How to Find Maryland Birth Records

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How to Find United States Births Maryland Births


 * Some births were recorded in colonial Maryland but not many survived or were ever recorded.
 * Birth registration started in 1865.
 * 1875 Baltimore City began recording births.
 * 1898 All counties in Maryland began recording births, although full compliance did not happen until about 1910.
 * Births are restricted for 100 years to immediate family members.

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Next Step: When did the birth occur?

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 * Birth Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * 1654 thru 1693
 * 1694 thru 1864
 * 1865 thru 1884--County Circuit Court
 * 1875 thru 1972--Baltimore City
 * 1898 thru 1972--County
 * 1973 thru 1978--State
 * 1979 thru present-- State
 * Birth year unknown


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Births 1654 thru 1693
Births were to be recorded by the clerk of the county court. Very few records exist.


 * Charles County Court 1654-1706
 * Somerset County Court 1649-1720
 * Talbot County Court 1657-1691

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
Copies Birth records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

. Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by county or city.
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births 1694 thru 1864

 * No government records were kept.
 * In 1694 the Clerks of the Protestant Episcopal Church were required to keep record of all births, regardless of the family's membership.
 * Other denominations kept their own records of births.

Copies of Church birth records may be available from the Maryland State Archives or in the Family History Library Catalog.

Use substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1865 thru 1884

 * 1865 - Maryland law required county circuit courts to record births
 * Low compliance with the law
 * List of counties which kept some records during this time period
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in church records.

For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
Copies Birth records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

. Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by county circuit court records.
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Maryland Department of Health office.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: For a fee, the Maryland Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1898 thru 1972
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Maryland Vital Registration office.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: For a fee, the Maryland Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1973 thru 1978
On July 1, 1972, all births, including Baltimore City, began registration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records.
 * These records are under the 100-year restriction with access to immediate family only.
 * The index for these birth records is accessible only through the Division of Vital Records.

PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: For a fee, the Maryland Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1979 thru present
PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: For a fee, the Maryland Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Restrictions for Obtaining Birth Records
Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years from the government agency, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
 * The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information. Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

 * Learn more about U.S. birth records
 * How to find U.S. birth records
 * How to find U.S. marriage records
 * How to find U.S. death records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * United States Death Records
 * United States Marriage Records


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