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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationMaryland

Death certificates in Maryland

What a certified copy of the death certificate costs in Maryland and how one is ordered, in the official words. No figure on this page is ours; each is the office’s or the statute’s, with the date it was checked.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

The free first-week checklist

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Filing the death certificate: who fills it out, who files it, and how soon

(g) A mortician who obtains a certificate of death under this section shall file the certificate within 72 hours after the death.

A physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who fills out a certificate of death shall give it or transmit it by approved electronic media, including facsimile, to the mortician within 24 hours after the death occurred.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Md. Code, Health-Gen. §4-212(e)(1), (g)

What the first certified copy costs, and each additional copy ordered with it

(ii) The Department shall collect a $10 fee:

2. For the first copy of a certified or abridged death certificate issued in a single transaction;

(iii) The Department shall collect a $12 fee for each additional certified or abridged copy of a death certificate provided concurrently with an initial requested death certificate.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Md. Code, Health-Gen. §4-217(c)(1)

Who may apply for a copy, and which years the Division of Vital Records issues them for

The Following Persons May Apply:

Surviving relative or authorized representative of the deceased

Funeral director who was in charge of the final disposition of the body of the deceased.

issues certified copies of death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland in 2012 or later. For copies of records for deaths that occurred prior to 2012, contact the Maryland State Archives.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · MDH Division of Vital Records

How to order: by appointment, by mail, at some local health departments, or through VitalChek

The Division of Vital Records' lobby is open to service all customers by appointment only.

Certificates may also be ordered by mail (see below) or at some local health departments.

the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036.

An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · MDH Division of Vital Records

The fee a local health department or the Motor Vehicle Administration may set

any local health department or the Motor Vehicle Administration may set and collect a fee for processing and issuing a death certificate that covers the administrative costs of providing this service.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Md. Code, Health-Gen. §4-217(d)(1)(i)

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

(ii) The Department shall collect a $10 fee:

2. For the first copy of a certified or abridged death certificate issued in a single transaction;

(iii) The Department shall collect a $12 fee for each additional certified or abridged copy of a death certificate provided concurrently with an initial requested death certificate.

any local health department or the Motor Vehicle Administration may set and collect a fee for processing and issuing a death certificate that covers the administrative costs of providing this service.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Md. Code, Health-Gen. §4-217(d)(1)(i)

The Following Persons May Apply:

Surviving relative or authorized representative of the deceased

Funeral director who was in charge of the final disposition of the body of the deceased.

issues certified copies of death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland in 2012 or later. For copies of records for deaths that occurred prior to 2012, contact the Maryland State Archives.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · MDH Division of Vital Records

The Division of Vital Records' lobby is open to service all customers by appointment only.

Certificates may also be ordered by mail (see below) or at some local health departments.

the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036.

An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · MDH Division of Vital Records

The Following Persons May Apply:

Surviving relative or authorized representative of the deceased

Funeral director who was in charge of the final disposition of the body of the deceased.

issues certified copies of death certificates for individuals who died in Maryland in 2012 or later. For copies of records for deaths that occurred prior to 2012, contact the Maryland State Archives.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · MDH Division of Vital Records

(g) A mortician who obtains a certificate of death under this section shall file the certificate within 72 hours after the death.

A physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who fills out a certificate of death shall give it or transmit it by approved electronic media, including facsimile, to the mortician within 24 hours after the death occurred.

Maryland · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Md. Code, Health-Gen. §4-212(e)(1), (g)

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

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