Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Division of Vital Records
Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
6550 Reisterstown Road Plaza
Baltimore MD 21215-0020
(410) 764-3069
(410) 318-6119 recording
Make check or money order payable to Division of Vital Records.
The Division of Vital Records office will not do research for genealogical studies. Must apply to:
State of Maryland Archives
350 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-6400
Ancestry.com Maryland State Database
A large collection of databases of births, deaths, marriages, census, obituaries, directories, estate records, and service records. Get 14 Days Free Access!!!
Birth and Death $15.00
Per search Since Aug 1898
Records for City of Baltimore are available from January 1875.
Birth
Since 1875 for Baltimore City 1898 for Maryland counties.
Death
Since 1875 for Baltimore City 1898 for Maryland counties.
Marriage
The Division issues certified copies of certificates for marriages that occurred on or after January 1, 1990. For marriages performed before January 1, 1990, contact the circuit court of the Maryland county where the marriage took place, or the Maryland State Archives.
Since June 1951
If the records are not available at the State office, they should be available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the license was issued, or from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Baltimore City (for licenses issued in the City of Baltimore). Fees vary.
Since 1640 check with Maryland State Archives
Ancestry.com Frederick County, MD Marriages, 1778-1850
Maryland, which borders Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware, was one of the earliest states established in the United States. This database of Maryland marriage records previously contained only marriage records for Harford, Kent, Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Washington, Cecil, Somerset, Queen Anne’s, Worcester, Caroline, Anne Arundel, and Talbot counties. It has just been updated to include records for Dorchester and Frederick counties. Researchers will find the names of both the bride and groom, the marriage date, and the marriage place. (Requires Ancestry.com Membership) Get 14 Days Free Access!!!
Divorce
The Division of Vital Records verifies divorces and annulments that occurred on or after January 1, 1992. The Verification of Divorce form includes the names of the former spouses, place, date, and type of divorce action and is accepted by certain agencies seeking proof of divorce or annulment. Please note that a copy of the actual Decree of Divorce and Annulment of Marriage can only be obtained from the Circuit Court that granted the decree.
Verify only Since Jan 1961
Certified copies should be available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.