce | $12.00 |
What Maryland requires
- Births from August 1898 statewide, Baltimore city from January 1875; deaths from 1969; marriages from January 1990; divorces from January 1992.
- Older records are at the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Maryland entity come from Maryland Secretary of State, Certifications, normally online and often the same day.
Maryland Secretary of State, Certifications
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Maryland goes through Maryland Secretary of State, Certifications, at $5.00 per certification or apostille. Note that Maryland also requires a county-level step for notarised documents, though a certified vital record issued by the registrar skips it.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Maryland birth certificate?
From Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Post to Division of Vital Records, Department of Health, 6764-B Reisterstown Road, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-2306. A certified copy is $10.00.
Does the Maryland Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Maryland reject?
Births from August 1898 statewide, Baltimore city from January 1875; deaths from 1969; marriages from January 1990; divorces from January 1992.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
