Birth and Death Certificates (Vital Records)

Same-Day Certificates

In May 2023, the Maryland Vital Records Administration transitioned to a new registration and payment system. Processing and wait times are slower and longer than usual. We recommend calling before coming for same-day certificate issuance. In cases where the system is unavailable or slow, issuing birth certificates and death certificates on the same day may not be possible. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Certificados el mismo día

El mayo de 2023, la Administración de Registros Vitales de Maryland hizo la transición a un nuevo sistema de registro y pago. Los tiempos de procesamiento y espera son más lentos y largos de lo habitual.  Recomendamos llamar antes de venir para la emisión del certificado el mismo día. En los casos en que el sistema no esté disponible o sea lento, puede que no sea posible emitir certificados de nacimiento y certificados de defunción el mismo día. Nos disculpamos por cualquier inconveniente y gracias por su paciencia.

Hours of Operation (effective August 28, 2023) | Horario de atención (a partir del 28 de agosto de 2023)

Birth and death certificates are issued Monday – Friday (except when County offices are closed).

Services are provided on a walk-in, first come/first served basis during the hours of operation.

Applicants must check-in at the security desk before proceeding to the Vital Records office.

Certificate type Hours of operation
Birth certificates Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
*Closed 12:00p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Death certificates Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
*Closed afternoons

Los certificados de nacimiento y defunción se emiten de lunes a viernes (excepto cuando las oficinas del condado están cerradas).

Los servicios se proporcionan sin cita previa, por orden de llegada durante las horas de operación.

Los solicitantes deben registrarse en el mostrador de seguridad antes de dirigirse a la oficina de Registros Vitales.

Tipo de certificado Horario de atención
Certificados de nacimiento Lunes - Viernes
8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
*Cerrado 12:00p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Certificados de defunción Lunes – Viernes
8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
*Cerrado tardes

Birth Certificates

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services issues certified birth certificates for anyone born in the State of Maryland after 1939 and certified death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland AFTER January 1, 2015 (for individuals who died before January 1, 2015, certificates must ordered from the  Maryland Vital Records Administration.  

The following individuals may apply for a birth certificate:
  • An individual requesting his or her own birth certificate.
  • A parent named on the certificate.
  • A court-appointed guardian of the individual named on the certificate.  A foster care appointment is not acceptable; proof of guardianship must be submitted.
  • A surviving spouse of the individual named on the certificate.
  • A representative of: (1)  the individual or a parent on the certificate; or (2) the court-appointed guardian of the individual named on the certificate. The representative must have a letter signed by the individual, parent or guardian; and certified by a notary public stating that the representative has permission to obtain a copy of the certificate.
  • The fee to obtain a birth certificate in Montgomery County is $25 payable by cash, credit card or check/money order.  To receive same day service, the applicant must present a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID displaying issued and expiration dates.  Applicants unable to provide valid photo ID will be be able to receive certificates the same day and must provide two (2) different pieces of alternative documentation.  At least one of these documents must contain a current mailing address.  Acceptable documents are:
    • Pay stub
    • Current car registration
    • Bank statement
    • Letter from a government agency requesting a vital record
    • Lease/rental agreement
    • Utility bill with current address
    • Copy of income tax return/W-2 form​

Birth Certificate Application - English/Spanish (PDF)
(application can be completed online and printed before coming to the office)

To obtain a birth certificate at the Montgomery County Office of Vital Records, the applicant must have been born in Maryland  AFTER 1939.  Those individuals born  BEFORE 1940 should contact the Maryland Department of Health's Division of Vital Records at 410-764-3038 or  https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/birth.aspx  . 

Order in person (same day service):

Dennis Avenue Health Center
2000 Dennis Avenue, Suite #27
Silver Spring. MD
240-773-1207 

To order online, visit   www.vitalchek.com

For your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service, VitalChek Network, Inc.  An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®. 

Neither our office nor VitalChek have control over the services and fees other Internet vendors offer and charge, nor can we guarantee the confidentiality of any vital record data provided to vendors other than VitalChek.

Order by mail:  
Download an application for a copy of a birth certificate:  

Birth Certificate Application  - English/Spanish (PDF)

Complete and mail the application with your payment, a self-addressed envelope, and a photocopy of your identification to:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD  21215-0036

Acceptable forms of payment are check or money order made payable to Division of Vital Records (expedited shipping is not available when ordering by mail).  The fee for a birth certificate ordered by mail is $10.
Birth Certificate Corrections
​A birth certificate registered by the State Registrar may be amended in accordance with Md. Code Ann., Health-General § 4-214. The State Registrar adopts rules governing the form of these requests and the type and amount of proof required. 

To request a change to a birth certificate, you may mail the Request to Amend a Birth Record with a $10 amendment fee and a $10 certificate fee noting on the form what type of change is needed. You may also visit the Maryland Department of Health's Division of Vital Records  at 6764B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. After your request is received with the amendment fee, the Division of Vital Records will evaluate your request for processing and respond, in writing, if there is a need for additional information. 

Changes to birth certificates include:
Request to Ammend a Birth Record (PDF)
​
This form may be used to correct information on the original birth certificate. This form must be completed and signed before a Notary Public. To change any information on the certificate other than the name of a child, two documents described on the first page of this form must accompany the notarized affidavit.  

Due to the FEDERAL REAL ID Act, documents (including a certified copy of a birth certificate) may be required to renew your Maryland Driver’s License or Identification Card. Click  here​  for more information about the FEDERAL REAL ID Act. Click  here​  for more information on how to identify a certified copy of a birth certificate.

The fee to obtain a birth certificate in Montgomery County is $25 payable by cash, credit card or check/money order.

Birth Certificates for individuals born in Maryland are also available online at www.vsa.maryland.gov.
Individuals born in Maryland can visit any local health department to obtain a birth certificate.  Office locations in other communities include neighboring counties are listed below.  Please check individual websites to confirm office hours and cost of birth certificates.

Call Maryland’s Division of Vital Statistics at 410-764-3038 for additional information.

Death Certificates

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services issues certified death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland AFTER January 1, 2015.  Certificates for deaths BEFORE January 1, 2015 must be ordered from the  Maryland Vital Records Administration.

Dennis Avenue Health Center
2000 Dennis Avenue, Suite #27
Silver Spring
240-777-1757

Walk-in service.  No appointment needed.


Bring completed application or complete the application at the office. A valid government issued identification (such as driver's license or U.S. passport) is required.  The identification must have an issue date and an expiration date.

Death certificates can also be obtained by mailing a copy of the death certificate application and a copy of required identification, along with fees, to the Division of Vital Records, Reisterstown Plaza, P.O. Box 68760,
Baltimore, MD  21215-0036.

Death Certificate Application - English/Spanish (PDF)
(application can be completed online and printed before coming to the office)

Fees for death certificates are $18 for the first death certificate and $20 for each additional copy, payable by cash, credit card or check/money order.