Calvert County Birth Records

Calvert County birth records are available through the Calvert County Health Department in Prince Frederick, where staff can help you get a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in the county. The health department serves residents with walk-in service during business hours, and records go back to 1939, making Calvert County one of the few local offices with access to births slightly before the standard 1940 cutoff used by most Maryland counties.

Calvert County Health Department Vital Records

The Calvert County Health Department is the local office where you can get a birth certificate for births that took place in Calvert County. The vital records counter is on the main floor of the building, and you don't need an appointment to visit. Just walk in during regular business hours and staff will help you with your request. This is often the fastest way to get a certified copy of a Calvert County birth record.

The office is located at 975 Solomons Island Road North in Prince Frederick. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are closed on state and federal holidays, so it's worth calling ahead if you plan to visit near a holiday. The fee is $25 per certified copy of a Calvert County birth certificate. That covers the cost of the record itself. Payment is accepted by cash, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card. They do not accept personal checks, so be sure to bring the right form of payment when you go.

The health department website for Calvert County birth certificate services is linked below. That page has current information on what to bring and what to expect during your visit.

The page above shows the current instructions for getting a Calvert County birth certificate in person.

Who Can Request Calvert County Birth Records

Not everyone can get a certified copy of a Calvert County birth certificate. Maryland limits access to protect privacy. The rules are the same at the local health department as they are at the state office. You need to be an eligible person and show proof before the office will give you a copy.

The following people can request Calvert County birth records: the individual named on the certificate, a parent whose name appears on the certificate, a court-appointed legal guardian with written proof of guardianship, or a representative acting on behalf of one of the above with a notarized document and valid photo ID. Foster care appointments are not considered the same as court-appointed guardianship for this purpose. If you are not sure whether you qualify, call 410-535-5400 ext. 301 before making the trip to Prince Frederick.

Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. The ID must include both the date it was issued and the expiration date. A driver's license or passport works well. If your ID does not have both dates, staff may ask for a different form.

How to Get a Calvert County Birth Certificate

Getting a Calvert County birth certificate in person is simple. Walk in during office hours, tell the staff what you need, show your ID, and pay the $25 fee. Most requests are handled quickly. If the record exists in the local system, you can often walk out with your copy the same day.

If you cannot visit the Calvert County Health Department in person, you have a couple of other options. You can go to the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore, which holds all birth records for the state. That office is located at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. Visits there require an appointment, so call 410-764-3038 or 1-800-832-3277 to set one up. You can also order by mail by sending your request with a check or money order made out to "Division of Vital Records," a copy of your ID, a self-addressed envelope, and the required fee to P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036.

The only authorized online vendor for Maryland birth records is VitalChek. You can reach them at www.vitalchek.com. Additional fees apply when you order through VitalChek, but the service accepts all major credit cards and can be faster than mail for some people. Be careful of other websites that claim to offer Maryland birth records. The state warns that VitalChek is the only vendor it has approved, and other sites may not deliver what they promise.

What Calvert County Birth Records Contain

A certified Calvert County birth certificate contains the key facts recorded at the time of birth. This includes the full name given to the child, the date of birth, the place of birth, and the names of the parents as listed on the original record. Other details may vary depending on when the birth took place and what information was recorded at the time.

Birth records from Calvert County going back to 1939 are held at the local health department. Older birth records, those from before 1939, are held at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. The archives are located at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, and you can reach them at 410-260-6400. Staff there can help you search for older Calvert County birth records that predate what the health department keeps locally. Historical records from the archives can be valuable for genealogy research or tracing family history in Calvert County.

A birth certificate from Calvert County is used for many common purposes. Name changes, passport applications, school enrollment, Social Security registrations, and marriage licenses all typically require a certified birth certificate. Make sure to get a certified copy, not just a photocopy, as most agencies require the official version.

Name Corrections on Calvert County Birth Records

Mistakes on a Calvert County birth certificate need to be corrected through the proper channels. The local health department in Prince Frederick cannot make corrections itself. All corrections go through the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore.

For a child under age one, the parent can submit a notarized affidavit to request a correction. That process is free. For a person age one or older, a court order is required to change the name or correct key facts on a Maryland birth record, including those from Calvert County. The county office will not accept correction requests. If you need to fix an error on a Calvert County birth certificate, contact the state Division of Vital Records directly at 410-764-3038 to find out what forms and documentation you need to submit.

Maryland State Vital Records and Calvert County

The Maryland Division of Vital Records (DVR) is the state office that holds all birth records from every county, including Calvert County. Whether you go to the local health department or order through the state, the record comes from the same source. The DVR website at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/birth.aspx has full details on what you need to request a birth certificate for a Calvert County birth.

If you need a certified copy of a Calvert County birth record from before 1939, or if the local office cannot help with your request, the state office and the Maryland State Archives are your next best options. The archives at msa.maryland.gov hold historical vital records for the entire state, including early Calvert County births. For genealogy and older records, the archives are often the right place to start. Researchers can search their online catalog before visiting in person.

Cities in Calvert County

Calvert County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Smaller communities in the county, such as Prince Frederick, Dunkirk, and Huntingtown, all use the Calvert County Health Department for birth certificate requests. Anyone born in these areas should contact the health department at 975 Solomons Island Road North, Prince Frederick.

Nearby Counties

Calvert County borders several other Maryland counties. If you need birth records from a neighboring county, use the links below to find the right local office.