Find Somerset County Birth Records
Somerset County birth records are available through the Somerset County Health Department in Westover, where the vital records office handles requests for certified copies of birth certificates for Maryland births on file with the department. The office is located on the Eastern Shore, charges $25 per certified copy, and accepts in-person requests during regular business hours on weekdays, with accessibility support available through the Maryland Relay TTY line for those who need it.
Somerset County Overview
Somerset County Health Department Vital Records
The Somerset County Health Department handles local vital records requests, including birth certificates, for Maryland births. The office is in Westover, which is in the central part of the county on the Lower Eastern Shore. In-person service is available, and the office may also accommodate appointments. Contact the office before your visit to confirm current hours and whether you should schedule ahead or walk in.
The office address is 8928 Sign Post Road, Suite 2, Westover, MD 21871. Phone is 443-523-1700. Fax is 410-651-5680. For people who use TTY services, the Maryland Relay line is 1-800-735-2258. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office is closed on state and federal holidays. Calling ahead to confirm current hours and availability before making the drive is worth the extra step, especially if you are coming from a distance or planning to visit near a holiday.
The fee is $25 per certified copy of a Somerset County birth certificate. Accepted payment types include cash, checks (made out to the office, confirm payee when you call), Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Check with the office when you call to confirm the current payment options and whether checks are accepted at the time of your visit.
The Somerset County Health Department vital records page has the current service details and instructions for requesting a Somerset County birth certificate.
The screenshot above shows the vital records section of the Somerset County Health Department website with current guidance on birth certificate requests.
| Office | Somerset County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 8928 Sign Post Road, Suite 2, Westover, MD 21871 |
| Phone | 443-523-1700 |
| Fax | 410-651-5680 |
| TTY | 1-800-735-2258 (Maryland Relay) |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Service | In-person; walk-in or by appointment (contact to verify) |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover |
Who Can Request Somerset County Birth Records
Maryland restricts access to certified birth records. Not everyone can request a copy. The rules at the Somerset County Health Department match those used by the state Division of Vital Records.
People who can request a Somerset County birth certificate include: the individual whose name is on the certificate, the mother or father listed on the certificate, and an individual with custody papers that show legal authority over the person named on the record. If you are requesting as a custodial parent or guardian, bring the custody paperwork to your visit. Staff will not release records based on verbal claims of guardianship without written documentation to support it.
The ID you bring must be a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID that shows both an issue date and an expiration date. A driver's license or passport will work in most cases. If your ID does not meet those requirements, the office may still be able to help, but the record may be mailed to you rather than handed over in person. For mailed requests with no qualifying photo ID, you will need to provide two documents with a matching current address. Acceptable documents include a pay stub, a W-2, a rental or lease agreement, a bank statement, a utility bill, or a car registration.
Note: If you are not sure whether your ID or custody documents will satisfy the requirements, call 443-523-1700 before you visit. Staff can tell you what will work so you don't make the trip without the right paperwork.
How to Get a Somerset County Birth Certificate
The in-person option at the Westover office is the most direct way to get a Somerset County birth certificate. Bring your valid photo ID and payment, contact the office to confirm walk-in availability, and come in during business hours. If the birth record is on file, staff can issue a certified copy during your visit. The $25 fee covers one copy. If you need more than one, each additional copy costs the same amount.
If you cannot visit Westover, the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore handles all state-level birth record requests. Their office is at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, and appointments are required. Call 410-764-3038 or 1-800-832-3277 to schedule. For mail requests, send your completed request 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 state fee of $10 per copy to P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036. Mail requests take longer than in-person service, so plan ahead if you need the record for an upcoming deadline.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the only vendor approved by the state of Maryland for online birth record orders. The site charges extra service fees on top of the state fee, but it accepts all major credit cards and can be faster than mail for some people. Avoid other websites that claim to offer Somerset County birth records, as Maryland has only authorized VitalChek for this purpose.
Important: The Maryland Division of Vital Records will never ask for your Social Security number or credit card PIN. If you are contacted by someone asking for that information as part of a birth records request, do not provide it. VitalChek is the only approved online vendor.
What Somerset County Birth Records Contain
A certified Somerset County birth certificate includes the key facts that were recorded at the time of birth. This means 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. Some details may vary depending on when the birth took place and what was entered in the record at the time.
Somerset County birth records available through the local health department cover Maryland births on file with the office. For older records that predate what the county keeps locally, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds historical vital records for the entire state. The archives are at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, and can be reached at 410-260-6400. If you are working on genealogy research or trying to trace family history tied to Somerset County, the archives are a good resource for older records that go beyond what the county health department can provide. Their online catalog at msa.maryland.gov lets you search what is available before visiting in person.
Certified copies are needed for most official purposes. Passport applications, school enrollment, Social Security records, name change filings, and marriage license applications all typically require a certified birth certificate. Make sure to ask for the certified version when you request a Somerset County birth record, not just a plain copy.
Name Corrections on Somerset County Birth Records
If there is a mistake on a Somerset County birth certificate, corrections go through the Maryland Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. The local health department in Westover does not have the ability to make changes to the record itself.
For a child under age one, a 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 before the state office will change a name or fix key information on the birth certificate. The process is the same for all Maryland birth records, including those from Somerset County. Contact the state Division of Vital Records at 410-764-3038 to get the specific forms and instructions for your type of correction. Calling first to confirm what you need before mailing anything will help avoid delays.
Note: Minor corrections to less significant fields may have a different process than changes to a name or date of birth. The state office can clarify which process applies to your situation when you call.
Maryland Division of Vital Records and Somerset County
The Maryland Division of Vital Records (DVR) holds all birth records from every Maryland county, including Somerset County. Whether you request your record at the county level or through the state, the underlying record comes from the same source. The DVR website at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/birth.aspx has the full list of steps for requesting a Somerset County birth certificate through the state office, including instructions for mail, appointment, and online orders.
Somerset County is a small county by population and sits on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore. The county health department serves a smaller number of residents than larger county offices, which can mean shorter wait times for in-person requests. Still, contact the office before you visit to confirm walk-in availability and current hours, as policies can change and it is better to confirm ahead of time.
For residents who need accessibility support, the Maryland Relay TTY line at 1-800-735-2258 connects to the Somerset County Health Department for those who need it. This service makes the office reachable for people who cannot use a standard phone line, which is an important option in a rural county where in-person travel can be a barrier for some residents.
Cities in Somerset County
Somerset County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Communities in the county, including Princess Anne, Crisfield, and Westover, all use the Somerset County Health Department for birth certificate requests. Contact the office at 8928 Sign Post Road, Suite 2, Westover, MD 21871 or call 443-523-1700 for help with any birth record request tied to a birth in the county.
Nearby Counties
Somerset County borders Wicomico County to the north. Use the link below to find the right local office if you need birth records from that neighboring county.