Prince George's County Birth Records
Prince George's County birth records are kept by the county health department in Largo, where staff handle requests for certified copies of birth certificates for anyone born in the county since 1939. The office serves one of Maryland's largest and most populous counties, bordering Washington, DC to the east and south, and appointments are required before you visit, so call or email ahead to set up your visit before heading to the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building.
Prince George's County Overview
Prince George's County Health Department Vital Records
The Prince George's County Health Department is the local office where you can request a birth certificate for someone born in Prince George's County. The vital records team handles requests for certified copies, and service is available by appointment only. Walk-ins are not accepted. If you show up without an appointment, staff will ask you to schedule one before returning. Contact the office first to confirm available times and what to bring.
The office is in the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building at 1301 McCormick Drive in Largo. That address puts it in a central part of the county, accessible from most areas of Prince George's County. The phone number is 301-324-2940. You can also reach the vital records team by email at PGCVitalRecords@co.pg.md.us, which can be a convenient way to ask questions without waiting on hold. Email contact is a practical option for basic questions about eligibility, fees, or what to bring to your appointment.
The health department keeps Prince George's County birth records going back to 1939. If you need a record from before that year, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis is the right place to look. Their address is 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, and they can be reached at 410-260-6400.
The Maryland Vital Statistics Administration website includes guidance on how local county health departments like Prince George's County fit into the state vital records system.
The page above gives an overview of how vital records work in Maryland, including how county offices like Prince George's County relate to the state Division of Vital Records.
| Office | Prince George's County Health Department, Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 1301 McCormick Drive, Largo, MD 20774 |
| Building | Wayne K. Curry Administration Building |
| Phone | 301-324-2940 |
| PGCVitalRecords@co.pg.md.us | |
| Service | By appointment only |
| Records Available | Births from 1939 to present |
Who Can Request Prince George's County Birth Records
Maryland restricts access to certified birth records. Not everyone can walk in and request a copy. The rules at the Prince George's County Health Department follow the same standards used by the state Division of Vital Records.
The following people can request a Prince George's County birth certificate: the individual named on the certificate, a parent or legal guardian of that person, or an authorized representative acting on behalf of one of the above. If you are acting as a representative, you will need a notarized statement from the eligible person giving you permission to request the record on their behalf. You will also need to show your own valid photo ID.
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID when you go to your appointment. The ID must show both an issue date and an expiration date. A driver's license or passport both work well. If your ID is expired or lacks one of the required dates, staff may not be able to complete your request in person. Call 301-324-2940 or email PGCVitalRecords@co.pg.md.us ahead of time if you have questions about what will work for your situation.
Note: Foster care appointments are not treated as court-appointed guardianship. If you have legal guardianship through a court order, bring that paperwork. Verbal claims of guardianship will not be accepted in place of written proof.
How to Get a Prince George's County Birth Certificate
The fastest way to get a Prince George's County birth record is to set up an appointment with the county health department. Call 301-324-2940 or send an email to PGCVitalRecords@co.pg.md.us to schedule. Once you have an appointment, bring your valid photo ID, any supporting documents required for your situation, and payment for the fee. Ask about accepted payment types when you call or email to confirm your appointment.
If you cannot visit the Prince George's County Health Department, you have other ways to get a certified copy. The Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore handles all state birth certificate requests and also requires appointments. Their office is at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. Call 410-764-3038 or 1-800-832-3277 to set one up. For mail requests, send your completed request form with a check or money order made out to "Division of Vital Records," a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the required fee to P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036.
Online ordering for Prince George's County birth records is also available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for Maryland birth records. Extra fees apply when ordering through VitalChek, but the site accepts all major credit cards and can be a faster option than mail for some people. The state warns that other websites offering Maryland birth records are not authorized, and you should not use them.
Important: The Maryland Division of Vital Records will never ask for your Social Security number or credit card PIN. VitalChek is the only online vendor approved by the state of Maryland for birth certificate orders.
What Prince George's County Birth Records Contain
A certified Prince George's County birth certificate records the key facts from the time of birth. This includes the full name given to the child, the date of birth, the place of birth within the county, and the names of the parents as they appear on the original record. Additional details may vary based on when the birth occurred and what information was entered at the time.
Birth records from Prince George's County dating back to 1939 are available through the local health department. Records from before that period are held by the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, phone 410-260-6400. The archives also have an online catalog at msa.maryland.gov where researchers can search for older Prince George's County records before planning a visit. If you are doing genealogy work or tracing family history in the county, the archives are the right place to look for historical birth records.
Certified copies are required for most official purposes. Passport applications, name change filings, school enrollment, Social Security records, and marriage license applications all typically require a certified birth certificate. A photocopy will not work. Make sure to ask for the official certified version when you make your request.
Name Corrections and Prince George's County Birth Records
Errors on a Prince George's County birth certificate must be corrected through the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore, not through the county health department. The local office in Largo cannot make changes to the record itself.
For a baby under age one, a parent can submit a notarized affidavit to request a correction to the birth record. That process is free. For someone age one or older, a court order is needed to change a name or correct major information on the birth certificate. The correction process applies to all Maryland birth records, including those from Prince George's County. Contact the state Division of Vital Records at 410-764-3038 to find out exactly what forms and documents you need to submit for your type of correction. It is worth calling first to make sure you have everything before you send anything in by mail.
Maryland Division of Vital Records and Prince George's County
The Maryland Division of Vital Records (DVR) is the state office that holds all birth records from every Maryland county, including Prince George's County. Both the local health department and the state office draw from the same records. If the county office cannot handle your request, or if you prefer to go through the state directly, the DVR website at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/birth.aspx lists all the steps for requesting a Prince George's County birth certificate through the state.
Prince George's County is one of Maryland's most populated counties and sees a high volume of birth certificate requests. The appointment requirement at the local level helps manage that demand and keeps wait times reasonable. If the county office has a longer wait for appointments, the state DVR office or VitalChek online ordering can be a practical alternative.
For older records, the Maryland State Archives holds Prince George's County birth records going back before 1939. Researchers working on genealogy projects often find that the archives have resources beyond just the records themselves, including guides and tools to help trace family history in the county and across the state.
Cities in Prince George's County
Prince George's County is home to several large communities. One city in the county meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.
Other communities in Prince George's County, including Laurel, College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, and Landover, use the Prince George's County Health Department for birth certificate requests. Contact the office at 301-324-2940 or email PGCVitalRecords@co.pg.md.us for help with any request in the county.
Nearby Counties
Prince George's County borders several Maryland counties. If you need birth records from a neighboring county, the links below connect you to the right local office.