Birth Records
For birth records after 1924, contact the Maryland Division of Vital Records at (410) 764-3038.
Introduction
To find a record, please note the record must be 100 years old or older, and you'll need to use the archives' search room computers. The search room is available by appointment only. You must request an appointment and be sent a confirmed time before visiting the Archives. We cannot accommodate walk-ins. Request an appointment so that our staff can best assist you.
What can I do from home?
You can search indexes. If you do not know the location of the birth, then you’ll want to find the index in order to find the county or city of birth. An index also provides the information needed by our staff. Birth record indexes are both an alphabetical listing by the father's last name and either ordered by soundex or vowel index. Both are discussed in the instructions found below.
What years do we have birth records?
We can provide birth records from the mid 1800s to 1924 depending upon the location of the birth in Maryland. For earlier years, please go to the 'Tips for Hard to Find Birth Records' page.
Should I Place an Order or Find a Record myself?
Find the Record Myself
- You'll only be able to find a record yourself that is 100 years old or older
- You can sometimes find an index for records less than 100 years old
- You'll need to use the archives' search room computers. The search room is currently open by appointment only.
Find a Birth Record :
To find a record, you'll need to use the archives' searchroom computers. The search room is available by appointment only. You must request an appointment and be sent a confirmed time before visiting the Archives. We cannot accommodate walk-ins. Request an appointment so that our staff can best assist you.
View Baltimore City (1875+) | View Maryland Counties (1898 to 1920) | View Maryland Counties (1921 -1924)
Maryland Counties (1898 to 1920)
Birth Indexes
How to find an index.
Please skip ahead to the birth records section listed below if you already know the county, month and year of the birth. Otherwise, you'll need to find the index before finding the birth record.
These indexes vary with each county and may include abbreviations, challenging handwriting, etc. Please visit the archives' circulation desk, call 410-260-6487, and/or read our tips page for any assistance. Indexes may be used when you are unsure of the county, month, or year of the birth.
Birth Records
Keep the instructions open while searching for a record.
START HERE (instead of finding the index first) if you know the county, month and year of the birth.
- 1898- April 1910, MSA S1963 some records are available digitally, others only have hard copies available.
- May 1910-1913, MSA S1988 some records are available digitally, others only have hard copies available.
- 1914 - 1920, MSA SM35 available on the Archives' searchroom computers.
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