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? |
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Deaths 1654 thru 1694
Deaths were to be recorded by the clerk of the county court. Only the following county records exist:
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.
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: | ||
Deaths from 1865 thru 1897
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.
Deaths from 1875 thru 1972, Baltimore City
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 | ||
.
Deaths from 1898 thru 1951
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 & 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 | ||||
| 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 | |||
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: | |||
| 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 | |
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.
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:
If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.