Maryland Death Records

Maryland death records generally document the details of death events recorded for deceased persons in the state. Such details include the decedents' personal information, the date of death, the time of death, and the cause of death. In Maryland, about 55,197 deaths are recorded annually, indicating a mortality rate of 755.5 per 100,000 residents, lower than the United States's annual average of 793.7 per 100,000 people.

Statewide recording of death events in Maryland began in 1898, but general compliance by all counties did not happen until after 1914. Nevertheless, some counties started keeping these records in 1865 when the Maryland General Assembly passed an Act to make death registration a civil matter in the county Circuit Court. Similarly, Baltimore City passed an ordinance in 1874 for the registration of deaths in the city, and the city kept separate death records from 1875 to 1972. However, in 1972, the state's Department of Health took over the responsibility of registering all death events in Baltimore City from the city's Bureau of Vital Statistics.

The major type of death record in Maryland is the death certificate, which is an official document issued by the government confirming a person's death. Under state law, medical professionals are responsible for preparing original death certificates after being notified by the State Anatomy Board. While some facilities will complete a paper death certificate and mail it to the State Anatomy Board, others prepare an electronic version and grant the State Anatomy Board access to complete the process.

Afterward, the Board enters the data received into the Vital Statistics Administration electronic system for filing, following which the Administration can issue certified copies of original death certificates. Certified copies of Maryland death certificates are copies of original death certificates that have been verified as genuine documents by a government agency and can be used for several legal purposes.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Maryland?

The Division of Vital Records (DVR) under the Maryland Department of Health's Vital Statistic Administration (VSA) issues certified copies of death certificates in the state. Eligible individuals may request copies by mail as detailed below:

• Complete the Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record Form with the necessary information.
• Make photocopies of a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID that has issue and expiration dates. Any requester who cannot provide a valid photo ID must present at least two of the following alternative documentations, and one of them must contain their current mailing address:
• Rental/lease agreement
• Pay Stub
• Utility bill with current address
• Bank statement
• Current vehicle registration
• Copy of income tax return/W-2 form
• Letter for a relevant government agency requesting a vital record

• Prepare entitlement documentation to demonstrate the relationship to the deceased
• Pay a $10 certificate fee for the first copy and $12 for each additional copy of the same certificate ordered in the same transaction. Payment can be by check or money order made payable to the Division of Vital Records. A requester should include a copy of their driver's license or any other government-issued ID bearing their current address when paying by check.

• Mail the completed application form and every other requirement alongside a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Maryland Division of Vital Records at:

  Division of Vital Records

  P.O.Box 68760

  Baltimore, MD 21215-0036

  Eligible individuals may also request certified copies of Maryland death certificates by mailing all the required documentation to the nearest local health departments in the state. Additionally, they may submit their request in person to the Division of Records' lobby. However, service to customers at the lobby is by appointment only. Requests submitted in person may be fulfilled on the same day, but it takes about 6 weeks to process applications submitted to the DVR by mail.

Are Maryland Death Records Public?

Maryland death records are generally restricted from public access for 10 years from the date of the death events. However, records of death events that happened over a decade ago are generally open to the public.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Maryland?

No person can request original death certificates in Maryland. They are maintained permanently by the state's Division of Vital Records, which is responsible for issuing certified copies of those certificates to eligible persons.

Anyone may obtain copies of death records for events that happened over a decade ago. However, only certain individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the certificate, as described in Section 10.03.01.08 of the Code of Maryland Regulations, qualify to request certified copies of a death certificate for a death event that occurred less than 10 years ago. Such people include the following:

• Surviving immediate family members.
• An authorized representative of the deceased person.
• Anyone who can demonstrate that they are trying to pursue a legal duty that was the deceased person's responsibility.
• Someone who is a beneficiary of the deceased individual.
• An individual who paid to the deceased during their lifetime or who has paid or is intending to pay the decedent's beneficiaries pension benefits, insurance benefits, and other welfare benefits.
• Anyone who wishes to establish an estate in the deceased person's name.
• The deceased person's creditor.
• Anyone with a court order

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Maryland?

How long it takes to obtain a certified copy of a Maryland death certificate can be anywhere from the same day of submitting a request (for in-person application) to about 6 weeks (mailed application). These timelines are, however, for death certificates that have already been filed with the state's Division of Vital Records. Usually, it takes only a few days to several weeks (depending on the method of filing) for the State Anatomy Board to file completed death certificates with the Maryland Division of Vital Records.

When an autopsy is required to determine the cause of death in Maryland, it can take a longer time before the death certificate is completed and available for issuance at the Division of Vital Records. In many cases, it takes about 90 days of the determination of cause and manner of death to conclude written reports of an autopsy in the state. This duration may even be extended where further investigations or testing are required. Until the autopsy report is completed and a final death certificate is prepared and filed with the Division of Vital Records, no one will be able to obtain a certified copy of the death certificate.

Can I View Maryland Death Records online for free?

Interested persons can search the Maryland State Archives for all death indexes (which are needed to find death certificates) and all death records over 100 years old online. If they require certified copies of Maryland counties (1898 - 2014) and Baltimore City (1875 - 2014), they can order them online from the State Archives. Some online resources like FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com may also have records of death events that occurred in Maryland over a decade ago.

Furthermore, some independent third-party sites like Marylandpublicrecords.us collect records of death events that happen in the state and upload them to their database. Eligible persons may retrieve such records through these sites, but they will have to pay a nominal fee. Alternatively, anyone can check substitute records like newspapers, cemetery records, obituaries, and church records to find information about deaths that were not officially registered in Maryland. Other sources of such information, which are typically available for free, include tax records, probate records, city directories, and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Maryland?

Besides being the legal proof of a death, a Maryland death certificate is needed for several reasons, including the following:

• Claiming certain benefits like insurance, veterans' benefits, Social Security benefits, pension, benefits from employers, and other retirement benefits.
• Closing out a deceased person's affairs.
• Settling a deceased person's estate, including closing bank accounts, asset distribution, and property title transfer.
• Canceling a decedent's insurance policies, credit cards, and other financial accounts.
• Canceling a deceased person's subscriptions to various utility services.
• Notify relevant government institutions, like the SSA and IRS, of an individual's passing.

In Maryland, death certificates are also used to compile death indexes on age of death, cause of death, and other important data, which help in making vital public health policies. In addition, a death certificate may be required to get married if the spouse of a deceased person needs to prove that their previous spouse is no more.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Maryland?

The number of copies of a death certificate anyone may request in Maryland is primarily determined by the number of transactions they need to complete, which depends on the number of agencies and institutions requiring a copy. In most cases, between 8 and 12 copies would be enough for the several legal and administrative procedures for which they are required. However, before requesting copies of a death certificate in the state, make sure to write a checklist of all the agencies and transactions requiring them and ensure to keep at least one copy for personal safekeeping.