Search Queen Anne's County Birth Records
Queen Anne's County birth records are available through the county health department in Centreville, where the office handles requests for certified copies of birth certificates for births that took place in the county from 1940 to the present. The office is on the Eastern Shore, connected to the Baltimore and Annapolis area via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and walk-in service is available during regular business hours from Monday through Friday.
Queen Anne's County Overview
Queen Anne's County Health Department Vital Records
The Queen Anne's County Health Department in Centreville is where you go to get a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in the county. The office handles local requests and keeps records going back to 1940. Walk-in service is available, which means you do not need to schedule an appointment in advance. Just show up during business hours with your ID and the office will help you with your request.
The office is located at 206 N. Commerce Street in Centreville, MD 21617. Phone is 410-758-0720. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is closed on state and federal holidays. If you are planning to visit on a day close to a holiday, it is worth calling ahead to make sure they will be open. Contact the office to confirm current fees before you visit, as fee information can change and you want to have the right payment ready when you arrive.
The health department website for Queen Anne's County is the right place to start for the most current information on what documents to bring and what to expect when you visit. The office handles a range of vital records services, and the staff can answer specific questions about your request before you make the trip to Centreville.
The Maryland birth certificate ordering page gives statewide guidance on getting a certified copy and explains how the local county offices like Queen Anne's County connect to the state system.
The image above shows the state-level instructions for ordering a Maryland birth certificate, which apply whether you are ordering through the Queen Anne's County Health Department or the state Division of Vital Records in Baltimore.
| Office | Queen Anne's County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 206 N. Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617 |
| Phone | 410-758-0720 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Service | Walk-in, no appointment needed |
| Records Available | Births from 1940 to present |
| Fee | Contact office to confirm current fee |
Who Can Request Queen Anne's County Birth Records
Maryland law limits who can get a certified copy of a birth certificate. Access rules at the Queen Anne's County Health Department match those used by the state Division of Vital Records. You need to be an eligible person and show proof before the office can release a certified copy to you.
People who can request a Queen Anne's County birth certificate include: 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. You must also show your own valid photo ID at the time of the request. Staff will not release records to people who cannot show both the right to request and valid identification.
The ID you bring must be valid and unexpired. Government-issued photo ID is required. A driver's license or passport both work. The ID should have an issue date and expiration date visible. If your ID does not meet these requirements, the office may still be able to help you, but the record may be mailed rather than handed to you at the counter. Call 410-758-0720 if you are unsure whether your ID will be accepted.
Note: Foster care documents are not considered proof of court-appointed guardianship. If you have legal guardianship granted by a court, bring the original court order or a certified copy of it to your visit.
How to Get a Queen Anne's County Birth Certificate
Getting a birth certificate from Queen Anne's County is straightforward when you visit the Centreville office in person. Walk in during business hours, bring your photo ID, and tell the staff what you need. The fee is due at the time of the request, so confirm the current amount by calling 410-758-0720 before you visit. Same-day service is typically available when the record is in the local system.
If you cannot visit Centreville, you can use the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. That office is at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, and requires an appointment. Call 410-764-3038 or 1-800-832-3277 to schedule. For mail requests, send your completed application form with a check or money order payable to "Division of Vital Records," a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the required fee to P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036. Allow extra time for mail orders to process.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the only vendor Maryland has authorized for online birth record orders. Additional service fees apply on top of the standard state fee, but all major credit cards are accepted and online orders can process faster than mail for some people. Do not use other websites claiming to offer Queen Anne's County birth records, as the state has only approved VitalChek.
Important: The Maryland Division of Vital Records will never ask for your Social Security number or your credit card PIN. VitalChek is the only authorized online ordering vendor for Maryland birth certificates.
Pre-1940 Records and Queen Anne's County Birth History
The Queen Anne's County Health Department holds birth records going back to 1940. If you need a birth record from before that year, the local office cannot help with that request. You will need to contact the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.
The Maryland State Archives is located at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401. They can be reached by phone at 410-260-6400. The archives hold historical vital records from across Maryland, including older Queen Anne's County birth records that predate what the county health department keeps. For genealogy work or family history research tied to births in Queen Anne's County before 1940, the archives are the right starting point. Their online catalog at msa.maryland.gov lets researchers search records before scheduling an in-person visit, which can save time and help you know exactly what to ask for when you go.
Queen Anne's County sits on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, separated from the western shore by the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Bridge connects the county to the rest of the state, and the county has a long history tied to the Bay and the communities on the Eastern Shore. Historical birth records from the region can give researchers a window into family lines that go back several generations in this part of Maryland.
Name Corrections on Queen Anne's County Birth Records
Corrections to a Queen Anne's County birth certificate go through the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore, not through the county health department. The local office in Centreville does not have the authority to make changes to a birth record.
For a child under age one, a parent can submit a notarized affidavit to request a correction. That process costs nothing. For a person age one or older, a court order is required to change a name or fix key information on a Maryland birth certificate, including one from Queen Anne's County. The process is the same regardless of which county the birth occurred in. Contact the state Division of Vital Records at 410-764-3038 to ask about the forms and documents needed for your specific type of correction. It helps to have all the paperwork together before you send anything in so the process does not get delayed.
Maryland State Vital Records and Queen Anne's County
The Maryland Division of Vital Records (DVR) holds all birth certificates from every county in the state, including Queen Anne's County. The county health department and the state office both access the same records. If the local office is unable to complete your request, or if you prefer to work through the state, the DVR website at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/birth.aspx has the full list of steps for requesting a Queen Anne's County birth certificate through the state office.
Queen Anne's County is a smaller county by population, which means demand at the local health department tends to be lower than at larger county offices. Walk-in service is available, which can make it easy to get what you need without a long wait. Still, calling ahead to confirm current hours and fees before you make the trip is always a good idea, especially if you are coming from the western shore or driving a distance to reach Centreville.
Cities in Queen Anne's County
Queen Anne's County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Communities in the county, including Centreville and Stevensville, all use the Queen Anne's County Health Department for birth certificate requests. Contact the office at 206 N. Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617 or call 410-758-0720 for help with any request tied to a birth in the county.
Nearby Counties
Queen Anne's County borders several other Maryland counties. Use the links below to find the right local office if you need birth records from a neighboring county.