How to Find Maryland Death Records

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How to Find United States Deaths Maryland Deaths


 * Some deaths were recorded in colonial Maryland but not many survived or were ever recorded.
 * Death registration started in 1865.
 * 1875 Baltimore City began recording deaths.
 * 1898 All counties in Maryland began recording deaths, although greater compliance did not happen until after 1914.
 * Birth records are restricted for 100 years to immediate family members.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Death Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * 1654 thru 1694
 * 1695 thru 1864
 * 1865 thru 1897
 * 1875 thru 1972 - Baltimore City
 * 1898 thru 1972
 * 1973 thru 1978
 * 1940 thru present
 * Death year unknown


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Deaths 1654 thru 1694
Deaths were to be recorded by the clerk of the county court. Very few records exist.


 * Charles County Court 1654-1706
 * Somerset County Court 1649-1720
 * Talbot County Court 1657-1691

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
Copies Death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

. Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by county or city, then vital records
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Death 1695 thru 1864

 * No government records were kept.
 * In 1694 the Clerks of the Protestant Episcopal Church were required to keep record of all deaths, regardless of the family's membership.
 * Other denominations kept their own records of deaths.

Copies of Church death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives or in the Family History Library Catalog.

Use substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1865 thru 1897

 * 1865 - Maryland law required county circuit courts to record deaths
 * Low compliance with the law
 * List of counties which kept some records during this time period
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for death information in church records.

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
Copies Death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

. Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by Maryland and the county name.
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1875 thru 1972, Baltimore City

 * Limited deaths maybe found in the following databases. Try each link.
 * If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Maryland State Archives in Step 2.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for death information in church records.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
Copies Death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

. Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by Maryland, Baltimore City.
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1898 thru 1972

 * Limited deaths maybe found in the following databases. Try each link.
 * If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then see below how to order from the Maryland State Archives. :
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for death information in church records.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
Copies Death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.


 * You may also order certificates since 1940 from the death county. See below.  Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by Maryland and the county name.
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1940 thru present
Locating a death record

You can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations if you are the person on the certificate, a parent, legal guardian or surviving spouse:


 * After locating the county website, search for the Department of Health and Administrative or Vital Records.
 * Baltimore City deaths are combined with county records after 1972.
 * The Maryland State Archives has indexes and death records up to 1978, but they are restricted.
 * See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.   Return to top: Choose another death year

Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records
Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those born within the last 100 years from the government agency, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents of the person on the certificate.
 * Surviving spouse.
 * Someone with documented legal custody of the person on the certificate.
 * NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the death.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

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