How to Find Maryland Death Records

United States

U.S. Vital Records

How to Find U.S. Death Records

Maryland Vital Records

How to Find Maryland Death Records

• Some deaths were recorded in colonial Maryland but not many survived or were ever recorded.
• 1865 - Some counties began Death registrations.
• 1875 - Baltimore City began recording deaths.
• 1898 - All counties in Maryland began recording deaths, although greater compliance did not happen until after 1914.
  

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Death Records Choose a time period: 1654 thru 1694 1695 thru 1864 1865 thru 1897 1875 thru 1972 - Baltimore City 1898 thru 1951 1952 thru 2001 2002 thru present Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths 1654 thru 1694

Deaths were to be recorded by the clerk of the county court. Only the following county records exist:

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

Copies of exisiting death records are available from the Maryland State Archives.

To Order Death Records

Maryland State Archives Order

The archives will search for one name in one index, and provide one document for their fee.

Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the FamilySearch Catalog to see what is available.

• Search the FamilySearch Catalog by county, then vital records.
• Select the topic Vital Records.
• Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.

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Deaths 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 FamilySearch Catalog.

Church Death Records
Maryland State Archives		FamilySearch Catalog
The archives will search for one name in one index, and provide one document for their fee		Search for the county or town where the church was located

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

Records that give death information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers	Church Records Census Military Records

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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.

Copies of death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

To Order Death Records

Maryland State Archives

The archives will search for one name in one index, and provide one document for their fee

Some records may also be available at your local FamilySearch Center. Use the FamilySearch Catalog to see what is available.

• Search the FamilySearch Catalog by Maryland and the county name.
• Select the topic Vital Records.
• Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1875 thru 1972, Baltimore City

• Deaths maybe found in the following databases. Try each link.
• If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for death information in church records.
• If you do not find your ancestor's death you may request a search at the Maryland State Archives in Step 2.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

Maryland Death Index Only
Try: 1st
	Baltimore City Death Index 1875-1972 online at Maryland State Archives	Free; Also on Ancestry.com, free at FamilySearch centers. Name index.
Try 2nd:
	1877-1992 at FamilySearch.org	Free name index to death and burial records from the state of Maryland.
	What's next?	Go to Step Two Part B listed below. You may request a search for the death record for your ancestor from the Maryland State Archives.
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

Copies Death records may be available from the Maryland State Archives.

To Order Death Records
You know the death date from the index		You do not know the death date
Maryland State Archives		Maryland State Archives
Request a copy		The archives will search for one name in one index, and provide one document for their fee

.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1898 thru 1951

• Deaths maybe found in the following database.
• If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for death information in church records.
• 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.

Find Death Information and View Images

Maryland Death Index and Images
Try 1st
	Maryland Death Index 1898-1972 at Maryland State Archives	Free; name index and images
Try 2nd
	1877-1992 at FamilySearch.org	Free name index to death and burial records from the state of Maryland.

Try 3rd
Social Security Death Index United States Social Security Death Index U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($) U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete ($).
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1952 thru 2001

No online records exist for this time period. You may request for the Maryland State Archives to perform a search for the death certificate.
Baltimore City death records were combined with state death records beginning in 1972. For Baltimore City deaths before 1972 see the wiki page section Baltimore Deaths 1875-1972.

Try instead: United States Social Security Death Index for New Jersey - starts 1962 Index. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($) U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete ($).

To Order Death Records
You know the birth date		You do not know the birth date
Maryland State Archives		Maryland State Archives
Request a copy		The archives will search for one name in one index, and provide one document for their fee

No birth record for your ancestor?

Other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Deaths from 2002 thru present

Locating a death record

You can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the Maryland Department of Health.

To Order Death Certificates

From MD Dept of Health

• 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 deaths within the last 20 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those born within the last 20 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 20 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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