The Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record is the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records form used to request a certified copy of a Maryland death certificate. The form is for applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the record, such as surviving relatives, an authorized representative, beneficiaries, or people with a business need or court order. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF and the agency's ordering instructions are published by the Division of Vital Records.
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What is Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record?
The Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record is the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records form that a person with a direct and tangible interest completes to request a certified copy of a Maryland death certificate by mail.
The form collects three groups of information: who is asking (name, current address, daytime phone number, e-mail address and relationship to the person named on the certificate); who the record is about (name of decedent, date of death, age at death, sex, place of death, funeral home and the reason for requesting the certificate); and the order (number of certificates requested and amount enclosed). The requester signs to affirm that the information is complete and accurate, subject to the criminal penalties set forth at Maryland Code Annotated, Health-General Section 4-227.
Copies are issued only to applicants who meet the entitlement rules in Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.03.08. The printed form carries the revision date Rev. 10/21 and a block marked "For Issuing Office Only" that the requester leaves blank.
Two related items appear on the agency's death certificate page: a bilingual (English / Spanish) version of this application, and a separate PDF for a fetal death certificate. This form is not the route for genealogical research: for death records needed for genealogical purposes, the form directs you to the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, telephone 410-260-6400.
Who needs to file Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record?
Anyone who needs a certified copy of a Maryland death certificate and has a direct and tangible interest in the record uses this application. The form, citing COMAR 10.03.08, names these groups:
- surviving relatives;
- an authorized representative;
- beneficiaries;
- people with a business need or a court order.
Each requester must show entitlement with documentation. The form gives examples: a birth or marriage certificate for a surviving relative, a letter of administration or an authorization of release from a surviving relative, a court order, or other business need documentation.
You also need a valid government-issued photo ID, or the alternative two-document proof described under required documents.
Members of the armed forces and certain family members may be exempt from the fee when they meet the conditions printed on the form, and proof of service must be provided.
Do not use this form for genealogical research; contact the Maryland State Archives instead. A fetal death certificate has its own PDF on the agency's page. The agency's page also says funeral facilities may keep requesting certificates through the funeral facility portal or by mail.
When to file Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record
Submit the application whenever you need a certified copy of a Maryland death certificate and can document your entitlement; the form prints no deadline. Enter the date of application on the form when you sign it.
Plan for shipping when you mail it: the agency states that expedited shipping is not available when ordering by mail. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the Division can return the certificate. If you have no government-issued photo ID, the certificate is mailed to the address listed on the two documents you present instead.
The form gives no processing time. For other ordering options, the form and the agency page point to the Vital Statistics Administration website at www.health.maryland.gov/vsa.
Documents you need
- A legible copy of your valid government-issued photo ID, such as a state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID showing your current address, or a passport.
- If you have no government-issued photo ID: a signed statement on the form that you have none, plus photocopies of two documents showing your name and current address. They are not returned.
- The two documents may be any two of: utility bill, car registration form, pay stub, bank statement, copy of income tax return/W-2 form, letter from a government agency requesting a vital record, or lease/rental agreement.
- Entitlement documentation, such as a birth or marriage certificate for a surviving relative.
- Alternative entitlement documentation: a letter of administration or an authorization of release from a surviving relative, a court order, or other business need documentation.
- A self-addressed, stamped envelope, when ordering by mail.
- Proof of service in the armed forces, only if you claim the no-fee exemption for a current or former member, or a surviving spouse or child of a member.
How to fill out Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record
Enter your name and address
Under "PRINT or TYPE your name & CURRENT address," fill in Name, Address, City, State and Zip for the person making the request.
Add contact details and relationship
Enter your daytime phone number and e-mail address. In the box for your relationship to the person named on the certificate, state how you are related or why you qualify.
Handle the photo ID section
Attach a legible copy of your valid government-issued photo ID. Only if you have none, read and sign the statement on the form and attach two of the listed documents showing your name and current address.
Enter the decedent's identity
Write the Name of Decedent, Date of Death in Month/Day/Year format, Age at death, and check Male or Female.
Give place of death and reason
Enter the Place of Death (county or Baltimore City), the name of the funeral home and your reason for requesting the certificate.
Complete the order information
Enter the number of certificates requested and the amount enclosed, based on the fee for the first paid copy and for each additional copy printed on the form. Check the form's note on the no-fee armed forces requests if it applies.
Prepare entitlement documentation
Gather the entitlement documentation the form names for your situation, such as a birth or marriage certificate, a letter of administration or authorization of release, or a court order.
Sign and date the application
Sign on the line for the signature of the person making the request and enter the Date of Application. Leave the "For Issuing Office Only" box blank.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, dates and the county of death, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record
You can apply by mail, in person or online.
- By mail: send the completed application, a legible copy of your ID, documentation of entitlement, a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and a check or money order payable to the DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS to: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, Maryland 21215-0036. Do not send cash. If you pay by check, include a copy of your driver's license or other government-issued photo ID that lists your current address, or other acceptable ID described on the form.
- In person: the form says you may apply in person; see the Vital Statistics Administration website at www.health.maryland.gov/vsa for details.
- Online: the agency directs online orders to its partner VitalChek Network, Inc. at www.vitalchek.com. VitalChek charges an additional fee, and major credit cards are accepted. The agency says it cannot vouch for the services, fees or confidentiality of other Internet vendors.
A non-refundable fee applies to the first copy and a fee applies to each additional copy ordered in the same transaction; the form lists the current amounts. There is no fee for certain armed forces requests described on the form. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending cash when applying by mail; the form says to send a check or money order payable to the DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS.
- Paying by check without enclosing a copy of your driver's license or other government-issued photo ID listing your current address, or other acceptable ID.
- Leaving out entitlement documentation, such as a birth or marriage certificate, a letter of administration, a court order or business need documentation.
- Omitting the self-addressed, stamped envelope from a mail order.
- Having no photo ID and not signing the statement that you have none, or attaching documents that are not on the form's list of two acceptable items.
- Sending original supporting documents when the form asks for photocopies; the Division does not return them.
- Using this form for a fetal death certificate, which has its own PDF, or for genealogical research, which goes to the Maryland State Archives.
- Claiming the armed forces no-fee exemption without attaching proof of service.
- Expecting expedited shipping on a mail order; the agency says it is not available by mail.
Frequently asked questions
Who can request a Maryland death certificate copy?
Only applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the record, as described in COMAR 10.03.08. That includes surviving relatives, an authorized representative, beneficiaries, and people with a business need or court order. You must attach documentation showing your entitlement.
What ID do I need to order a death certificate in Maryland?
Submit a legible copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or non-driver photo ID with your current address, or a passport. If you have none, sign the statement on the form and attach two listed documents showing your name and current address.
Where do I mail the Maryland death certificate application?
Mail it to the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, Maryland 21215-0036. Include the ID copy, entitlement documentation, a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to the DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS. Do not send cash.
Can I order a death certificate online in Maryland?
Yes. The agency directs online orders to VitalChek Network, Inc. at www.vitalchek.com, which charges an additional fee and accepts major credit cards. You can also fill out this PDF online on FillingPDF, but you must then mail or deliver it yourself; FillingPDF does not file it.
Is there a fee for a certified death record copy?
Yes. A non-refundable fee applies to the first copy and a fee applies to each additional copy in the same transaction; check the form for current amounts. Some armed forces requests are free when you provide proof of service.
Can I get a death record for genealogy from this form?
No. The form says death records for genealogical purposes come from the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, telephone 410-260-6400. This application is for certified copies issued to people with a direct and tangible interest.
Is there a Spanish version of the application?
Yes. The Division of Vital Records' death certificate page offers a bilingual English / Spanish version of the application, labeled "Descargue el formulario bilingüe (Inglés / Español)." The page you are on covers the English form, Rev. 10/21.
Is the fetal death certificate request the same form?
No. The agency's page lists a separate PDF for a fetal death certificate. This application is for a certified copy of a Maryland death record.
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