Can you get a birth certificate at the health department

Birth Certificates

Certified copies of Maryland Birth Certificates are provided at the Carroll County Health Department. A certified copy is printed on special paper that cannot be easily duplicated. Certified copies can be used to obtain a driver’s license or passport, and for school enrollment, social services, retirement, and other legal purposes.

The Birth Registration Notice provided by the hospital when a baby is born is NOT a birth certificate and cannot be used as a proof of identity. Click here to learn more about birth registration notices and birth certificates: Maryland License Renewal Documents

Only birth certificates for people born in Maryland are available at the Carroll County Health Department. If you are planning a home birth or your baby was born at home, the Health Department will work with you to certify the birth. For more information, see our Home Births page.

Certificates will be issued from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. When you come to the Health Department:

• Park in the front of the Health Department.
• Enter the building and stop at the front desk to be screened.
• Do not come if you are having any symptoms of COVID-19.
• You must wear a cloth face covering or mask.
• Wait until you are called to the front desk for your transaction.
• Complete the application and pay the fee.
• The certificate will be processed and given to you.

Other ways to get a birth certificate:

• By Mail – Complete and mail the application with your payment, a self-addressed envelope, and a photo copy of your Identification to the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036. Acceptable forms of payment are check or money order made payable to the Division of Vital Records.​ (Note that expedited shipping is not available when ordering by mail.)
• By Internet – Order Certificates ONLINE
• By Phone – (410) 764-3038 #1

Due to the Federal REAL ID Act, documents including a certified copy of your birth certificate may be required to apply for and renew your Maryland Driver’s License or Identification Card. For information on Real ID and the MVA, visit the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Real ID page.

Changes and corrections to birth certificates are provided by Maryland’s Division of Vital Records and not at the Health Department.  For more information, contact the Maryland Division of Vital Records (DVR) at 800-832-3277 or 410-764-3038, or visit the Vital Statistics Administration page.

Please contact the Carroll County Health Department at 410-876-4442 for more information.

Birth Certificate brochure

Who Can Get a Birth Certificate?

• A person requesting his/her own birth certificate
• A parent for their child’s certificate – the parents name must be listed on the birth certificate
• A court-appointed guardian of the person named on the certificate. A foster care appointment is not acceptable; original proof of guardianship must be submitted.
• A surviving spouse of the person named on the certificate; proof must be submitted.
• A representative of: (1) the person or a parent named on the certificate; or (2) the court-appointed guardian of the person named on the certificate. The representative must have a notarized letter signed by the person, parent, or guardian, giving the person permission to get the birth certificate.

Note: Your name must be on the child’s birth certificate for you to receive it.

What do I need to get a birth certificate?

You need a valid government-issued photo ID, with an issue date and an expiration date that has not passed (cannot be expired). This includes:

• Driver’s license or ID card issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration
• Passport
• Military ID for active service personnel
• Prison ID

If you don’t have a photo ID, you must present two different documents, at least one with your current address. Documents we can accept include:

• Social Security Card
• Pay stub
• Car registration
• Bank statement
• Letter from a government agency requesting the vital record
• Property deed
• Utility bill
• Tax return
• Copy of a W-2 form
• School photo ID
• Lease/rental agreement

If you do not have a photo ID but present two acceptable documents, you cannot receive the birth certificate the same day. It will be mailed to you.

How Do I Get a Birth Certificate?

1. In person from the Carroll County Health Department:

• Complete an application. You can print the application and fill it out before coming in, or fill out an application at the Health Department. Application Birth Certificate
• We are now able to access birth certificates for people born before 1940, but there may be a longer wait. If you call ahead, we can start the process before you arrive.
• The Health Department is located at 290 South Center Street in Westminster.
• Birth Certificates same day service is available Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Due to COVID, our hours are limited to 8 am – 5 pm.)
• The cost is $20 per certificate. We accept cash, check, and debit and credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, Discover).

2. Online:

• To order online, Order Certificates ONLINE

3. By phone:

• To order by phone, call 410-764-3038.

4. By mail:

• To obtain a birth certificate, complete and mail the application with your payment, a self-addressed envelope, and a photo copy of your Identification to the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036. Acceptable forms of payment are check or money order made payable to the Division of Vital Records.​ (Note that expedited shipping is not available when ordering by mail.)

  ​For a recorded message about birth certificates, call (410) 764-3038 (Baltimore local) or (800) 832-3277 (toll-free).

5. In person in Baltimore: Temporarily closed due to Covid-19

• Complete an application. Download and print the application and fill it out before you go (find it on the Request Birth Certificates page) or fill out an application there.
• The Division of Vital Records is located at 6764B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore.
• Acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, or money order made payable to the Division of Vital Records.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Creating a New Birth Certificate: A person born in Maryland, whose birth was never registered, may apply for a delayed certificate of birth. Contact the Division of Vital Records at 410-764-3038 for further information. A new birth certificate may also be prepared in the case of:

• Adoption
• Legitimation
• Adjudication of paternity
• Sex change*
• Diagnosis of an intersex condition*

Commemorative birth certificates suitable for framing are available. Proceeds from these certificates benefit the Children’s Trust Fund. Click here​ for more information.​​​